To Whom It May Concern

It is with considerable pleasure that I write in support of Andrew Tatham's research into the officers of the 8th Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment during the Great War.

I met Andrew at the outset of his project and was immediately struck not only by its utility but also by the imagination that lies behind it. Despite the apparent familiarity of so many aspects of the Great War, in reality much remains hidden, not least the personal histories of the men who fought it. Andrew's work is making a significant contribution to our understanding of the regimental officer during the war. But the project is also informed by Andrew's own sense of involvement in a living history that unites past, present and future.

It is because of this latter aspect, in particular, that establishing contacts with the families of the officers concerned is a vital part of Andrew's research. Andrew, himself, has been generous in sharing his knowledge with other scholars and I hope that he will be given every assistance in a very worthwhile enterprise to which he has already devoted a great deal of time and energy.

I should be very happy to expand these comments to persons wishing to contact me directly.



J. M. Bourne BA PhD FRHistS
Senior Lecturer in Modern History
J.M.Bourne@bham.ac.uk