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Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/6841422/episodes/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><language>en</language><category>History</category><copyright>Copyright Plays and Dramas</copyright><image><url>https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/ab1167a8d46df36a5552ebccf3cc4a93.jpg</url><title>Notes of a Camp Follower on the Western Front</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/notes-of-a-camp-follower-on-the-western-front--6841422</link></image><lastBuildDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:45:06 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>E. W. Hornung</itunes:author><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Public Domain</itunes:name><itunes:email>spreaker18@adfreesounds.com</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/ab1167a8d46df36a5552ebccf3cc4a93.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:category text="History"/><itunes:category text="Arts"><itunes:category text="Books"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Science"><itunes:category text="Social Sciences"/></itunes:category><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:type>serial</itunes:type><item><title>001 - Chapters 1 and 2</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/001-chapters-1-and-2--69323526</link><description><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69323526</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 13:34:46 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69323526/001_chapters_1_and_2.mp3" length="12091904" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>E. W. Hornung</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1512</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>courage,france,history,humanity,library,loss,memoir,soldier,war,ymca</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/ab1167a8d46df36a5552ebccf3cc4a93.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>002 - Chapters 3 and 4</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/002-chapters-3-and-4--69323528</link><description><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69323528</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 13:34:54 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69323528/002_chapters_3_and_4.mp3" length="8997888" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>E. W. Hornung</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1125</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>courage,france,history,humanity,library,loss,memoir,soldier,war,ymca</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/ab1167a8d46df36a5552ebccf3cc4a93.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>003 - Chapters 5 and 6</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/003-chapters-5-and-6--69323530</link><description><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69323530</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 13:35:02 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69323530/003_chapters_5_and_6.mp3" length="8717312" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>E. W. Hornung</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1090</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>courage,france,history,humanity,library,loss,memoir,soldier,war,ymca</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/ab1167a8d46df36a5552ebccf3cc4a93.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>004 - Chapters 7 and 8</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/004-chapters-7-and-8--69323531</link><description><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69323531</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 13:35:12 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69323531/004_chapters_7_and_8.mp3" length="12494336" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/26f07029-4d0e-45da-9a18-b6a9d3e144a6/26f07029-4d0e-45da-9a18-b6a9d3e144a6.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/26f07029-4d0e-45da-9a18-b6a9d3e144a6/26f07029-4d0e-45da-9a18-b6a9d3e144a6.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/26f07029-4d0e-45da-9a18-b6a9d3e144a6/26f07029-4d0e-45da-9a18-b6a9d3e144a6.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>E. W. Hornung</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1562</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>courage,france,history,humanity,library,loss,memoir,soldier,war,ymca</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/ab1167a8d46df36a5552ebccf3cc4a93.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>005 - Chapters 9 and 10</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/005-chapters-9-and-10--69323536</link><description><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69323536</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 13:35:24 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69323536/005_chapters_9_and_10.mp3" length="15180288" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/b014645a-ad0a-4094-bd76-54dd653316f6/b014645a-ad0a-4094-bd76-54dd653316f6.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/b014645a-ad0a-4094-bd76-54dd653316f6/b014645a-ad0a-4094-bd76-54dd653316f6.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/b014645a-ad0a-4094-bd76-54dd653316f6/b014645a-ad0a-4094-bd76-54dd653316f6.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>E. W. Hornung</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1898</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>courage,france,history,humanity,library,loss,memoir,soldier,war,ymca</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/ab1167a8d46df36a5552ebccf3cc4a93.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>006 - Chapters 11 and 12</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/006-chapters-11-and-12--69323537</link><description><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69323537</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 13:35:33 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69323537/006_chapters_11_and_12.mp3" length="11052544" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/1036b555-7ee7-423d-9eef-59ac2bfa387b/1036b555-7ee7-423d-9eef-59ac2bfa387b.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/1036b555-7ee7-423d-9eef-59ac2bfa387b/1036b555-7ee7-423d-9eef-59ac2bfa387b.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/1036b555-7ee7-423d-9eef-59ac2bfa387b/1036b555-7ee7-423d-9eef-59ac2bfa387b.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>E. W. Hornung</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1382</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>courage,france,history,humanity,library,loss,memoir,soldier,war,ymca</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/ab1167a8d46df36a5552ebccf3cc4a93.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>007 - Chapter 13</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/007-chapter-13--69323539</link><description><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69323539</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 13:35:43 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69323539/007_chapter_13.mp3" length="11824640" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/4c781d2d-e9d7-4aa6-8848-0c230c090e8c/4c781d2d-e9d7-4aa6-8848-0c230c090e8c.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/4c781d2d-e9d7-4aa6-8848-0c230c090e8c/4c781d2d-e9d7-4aa6-8848-0c230c090e8c.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/4c781d2d-e9d7-4aa6-8848-0c230c090e8c/4c781d2d-e9d7-4aa6-8848-0c230c090e8c.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>E. W. Hornung</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1478</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>courage,france,history,humanity,library,loss,memoir,soldier,war,ymca</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/ab1167a8d46df36a5552ebccf3cc4a93.