What happened in Bristol during the 1914-1918 War? James Belsey has uncovered an extraordinary and moving story, never before told. He cuts through layers of myth and propaganda to present a true picture of the full tragic impact on the war on the city.
Bristol was a focal point of Britain's war effort. The modern Royal Edward Dock at Avonmouth, the supporting industries, the many hospitals, all played crucial roles. The author examines three separate weeks in revealing detail. The first week of the war, with its naïve sense of 'business as usual'. The last week, in which wild celebrations greeted the end of the nightmare. And that week in July, 1916 when modern civilisation lost its innocence in the carnage of the Somme.