WILL’S WAR IS a true story based on facts, dates and place names I discovered in an old diary kept by my grandfather, William Upshall, passed on via his son Eric Upshall (my father) and transcribed by me some 80 years later.

The diary describes the life of Will and his close family in the village of Evercreech in Somerset and then Will’s experiences during the Great War of 1914-18.

At 16 years of age Bill makes a brave decision to lie about his age in order to enlist in the Army and joins the Somerset Light Infantry.

When the Great War breaks out, he finds himself in a completely unfamiliar world but somehow manages to toughen-up and become a soldier. When his Regiment receives orders to travel to India, he volunteers to go and faces a long and difficult journey to what will seem a very strange land to a country boy from Somerset.
Bill is a quiet lad with an innocent way about him but he sees humour in the strangest of circumstances and has a very thoughtful nature, making him a compelling narrator.

He describes his travels through India, the Andaman Islands and finally finds himself in Mesopotamia.
In total he spends five long years away from home before returning to the familiar surroundings of Evercreech when the war finally ends.

His observations provide a fascinating personal view of the world during this eventful period of history.