Standing on sodden fields at Waterloo awaiting battle; surviving the damp, dirt, and dead bodies in the Western Front trenches; and enduring the heat of the desert at El Alamein were hard enough experiences without also having to face death as the enemy closed in.
A soldier’s life could be hard with problems of weather, accommodation, morale, supplies, and death always an issue, and it is the experience of the ordinary soldier, from Waterloo to WWII, that will be looked at in a public lecture, which takes place in Galway next week.
The talk, entitled Poor Bloody Infantry, will be given by Brian MacGabhann on Thursday January 26 in the Renmore Barracks as part of the Renmore History Society’s series of lectures.
Mr MacGabhann will examine the reality of life for the ordinary soldier in battle, and report their actual experience of it. Some surprising facts will also emerge, such as that in even the fiercest battle, nearly half of those in the thick of it never fired their weapon, or the fact that there is no recorded instance of an actual bayonet charge. The talk will make use of history, psychology, movies, and poetry.
For more information and booking contact Brian MacGabhann on 085 - 729 8831 or e-mail [email protected]
