Paul Reed - Great War Lives: A Guide for Family Historians

F irst I would like to thank Rupert Harding, the commissioning editor of this title. I have very much enjoyed working with Rupert, who has always been willing to give good counsel and advice, and has made the work on the book so much easier.

As with all the books I have worked on, many old friends have offered help and assistance during this project. I would particularly like to mention Geoff Bridger, Maurice Johnson, Iain McHenry, Kyle Tallet (for great help with the Royal Naval Division), Teri Murphy, Pam Waugh and Wayne and Michelle Young. I would also like to thank all those friends on Facebook and Twitter who offered kind words of encouragement, and hope the book lives up to their eager expectations.

One friend, John Hayes-Fisher, deserves special mention. Having had the pleasure to work with John on numerous TV projects over many years, it has always been rewarding to stomp round a battlefield with him. For this book John very kindly gave up his time in a busy period to guide me round Wadhurst, and used his local knowledge to good effect.

Thanks to those who have given permission to quote from various publications and use images: David Langley for permission to quote from his excellent revised and annotated version of Ol d Soldier s Neve r Die ; the Royal Engineers Museum for permission to use material on William Hackett; the West Sussex County Council Record Office for material from their regiment collection.

Peter Henderson, archivist at the Kings School in Canterbury, was extremely helpful in sourcing material in the schools archives on Vernon Austin. I am indebted to him and his colleague Sarah Gray for answering my queries and allowing me to use the image of Austins funeral. Kings now have a website featuring pupils who died in the Great War at: www.hambo.org/kingscanterbury/.

For information and photographs relating to William Hackett VC I am grateful to Jeremy Banning and Peter Barton for their help. They not only willingly shared their knowledge, but went out of their way to assist. To their credit they have been working on a memorial to Hackett, which should be in place at Givenchy by the time this book is published. Details of their project can be found at: www.tunnellersmemorial.com.

My sincere thanks go to members of the Great War Forum who have helped with many minor enquiries, which have helped to make up the larger picture. A few asked to remain anonymous, but I would especially like to thank Chris Baker, Terry Denham, Andy Lonergan, Ken Lees, Dave OMara, Andy Pay, Kim McMahon, Kate Wills and Joan Wilson. Joan Wilsons father, John Stephens, was exceptionally kind in providing a copy of the History of the Royal Naval Division , for which I am especially grateful.

Finally, as ever, a special thanks to my family: to my wife Kieron, and also Ed and Poppy, who have both followed me from childhood into being young adults on the many journeys to trace these Great War lives. Without all their love and support this book, and all the others, would not have been possible.