Distant Thunder: Canada's Citizen Soldiers on the Western Front

This is a fascinating and gripping history of Canadian involvement in WW 1. Having visited Vimy, Mons, Bruges and Verdun in the 1950s, her book, encouraged me to make a return visit, which I did on July 1 2001 for local celebrations. It is must reading for Canadians and necessary for others who want a complete picture of WW 1. Mixing in her father's letters and journals with the history gives the reader a very close sense of presence at the battles. It has made me check out my relatives who also were in WW 1. It is especially poignant given the present state of world

Robert James Kennedy served with the 2nd Battery, 1st Artillery Brigade during World War I and saw action on the battlefields of every major operation involving the Canadian Expeditionary Force until he was wounded in August 1917 from a direct hit on his gun pit. Kennedy was present at St. Julien during the first gas attack in 1915, and was mentioned in dispatches "For gallant and distinguished service in the field" in April 1917 during the Battle of Vimy Ridge. In October 1917, Kennedy was sent back to Canada as a result of his wounds. During the course of his battlefield service, Kennedy wrote in his diaries which, along with his letters home, are the basis for Distant Thunder: Canada's Citizen Soldiers On The Western Front. Joyce Kennedy is the daughter of Robert Kennedy and has enhanced her father's writings with period battlefield photographs and maps. Distant Thunder is a superb contribution to the growing body of World War I literature and highly recommended for personal, academic, and community library military history collections.

Distant Thunder tells the truth behind the real contribution that Canadians made in the First Great War. The book shows that even though Canada's great contribution, the nation was never praised for the blood and men it drained on the trench lines in the heart of Europe. It shows the true determination and grit of the men fighting there and it is told in a very easy to follow and understandable way. Since I am a Canadian, I can relate to the story. A true Canadian story that could never be told but now is there for anyone to read.The book gives accounts of battles such as Vimy Ridge as realistically as possible and make the reader believe that they are truly in the shoes of the soldiers. Dr. Joyce M. Kennedy Ph.D. wrote a gem of a book here and I stamp it a must read for everybody.