Time to Remember: The Journal of Lance Sergeant William Webb, 2nd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 7th Division, October 1914-January 1916

William Webb was born in Warwick, England, and joined the 2nd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment in 1894 at the age of fourteen. In 1899, he sailed to South Africa with his regiment to fight in the Boer War; later they joined Lord Roberts Army in Bloemfontein and marched to capture Johannesburg and Pretoria, continuing on to fight at Diamond Hill, Belfast, and Komati Poort. At twenty-one years old he was awarded the Queen's South Africa medal with six battle clasps for his service. When the First World War started in 1914, the 7th Division was formed comprising of the 20, 21, 22 and 91 Brigades, most of which were manned by serving regulars returning from outposts in the British Empire. The 2nd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, part of the 22 Brigade, landed in Belgium on 4 October 1914. Lance Sergeant William Webb, now thirty-four years old, accompanied the regimental field doctors in the frontline and led his stretcher bearers to recover the dead, sick and wounded. They worked under constant fire from enemy artillery, snipers and machine-guns, often knee-deep in mud, cold and wet. The Warwickshire Regiment fought in many battles during the First World War including the First, Second and Third Ypres, Neuve Chapelle, Aubers Ridge, Givenchy, Festubert, Loos, the Somme, the retreat to the Hindenburg Line, and Arras and Vittorio Veneto (Italy). Their actions in these battles are described in the book. William Webb's story was graphically recorded in his recently discovered journal, covering actions from October 1914 until January 1916. During the Battle of Loos (September 1915), the Royal Warwickshire Regiment suffered a devastating blow, losing 19 officers and 517 men including their commanding officer, Colonel B R Lefroy. His last words, recorded from the 22nd Field Ambulance after he was fatally wounded on 25 September 1915, were documented in this journal. Lance Sergeant William Webb, together with his stretcher bearers, worked relentlessly under enemy fire for eight sleepless days and nights recovering their dead and wounded comrades. He was 'Mentioned in Despatches' for gallant and distinguished service in the field during the Battle of Loos. By January 1916, there were very few survivors from the original 2nd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment who had landed in Belgium. From 1916 until the end of the war in November 1918, the Warwickshires continued to fight and their actions have been described from battalion records. Time to Remember is an important contribution to understanding the dangers and discomforts that ordinary soldiers went through whilst fighting in the frontline during the First World War.

About the Author :
Gerald W Buxton was born in Plymouth, England, at the start of the Second World War and studied to become a professional engineer. His creative thinking combined with engineering skills enable him to develop new technologies and he soon became the owner of many world-wide patents. He was the Chief Executive Officer of a manufacturing business in New Zealand and later Vice President of Engineering for a machinery manufacturing company in the USA. On discovering the war diaries of Lance Sergeant William Webb, the grandfather of his wife Sandra Buxton, he became inspired to write Time to Remember. This book was written in the memory of William Webb and his late family, friends and comrades. Great men and unknown war heroes pass on and many of us never take the time to discover the dangers and hardships they endured so that we may live a better life today. Men like William Webb were very proud men, duty and honour always shadowing fear and death. When they returned home from war to their loving families they humbly swallowed their memories of death and destruction. They rarely talked about their war experiences, and out of respect, their families rarely enquired. In many cases our grandparents and parents pass away and we are left with little knowledge about the part they played in securing our future. By writing this book I hope we preserve these treasured memories for the future of our children.

Review :
“With its 28 photographs and 14 maps this is certainly amongst the more worthwhile of the books of its type published during the anniversary years and a little joy to those interested in the doings of 'The Immortal Seventh.'”