SEBASTOPOL TRENCHES & FIVE MONTHS IN THEM

Review by Major Colin Robins: it has been my personal crusade that the ‘real war’ was not the spectacular battles, despite the incredible bravery there shown, but was fought in the trenches, in an eleven month slog, suffering from abysmal weather, poor rations, worn-out clothing, disease and a determined enemy.Pack travelled out in January 1855 with a ship full of drafts for different regiments including an Irish regiment which had left its ‘less reliable old soldiers’ – a euphemism for the battalion’s drunks – behind on initial embarkation but now needed them, sober or not, to replace casualties.He describes the journey, and life in the trenches on arrival with an attention to detail which is unusual and all the more valuable.This is one of the less common books on our war and original copies command high prices when they (rarely) come on the market.The reprint is therefore all the more welcome and is highly recommended.