The new book, based on Stephen Bellis's PhD thesis, consists of an introduction, nine chapters and compendious appendices and registers. It is primarily based on the as yet unexplored testimonies of selected priests who were called to serve as chaplains in the British Army on the Western Front during the First World War, as well as on other archival material. It examines the day-to-day pressures on these chaplains (pp. xiv–xv). Roman Catholic priests in the British Army were generally respected by Catholic soldiers at the Front as comrades because of their vital service in administering the sacraments and providing spiritual care (p. 34). Catholic artefacts such as crucifixes were found in the possession of many soldiers, a means of divine support while in combat (p. 40). Every division of the British army had chaplaincy support (p. 54); generally these men were unarmed (p. 57) and volunteers (p. 61). It is not surprising that a remarkable number of them were killed at the Front (p. 107). Chaplains also kept diaries in which they recorded important events and revealed something of their inner feelings (p. 140). The situation deteriorated in the spring of 1918 when casualties among the chaplains escalated (p. 163). But even the midst of the carnage they kept their personal faith in God (p. 172). Not all the chaplains decided to go back to the UK at the end of the war; some remained in post-war Europe, in France or in Germany (p. 201).

The author is here tackling an obvious desideratum in the study of the priest as soldier: the personal challenges in the context of his Catholic faith. The carefully selected sources and commentary enable the reader to understand the complex situation which these chaplains faced. Criticism might be aimed at the quality of some of the printed illustrations; but by and large this book definitely enriches our knowledge of this important topic.