Preface

I am one of the million or more male
residents of the United Kingdom, who a year ago had no special yearning
towards military life, but who joined the
army after war was declared. At Chelsea I
found myself a unit of the 2nd London Irish
Battalion, afterwards I was drilled into shape
at the White City and training was concluded
at St. Albans, where I was drafted into the
1st Battalion. In my spare time I wrote
several articles dealing with the life of the
soldier from the stage of raw “rooky” to
that of finished fighter. These I now publish
in book form, and trust that they may interest
men who have joined the colours or who
intend to take up the profession of arms and
become members of the great brotherhood of fighters.

Patrick MacGill.

“The London Irish,”

British Expeditionary Force,

March 25th, 1915.

[pg 9]