Ian Isherwood’s The Battalion: Citizen Soldiers at War on the Western Front offers an insightful and evocative account of the 8th Battalion, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, a Kitchener battalion that served during the Great War. Drawing from personal letters, diaries, and memoirs—particularly those of Lieutenant-Colonel Jack Peirs—Isherwood provides a poignant exploration of how ordinary men transformed into soldiers and faced the brutal realities of war. The book balances meticulous research with accessible storytelling, making it an essential read for anyone interested in the personal experiences and collective resilience of those who served on the Western Front. Review in Stand To! 136 (December 2024).
