Synopses & Reviews
Featuring 250 previously unknown photographs, this is the extraordinary true story of a young doctor whose photos left behind an astonishing firsthand account of life at the front of World War I.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;As a twenty-five-year-old medical officer and one of the first doctors to win the Military Cross, Fred Davidson took countless photographs while he served in the trenches from 1914-1915. Though he took them illegally, more than 250 of the photographs shot by Davidson and his fellow officers survived and are now shared for the first time in this harrowing, eye-catching, and poignant narrative of the Great War.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;In andlt;Iandgt;A Doctor in the Great Warandlt;/Iandgt;, author Andrew Davidsonand#8212;the grandson of Fredand#8212;depicts the everyday lives of soldiers, both on and off duty: from the parade ground at Glasgowand#8217;s Maryhill to the brothels of Armentieres, from the band of brothers who dubbed themselves and#8220;Old Contemptiblesand#8221; to the original folding Kodak and Ansco cameras they used. It is the story of the 1st Cameronians, who achieved notoriety for selling the Great Warand#8217;s earliest front line photographs. And it is a deeply personal account of the pictures that have been passed down for three generations, describing the men who fought with Fred Davidson, the conditions they served in, the battles they saw, and the horrors they endured.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;A must-have for history and photography enthusiasts alike, this glimpse of the War to End All Wars is an unusually intimate portrait that will engulf you in the lives of soldiers and leave you humbled and amazed.
Review
"An intimate snapshot of history that puts the Great War firmly into focus."
Review
"Remarkable... A deeply affecting account of men struggling to keep hold of their sanity amid a ceaseless round of daily horrors."
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"An incredible story."
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"A treasure trove of photographs offering a unique insight into the grim reality of life in the trenches."
Review
"Using an inspired and original concept, [Andrew Davidson] blends 250 original photographs with a crisp, contemporary narrative to give us a new and amazingly intimate perspective on the danger, hardships and playful camaraderie of a dismal, deadly battlefront. If you only buy one book about the war, make it this one."
Synopsis
The extraordinary true story of a young medical officer's time in the trenches of the First World War from 1914-15, as seen through through the lens of his camera. Written by Fred's grandson, Andrew Davidson, and interweaving contemporary narrative with 250 captivating, previously unknown photographs taken at the front, it is a must-have for history and photography enthusiasts alike. Fred's War tells the extraordinary story of the 1st Cameronians, who achieved notoriety for selling the Great War's earliest front line photographs, and Fred Davidson, their 25-year-old medical officer, one of the first doctors to win the Military Cross. His pictures are seen here for the first time, alongside those taken by his friend Lieutenant Robert Money and fellow officers.
Using a unique approach blending 250 original photographs with contemporary narrative, the author, Fred's grandson, pieces together the story behind the pictures that have passed through his family for three generations: describing the men who fought with Davidson, the conditions they served in, the battles they saw and the horrors they witnessed.
From the parade ground at Glasgow's Maryhill to the brothels of Armentieres, the book offers an unusually intimate portrait of life among a band of brothers - the same men who later proudly dubbed themselves 'Old Contemptibles'.
About the Author
Andrew Davidson is an award-winning journalist and author of the andlt;iandgt;Sunday Timesandlt;/iandgt; business interview page from 2003 to 2012. His previous books include andlt;iandgt;Bloodlinesandlt;/iandgt;, an anatomy of daily life at St Thomasand#8217; Hospital, and andlt;iandgt;Smart Luckandlt;/iandgt;, an anthology of his interviews with well-known entrepreneurs.