Arthur Guy Empey (1883–1963)

Arthur Guy Empey was frustrated by America's long delay in entering the fray of what became known as The Great War, or as we now know it, WWI. He went to England and enlisted on his own. This is his written memory of his experience there "in the trenches." Published in 1917, the memories were still very fresh.

The writing is personable. The memories are explicit. He was wounded and lost his arm, sent home and not allowed to reenlist as he wanted to when America did enter the war. He does not hesitate to describe the death and destruction, and yet manages to keep the story from being morbid. Probably because he doesn't dwell on the grisly and uses a lot of what we would call dark humor, but I call survival humor, to tell of his experience. He is a judgmental man. He had no use for those who were conscientious objectors, cowards or those who waited for the draft to be sent to the front. There are what we would call racist remarks, although other races are not the focus. He barely, if ever mentions the French, or the land of France, even though that is where he fought. It is all about the front and the trenches. His wounds occurred at the beginning of the battle of the Somme.

This is not an unbiased historical book written from the distance of time, but a very personal account. It is interesting to read of the daily life, battle tactics and experiences of the men in the trenches. He includes a lot of the vocabulary of the times in the English army, and even has a sarcastic glossary at the end to help the reader with some of the terminology. Empey was trying to help Americans gain insight into and respect for the British soldiers and mend fences between the nations so they could serve together in battle.

"Over the Top" has enhanced my understanding of murder mysteries written in the 1920s and 1930s, especially those whose detectives served in WWI. I don't see how any of the soldiers could come home to live normal lives, and certain places in the book, where he described gas attacks and going "over the top" made my gut hurt. My brain kept repeating, "what a waste, what a waste." It was a visceral reading experience.… (more)