The Secret History of Soldiers

How Canadians Survived the Great War

By: Tim Cook

Narrated by: J.D. Nicholsen

There have been thousands of books on the Great War, but most have focused on commanders, battles, strategy, and tactics. Less attention has been paid to the daily lives of the combatants, how they endured the unimaginable conditions of industrial warfare: the rain of shells, bullets, and chemical agents. In The Secret History of Soldiers, Tim Cook, Canada's foremost military historian, examines how those who survived trench warfare on the Western Front found entertainment, solace, relief, and distraction from the relentless slaughter.

These tales come from the soldiers themselves, mined from the letters, diaries, memoirs, and oral accounts of more than five hundred combatants. Rare examples of trench art, postcards, and even song sheets offer insight into a hidden society that was often irreverent, raunchy, and anti-authoritarian. Believing in supernatural stories was another way soldiers shielded themselves from the horror. While novels and poetry often depict the soldiers of the Great War as mere victims, this new history shows how the soldiers pushed back against the grim war, refusing to be broken in the mincing machine of the Western Front.

The violence of war is always present, but Cook reveals the gallows humour the soldiers employed to get through it. Over the years, both writers and historians have overlooked this aspect of the men's lives. The fighting at the front was devastating, but behind the battle lines, another layer of life existed, one that included songs, skits, art, and soldier-produced newspapers.

With his trademark narrative abilities and an unerring eye for the telling human detail, Cook has created another landmark history of Canadian military life as he reveals the secrets of how soldiers survived the carnage of the Western Front.

Critic reviews

A GLOBE AND MAIL BESTSELLER

“It’s a reminder, an often grim one, that humans are resilient, capable of enduring the most harrowing of experiences.” —The Toronto Star

“Cook takes an unprecedented dive into . . . a rich and little-explored culture that developed among soldiers on the front lines” —Hill Times

“An insightful and readable narrative … At once heartwarming for the reminders of a simpler time and heartbreaking for the unimaginable losses of a century ago . . . it will breathe added life into all other Great War books.” —Esprit de Corps

“Cook has revealed many of the secrets of the Great War’s soldiers’ lives. The veil of secrecy has been lifted and every chapter can be read over and over.” —Winnipeg Free Press

Culture of Great War soldier

This book is a comprehensive overview of what life was life for the average Canadian soldier, serving in the Great War. It’s not really at all about the war itself but the culture. Very little if anything is about battles/ fighting except for generalities. This is the culture, what they did and what kept them going. The narration is exceptional. It’s very informative.