WHEN, after the Great War of 1914-1918, the Imperial War Graves Commission began its immense task of erecting headstones to mark the graves of Britain's dead, and those of the armed forces of her Empire, the next-of-kin of the deceased were offered the opportunity to have a personal epitaph added to the official information inscribed on each stone. The response from the bereaved families was extraordinary, bringing forth words which ranged from the homespun to the resoundingly lyrical and embraced a wide variety of sentiments.
 
Based on five years' research, this new book by Trefor Jones presents a study of more than 1,500 epitaphs on headstones in the cemeteries of Belgium and France . These tributes to young British, Australian, Canadian, Newfoundlander and South African sons, husbands and brothers of that lost generation, buried far from home, provide an eloquent and moving demonstration of the power and beauty of language.
 
Although certain to interest students of the Great War, and the Western Front in particular, the book is not 'about' the war and will appeal equally to the general reader. It offers a compelling insight into the attitudes of the era, and a remarkable variety of responses to the loss of young men cut down in that unimaginably awful conflict, whose remains lie buried in the foreign soil on which they fought and died.
 
ISBN 978 0 9527458 2 2
235x170mm hardback with dust jacket.
224pp + 8pp colour
B/w illustrations throughout.

"This commendable book is made by Horncastle Grammar School students who have visited Flanders and the Somme.  They wish, by poetry, to perpetuate memories of the thousands of brave men and women who gave their lives in the Great War so that future generations could live in comparative peace.  Let us never forget".

Students from Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, make an annual pilgrimage to the battlefields of the Great War and, as a result of their experiences, have wanted to pay tribute to those who gave their lives in the conflict.   This poetry, along with their CD, is the outcome of their wish.

A contribution from each sale goes to The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, The Army Benevolent Fund and the Royal Navy Benevolent Fund.

'Not Cast In Stone' is a novel written by former BBJ traveller Peter Georgiadis, and Brigitte Bonnet, telling the story of two childhood friends who find themselves accidentally involved in circumstances which prompt them to enlist in Kitchener's army.  They are then drawn into a series of adventures on the battlefields of Flanders.

"One cannot help but empathise with the character as they face up to mishaps and hardships, yet keep their sense of humour alive.  The book is a mixture of pathos and whimsy which will take you right to the heart of the battles."

ISBN 0 9552471 0 1 
235x155mm hardback with dust jacket.

A vivid and moving impression of survival on the Western Front in World War 1  - Edited selections from the World War 1 diaries, poems and letters of 6080 Private R.C. (Cleve) Potter, A Company 21st Battalion A.I.F

"Potter captures the chaos and devastation of the front line with atmospheric tension while articulating his own emotions with clarity" - Australian Book Review

ISBN 1 876259 91 4

227x147mm paperback

In 2006 the Sergeant York Project found compelling evidence indicating they had found the site where in 1918, Alvin York, a son of Tennessee, engaged a large group of Germans, killing 21 and capturing 132 prisoners. This was probably the finest example of single-handed bravery in WW1 and it earned Corporal York the Congressional Medal of Honor, promotion to sergeant and placed him firmly in the annals of American military history.

The story has been passed down over the years, capturing the imagination of both schoolchildren and adults alike, and for many years students of military history have attempted, until now to no avail, to find the location in the Argonne forest where the action took place.

The Sergeant York Project team consisted of a truly international team of academics, historians, a geographer and archaeologists from Belgium, France, England and the United States. Geographic Information Science was used together with historical records to locate the area. An authorised survey and search was carried out which resulted in the discovery of over 1400 artefacts, including a collar identity disc from York’s unit.

"This slim, eminently portable guide has been produced by a member of the multinational Sergeant York Project team which includes Americans Tom Nolan and Michael Birdwell Chairman of the Western Front Association Kentucky-Tennessee Chapter. In addition to many useful maps and charts, and extensive information on the York battle site outside the village of Châtel-Chéhéry, this guide has tips for the traveler, information on other sites of interest, places to stay in the Meuse-Argonne region of northeastern France, as well as tables showing American ranks and AEF force structure"

Len Shurtleff, Chairman U.S Florida - Gulf Coast Western Front Association.

Innovatively Included in the guide is:

Satellite navigation positioning where this and the site where the German machine-gun that fired on York’s patrol is included in the guide book, enabling the tourist to navigate directly to the spot.

The book contains maps and photographs including a map annotated by the group leader Dr. Tom Nolan of MTSU which shows where the artefacts were discovered.

In addition are details of many other American sites of interest from WW1 together with French battle areas. As an aid to the traveller, satellite navigational points have been included together with details of hotels and restaurants.

This guide is an invaluable aid to the battlefield tourist wishing to visit U.S. sites of interest in a particularly beautiful rural area of France.

Author: Michael Kelly.

Paperback journal. 80 pages. B&W with some colour. 210mm x 148mm

ISBN 978-0-9559386-0-3

For further information on The Sergeant York Project visit www.sergeantyorkproject.com