For Love and Courage: The Letters of Lieutenant Colonel E.W. Hermon from the Western Front 1914-1917

Hermon, Lt.-Col. E W & Nason, Anne (Ed)

ISBN 10: 1848090676 / ISBN 13: 9781848090675

Published by Preface Publishing, London, UK, 2008

About this Item

Signed by Anne Nason to the title page. Hermon died after three years on the Western Front leading the 24th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers in a charge on the first day of the Battle of Arras. Hermon's letters provide an insight to life on the Western Front in the horrors of the First World War trench warfare. Includes several b/w photographs and a map. 366pp. Page edges toned.

Seller Inventory # 51989

Bibliographic Details

• Title: For Love and Courage: The Letters of Lieutenant Colonel E.W. Hermon from the Western Front 1914-1917
• Publisher: Preface Publishing, London, UK
• Publication Date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1848090676
• ISBN 13: 9781848090675
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: Very Good
• Weight: 750 grams
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • The First World War
  • Military Biographies & Memoirs

About this title

Synopsis

Extracts from a unique collection of First World War letters provide a moving legacy of one soldier’s love and courage and a fascinating insight into life on the frontline.

Lt. Colonel E.W. Hermon died in a hail of bullets on the 9th of April 1917, the first day of the battle of Arras, leading his men of the 24th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers into the attack. He was shot through the heart, one bullet slicing through the letters in his top pocket, including the four-leaf clover his wife had given him for good luck.

This could have been the end of the story but he left a testament of his life and ideals in a unique and hitherto unknown and unpublished collection of long and detailed letters he wrote to his darling wife and his children, “the Chugs.” Now, nearly a century after his death, he speaks to us of a past, less cynical life, where selflessness, honour, duty and courage were admired above all else.

The letters have been transcribed and edited by Hermon’s granddaughter Anne Nason with the help of James Holland, the distinguished historian. The letters are believed to be unique in their candour and context since Hermon was Battalion Commander and thus his letters were not censored.

About the Author

Anne Nason, is the granddaughter of Lt. Colonel E.W. Hermon and the daughter of Mairky (Mary), who bequeathed her the letters.