Gilly's World War I and World War II

Gillis saw the worst of two horrific wars. His books are called 'the greatest anti war books ever written' But he did express a lot of frustration with having to send these men back to the front. A facial injury was one of few injuries that warranted a full pension from the army. And arguably, if you have a facial disfigurement, you could still work. But it was just viewed psychologicallyas so damaging thatyou would get the full pension.