Norman Macmillan enlisted as a Private with the Glasgow Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry. He served as an infantryman in France from November 1914 until September 1916, when he was commissioned to the Royal Flying Corps as a temporary second lieutenant. This was his calling. Norman describes one particular strafing mission at Passchendaele that became the most thrilling flight of his life. With a natural flair for manoeuvres and for developing his own combat techniques, Norman excelled in what was a very lonely and terrifying task. The skies of Passchendaele were also the stage for dogfights, and with incredible detail Norman recalls tactics that scattered seven German Albatross Scout planes and shot down their leader. His account is a rare opportunity to hear of the differences between life in the trenches and in the air.

Norman Macmillan enlisted as a Private with the Glasgow Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry. He served as an infantryman in France from November 1914 until September 1916, when he was commissioned to the Royal Flying Corps as a temporary second lieutenant. This was his calling. Norman describes one particular strafing mission at Passchendaele that became the most thrilling flight of his life. With a natural flair for manoeuvres and for developing his own combat techniques, Norman excelled in what was a very lonely and terrifying task. The skies of Passchendaele were also the stage for dogfights, and with incredible detail Norman recalls tactics that scattered seven German Albatross Scout planes and shot down their leader. His account is a rare opportunity to hear of the differences between life in the trenches and in the air.

Born in Paris to British parents, Edward Louis Spears first became the liaison officer between Field Marshall Sir John French and General Charles Lanrezac, commander of the French Fifth Army, in August 1914. In this month General Lanrezac made a sudden decision to retreat - a manoeuvre that would have left the British forces on his flank dangerously exposed. Edward urgently reported this to Sir John French who called off a British advance the night before it was due to commence - and in doing so prevented a massive loss of life.

Born in Paris to British parents, Edward Louis Spears first became the liaison officer between Field Marshall Sir John French and General Charles Lanrezac, commander of the French Fifth Army, in August 1914. In this month General Lanrezac made a sudden decision to retreat - a manoeuvre that would have left the British forces on his flank dangerously exposed. Edward urgently reported this to Sir John French who called off a British advance the night before it was due to commence - and in doing so prevented a massive loss of life.

Richard Henry Tobin had joined the Royal Naval Reserve Mersey Division in 1911, and when war broke out he was promoted to Leading Seaman with the Hood Battalion. Having landed at Antwerp, Henry saw the civilian impact of war in the desperate and fearful Belgian refugees. As a Sergeant Major he would spend the next three years to-ing and fro-ing over Passchendaele and the Somme, and remembers the feeling of dropping into a Somme trench in March 1918 that he had first occupied in November 1916. This is an inspiring account of how the British unwillingness to give up and give in is one of the greatest examples of human endeavour during the Great War.

Richard Henry Tobin had joined the Royal Naval Reserve Mersey Division in 1911, and when war broke out he was promoted to Leading Seaman with the Hood Battalion. Having landed at Antwerp, Henry saw the civilian impact of war in the desperate and fearful Belgian refugees. As a Sergeant Major he would spend the next three years to-ing and fro-ing over Passchendaele and the Somme, and remembers the feeling of dropping into a Somme trench in March 1918 that he had first occupied in November 1916. This is an inspiring account of how the British unwillingness to give up and give in is one of the greatest examples of human endeavour during the Great War.

Horace Leslie Birks sailed for France in 1915 as a Private with the 5th Batallion of the London Rifle Brigade. Having been wounded at Gommecourt in July 1916, he was transferred to the Machine Gun Crops heavy branch and became a Second Lieutenant in February 1917. He recalls his nervousness when first ordered to command a tank in action at Passchendaele, and what it was like to operate inside those hot, steamy and altogether claustrophobic cockpits while machine gun fire and shells rained down. Next came Cambrai, the first battle to use tanks en masse.

Horace Leslie Birks sailed for France in 1915 as a Private with the 5th Batallion of the London Rifle Brigade. Having been wounded at Gommecourt in July 1916, he was transferred to the Machine Gun Crops heavy branch and became a Second Lieutenant in February 1917. He recalls his nervousness when first ordered to command a tank in action at Passchendaele, and what it was like to operate inside those hot, steamy and altogether claustrophobic cockpits while machine gun fire and shells rained down. Next came Cambrai, the first battle to use tanks en masse.

