The Unknown Warrior: The Extraordinary Story of the Nation's Hero Buried in Westminster Abbey

THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLER 

Chosen by WATERSTONES as one of their BEST HISTORY BOOKS for 2024

‘Compelling… [Nichol has a] terrific eye for detail; an ability to blend tear-jerking letters, quotation and personal anecdotes into a rich, thought-provoking narrative’
Daily Telegraph 

Over one million British Empire soldiers died during the First World War. More than a century later, over half a million still have no known grave. 

As the nation grieved, the need for remembrance became paramount and an idea was born for a single ‘Unknown Warrior’ representing all the missing to be recovered from the battlefields and buried in Westminster Abbey on Armistice Day, 11 November 1920, when the Cenotaph was due to be unveiled on Whitehall by the King.

Bestselling author and former RAF Tornado navigator John Nichol draws on his own experience of combat and loss to shine light on this century-old story. His search becomes a moving personal journey exploring the true meaning of camaraderie, service, sacrifice and remembrance from the First World War through to the present day.

About the Author :
John Nichol served in the Royal Air Force for fifteen years. On active duty during the first Gulf War in 1991, his Tornado bomber was shot down during a mission over Iraq. Captured, tortured and held as a prisoner of war, John was paraded on television, provoking worldwide condemnation and leaving one of the most enduring images of the conflict.

John is the bestselling co-author of Tornado Down and author of many highly acclaimed epics, including Spitfire, Lancaster and Tornado, all of which were Sunday Times bestsellers. He has made a number of TV documentaries with Second World War veterans, written for national newspapers and magazines, and is a widely quoted commentator on military affairs.

Review :
‘Compelling… [Nichol has a] terrific eye for detail; an ability to blend tear-jerking letters, quotation and personal anecdotes into a rich, thought-provoking narrative’ ‘A brilliant, impossibly moving, poignant, illuminating book – a must-read from a master of modern military writing’ ‘Popular history of the highest order. Fascinating, moving, thought-provoking. A terrific book’ 'It is rare to find a tale so strange, intimate and human yet at the same time so enormous, so global in its importance. Yet again John Nichol impresses us with his ability to weave together the little details and the grand narrative' 'I was very moved by John Nichol's Unknown Warrior -- it is a beautiful, compassionate, emotional book. Utterly fabulous; an astonishing achievement' 'A wonderful book; incredibly moving and thought-provoking. John Nichol is uniquely placed to explore a soldier's worst nightmare: to be forgotten. The Unknown Warrior is a mind-churning exploration of how people and nations attempt to find peace when those who gave their lives for them cannot be laid to rest. It is a moving and original tribute to the men and women who may never have a grave but will always be remembered' 'John Nichol's Unknown Warrior is, quite simply, truly superb. If you thought you knew the story of the nation's 'Unknown Warrior', then think again! This is a powerfully visceral, emotional, and hard-hitting piece of work that, at times, leaves one reeling from the astonishing stories that Nichol sets out across its information-packed pages. It is a subject which he necessarily deals with sensitively, conveying what is his clear and genuine passion in every word that he lays out, and in a manner that engages the reader from the start to the finish of this absolutely remarkable book' 'A meticulously researched book covering the experiences of soldiers on the Western Front, and the story of the Unknown Warrior resting in Westminster Abbey as a symbol of the hundreds of thousands of the missing. Using his own experience of conflict, John delves into the story, helping the reader understand what those involved went through. An absolutely amazing read; I learnt so much about the process'  'In these complicated and confusing times, John Nichol brings his own unique perspective to what it means to serve one's country, to put oneself in danger for the greater good. More importantly, he will share with his audience how best we should honour and remember the fallen and learn about the past, whilst trying to make sense of what is happening in the present' 'The Unknown Warrior's shrine has been a focal point for those who have lost loved ones in conflict for over a century - as relevant today as it was in the aftermath of the Great War. John Nichol's wonderful and eminently readable book is the story behind this remarkable tomb, told by one who has seen war at first hand'  'I was very moved by John Nichol’s The Unknown Warrior; it is an immense undertaking, both fascinating and incredibly powerful. An emotional ride -- superb' ‘A truly fascinating book which brings the incredible story of the Unknown Warrior to life, and cleverly links the past and the present’ 'A treasured and very special book that makes a critical contribution to our understanding of the power and importance of commemoration, and the complex relationship between our nation and its armed forces. Fascinating and so well told'