Dimensions
155 x 233 x 37mm
In 1914, New Zealand was sure of itself. More British than the British, it had broken in the land, subdued dissidents, and under the wing of the Mother Country, willing to take on all comers. War being declared, young men flocked to the colours, urged on by elders, neighbours, and anybody who mattered. Poorly led, inadequately trained and equipped, and against a determined enemy, it was in the corpse-ridden gullies of Gallipoli that those who had volunteered so readily discovered the reality of war.
The consequences were appalling conditions, debilitation, death and defeat. Next was Europe where, continuing to be commanded by generals with varying degrees of competence, they were thrown into the marches of Armentieres; the Somme where more men were killed in three weeks than in the nine months on Gallipoli; victory at Messines; Passchendaele where, dying in mud, filth, and rain, more New Zealanders were killed in one day than before or since; and 1918 when final victory was achieved after four terrible years Derived from 20 years of exhaustive research into soldiers' diaries and letters, close study of military histories, and detailed inspection of battlefields,
March to the Sound of the Guns is a stunning novel told through the eyes of five participants: Colonel Malone, who, almost alone, from the beginning knew what war was about; Harry, a committed Christian and lethal sniper; Jim, left-wing activist and hard-nosed NCO; Frank, an intellectual trying to make sense of the senseless; and Nelle, the beautiful volunteer nurse, strong-minded and in love with a fighter pilot whose life was measured by the hour.
