Merry Hell

Brian Douglas Tennyson is a professor emeritus of history at Cape Breton University.

‘Merry Hell is a well written book that can be used for casual reading or academic study... It is rare to come across such a book, especially in the study of history.’- Erich N. Lenz (Canadian Military History vol 25:01:2016) ‘This is a useful contribution to our understanding of the experiences of that generation of young Canadians who marched off to war 100 years ago.’- Patrick Brennan (University of Toronto Quarterly vol 84:03:2015) ‘Canadians everywhere, and not just those of us in Nova Scotia, owe a debt of gratitude to Robert Clements for writing this book – and to Brian Tennyson for placing it so resolutely in the public realm. This is a work permitting us to see with searing clarity the vile nature and devastating toll of modern warfare.’- Wilf Cude (The Antigonish Review #180) ‘I enjoyed reading every page of Merry Hell – couldn’t put it down, really. Part history and part memoir, it is a singular contribution to our knowledge of the First World War and those who fought it. Anyone who calls himself or herself a First World War historian will read this book with a smile of satisfaction on their face – it just rings true and genuine, and is more immediate than existing studies. And for those who haven’t read much on the First World War, at least at the battalion history level, this will be a revelation.’ - Steve Harris, Chief Historian, Directorate of History and Heritage, Department of National Defence ‘Merry Hell is an amazing book…. As we approach the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, Merry Hell is an invaluable addition to the literature of that war and Nova Scotia’s role in it.’ - John Boileau (The Chronicle Herald, September 14, 2013)

• IntroductionPrefaceChapter 1 In the BeginningChapter 2 Growing PainsChapter 3 Oh What a Lovely WarChapter 4 Under Way at LastChapter 5 Summer DaysChapter 6 Away to the RacesChapter 7 Phooie Il PluieChapter 8 What Next?Chapter 9 Waiting TimeChapter 10 Dear Old BlightyChapter 11 You Can Have ItChapter 12 In the Good Old Summer TimeChapter 13 Notes from the ObserversChapter 14 Birth of the Battalion CanteenChapter 15 Why?Chapter 16 The Corps Comes of AgeChapter 17 In Again Out AgainChapter 18 Dirty JobsChapter 19 Cleaning UpChapter 20 The Last 100 DaysChapter 21 The Long Road HomeAppendix Nominal Roll of Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men of the 25th BattalionRecommended Reading