Rats Alley. Trench Names of the Western Front 1914-1918 by Peter Chasseaud. From the blurb: 'The naming of the trenches became general practice during the winter of 1914-15 and these names soon appeared on the embryonic trench maps which were produced in ever growing numbers during the later stages of the war--the British producing some 20 million large-scale maps in all. This fascinating book lists each trench name--and the names of any places, camps, localities, and installations associated with them, their significance, and how to find them with the relevant Map References. Looked at from both contemporary and modern points of view, the names reveal the full horror of trench warfare and throw an extraordinary sidelight on the cultural life of the period, and the landscape and battles of the Western Front. Names such as Lovers Lane, Idiot Corner, Cyanide Trench, Crazy Redoubt, Doleful Post, Furies Trench, Peril Avenue, Lunatic Sap and Gangrene Alley can be placed in context.' Illustrated. Hardcover. 416pp.
Fine in a fine dustjacket.
