My Son, the Soldier

By Paul Farrell

This book portrays the sacrifice of those who served in the First World War from 1914–1918. A story that honours those who forfeited everything for their king and country, My Son the Soldier is aimed at young adults and older and aims for rigorous historical accuracy. This book includes images which are integral in setting the scene, and which will captivate the attention of the reader. This book is written as if from the perspective of those captured in the pictures and seeks to understand their attempts to come to terms with what they have witnessed and endured.

This book asks profound and challenging questions of the reader and, more importantly, seeks to draw out the human side, and the human cost, of the First World War. Drawing on historical scholarship, while approaching these traumatic events from a deeply human perspective, this book will both fascinate and inspire the reader.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Mar 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9781398445994

Paul Farrell

Paul’s previous writing history consists of a children’s fantasy adventure book, Dragon Slayers. He is currently working on its sequel. His wider portfolio also consists of plays, radio, comedy and film scripts.

Book preview

About the Author

Paul’s previous writing history consists of a children’s fantasy adventure book, Dragon Slayers. He is currently working on its sequel.

His wider portfolio also consists of plays, radio, comedy and film scripts.

Dedication

For all those who served, this is your story. And for all those combat soldiers, male and female, suffering from PTSD.

Copyright Information ©

Paul Farrell 2023

‘The Great War’ Copyright © Rebellion Publishing IP Ltd, all rights reserved.

The right of Paul Farrell to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398445987 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398445994 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

Rebellion for the use of the images.

My Son the Soldier

We waved and cheered them today,

uniforms pressed in such a neat way,

smiles firmly in place,

who knows what they will face.

Shells rip trees from ground,

once proud stretching toward clouds,

river of mud, drowns you in its flood,

barbwire, holds you for the sniper’s fire.

Shells bury you alive,

silent gas kills the bee in the hive,

disease, trench foot, cholera and suicide,

you decide,

was it bullet or shell, no one could tell.

Knock knock, that sound of shock,

go away, come back another day,

you’ve made a mistake, my son’s out back at play,

no cold stone, or limp flag,

no poppies or gunfire,

let’s be silent for a while

so I can picture my son’s smile.