" A series of retrospective myths have built up that suggest ordinary British and Irish people backed the war because they were deluded, brainwashed and naïvely duped into supporting the conflict. My research shows that this was simply not the case."

I have no doubt at all of the veracity of this statement. What we are not told is of equal significance though. What proportion of the general public were less than enthusiastic about the war? What proportion were only informed of the facts that the government wanted them to know? How many changed their minds once they saw what was happeing?   

"People supported the war" is another vague statement. Of course there were many people who did support it for the right reasons. No mention is made of those who were 'duped', those who volunteered for the wrong reasons or those who were stridently opposed.

We are talking about real human beings here for heavens sake, not just battlefield statistics. There were thousands killed, on all sides, who had no wish to harm anyone and no axe to grind in the family disputes of their 'betters' at all. Lest we forget...