The result of nearly 9 years’ work, Lewesians and the Great War features 390 individual biographies of the men and women of Lewes who died in the First World War.

Dr Mayhew also explores Lewes as it was at the outbreak of war, and provides a historical narrative of the impact the Great War had on the town beyond the end of the war into the early 1920s.

He covers topics including the social changes wrought by the war, such as employment opportunities for women, the treatment of men who had been invalided home, the war widows, as well as life on the home front and local businesses. He explores what the war meant for all those left behind when a whole generation of young men volunteered or were conscripted.

The book is lavishly illustrated with photographs of individuals from a range of family and other sources, including school archives, and Edward Reeves Photography. There are also maps and photographs from international archives showing the conditions and daily lives of those serving abroad.

This hardback book is published by Country Books/Spiral Publishing on behalf of Lewes Town Council and available from 24 April 2023 from Lewes Town Council. Price £20.

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Graham Mayhew will be signing copies at Lewes Town Hall on 24th-28th April.