During the First World War, front line troops made raids on enemy trenches to both find out who was holding them and dominate no man’s land. But the costs were high, and the men came to resent being sent on such dangerous attacks for such apparently little gain. Hear from some of those who took part in trench raids in Podcast 15.

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Lice, flies, corpses, dysentery, boiling heat and freezing cold; these were just some of the conditions faced by those serving at Gallipoli. Hear from some of the men who took part in this ultimately futile campaign; from the disastrous landings in April 1915 to final evacuation in January 1916.

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In the spring of 1915, a new weapon of war was first seen on the Western Front. The use of poison gas against Allied troops caused panic and a high number of casualties. Listen to some of those who witnessed the gas at Ypres – and how it affected those who couldn’t escape it.

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From early 1915, German airships targeted the towns and cities of Britain. Hear from those who witnessed, sheltered from and even took part in the raids.

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In this podcast, those who fought in the major naval battles from the outbreak of war in 1914 up until early 1915 describe what they witnessed. Listen to their memories of the encounters between the British and German fleets in the North Sea, south Atlantic and Pacific Ocean.

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During the cold winter months of 1914-15, soldiers stationed on the Western Front sought shelter in the newly-built trenches that became so characteristic of the First World War. But these defence systems could not offer complete protection for front-line troops. Freezing cold weather, rain and mud made life in the trenches far from comfortable – and enemy artillery and snipers were a constant threat.

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The Christmas Truce of 1914 has become almost legendary over time, with stories of German and British soldiers putting down their arms to play football in no man’s land. But what really happened? Find out from those who witnessed this incredible – and unexpected – piece of history.

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When war broke out in August 1914, many said that it would be ‘over by Christmas’. By the end of the year, however, the high rate of casualties and shocking acts of violence against civilians made it clear that would not be the case. Here, those who lived through that time explain how they came to realize this.

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As soon as the First World War broke out in August 1914, men from across Europe were sent into battle. Listen to some of them recall what they experienced – fighting on land, in the air and at sea – in the first month of the war.

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Within days of the outbreak of war in 1914, armed forces across Europe were mobilised. Hear about the experiences of some of those who left their homes behind as they went off to the front.

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