Charley's War Vol. 1: Boy Soldier: The Definitive Collection: Volume 1

Product Information

Mills was replaced by Scott Goodall and the story was moved to the Second World War and became a more conventional war adventure strip. Injured on the Western Front in 1917, Wilf transfers to the Royal Flying Corps and serves as an observer/gunner in a two-seater Bristol squadron.

As well as being tied to the wheel for up to three hours a day, the soldier was drilled at high speed in full pack and rifle and fed on bread and water.A Sandhurst historian had insisted, with killjoy relish, that British machine gunners firing off belts of bullets to boil their tea was completely apocryphal. Budgie Brown is another character who does the same thing (whilst Charley and company are at Messines Ridge earlier in the Ypres battle).

Charley’s War broke new ground and forged what were really the first steps toward a new direction in writing for Pat that still resonates in the genre today.

Charley witnesses the last British Cavalry charge and takes part in the combat debut of the new Tanks.

Another censorship tactic – conscious or unconscious – is to allow limited opposition to the status quo.The British publishers helped by acting as gatekeepers, blocking authors who dared to tell the truth about the war and General Haig. His platoon is commanded by Lt Thomas and Sgt 'Ole Bill' Tozer and private Ginger Jones becomes Charley's best mate.