Breakdown: The Crisis of ShellShock on the Somme, 1916

Downing follows units from Pals Battalions through the horror of their experiences on the Somme and the shell shock that, unrelated to weakness or cowardice, left them unable to fight. He shines a light on the official - and often brutal - response to the epidemic, even from officers and doctors who were otherwise sympathetic. It was assumed that this was a form of hysteria. It was contagious and it had to be stopped........