We would be amiss if we didn't mention the great books available for the person interested in local history.

Visit The Neat Little Bookshop for books by local authors ~ books about subjects close-to-home that family and friends might not "spring-for" themselves but undoubtedly would be happy to receive as a gift.  They may just share with you.

"No Road to Glory"

Harfleur, France

"Months of intensive, extensive and expensive training elapses before young Jones set foot upon the soil of France.  Stepping down the gangplank of the Channel packet which had crossed under cover of darkness from Folkestone, he felt that at last the great adventure had begun in earnest.  Harfleur, France had fanned the flames of fanciful reflection.  It conjured up visions of the English King, Henry, who, after he had captured the ancient port in 1415 marched on to the brilliant victory of Agincourt.  Now the old town was a British camp occupied by British troops, not as enemies and invaders, but as allies and comrades-in-arms.  Those little red patches of the 1st Division which he had recently acquired, seemed to be his golden spurs of knighthood.

"Three weeks were spent in idling at the base.  These days would have proved boring enough but for the excellence of the dinners at Tortoni's.  This restaurant was a famous rendezvous for the beginning of the ending of a spree in those days of wine, women and song, days of a last carousal before the plunge into the unknown -- the hazard with death.  It may seem strange that lads of conventional upbringing, about to enter into the valley of the shadow, should turn a deaf ear to the teachings of the Almighty and spend their last moments of security with the devil as a buddy.  However, most of the army were gamblers, playing their stakes, life against death, and pleasure against perdition.  Were God a Mrs. Grundy, then are the cenotaphs mere empty tombs indeed.

"At last Jones received orders to join his Battalion in the war zone."

~ NO ROAD TO GLORY, by Major A. R. Thompson, late 4th Battalion, C.E.F.

Tomorrow: The 4th Battalion.  [Graphics:  Wikipedia]