Hell on Earth Going over the top of the trenches, facing endless barages from artillery, and dealing with corpses, rats and despair. These are just some of the ordeals recalled here by First World War soldiers. The Tank Tanks were first used in the Battle of the Somme, where they shocked and surprised both the Germans they were used against, as well as the English who used them. Hear how the tank went from secret experiment to weapon of war. Gas Warfare Clouds of yellow chlorine gas would silently drift from one trench to another.
Veterans remember the panic it caused and the terrible scenes it left.
It wasn't all fighting. Soldiers explain how they would drink and relax with sing-songs in French bars. One Christmas there was a temporary truce when the two frontlines put down their guns and played football. Those who were there remember this now famous occasion. For those who refused to fight, the First World War brought shame and separation from friends and families.