WW1

World War 1 started on the 28th of July 1914. Life in the trenches during World War I was extremely harsh. Soldiers’ constant enemy attacks, illnesses, and poor living conditions. The muddy, cramped trenches made it hard to stay dry and comfortable, while the constant threat of enemy fire created anxiety and fear. Many suffered from diseases like trench foot and trench fever due to unsanitary conditions, and the lack of good food and rest weakened their strength and determination.

The conditions of the trenches in WW1 were often cold, muddy and overcrowded, with rats and lice spreading diseases like trench foot and trench fever. Poor hygiene made staying clean difficult, and food were scarce, often lacking in both quantity and quality. The winter of 1916 was one of the worst on record. Living in these trenches was to cause nearly as many casualties as the fighting. The ANZAC’s had only two blankets each and had to sleep as close as possible to one another just to survive. Think how cold it must have been when ice is formed around the rim of a boiling cup of tea after just 20 paces.

Gas attacks during World War I had a significant impact on soldiers, both physically and mentally. Many soldiers suffered from severe injuries, including respiratory problems and skin burns, which often led to long-term health issues. The fear and anxiety caused by the unpredictability of gas attacks also took a toll on their mental well-being, leading to conditions like shell shock (PTSD). Additionally, the use of gas created a sense of helplessness among troops, as they could not always protect themselves from this invisible threat, changing the way they fought and experienced the war. In his diary entry O.S. Watkins describes the effects of a gas attack against French troops at Ypres in 1915. “then we saw…. Figures running wildly in confusion over the fields. Greenish-grey clouds swept down upon them, turning yellow as they travelled over the country blasting everything they touched and shriveling up the vegetation. Then they staggered into our midst. French soldiers, blindly coughing, chests heaving, faces an ugly purple color, lips speechless with agony. And behind them in the gas-soaked trenches, we learned they had left hundreds of dead and dying comrades.”

Warfare in No Man's land during World War I was extremely harsh and dangerous. This area, which was between the competing trenches, was filled with barbed wire, craters, and debris, making it nearly impossible to cross safely. Soldiers faced constant threats from enemy fire, artillery shells, and severe weather conditions. Many who attempted to cross this deadly space often did not survive, leading to a sense of hopelessness among the troops. The experience not only posed physical dangers but also took a toll on the soldiers' mental health as they witnessed the horrors of war and the loss of their comrades. Overall, no man's land symbolized the brutal reality of trench warfare and the high cost of conflict.  Trench Warfare | National WWI Museum and Memorial , says, 'No-man’s land,' was an ancient term that gained terrible new meaning during WWI. The constant bombardment of modern artillery and rapid firing of machine guns created a nightmarish wasteland between the enemies’ lines, littered with tree stumps and snarls of barbed wire. In battle, soldiers had to charge out of the trenches and across no-man’s land into a hail of bullets and shrapnel and poison gas. They were easy targets and casualties were enormously high. By the end of 1914, after just five months of fighting, the number of dead and wounded exceeded four million men. Major Claridge remembers fighting on the western front. "I am not going to lie and say I wasn't afraid because I was and who wouldn't be with death grinning at you from all around"

At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the Great War ends. At 5 a.m. that morning, Germany, bereft of manpower and supplies and faced with imminent invasion, signed an armistice agreement with the Allies in a railroad car outside Compiégne, France. Although the soldiers suffered such harsh treatments approximately 330,000 Australians served, with 60,000 losing their lives and 165,000 suffering wounds. This represented a significant sacrifice relative to the nation's population at the time. The most notable engagement for Australian forces was the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915, which became a defining moment in Australian military history and is commemorated annually on ANZAC Day, April 25. This information was found at:  World War I - Casualties, Armistice, Legacy | Britannica