Forgotten Fronts: A Soldier's Journey

This digital archive presents the correspondence of Private Thomas Michael Baxter during his service with the 4th Battalion, Border Regiment in the colonial theaters of Burma and India during the First World War (1914-1919). The collection constitutes a significant primary source contribution to the historiography of Britain's "forgotten fronts" and provides valuable insights into the colonial military experience that has been marginalized in traditional Western Front-centric narratives.

Baxter's correspondence, comprising 259 letters addressed primarily to family members, offers a nuanced perspective on several key historical themes: the maintenance of imperial control during global conflict, the quotidian experiences of Territorial Force soldiers in non-combat roles, cross-cultural encounters within colonial power structures, and the psychological impact of extended service in tropical environments.

The archive employs standardized diplomatic transcription methodologies, comprehensive contextual annotations, and thematic categorization informed by contemporary historiographical approaches to military correspondence. Researchers may navigate the collection through chronological, geographical, or thematic frameworks.