All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque.

The classic German memoir of World War 1.It follows a group of young recruits as their disillusion with the war grows. Made into a great film in the thirties and remade again in the eighties.

ISBN 0-09-0953281-6

Complete Memoirs of George Sherston by Siegfried Sassoon

All three of his semi autobiographical books in one volume.One of my favourites, it covers this childhood, adolescence and service in The Royal Welch Fusiliers. Decorated and wounded twice, he was noted for his poetry and anti war statement.

ISBN 0-571-09913-0

The Golden Virgin by Henry Williamson.

Well known in the UK for writing 'Tarka the Otter' Henry Williamson served throughout the war first as a private then as an officer. He wrote about sixteen semi autobiographical novels - a number of which cover his WW1 service. This is the only one I have found, it covers the lead upto and action on the first day of the Somme.

ISBN 0-7509-1215-4

Goodbye to All That by Robert Graves.

The first war memoir I ever read. He served in the Royal Welch Fusiliers and was a great friend of Siegfried Sassoon. After the war he became a noted poet and wrote many novels including I Claudius and Claudius the God ( I recommend both!). Goodbye to all that is a brutal no holes barred book which is sometimes critisised for Graves embellishments but a bloody good read all the same. The second edition is toned down from the original angry 1929 edition.

ISBN 0-14-001443-8

Le Feu ( Under Fire) by Henri Barbusse.

One of the first novels to emerge from the war (1916 I think). Unfortunately I have not found an English version so haven't read it - this is the French version.

ISBN 2-253-044741-4 (French version)

The Middle Parts of Fortune by Frederic Manning

A superb no holds barred edition of this classic book. Manning was an Aussie who served in the British Army as a private. The book paints the entire picture of the poor bloody infantrys life on The Somme in 1916. Highly recommended!

ISBN 0-14-118158-3

Old Soldiers Never Die by Frank Richards.

Richards also served in the Royal Welch Fusiliers. He was originally in the old Indian army before the war and rejoined as a reservist in 1914. One of the few to survive the whole war he served as a private and signaler under Graves and Sassoon who are both mentioned in the book. Written in a rough working class English it really tells the ordinary troops story. Decorated twice for bravery - a remarkable tough old Welch soldier.

ISBN - ? Imperial War Museum reprint

Wilfred Owen by John Stallworthy.

Owens poetry is in my opinion the best to come out of the war. This is a very well researched and moving biography and has a number of good photos, copies of manuscripts and discussion on his poetry.

ISBN 0-19-282211-X

Quiet Flows the Don by Mikhael Sholokhov

The only Russian memoir I have read it covers a Russian Cossack village from before the war through to the Russian civil war. Beautifully written, it is at times both moving and funny. The descriptions of the village bring the Cossacks to life.

ISBN 0-14-018603-4

Sagittarius Rising by Cecil Lewis

One of the Knights of the Air. He was 17 when he joined up and started flying. Covers his war service and afterwards his flying for the Chinese airways! Great description of the opening bombardment at The Somme over which he flew.

ISBN 0-7515-0931-0

Some Desperate Glory by Edwin Campion Vaughan

Vaughan died in an accident in the 1930s and his diaries where only published when his brother handed them over to his immediate family in the 1980s. A thoroughly honest dairy of a young subaltern - his senior officers admonished him and he was nearly sent home but went on to be decorated for bravery at 3rd Ypres when he captured a pill box single handed. His description of the Ypres battle is harrowing.

ISBN 0-333-38727-9

Sassoon Diaries edited by Rupert Hart Davies

I found this in a second hand book shop. The actual diaries from which Sassoon wrote the George Sherston books.

ISBN - ? Book Club reprint

The Storm of Steel by Ernst Junger

This remarkable man served throughout the war. Wounded many times and decorated for bravery his narrative follows all the major battles including the Somme and the German 1918 Spring Offensives. His narrative is blunt and honest and his descriptions of combat are frightening!

ISBN 0-86527-423-1

A Subaltern on The Somme

Written by Max Plowman - a pacifist who resigned his commission after being wounded on the Somme. For me it captures he flavour of that great battle.

ISBN - ? Imperial War Museum reprint

The City That Shone by Vivian de Sola Pinto.

Pinto was a respected poet and critic after the war, Short sighted he managed to wrangle a commission in the Royal Welch Fusiliers. Did any of them not write! He saw service in Gallipoli and on the Western front where Sassoon was for a time his company commander. Interesting for me as well because it covers the pre war London and describes many places I know.

ISBN ?

Tickled to Death to Go by Ben Clouting edited by Richard Van Emden

A cavalryman's memoirs. He was involved in the first British action of the war. The 1914 part is interesting but, as a cavalryman, he saw little action for the rest of the war, except for some short spells it the trenches.

ISBN 1-873376-55-3

Undertones of War by Edmund Blunden

My three favourite books are Graves, Sassoon and this one by Blunden. Also a poet and after the war a great friend of Graves and Sassoon. The book is written in a beautiful prose and covers Ypres and the Somme.

ISBN 0-14-018295-0

The War The Infantry Knew by Captain J C Dunn

The 'biography' of the 2nd Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers (yes Graves and Sassoon served with them at times). Written by the regimental doctor it follows the battalion throughout its entire war service. Fascinating insight into the workings of a Great War battalion.

ISBN 0-349-10635-5

Verdun By Jules Romain

A novel that covers many aspects of the early days of Verdun. A great read, it has an excellent passage on the German barrage and intial attacks.

ISBN 1-85375-358-0