Wigan in the Great War

McGreal, Stephen, 1954-2016

Books, Manuscripts

Find it!
Remove Wigan in the Great War from your current list Save Wigan in the Great War to your current list

Total copies: 5

Available: 5

Summary

On 4th August 1914, Britain declared war on Germany. Originally perceived as a short campaign to curtail Germanic imperialism, it developed into a catastrophic four-year-long war of attrition. The First World War is justifiably associated with the horrors of trench warfare and the death of a generation, but history has overlooked the Home Front's colossal contribution to victory. Shortly after the declaration of war, Lord Kitchener appealed for recruits for a new citizen's army. Within four months 4360 men from Wigan alone responded to the call, and by September 1914, the districts 5th Manchester Territorial Battalion were in Egypt. Compiled predominately from contemporary newspaper and first-hand accounts, this book deals specifically with the contribution to victory made by the townspeople of Wigan and the nearby district.