A Padre in France

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About this book

Army life behind the lines supplies George A. Birmingham with scenes of weary routine, unexpected kindness and small absurdities. Writing from his experience in France during the First World War, he describes the base camps, hospitals and administrative work that support the fighting forces. A medical restriction keeps him in safer posts, where his attention settles on the patience of wounded men and the persistence of those carrying out repetitive duties.

His observations combine respect for soldiers with an eye for inconvenient regulations and everyday comedy. Repeated Zeppelin warnings gradually lose their effect, while uncertain sailing times leave men waiting anxiously for leave boats. At a shop called Mary's Tea, young officers crowd around French cakes. For readers drawn to personal accounts of wartime service, these details show how waiting, work, refreshments and fellowship shape the experience of an army base.