Peter Liddle è uno storico e autore specializzato nello studio della Prima e Seconda Guerra Mondiale. Ha iniziato a raccogliere esperienze personali e cimeli della Prima Guerra Mondiale per rendere viva la storia ai suoi studenti. Questa collezione, ora ospitata permanentemente presso l'Università di Leeds, rappresenta un profondo impegno a rendere vivido il passato attraverso resoconti autentici.
"This book attempts to set out the contemporary evidence of participants in order to reveal that there was something unique about their service, perceived at the times as especial, and which in its separate elements has been recalled by many of them years later with something not far short of relish"--Page ix
Peter Liddle's latest book draws extensively upon diaries, letters, reports, photographs and drawing from the magnificent Liddle Collection of 1914-1918 personal experience material. It also sets out to examine the concept and planning the the Battle of the Somme and then its conduct over the whole four and a half months