Peter Liddle je historik a autor, ktorý sa špecializuje na štúdium prvej a druhej svetovej vojny. Svoju rozsiahlu zbierku osobných spomienok a pamiatok z prvej svetovej vojny začal zhromažďovať, aby oživil históriu pre svojich študentov. Táto zbierka, ktorá sa stala trvalým domovom na University of Leeds, predstavuje hlboký záväzok oživiť minulosť prostredníctvom autentických svedectiev.
"This book attempts to set out the contemporary evidence of participants in order to reveal that there was something unique about their service, perceived at the times as especial, and which in its separate elements has been recalled by many of them years later with something not far short of relish"--Page ix
Peter Liddle's latest book draws extensively upon diaries, letters, reports, photographs and drawing from the magnificent Liddle Collection of 1914-1918 personal experience material. It also sets out to examine the concept and planning the the Battle of the Somme and then its conduct over the whole four and a half months