Under Most Trying and Difficult Circumstances: The Actions of the 59th (2nd North Midland) Division

This new history spans the formation and training of the Division, their role in quelling the Irish Rising in 1916, and military operations on the Western Front 1917-1918. The author has undertaken extensive archival research and made use of unpublished primary sources from public archives. The 59th Division fought hard to throw off its perception as a second line, second rate unit into a formation that won a Victoria Cross and a myriad of Distinguished Conduct Medals and Distinguished Service Orders. AUTHOR: Nigel Atter is an independent scholar of the Great War. His primary areas of interest are Sir Douglas Haig, the Battle of Loos, 1915 and the Campaign in Mesopotamia 1914-1918. A founding member of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Branch of the Western Front Association, he has presented papers on a range of diverse topics such as the Indian Corps on the Western Front, Lord Kitchener, Sir Douglas Haig, Tigers on the Tigris and the Battle of Loos. Nigel was military history advisor, editor and secretary to the 'Oadby Remembers 1914-1918' project. He undertook research on individual soldiers and oversaw the research from the wider team. His recent publications include; In the Shadow of Bois Hugo (Helion 2017) and, With Valour and Distinction (Helion 2019). 6 b/w illustrations, 20 b/w photos, 6 colour illustrations, 20 colour photos, 12 b/w maps