1914

During the opening four months of the First World War no fewer than 46 soldiers from the British and Commonwealth armies were awarded Britain's highest award for gallantry, the Victoria Cross. In a series of mini-biographies, Gerald Gliddon examines the men and the dramatic events that led to the award of this most coveted of medals. These men were "ordinary" soldiers from widely differing social backgrounds, who all acted above and beyond the call of duty. Each story is told chronologically and offers a fresh perspective on the opening stages of the "war to end wars."

Now in paperback, this well-documented and lavishly illustrated history profiles the 46 men who were awarded the Victoria Cross in 1914.

This uplifting and often poignant text is supplemented with 200 rare photographs of the soldiers and their personal memorabilia to put faces and histories to the men who won Britain's highest award for heroism during the first few months of World War I when 46 members of the British Army were awarded the Victoria Cross. In piecing together their lives before and after the war, he discovers wildly differing backgrounds (from coal miners to Home Counties professionals), and equally dissimilar fates.

Gerald Gliddon is a notable historian and author, who is also a bookseller specializing in military history. He has written a number of books about the First World War and has co-ordinated the VCs series. Among his many titles is Somme 1916: A Battlefield Guide.