Study this source carefully. It contains information that could be useful in your presentation on life in the trenches. As you study the source, ask yourself:

• Do you think the author of this poem has direct experience of the guns?
• What five words could best be used to sum up this poem? Possible words might be: descriptive, frightening, bitter, accepting, proud, excited, loyal, committed.
• What does the poem tell you about the impact of the guns on soldiers?
• Is this impression backed up by sources 1a-c?
• Most historians believe that artillery was by far the most important weapon in the Great War. Does this poem support that view?
• Would you say the intention of this poem was to criticise the fact that Britain is at war or simply to describe what war is like?
• Which aspects of trench warfare does this source provide information on? How could this source be used in your final presentation?

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