Glorified and vilified, saint and sinner, everyone has an opinion about soldiers, but behind the headlines and heroism, who are they? Courage Under Fire is an intense and dramatic exploration of what life on the frontline is like for soldiers of all ranks. From the last man killed in The Great War to a young man running the risk of Improvised Explosive Devices in Afghanistan today, it looks at the pressures and fears, camaraderie and isolation of fighting battles. Filled with voices of veterans from conflicts from World War II to the Korean War, the Falklands, the Gulf wars and many others, it traces the journey of a soldier from enlistment, through training, arrival on the battlefield, facing enemy fire, the end of service and life after the military. Published in partnership with Combat Stress, the book also looks at the bravery of soldiers who have fought their own private battles after leaving the armed forces, seeking help for illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

Content FOREWORD BY GENERAL SIR RICHARD DANNATT VII INTRODUCTION XI 1.THE MILITARY 1 2.THE 'TOMMY' 19 3.START LINE 53 4.CLOSE TO HOME 71 5.THE COURAGE TO DO NOTHING 91 6.FIX BAYONETS 103 7.CASEVAC 119 8.THE BATTLE OF GARMSIR 133 9.BEHIND THE LINES 147 10.HACKING IT 155 11.RESETTLEMENT 179 12.POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER 187 13.LAST POST 209 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 219 ABOUT COMBAT STRESS 221