In 1915 Lord Kitchener extended his famous "Your Country Needs You" recruitment campaign by appealing to the Mayors of the London Metropolitan Boroughs, urging each Mayor to raise a unit of local men for active service overseas.In south-west London, the response from two neighbouring boroughs, Wandsworth and Battersea, could not have been more different. In Wandsworth, Mayor Dawnay personally took up the challenge and soon recruited, for the East Surrey Regiment, double the number of men needed for an infantry battalion. In Battersea, however, there was initially no more than lukewarm interest, partly due to the local Territorial Force unit, the 23rd London Regiment, having expanded from one to three battalions thanks to thousands of earlier volunteers. But as Wandsworth's efforts bore fruit, Battersea too pledged to raise a full infantry battalion. Mirroring the different political leanings of the two boroughs, Mayor Simmons pledged Battersea's battalion to the Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment. Wandsworth's 13th East Surreys and Battersea's 10th Queen's both served with honour and distinction. But they, and the communities from which they came, also suffered thousands of men wounded and killed. This sacrifice cemented links with France, Belgium and Italy that continue today. From the early tragic death of an adventurous boy of just 15, to the heroic deeds of a dustman who won the Victoria Cross, this book describes the pain and the glory of the volunteers of Wandsworth and Battersea on the Western Front.Born in Yorkshire in 1958 , Paul McCue graduated from the University of Birmingham. His working life began with Laker Airways. He is currently a Director in an inner London local authority. Interests in local and military history led him to research and write Dunsfold, Surrey's Most Secret Airfield (1992). This was followed by SAS Operation Bulbasket and Behind Enemy Lines with the SAS, both with Pen and Sword Paul McCue lives in Surrey.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Alan Barrett
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have been looking forward to the publication of this book about the Wandsworth and Battersea pals for years and Paul McCue's effort has been well worth the wait.He has researched his subject thoroughly and brought to life the early years of WW1 dramatically.For those readers with a background or knowledge of this corner of south west London it is enlightening and the early photographs of the borough facinating.Those readers with an interest in WW1 will undoubtably like this as an addition to their bookshelves,but I am also sure it will have great appeal to those who are familiar with Wandsworth and Battersea and perhaps have ancestors and connections with the borough going back to this period.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Oldfartjazz
Format:Hardcover
I purchased this volume because my Grandfather fought and died with the Battersea Battalion (10th Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment) during the First World War. Although I have undertaken research into his military career and have gleaned some useful insight into his life and death, Paul McCue's book has given me a great deal of welcome local background information as well as some historic photographs of the local area. The author has done his research well and produced a well written and informative history that is of interest to people with connections in the Battersea and Wandsworth areas as well as those people interested in the First World War. Writing military history books is not Paul McCue's day job, but you would never guess that fact because the presentation is excellent. My only criticism is that, whilst the photograph used on page 195 is correctly attributed as being from my collection, the officer leading the troop of solders is not Captain Joe Pope, but my Grandfather Captain Albert Robson.
By Ann Parnell
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Excellent book, superbly written, and very informative. My grandfather was in the East Surreys, so this book meant alot to me. I recommend this book to anyone living in Wandsworth who is interested in the Borough's history,
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