For Love and Courage: Letters Home from the Western Front 1914-1917

LtColonelE.W.Hermondiedinahailofbulletsonthe9thApril1917,thefirstdayoftheBattleofArras,leadinghismenofthe24thBattalionNorthumberlandFusiliersintotheattack.LikehundredsofthousandsofothersintheGreatWar,hegavehislifeforhisKingandcountry.Hewasshotthroughtheheart,onebulletslicingthroughthepapersinhistoppocket,includingthefour-leafcloverhiswifehadgivenhimforgoodluck.HisfinalwordstohisAdjutantwere'Goon!'beforehesanktohiskneesanddiedalmostinstantaneously.Hewascarriedfromthebattlefieldbyhisfaithfulsoldierservant,Buxton,andnowliesburiedintheCommonwealthWarGravesCemeteryatRoclincourt,threemilesfromArras.Thiscouldhavebeentheendofthestorybutheleftatestamentofhislifeandidealsinauniqueandhithertounknownandunpublishedcollectionoflonganddetailedlettershewrotetohisdarlingwifeandhischildren,'theChugs'.Now,nearlyacenturyafterhisdeath,hespeakstousofapast,lesscynicallife,whereselflessness,honour,dutyandcouragewereadmiredaboveallelse.HisowncouragewasofficiallyrecognisedashewasmentionedindespatchesthreetimesandposthumouslyawardedtheD.S.O.ThelettershavebeentranscribedandeditedbyHermon'sgranddaughterAnneNasonwiththeguidanceandhistoricaladviceofJamesHolland,thedistinguishedhistorianandwriter.PeterCaddick-Adams,whoworksalongsideRichardHolmesatCranfieldUniversity,believestheletterstobeuniqueintheircandourandcontextsinceHermonwasBattalionCommanderandthushisletterswerenotcensored.