Battlewrack

"Battlewrack" by F. Britten Austin is a compilation of war stories from the early 1900s that spotlight the lives of soldiers facing the brutalities of armed conflict, their bonds with each other, and post-traumatic stress. It includes heart-wrenching accounts such as "The Battery," "Pro Patria," and "Nerves!" that paint vivid pictures of the trials and tribulations military men endure. The opening story, "The Battery," introduces a young officer struggling to control his emotions as his artillery group readies for combat on a bleak morning. He battles his own fears amid the distant thunder of guns while the unit awaits deployment orders as fighting draws near. Fear and anticipation merge as the officer steps into the war, highlighting the intensity and rapid pace of the experiences that shape soldiers in wartime.