Pushed and the Return Push

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

22324

Title

Pushed and the Return Push

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in the fluid warfare of 1917–1918, this memoir follows a British artillery officer as his brigade retreats from the Somme, loses a battery to a determined German assault, and eventually joins the Allied counter-offensive. Blending gritty realism with moments of dark humor, the narrative captures the strain of trench life, the chaos of retreat, and the quiet resilience of soldiers facing overwhelming odds.

Summary up to 500 words

In *Pushed and the Return Push*, George Herbert Fosdike Nichols recounts his harrowing experiences as an artillery officer in the British Army during the final, chaotic stages of World War I. The narrative begins in the spring of 1917, shortly after Nichols returns from a wound at Zillebeke to find his brigade recovering under new leadership. Life in the quiet, grass-grown fields of Flanders offers a brief respite, characterized by the resourcefulness of the men and the grim humor that sustains morale amidst the lingering threat of enemy massing. However, this peace is shattered on March 21, when the German offensive breaks through, forcing a disciplined but desperate retreat. The core of the story details the catastrophic loss of A Battery. Major Harville, a devout civilian soldier who had embraced the war with honor, holds his position until the very last round, ultimately falling to machine-gun fire while defending his guns. The narrative captures the bravery of his comrades, including Bombardier Clidstone, who fought with rifles after ammunition ran out, and the orderly withdrawal of the remaining detachments who spiked their guns to deny them to the enemy. As the front shifts, the brigade moves south, participating in the defense of Amiens and the subsequent push northward. Nichols vividly describes the transition from static trench warfare to mobile operations, highlighting the arrival of fresh divisions and the eventual turning of the tide against the Germans. The text provides a matter-of-fact account of the human cost of war, the loss of friends like Major Harville, and the enduring spirit of the soldiers who fought to hold the line despite overwhelming odds and the grim reality of a retreating army.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Biography
• History