Into Battle

This is a story of two aristocratic brothers who volunteered to fight in the First World War and who were killed within months of each other in Flanders while fighting bravely for their country. The letters contained in this book are those that they both sent to their beloved Mother, Lady Ettie Desborough, describing in vivid details not only the battles that they took part in but also, particularly in Julian Desborough's case, with journalistic verve the events surrounding these battles in a time when an aristocrat such as he could go to battle accompanied by his greyhounds and horses. The story of the two young men contrasts the mud of the trenches with the luxury of leave spent in the Ritz in Paris and the palatial grounds of their country homes in England. Julian and Billy were also consummate consumers. Their letters contain a constant stream of requests for luxury and utilitarian items that they deemed necessary to life on a battlefield, items that their parents, Lord and Lady Desborough were quick to furnish. Although the boys were indulged, their bravery in battle became legendary in the British army and Julian also enjoyed some repute as a War poet, composing the poem that forms the title of this book.