{"title":"Christopher W A Owen","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"ironbridge-in-the-great-war-book-christopher-w-a-owen-9781783464005","title":"Ironbridge in the Great War","description":"Famed as the birthplace of modern industry and the first cast iron metal single span bridge, Ironbridge is venerated the world over  yet its social history is at times unfamiliar.  One hundred years ago this sleepy town, set by the river Severn, willingly volunteered its life-blood to a war that everyone confidently believed would be a short-lived, adventurous romp. Misled by government propaganda, they soon discovered through fighting relative's letters and various official news reports, many of which are unearthed for the first time throughout this book, that it had rapidly degenerated into an endless morass of bloody violence  with the probability of their men meeting a painful death on a daily basis thrown in for good measure.  The town's wartime heritage is one of enterprise and hard work as the majority of the Great War gun-fodder comprised working-class men drawn from prestigious local companies. Maw \u0026amp; Co, the world-famous ceramic tile maker, raised its own company of enlisted fighting men, in common with other businesses nationwide, that were known as Pals Battalions. As in most instances across the land, it subsequently paid a heavy price for this mass act of patriotism. Ironbridge also became a cradle of the fledgling women's wartime workforce, who helped produce vital heavy munitions components at another famous local company's works.  Ironbridge in the Great War is the story of the town's great sacrifice, as evidenced by the numerous and diverse war monuments that populate the town and its surrounding hamlets. This is detailed work that includes fascinating facts about the town, which, despite being constantly under the world spotlight, remained, until now, a part of its hidden wartime social history.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49594138198289,"sku":"GOR011620431","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1783464003.jpg?v=1751312950"},{"product_id":"bridgnorth-in-the-great-war-book-christopher-w-a-owen-9781783831173","title":"Bridgnorth in the Great War","description":"World-famous Bridgnorth town is situated on the river Severn near Kidderminster and is a very popular anglers' haunt and tourist destination. Within the shadow of its very own Civil War-ravaged castle lies a unique funicular rail system and the north-western terminus of the famous Severn Valley heritage railway line.  Although steeped in military history, much of its Great War social history has remained obscure until now. This enthralling account explores many surprising and unknown facts about Bridgnorth and its wartime Home Front, drawing on a wealth of material from diverse primary sources, including official news reports that disclose the fullest picture of the terrible sacrifices the serving men, their relatives and also their townsfolk made to Britain's war effort.  Misled by government propaganda, which implied that the men were enlisting for a short-term adventurous romp, this little town patriotically sacrificed the flower of a generation to the largely trench-bound bloody morass the Great War became. Their commitment and fortitude gives testament to the incredible bravery of the people of Bridgnorth, and their losses are evidenced in the various commemorative monuments erected throughout the town and in surrounding hamlets.  Utilizing contemporary documents and wartime servicemen's poignant letters, some of which are disclosed for the first time, Bridgnorth in the Great War reveals how this once prosperous and industrious West Midlands' town endured the greatest sacrifice of its manhood to this cataclysmic event, which was fancifully dubbed 'the war to end all wars'.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49627634827537,"sku":"GOR013692805","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":51826083266833,"sku":"GOR011484295","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1783831170.jpg?v=1751247937"},{"product_id":"wellington-in-the-great-war-book-christopher-w-a-owen-9781783463541","title":"Wellington in the Great War","description":"How the experience of war impacted on the town, from the initial enthusiasm for sorting out the German Kaiser in time for Christmas 1914, to the gradual realization of the enormity of human sacrifice the families of  Wellington were committed to as the war stretched out over the next four years. A record of the growing disillusion of the people, their tragedies and hardships and a determination to see it through. The Great War affected everyone. At home there were wounded soldiers in military hospitals, refugees from Belgium and later on German prisoners of war. There were food and fuel shortages and disruption to schooling. The role of women changed dramatically and they undertook a variety of work undreamed of in peacetime. Meanwhile, men serving in the armed forces were scattered far and wide. Extracts from contemporary letters reveal their heroism and give insights into what it was like under battle conditions.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49770277962001,"sku":"GOR013780441","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":51345942446353,"sku":"GOR014231694","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1783463546.jpg?v=1751153734"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/de-ch\/collections\/autor-buecher-von-christopher-w-a-owen.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}