First and foremost, my thanks go to the staff of the Library and Archives at the Imperial War Museum. In particular, I am grateful to Jane Smith, whose inspirational searches provided me with a number of precious sources. Geoff Bridger, battlefield historian, was extremely generous in sharing with me unpublished material on the battle of Neuve Chapelle. His wife, Anna Mae Bridger, and her colleagues at the Ringmer Historical Society were similarly helpful and generous with their time, tracking down memories of Claire Tisdall in their village. Dr Roderick Bailey found a number of original sources for me, including the bearers’ map on the endpapers of this book, and listened patiently over a number of years as the work evolved. Christian Dinesen read every draft and was unfailingly supportive and calm. Likewise Dr Colin Hughes, who offered guidance and expertise throughout and directed me to the Oxford Digital Archive. Neil Taylor’s expertise was also greatly appreciated.
Invaluable technical assistance came from a variety of people. Dr Annabel Emslie made sure that my understanding of early twentieth-century anaesthetics was up to snuff. Dr Tom David carefully explained military scientific and medical research. Robert Mayhew advised on details of cross-Channel weather and distances, and on the keeping of ferrets. Rob Burkett and Major (Retd) Vince Ward shared their knowledge of the life of Charles Valadier. Mr Frank Tips of the Belgian Blues ensured that that my spelling and pronunciation of Belgian place names were correct.
British historians are truly lucky in the range of archives and resources available to them and in the expertise of the men and women who work there. Susan McGann, from the Archives of the Royal College of Nursing in Edinburgh, enabled me to discover the provision made for exhausted nurses during the Great War. Sebastian Wormell, the archivist at Harrods, was hugely helpful in his provision of material from wartime catalogues and on Harrods’ staff contacts in France. Captain Pete Starling of the Army Medical Services Museum was an excellent and enthusiastic guide to the library and archives; the museum may be small, but it is first-rate. Mrs P. Hatfield of the Eton College Library sought out material on the Dent family for me, and Michael Palmer, archivist at the Zoological Society of London, explained what FRZS meant in 1918. I also commend Mr Andrew Bamji, founder and steward of the Gillies Archive at Sidcup, who has preserved material that would otherwise have been lost and has done the history of medicine a great service. The librarians at Lambeth Palace, who dug out one Crockford’s after another for me, are also thanked here, as are those at the Royal College of Surgeons in Lincoln’s Inn Field.
The chapter on chaplains at the front would have been quite impossible without contributions from the following people. Dr Michael Snape, of the University of Birmingham, gave me an opportunity to try out my material at the Amport House Conference in 2009. He was extremely supportive of the research I was undertaking and provided me with a number of crucial sources. Dr Edward Madigan, of Trinity College, Dublin, explained the complexities of Catholic nomenclature and pastoral relations to me, as well as providing references from his own work. The Ven. William Jacob, Archdeacon of Charing Cross, was similarly helpful with the detail of Canon Law and other clerical detail. Polly McKay referred me to Clive Castle of St Luke’s Church in Bath, who kindly found the photograph of Chaplain Doudney, his memorial and his obituary in the parish magazine. He also provided copies of the parish newsletter for me. David Black of the Museum of Army Chaplaincy was a great source of useful information and support, and in particular gave me details of the changed curriculum for chaplains in 1917. Father Timothy Radcliffe, OM, gave up an afternoon to share with me his memories of his godfather, Dom John Lane Fox. He also illuminated my understanding of service and ministry, as well as providing me with photographs and other material without which the chapter on chaplains would be much the poorer. In addition, he referred me to Robin Baird-Smith, who generously gave me copies of his correspondence with Dom John as well as great insight into the direction of the work. Our Imperial College Chaplain, Andrew Wilson, read the chapter and improved it with his clear, detailed comments.
Bert Payne’s granddaughter, Sarah Pickstone, directed me to his sound archive with all its wonderful, heart-stopping detail. She also found his photograph for me and shared her memories for the Epilogue. Dr Sanders Marble, Senior Historian of the Office of Medical History for the US Army, has given me countless opportunities to talk over details, themes and historiography relating to the Great War. His expertise and thoughtfulness were crucial in shaping the material in this book. Dr Jessica Reinisch of Birkbeck College translated chunks of German for me at very short notice. Thanks go also to Dr Claire Elliott for her perceptive questions and observations about the physical and spiritual traces of the Great War on the body and psyche of the nation.
Finally, it has been a great privilege to work with Jenny Stephens and the extraordinary artists of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre as they prepared the play Wounded using sections of research and analysis from my chapter on stretcher bearers. Their skill and commitment to the material, and their brilliant performances, were astonishing, and it was a privilege to watch them bring history to life. Thank you all.