In August 1914, Britain enters the First World War amid patriotic excitement and expectations of a short campaign. Bertie, a reservist, is among the first sent to France; Jack joins the Royal Flying Corps; and Ned volunteers for a newly raised Pals battalion. At home, the Morlands compete to support the war effort and believe their men will return by Christmas.
The retreat from Mons and the fighting around Ypres destroy those illusions. Professional soldiers and enthusiastic volunteers encounter casualties on a scale no one had imagined, while their families learn that war cannot be kept at a distance. The white road down which the troops march becomes a path from confidence to endurance, marking the beginning of a conflict that will reshape every branch of the dynasty.
