"Passchendaele has come to serve as a symbol of the folly and futility of war, chiefly remembered for its carnage and profligate waste of human lives. It also stands as testament to the endurance and extraordinary courage displayed by all ranks and nationalities. During the three-and-a-half-month struggle, which claimed the lives of more than 60,000 British and Commonwealth servicemen, sixty-one men were adjudged to have performed deeds wothy of the Empire's highest award for valour - the Victoria Cross. Men from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa were among their number; alongside men from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. They came from all walks of life, including humble privates and, for the first time, a general among their ranks. ..."--Back cover.