"This short microhistory details the life and death of Alfred Edwin "Eddie" McKay, a varsity athlete at Western University, who flew with the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War. McKay's story touches on the fields of social, political, military, sport, and gender history, the history of science and technology, education, aviation, imperial relations, and the social memory of war. Throughout the book, Broad switches creatively from the story of Eddie McKay to valuable lessons on how to do history, for example, why the past matters, why individuals matter, why historians have different approaches, how to pose historical questions, how to identify relevant source materials, why source analysis is challenging, and the importance of thoughtful, intelligent and respectful treatment of historical subjects."-- Provided by publisher.

To western and to war : 1892-1916 -- Over the Somme : July-October 1916 -- The battle, October 28, 1916-March 14, 1917 -- The choice : March 15 December 28, 1917 -- The letter : January 1918-July 31, 1932.