A Rough Ride

Five of Hugh Neems' uncles served their country in the First World War. In the stinking mud of the trenches, on horseback, on a Douglas motorcycle and in RAF aircraft, they each played their part, suffering injury and ultimately, death. This fascinating and beautifully written account of their war combines the bigger picture with snatches of personal experience, offering a soldier's-eye view of events and trying to make sense of what it was like to battle for days and weeks to gain just a few yards of desolate ground.