Brilliant piece, Peter – lest we forget.

Histories like this always brings back memories of granddad, staunch blue, gassed during the war, a tiny man full of spirit. Too many of today's leaders value life cheaply.

Thoughts and prayers with the Sloans and all families who suffer loss through violence.

A stunning piece of work, Pete. I do hope all these articles relating to The Great War end up in some consolidated form, perhaps collected in a book. Although, if we were in the USA, this story alone would probably have the makings of a film!

As an aside, I was interested in your comments on Churchill's time at the front which brought to mind something I've often wondered about: were Churchill & Hitler ever at the front in the same area? That could be enough for the basis of a, fictional, film plot too!

Derek and Dennis, thanks for your comments. This has been the hardest article to write for some reason, so it makes it all worthwhile. I'll give some thought to a book; by November 2018, I should have plenty of material.

With regard to Hitler and Churchil,l it is likely that they were in the general vicinity; Hitler's Bavarian regiment were stationed in the area for much of the war. Legend has it that he was treated for wounds in the crypt of Messines church which is just to the north of Ploegsteert Wood, and he spent a long period just to the south, between Fromelles and Aubers.

In the '30s, Anthony Eden met Hitler and they worked out that they had been in the trenches opposite each other at least once.

An extraordinary piece of writing craft, Pete, and a superbly compiled history. The photos are remarkable and deeply affecting.

Many thanks.

Another brilliantly researched and poignant article, Peter – many thanks.

Andrew (#2) – my own grandfather also died in WW1 as the result of a gas attack. I do not know if he was an Evertonian but I like to think so – he certainly had the fortitude and bravery of one of us, having survived for over 3 years on the Western Front.

RIP all those brave men who served.

A superb piece of work. It brings back the pictures I have of my great granddad in the field hospital smoking his cigarette in his bed after the 2nd Battle of Arras.

He ultimately lost his leg, due to shrapnel wounds was left in the field, recovered by the Germans, bandaged up and returned to the British lines in shape.

He survived the rest of his days on one leg, but what a character he was, so I'm told by my folks, but I was too young to know him when he died.
Makes me laugh, with the noise about Koeman and will he or won't he move on.

A fantastic and scholarly piece of work. Regardless of the fact I'm a Bluenose, the article stands on it's own. The information that there are more Evertonians who sadly died in that war will probably give you a tonne of material.

But if you multiply that by all the football clubs who had players who served in WWI, the stories are probably vast and grimly fascinating. A great and empathetic piece about a terrible time.

Andrew, Mike, Martin, Paul and Michael, thank you for your comments; they are much appreciated. There are three more of 'our' Everton players to remember in the next few months, and then six of the Everton club of Auckland, New Zealand. I think all of their stories deserve telling.

Pete, thanks for the tremendous article. I am currently reading a book by Max Hastings called Catastrophe which explains reasons why the war started and covers up to Xmas 1914 and the BEF. Your article whets my appetite to read further. Any recommended reading?

Hi Ray, are you interested in more on the causes of war and the battles of 1914 or do you want to read more on 1915 onwards?

Hastings' Catastrophe gets a lot of criticism in WW1 circles but I have to admit I quite enjoyed it. Max is apparently rich enough to employ a team of researchers and I wonder if some of the complaints are by people who aren't rich enough to employ teams of researchers.

If you want a good up to date book on the BEF in 1914 I like Peter Hart's "Fire and Movement". It gives a good account of the fighting and debunks most of the mythology of the early part of the war. I have to declare an interest here; I know and like Pete, despite him being a closet Red.

Pete,

I picked up a copy of Peter Hart's The Great War in Waterstones at the Trafford Centre on Saturday morning so I shall read this one over the coming weeks before looking for the book you recommend. Thanks for the information and once again a fascinating read.

Pete, and indeed all Everton History authors, I have found these articles exemplary. I don't normally write any posts on TW anymore but these have motivated me greatly. The quality of the writing, the research, the weaving of hard football facts into the mix, the telling of a good tale and the correction of supposed facts that were not contemporary at all, just outstanding.

Since the turn of 2014 and all these consequent articles, I have a new insight to the club's history, World War One and the devastation to the families on the ground. Coming from the west of Ireland, this war was a foot note in both primary and secondary school, something that happened on the continent. For obvious reasons the focus was on events in 1916 here and those who had fought in the world war were mostly forgotten, those that survived were mostly shunned – a lucky few pitied.

I have looked into the war in my area and the local divisions truly remarkable, where virtually no one enlisted in my area, where as the next town down the road most did. Over 200 were slain and many more injured and nothing about them to be seen.

Only relatively recently with the 2012 decade of commemoration, are many of these forgotten cannon fodder being discovered and the whole event reappraised. I now find myself listening to the Fureys and The Green Fields of France very differently, sparing a thought for the poor souls in that very real hell.