J. C. Dunn
Encyclopedia
J. C. Dunn was a British medical officer during World War I
. Dunn is best known for his memoir The War the Infantry Knew, first published in 1938.
Dunn, who had previously served in South Africa, was Regimental Medical Officer for the Royal Welch Fusiliers
during World War I, and is mentioned in the memoirs of both Robert Graves
and Siegfried Sassoon
. Dunn wrote of his official role that: "The first duty of a battalion medical officer in War is to discourage the evasion of duty ... not seldom against one's better feelings, sometimes to the temporary hurt of the individual, but justice to all other men as well as discipline demands it."
Dunn's memoir was originally published anonymously, in a private limited edition, and has been described as "a magnificent tour de force, the length of three ordinary books"
The work includes an account of the Christmas truce of 1914. Dunn describes the resumption of hostilities as follows: "At 8.30 I fired three shots in the air and put up a flag with "Merry Christmas" on it, and I climbed on the parapet. He [the Germans] put up a sheet with "Thank you" on it, and the German Captain appeared on the parapet. We both bowed and saluted and got down into our respective trenches, and he fired two shots in the air, and the War was on again."
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Dunn is best known for his memoir The War the Infantry Knew, first published in 1938.
Dunn, who had previously served in South Africa, was Regimental Medical Officer for the Royal Welch Fusiliers
Royal Welch Fusiliers
The Royal Welch Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division. It was founded in 1689 to oppose James II and the imminent war with France...
during World War I, and is mentioned in the memoirs of both Robert Graves
Robert Graves
Robert von Ranke Graves 24 July 1895 – 7 December 1985 was an English poet, translator and novelist. During his long life he produced more than 140 works...
and Siegfried Sassoon
Siegfried Sassoon
Siegfried Loraine Sassoon CBE MC was an English poet, author and soldier. Decorated for bravery on the Western Front, he became one of the leading poets of the First World War. His poetry both described the horrors of the trenches, and satirised the patriotic pretensions of those who, in Sassoon's...
. Dunn wrote of his official role that: "The first duty of a battalion medical officer in War is to discourage the evasion of duty ... not seldom against one's better feelings, sometimes to the temporary hurt of the individual, but justice to all other men as well as discipline demands it."
Dunn's memoir was originally published anonymously, in a private limited edition, and has been described as "a magnificent tour de force, the length of three ordinary books"
The work includes an account of the Christmas truce of 1914. Dunn describes the resumption of hostilities as follows: "At 8.30 I fired three shots in the air and put up a flag with "Merry Christmas" on it, and I climbed on the parapet. He [the Germans] put up a sheet with "Thank you" on it, and the German Captain appeared on the parapet. We both bowed and saluted and got down into our respective trenches, and he fired two shots in the air, and the War was on again."