 First edition cover | |
| Author | Ronald Skirth Editor:Duncan Barrett |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Non-Fiction |
| Publisher | Macmillan Publishers |
Publication date | 2010 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 354 |
| ISBN | 9780230746732 |
The Reluctant Tommy is a book compiled by Duncan Barrett from the memoirs of Ronald Skirth, a member of the Royal Garrison Artillery during the First World War. His experiences during the Battle of Messines, the Battle of Passchendaele and the Second Battle of the Piave River, which Skirth calls the Battle of the Asiago Plateau, were detailed in this book. The book captured attention due to Skirth's actions during the war to avoid enemy casualties. The manuscript was known only by the family for decades before finally being published in 2010. The book received favourable reviews on publication, but was also criticised for significant historical inaccuracies.