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>008 - Chapters 14 and 15</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/008-chapters-14-and-15--69323542</link><description><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69323542</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 13:35:53 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69323542/008_chapters_14_and_15.mp3" length="12533760" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/a0ab7c12-cf46-4d6a-8f88-8b3025be655f/a0ab7c12-cf46-4d6a-8f88-8b3025be655f.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/a0ab7c12-cf46-4d6a-8f88-8b3025be655f/a0ab7c12-cf46-4d6a-8f88-8b3025be655f.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/a0ab7c12-cf46-4d6a-8f88-8b3025be655f/a0ab7c12-cf46-4d6a-8f88-8b3025be655f.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>E. W. Hornung</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1567</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>courage,france,history,humanity,library,loss,memoir,soldier,war,ymca</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/ab1167a8d46df36a5552ebccf3cc4a93.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>009 - Chapters 16 and 17</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/009-chapters-16-and-17--69323543</link><description><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69323543</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 13:36:06 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69323543/009_chapters_16_and_17.mp3" length="15036416" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/18521bc5-6cfb-487a-97ae-9b0bed3eb217/18521bc5-6cfb-487a-97ae-9b0bed3eb217.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/18521bc5-6cfb-487a-97ae-9b0bed3eb217/18521bc5-6cfb-487a-97ae-9b0bed3eb217.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/18521bc5-6cfb-487a-97ae-9b0bed3eb217/18521bc5-6cfb-487a-97ae-9b0bed3eb217.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>E. W. Hornung</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1880</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>courage,france,history,humanity,library,loss,memoir,soldier,war,ymca</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/ab1167a8d46df36a5552ebccf3cc4a93.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>010 - Chapters 18 and 19</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/010-chapters-18-and-19--69323544</link><description><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69323544</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 13:36:15 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69323544/010_chapters_18_and_19.mp3" length="10687488" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/a4901ad4-e40f-486b-8d53-22d351596d40/a4901ad4-e40f-486b-8d53-22d351596d40.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/a4901ad4-e40f-486b-8d53-22d351596d40/a4901ad4-e40f-486b-8d53-22d351596d40.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/a4901ad4-e40f-486b-8d53-22d351596d40/a4901ad4-e40f-486b-8d53-22d351596d40.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>E. W. Hornung</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1336</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>courage,france,history,humanity,library,loss,memoir,soldier,war,ymca</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/ab1167a8d46df36a5552ebccf3cc4a93.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>011 - Chapters 20 and 21</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/011-chapters-20-and-21--69323546</link><description><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69323546</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 13:36:26 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69323546/011_chapters_20_and_21.mp3" length="13585920" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/d1b7b586-c4b7-4105-af07-988a4cb45eb0/d1b7b586-c4b7-4105-af07-988a4cb45eb0.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/d1b7b586-c4b7-4105-af07-988a4cb45eb0/d1b7b586-c4b7-4105-af07-988a4cb45eb0.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/d1b7b586-c4b7-4105-af07-988a4cb45eb0/d1b7b586-c4b7-4105-af07-988a4cb45eb0.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>E. W. Hornung</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1699</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>courage,france,history,humanity,library,loss,memoir,soldier,war,ymca</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/ab1167a8d46df36a5552ebccf3cc4a93.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>012 - Chapters 22 and 23</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/012-chapters-22-and-23--69323549</link><description><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69323549</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 13:36:36 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69323549/012_chapters_22_and_23.mp3" length="12108800" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/d1c219b0-648d-46d8-bc8f-de2525489079/d1c219b0-648d-46d8-bc8f-de2525489079.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/d1c219b0-648d-46d8-bc8f-de2525489079/d1c219b0-648d-46d8-bc8f-de2525489079.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/d1c219b0-648d-46d8-bc8f-de2525489079/d1c219b0-648d-46d8-bc8f-de2525489079.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>E. W. Hornung</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1514</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>courage,france,history,humanity,library,loss,memoir,soldier,war,ymca</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/ab1167a8d46df36a5552ebccf3cc4a93.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>013 - Chapters 24 and 25</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/013-chapters-24-and-25--69323552</link><description><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69323552</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 13:36:49 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69323552/013_chapters_24_and_25.mp3" length="15981568" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/8ca048d3-c2a9-4375-9936-f66ce9d8fa09/8ca048d3-c2a9-4375-9936-f66ce9d8fa09.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/8ca048d3-c2a9-4375-9936-f66ce9d8fa09/8ca048d3-c2a9-4375-9936-f66ce9d8fa09.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/8ca048d3-c2a9-4375-9936-f66ce9d8fa09/8ca048d3-c2a9-4375-9936-f66ce9d8fa09.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>E. W. Hornung</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In 1915, Oscar Hornung, the son of renowned author E W Hornung, was tragically killed at Ypres after just a year of service in Flanders, at the tender age of 20. Two years later, E W Hornung stepped forward to assist in running a YMCA canteen situated close to the front lines. This poignant book chronicles Hornungs personal experiences in Northern France, where he began by aiding in a canteen and later established a library for the soldiers. Driven by a desire to be near his sons final resting place, Hornung sought to connect with the brave young men fighting in the war and to enhance their daily lives. He yearned to find meaning amid the chaos, portraying soldiers as heroes, their struggles as just, and their leaders as wise and compassionate. Despite his motivations and occasional blind spots, Hornung expertly wove his narrative with the skill of a seasoned novelist, allowing readers to accompany him as he converses with soldiers, delivers cocoa and biscuits under fire, and ultimately sets up a lending library mere miles from No Man’s Land. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a former friend who reported Hornung for his pacifist views, conceded that this work features some of the most vivid depictions of life on the Western Front. (The cover showcases the Western Front as it passed through Arras in 1918, during the time the author would have known it.) (Summary by Clive Catterall)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1998</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>courage,france,history,humanity,library,loss,memoir,soldier,war,ymca</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/ab1167a8d46df36a5552ebccf3cc4a93.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
