Soldiers, By Richard Holmes Harper
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The final work by the great military historian begins with graphic examples of the British soldier's "appetite for alcohol, sex and casual violence… woven seamlessly [with] self-sacrifice, generosity, humour".
Holmes's thematic panorama glitters with fascinating detail from the bravery of padres and the "infinitely variable" use of the F-word to women soldiers en travesti (one used "a silver tube with leather straps" for 14 years) and the "universally popular" colonel who broke plates over his head, then challenged conscripts to follow suit. His secret: a steel plate in his skull.
Soldiers By Richard Holmes Harper, £10.99
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments