Men of 18 in 1918 - a poignant memoir of an 18-year-old infantryman serving on the Western Front during WW1.
This really is an outstanding book and deserves a place in the top 10 books ever written about the Western Front. It is extremely well constructed each chapter is a masterpiece in its own right. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
The author describes the many horrors of trench warfare in an impassive manner, even though he experienced violent carnage and the loss of his friends and colleagues on a daily basis. From a military history perspective, I particularly liked the day-to-day detail of the primitive preparations for gas warfare and the methods of cleaning the trenches of any remaining noxious gases.
His descriptions of the sights and sounds of the various German shells were quite chilling, especially when linked with his vivid memories of ‘going over the top’ and walking through the still warm bodies of a previous wave of British troops.
One event epitomises the dreadfully organised campaign. His company were generally poorly supplied with hot food. They were about to go over the top when a much-needed slab of delicious, but raw, meat was delivered for them to cook for their meal. They were devastated when they had to leave it behind in their trench, due to time pressure because of the need to attack.
But for the fortune of his birth date coupled with the urgent need for thousands more troops on the front line in 1918, Frederick Hodges almost certainly would have been an officer like many of his school chums. If that had been the case, he probably would not have survived to write his amazing memoir. Junior officers’ life expectancy could be measured in weeks.

Wow. I recommend this to anyone who likes history and memoirs. This book is vivid in detail, yet reads like a diary so you can pick it up and put it down, but even if you put it down, you'll keep coming back to it. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The author tells a terrifying and true story of his experience in one of the most brutal wars known to man.

His memories of names, places, and battles is amazing – a good part of the book is recollections of the men he knew and their fate. At times I did find it tedious to read name after name, but I understand that the author wanted to ensure that they weren’t forgotten over time. The descriptions of life in the trenches are full of detail and heartbreaking to read. Boys that turned 18 were eligible to enlist for battle, and by the time they turned 19 they were hardened men, inured to death and destruction.

The story follows Hodges as he enlists, trains, and eventually is called up to the Western Front. Even though he is only involved in the war for a short time, he experiences an immense amount of physical and mental struggles. Despite these hardships, Hodges continually writes that his experience in the war is exhilarating and fascinating. He and his fellow soldiers try to make the best of their days as they bond and support each other.
One thing I enjoyed about this book is how the author described his surroundings as a juxtaposition to the horrors around him. He mentions singing birds, fields of poppies, and bright blue skies, and makes sure to note that he is able to appreciate the world around him as nature continues to thrive despite the horrors of war and the bloody casualties.

The author includes many anecdotes about how the soldiers pass the time by talking about life back home and making lighthearted jokes. Each soldier is doing his best to fight the Germans (known as “Jerry” among the men) and maintain their hold on the Western Front. There are also stories about the tedious tasks that must be done: polishing their weapons, digging out trenches, and repairing the miles of barbed wire that provided a barrier to No Mans Land.

This story is poignant and gripping at the same time. I enjoyed the author’s insights on his harrowing experience as well as the opinions he shared about the war. His writing style is easy to read and you will learn about life in the trenches firsthand. The more I read about WW1, the more I respect the men that gave their lives for this pointless conflict. I highly recommend this book.

This book gives you a great insight into the terrible happenings of world war 1,told by Frederick himself from growing up in Northampton this to the trenches of France and Belgium.It contains both dark humour and also some stark reminders of what they went through for sake of their country and how many lives were lost including many friends along the way.This is a brilliant book if you’re interested in this genre,a great five star read.a

This book looks at what it was like for 18 year young man sent to the frontlines during WWI. It's an eye opening read.

Men of 18 in 1918 is a great book. My husband and I love learning about the war we have had questions about a lot of things and this book does just that it gives amazing detail in everything from beginning to end. I highly recommend this book.

“Men of 18 in 1918: Memories of the Western Front in World War One” (ISBN: 9781800555846; ASIN B09ZB7NLRG), by Frederick James Hodges, publication date 31 July 2022, gets the top rating of five stars, but it really has earned six stars.

This is an extraordinary and eminently readable work by a simply gifted author that rivals “All Quiet on the Western Front,” by Erich Maria Remarque, and the “Guns of August,” by Barbara W. Tuchman. Just as those two books had their own thrust, so too does “Men od 18 in 1918,” i.e., the lot of the “Poor Bloody Infantry,” and their dogged courage, unquenchable spirit, and earthy while at war.

Juxtaposed against these great soldiers were the British, French and Belgian generals, who provided little training, relevance and effective leadership to their soldiers while relying on their long-outdated experiences of the Colonial War against the Boers some twenty years before. The author recalled, “The PBI [Poor Bloody Infantry] were never respected by their generals; we never saw them in the forward area…. They were a complete contrast to the fighting man.”

This is a deeply personal but professionally recollections of an 18-year-old combatant about his military experiences and those of his fellow soldiers of the line, recounted in his eightieth year with such clarity that memories from 60 years before seem as fresh as yesterday’s events. His recollections reveal how much the soldiers of battalions and companies of the First World War carried the war despite the archaic practices and “leadership” of the high staff.

Make no mistake; this was not a tale told by a disaffected common soldier about high-ranking brass. Instead, is an astutely observed set of life-changing experiences with lessons for all of us, just as author Remarque and historian Tuchman did before him, Hodges leaves us with a timeless understanding that if applied, will leave people and the world a better place.

Sincere thanks to the publisher, Kindle Edition, for granting this reviewer the opportunity to read this Advance Reader Copy (ARC), and thanks to NetGalley for helping to make that possible.