Seek Glory, Now Keep Glory is the first book to deal specifically with the 1st Btn. of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment during WWI. Although other studies have dealt with the Regiment as a whole, John Ashby’s highly-readable new study allows the Battalion’s exploits to be told in full for the first time.

During the exhausting retreat from Mons in August 1914, the battalion was involved in the famous affair of “the two colonels”, in which Lt. Col. Mainwaring and Lt. Col. Elkington (the latter of the R. Warwicks) were alleged to have agreed to surrender their troops en-masse, in order to save the town of St. Quentin from destruction at the hands of the Germans. In the end, both officers, and the majority of their men, escaped capture. Nevertheless, the surrender document was passed to the army’s high command. In the ensuing court-martial both officers were found guilty of “ … behaving in a scandalous manner unbecoming the character of an officer and a gentleman …” and dismissed from the army.

The author has managed to uncover previously unpublished information relating to the affair, including a hitherto-unknown statement by Lt. Col. Elkington, which casts new light on the affair. Additional biographical information explores the fortunes of the two colonels following their dismissal from the army.

The author then presents a detailed record of the service of the 1st Battalion on the Western Front for the remainder of the war, drawing on eyewitness accounts and unpublished war diaries. Several well-known soldiers served in the Battalion, including First Lieutenant (later Field Marshal) Bernard Montgomery, and Bruce Bairnsfather.

Extensive appendices – including the complete statements of Elkington and Mainwaring, rolls of honour and medal citations - conclude a fascinating account.

- The first history of the 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment during the Great War, 1914-18.
- Presents important new information - notably the statement by Lt. Col. Elkington - and a detailed account of the affair of the “two colonels” at St Quentin in August 1914.
- Additional biographical information explores the fortunes of the two colonels following their dismissal from the army. The author received the full co-operation of Lt. Col. Elkington’s descendants.
- Draws heavily on eyewitness accounts and unpublished unit war diaries.
- Appendices include the complete statements of Mainwaring and Elkington (“the two colonels”) - the latter’s previously unknown ; newly-researched 1st Battalion rolls of honour and lists of medal citations.
- An important addition to the literature of a conflict in which there is currently much renewed interest.
- Sure to be of interest not only to military history enthusiasts, but also local historians and former members of the Regiment and their families.

Author: Ashby, J. Hardback 256 pages 60 b/w ills and 9 maps