Our vision of the soldier of the Great War is often clouded by
sentimentality. 'Glum Heroes' is a portrayal of how the soldiers of
1914-1918 coped with their experiences. Using their own words, the book
considers coping from both the standpoint of psychological theory that
has stood the test of time, but more importantly, in the context of the
cultural norms of those born into the Victorian era. The external coping
resources available to soldiers encompassed family and friends. The
first was a resource limited by distance, and the central role of
correspondence in sustaining contact is explored. The second is often
misunderstood. The nature of the comradeship enjoyed on active service
mirrored that of the workplace of the early 20th century. The use of
modern notions of friendship distorts our understanding of how within
its limitations such comradeship was supportive. The two kingpins of the
internal resources that facilitated coping on active service include the
code of manliness and the stoic emphasis on endurance and management of
emotion. The role of these is greatly diminished in the modern world.
Similarly, spirituality wove its way into soldiers' coping in ways
unfamiliar in the present day. Fear and courage are examined in the
light of these coping mechanisms, as is the experience of loss and death
on the battlefield. Stripped of sentimentality and viewed without the
distorting prism of 21st century preoccupations, the coping mechanisms
of Great War soldiers, although very different from our own, were robust
and largely effective.
