Book excerpt: The First World War claimed over 995,000 British lives, and its legacy continues to be remembered today. Great War Britain: Sheffield offers an intimate portrayal of the city and its people living in the shadow of the Great War for five years. A beautifully illustrated and highly accessible volume, it recounts the tale of a Boy Scout leader's journey to Gallipoli, the terror of the first air raids, and the university's best and brightest who formed their own Pals battalion only to lose poets, writers and students on the Somme. It contrasts the strikes and political unrest with patriotism and sacrifice in the city they called 'the armourer to the Empire'. The Great War story of Sheffield is told through the voices of those who were there and is vividly illustrated with evocative images.