Book Review: The Gunner: WW I; The Great One

THE ALFORD SAGA;  THE GUNNER 

By Paul Almond.      Eric Alford’s life on the peaceful Gaspé Coast is shattered by his decision to follow his elder brother John into the cataclysm of death and destruction that is the First World War. By his thundering Howitzer, Gunner Alford faces off against the enemy through harrowing battles that defined the European Theatre: Ypres, Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, Hill 70, and The Somme. Suffering wounds and mental exhaustion, Eric is evacuated to a Rouen field hospital where he is surrounded by the hellish consequences of combat: blindness, amputations, and gas-inflicted horrors. And here, suffering with PTSD (shell-shock), Eric wonders whether he will ever see home again.

1. The Deserter 978-1-55278-901-8 Paperback $19.95
2. The Survivor 978-1-55278-967-4 Paperback $19.95
3. The Pioneer 978-1-77087-123-6 Paperback $19.95
4. The Pilgrim 978-1-77087-163-2 Paperback $19.95
5. The Chaplain 978-0-99197-460-3 Paperback $19.95



WW II

6. The Gunner 978-0-88995-512-7 Paperback $19.95

     For those who are interested in finding out what WWI was like, this book is a good one. Written by a Canadian film maker, who lives in the US, some of it is written like a Hollywood script, a bit over the top, if you'll excuse the pun, but he culled autobiographies and diaries to reflect the true horror of this war. We can learn much about how to treat those who served in US data is shocking:

My late father was in the Air Force
in WW II

wartime. In fact, shell shock, now we know it is a huge problem: PTSD. This is a relatively new concept. We really must do more for our veterans, who can end up with mental health issues, some and homeless.

Although national tracking of veteran suicide rates is unreliable at best, the VA estimates that 22 veterans commit suicide each day. This means approximately 8,030 veterans kill themselves every year, more than 5,540 of whom are 50 or older.

     It is well-crafted, and was a good read for me. I dropped History in gr. 10, with a 52% average! (I took Music, Physical Education, English and three Maths: Calculus, Functions & Relations, Algebra!) There is a map, a glossary, as well, which helped me navigate my way through this portion of the war effort. Most soldiers thought the war might be over before they managed to serve. This, certainly, was not the case.
     This book is the sixth in a series loosely based on the author's forefather. Students study WW I in grade 10. This series would be an excellent one for kids, as I have always learned well from well-researched historical fiction. Coincidentally, TVO is featuring a mini-series on this topic, references are below.

Canadian and World Studies, 2013, Grades 9 and 10 PDF Format (2013 - 1.9 MB)  

The Grade 10 history courses provide students with an overview of Canadian history from the eve of World War I to the present.

I have a WW I helmet someone repurposed. They were very heavy.

Turtle

From my mom's photos
(WW II)

Dad and his sister: 1942

Apocalypse: World War One - TVO

Apocalypse is a monumental five-part miniseries culled from more than 500 hours of archival material. This is WWI as you have never experienced it before: artfully colorized in a painstakingly researched process that brings the footage to life with unprecedented impact.

The Great War

War in Colour

Colourization

Colour's Impact

Historical Objects

Recreating Sound

Hearing Battle

Amateur Footage

Human Moments

Music