The First World War was also known as the 'Great War' and 'The War to End All Wars'. Great Britain declared war on 4 August 1914 and it lasted until 11 November 1918. It is remembered in Britain, among other reasons, for the stalemate of the trenches and its high loss of life. It also witnessed fierce fighting and the development of new weapons, including tanks and aeroplanes.
It was also the first time that conscription for a war had been used in Britain and the sheer numbers of men who fought (and died) shocked the nation. Over 658,000 Britons were killed, over 2 million wounded and nearly 360,000 reported missing. All of these men were sons, brothers, husbands and fathers and this meant that almost every family and every community in Britain was affected.
The war was not just marked by death and fighting, however. Long hours of boredom between fighting were common, and many soldiers’ senses of humour, pride, and duty, and also their friendships, helped them through the battles. The leisure section of this website shows how the men kept themselves entertained.
These web pages show what life was like for these soldiers on the Western Front. Soldiers’ letters, diaries, poems and sketches, along with photographs and official documents, will be used. Maps showing the locations of the places mentioned can be found by clicking the links.
Soldiers' Biographies
