The Secret Battle

** "The Secret Battle" by A. P. Herbert is a war story from the early 1900s. It follows Harry Penrose, a young man excited to fight in World War I. Hoping for a thrilling adventure, Harry instead finds himself facing the terrible facts of war during the Gallipoli campaign. At first, Harry is shown as a youthful character with a lively imagination, holding idealized views of what war is like; however, as the storyline advances to his regiment's deployment to Gallipoli, readers soon observe the mixture of excitement and dread that combat produces in Harry. The beginning parts show a clear image of everyday life on the ship transporting the soldiers and the initial beach landings while focusing on Harry's innocence which quickly disappears because of the cruel war. Getting through scary events, suffering defeats, and dealing with pressure, Harry's story questions what it means to be a true hero and reveals war's devastating effects. **