The Letters of George Brenton Laurie

Lieutenant Colonel George Laurie born in Canada who became a professional soldier. He was gazetted to the Royal Irish Rifles in September 1885, the last officer to be commissioned in the Army with the rank of Lieutenant. He served with them in Gibraltar, Egypt, Sudan, Malta, South Africa, Ireland, India and Aden before the First World War. He was appointed to command the 1st Battalion in 1912 and took them to France in November 1914. He was in the front line and participated in the ‘Christmas Truce’. He was killed on Friday 12th March 1915 during the Battle of Neuve Chapelle. His fascinating letters from a senior front line officer are packed with information and cheery news from the trenches. The original book was compiled by his wife in May 1921 and dedicated to his three children. In Part II there are cameos on sixty-two personalities mentioned in his letters and notes on some of the events. 214 pages