Historians from the Centre for First World War Studies at Birmingham University are planning to publish the longest known memoir later this year.

Written by lance corporal Geoffrey Husbands, the 250,000-word manuscript gives detailed information on political, social, psychological and other aspects of the war not normally examined in such depth in other shorter memoirs.

Captain Alexander Stewart’s 260-page diary, “Somme: The Experiences of a Very Unimportant Officer,” was similarly unearthed by a relative and published in 2007 to critical acclaim.