Very Unimportant Officer

Captain Alexander Stewart was recruited to the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) regiment in 1915 at the age of 33. He survived the horrors of the trenches and served during the brutal battle of the Somme before being injured. Flashes of dark humour and an appreciation of the absurd enabled Captain Stewart to remain sane amid Europe's headlong rush to destruction. Commenting on subjects as diverse as the difficulty of shooting a rifle while smoking a pipe, and how to hold onto his boots during a vicious shell attack, Captain Stewart captures daily life alongside the dramatic battles of the war. He vividly describes the Battle of the Somme and the infamous mud that was more like thick slime than mud, and provides details of battles and battle plans as well as the unbearable living conditions in the trenches. Yet throughout the chaos and futility of war, Captain Stewart reflects with compassion and intelligence on the fears and immense courage of the men under his command. A VERY UNIMPORTANT OFFICER is a fascinating portrait of a man's struggle to retain his humanity amidst the lunacy of war.