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. Hugh Neems trained as an electrical engineer and served in the Royal Navy in the 1940s. Now retired, he has written several books about his ancestors and their historical settings. He lives in Todmorden, West Yorkshire.