by Charles Frederic Jerram (Author), Donald F. Bittner (Author)
In this memoir spanning nine decades, Lieutenant Colonel C.F. Jerram (1882-1969) of the Royal Marines recounts his life and military service through both world wars. Jerram describes in candid detail his late 19th-century childhood in Devon and Cornwall, the late Victorian and Edwardian Royal Navy, the Royal Navy's Far East Station, a traditional Corps of Marines, the Gallipoli Campaign, the World War I Western Front and the interwar and World War II years. His experience and insight convey two fundamental lessons: "Know thy profession and look after those for whom you are responsible." An essay by the editor, based on other sources, provides a broader perspective on Jerram, whose approach to professional military service is still pertinent today.
Author Biography
Donald F. Bittner is a professor emeritus of military history at the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Marine Corps University, and the Secretary-General of the United States Commission on Military History. He has served with the U.S. Marine Corps since 1961 in uniform and as a civilian, retiring from active duty in the grade of Lieutenant Colonel in 1989. He lives in Stafford, Virginia.