Remembering World War I: An Engineer's Diary of the War - Hardcover

Charles Edward Dilkes

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0692028617 ISBN 13: 9780692028612

Publisher: Juliet Publishing, 2014

Synopsis

Remembering World War I: An Engineer's Diary of the War; is a story of the raw war emotions expressed by a volunteer engineer, Charles Edward Dilkes, who left the comforts of high society to shoulder a shovel and a rifle to serve his country.

His emotions range from patriotic fervor to the reality of the true cost of freedom, which he experienced in the carnage of life. Once committed to the war effort, Charles Edward Dilkes displayed firm resolve. He volunteered for active duty as an engineer-soldier to fight in World War I when the United States declared war on Germany.

This book is based on the memoirs he wrote of his World War I experiences from enlistment through honorable discharge. He saved many artifacts, which added dimension to "Remembering World War I: An Engineer's Diary of the War." The main artifact is his diary, which he kept daily from the time he left American shores in August 1917, through the armistice signed on Nov. 11, 1918, and until he completed his service to his country as part of the U.S. Army of Occupation in Germany in September 1919. At one point, before going into battle in the Aisne- Marne Campaign, he buried this diary in case the German offensive was successful.

About this title

Review

The [World War I Centennial] Commission is pleased to endorse Remembering World War I: An Engineer's Diary of the War as an official project of the World War I Centennial Commission. The Commission believes that Remembering World War I: An Engineer's Diary of the will further the Commission's goals of educating the American people about the causes, courses and consequences of World War I, commemorating U.S. involvement in that war, and honoring the service and sacrifice of American servicemen and women in the war. --The United States World War One Centennial Commission

Memoirs of infantrymen abound; this book, however, helps us to remember that, amidst the patrols, trench raids, and artillery duels, the backbreaking work of the engineers in and just behind the front lines continued. It is interesting to read Dilkes's engineer-centric narrative. Firsthand accounts by enlisted engineers are comparatively rare, and the editors have done a good service by publishing their father s memoirs. --PETER L. BELMONTE, author of Days of Perfect Hell and Italian Americans in World War II

Edition details

• Publisher: Juliet Publishing
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0692028617
• ISBN 13: 9780692028612
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224