Massacre of the Innocents - The Crofton Diaries, Ypres 1914-1915 (Hardcover)

Crofton's commentary offers a fascinating glimpse into the mindset of the regular officer class largely wiped out by the end of 1915. Covering the period when bloody and unsuccessful British attempts to break the stalemate were made at Festubert, Neuve Chapelle and Aubers, Crofton describes the bewildering pace of technological change as new weapons like gas and hand grenades entered the fray. Whether criticising government policy, analysing the repercussions of battles in other theatres of war or observing the burgeoning war economy behind the lines, Crofton's outspoken scepticism informs our understanding of a lost generation of professional soldiers.