From Masefield's introduction: 'This book is not so much a record as a tribute to some of the young people who have come forward to save the nation in her danger. [.] War is at all times an abomination; it is only magnified by the abominable. Here, it has in many ways put back the clock and darkened our little share of time. Some millions of our young people have, as ever, come forward to do dull, dangerous and responsible work in the midst of mess and dismay'.