BBC Archive

Pretty interesting, and the old man is well spoken:

• They shouted the moment they had to go over the trenches, and kept shouting as they ran. It was the only way to overcome the fear
• Initially rations were hard in the early days, due to both Germans and British bombing each other's supply trucks. This then stopped by an unstated mutual agreement, and both sides let supply trucks through.
• Bodies could not be left out, rats would come and bite the living whilst they slept which lead to death by infection. Perhaps many undocumented deaths happened this way, given the sheer number of rats.
• 7 days leave was granted briefly at the beginning, but no one deserted. Loyalty was a big factor, but not to country, but to your troupe.
• No remorse for killing, it was kill or be killed.