You may be interested to see some of the coverage the book has received:
Lives of the First World War
May 2014-Mar 2019
Bernard Brookes is included in the innovative digital project which was set up to discover, explore and remember personal stories from the First World War.
Poster on display in an exhibition at the Science Museum, containing a quote from the diary. Spotted by Izzy, one of Bernard Brookes’ great-granddaughters.
“We arrived at Dover at about 3 o’clock and I heard that the men on the ship were going up to three different hospitals. France has now been left behind and once more I have set foot on English soil. How many times whilst in the trenches have I thought that I would never again see England.”
Catena
Catenians, their families and the Great War
Apr 2015
After the War, Bernard Brookes joined the Croydon Circle of the Catenian Association and served as Secretary for a number of years. In this interview for Catena magazine, Una Barrie talks about her father’s experiences and diary.
Una Barrie was interviewed on this 24-hour TV channel about the Field of Remembrance around Westminster Abbey. Tribute crosses are planted there and at five other UK locations, in memory of people who lost their lives serving our country. Find out more on the Royal British Legion website
Croydon Advertiser
War diary of sergeant recalls Christmas truce
Aug 2014
Una Barrie was interviewed by the Croydon Advertiser about her father’s diary.
On the centenary of Britain’s entry into what became known as World War 1, Piccadilly’s famous advertising signs paid tribute to the fallen.
He survived the war, but the top image shows Sgt Bernard Brookes of the Queen’s Westminster Rifles. View more images on demotix.com
ZDF
An interview with Una Barrie was filmed by ZDF (the German equivalent of the BBC), for a programme broadcast on 6 August 2014 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War One.
Watch the programme from 14:30 to 21.30 (in German)
If you find this content is blocked, here’s a link to stream the programme outside Germany (with thanks to Madeline).
Download the translation (Word document)
BOOK
Christmas with ‘the enemy’
June 2014
Bernard Brookes’ experiences are featured in a new book by Jackie Storer, Hidden Stories of the First World War. It’s a collection of 30 stories brought together by the British Library, Oxford University and Europeana, illustrated with photos, memorabilia and maps.
LONDON NEW JOURNAL
Diary
May 2014
Life for a young man today compared with life as reported by Bernard Brookes, written by Josh Barrie – his great-grandson – for this online magazine.
Read the article on iTunes (subscription only, free for the first seven days).
FOX SPORTS
Rise as One: World War Truce
Feb 2014
Una Barrie was interviewed by Fox Sports about her father’s experience of the famous WW1 Christmas Truce and football match.
DER SPEIGEL
Great War Centenary: Britain’s Careful Commemoration of WW1
Jan 2014
Read the original article in German (PDF)
Read the online version in English (opens in a new window)
SUTTON & CROYDON GUARDIAN
WWI signaller’s diaries tell of trench warfare and shell shock
Jun 2013
Article by Henry McMorrow about the publication of the book, including interview with Una Barrie.
BRITAIN AT WAR (Issue 56)
The Emotive Story of the Christmas Truce
Dec 2011
Magazine article describing how, for a few brief hours, the killing stopped along the trenches. Includes the account of Sergeant Bernard Brookes.
CHRISTMAS TRUCE
The Western Front 1914
Oct 1984
An extract from the diary was featured in this compilation of first hand accounts by Malcolm Brown and Shirley Seaton.
***All profits from the sale of this book go to the Royal British Legion.***
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