Edward was a 17-year-old clerk when he enlisted in 1913, and by February 1915 found himself in France as a Private in the 5th battalion of the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, the Sherwood Foresters. He describes in detail the process of going over the top and running through no man's land, past dead and dying comrades, under the merciless fire of the enemy. He remains haunted by the memory of an injured comrade he didn't stop to help when making the precarious journey back to the British trenches.

Edward was a 17-year-old clerk when he enlisted in 1913, and by February 1915 found himself in France as a Private in the 5th battalion of the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, the Sherwood Foresters. He describes in detail the process of going over the top and running through no man's land, past dead and dying comrades, under the merciless fire of the enemy. He remains haunted by the memory of an injured comrade he didn't stop to help when making the precarious journey back to the British trenches.

18-year-old shop assistant John enlisted into the army in 1911, and became a Gunner with the Royal Field Artillery. In August 1914 he was appointed Acting Bombardier and posted to France, where the realities of mud, fatigue and death began to break his spirit. His account is tinged with the hopelessness and cowardice felt by many men who did not feel mentally or physically capable of the endless advances and retreats over a few feet of pock-marked ground. During a time when John contemplated self-inflicting wounds to remove himself from the situation, he was injured by a nearby shell burst. Having sustained severe wounds to his back and shoulders, he returned to England.

18-year-old shop assistant John enlisted into the army in 1911, and became a Gunner with the Royal Field Artillery. In August 1914 he was appointed Acting Bombardier and posted to France, where the realities of mud, fatigue and death began to break his spirit. His account is tinged with the hopelessness and cowardice felt by many men who did not feel mentally or physically capable of the endless advances and retreats over a few feet of pock-marked ground. During a time when John contemplated self-inflicting wounds to remove himself from the situation, he was injured by a nearby shell burst. Having sustained severe wounds to his back and shoulders, he returned to England.

A 17-year-old Mabel Lethbridge lied about her age to get a job cleaning detonators at the No. 7 National Filling Factory in Hayes, Middlesex. It was a dull job, and when on her sixth day of work a poster appeared requesting staff to work in Amatol Filling Section - the Danger Zone - she immediately volunteered. Injury and deaths were frequent due to novice workers and highly explosive materials. On Mabel's ninth day of work, a shell exploded and her left leg was mutilated beyond repair. It was later amputated, and she was awarded a Medal of the Order of the British Empire (known as a BEM nowadays) for her courage and devotion to duty.

A 17-year-old Mabel Lethbridge lied about her age to get a job cleaning detonators at the No. 7 National Filling Factory in Hayes, Middlesex. It was a dull job, and when on her sixth day of work a poster appeared requesting staff to work in Amatol Filling Section - the Danger Zone - she immediately volunteered. Injury and deaths were frequent due to novice workers and highly explosive materials. On Mabel's ninth day of work, a shell exploded and her left leg was mutilated beyond repair. It was later amputated, and she was awarded a Medal of the Order of the British Empire (known as a BEM nowadays) for her courage and devotion to duty.

Charles Carrington enlisted in 1914, and by December 1915 found himself stationed on the Western front between Gommecourt and Serre. Up until the spring of 1916, Charles enjoyed the experience; a sort of 'outdoor camping holiday with the boys, with a slight spice of danger to make it interesting'. The war tactic soon changed - as did the weather - and Charles found himself living in a world of mud, noise, and always a few shells away from nervous breakdown. The trenches became the real world, and far-off London - and his family - began to feel very unreal.

Charles Carrington enlisted in 1914, and by December 1915 found himself stationed on the Western front between Gommecourt and Serre. Up until the spring of 1916, Charles enjoyed the experience; a sort of 'outdoor camping holiday with the boys, with a slight spice of danger to make it interesting'. The war tactic soon changed - as did the weather - and Charles found himself living in a world of mud, noise, and always a few shells away from nervous breakdown. The trenches became the real world, and far-off London - and his family - began to feel very unreal.