In July 1914, German forces marched across their borders into Belgium. A shocked British government gave them an ultimatum: to withdraw or face the consequences. The Germans marched on, and when the ultimatum expired Britain declared war. We hear of the patriotic fervour that swept through the British public by those who signed up to serve their country or those who watched their brothers prepare for war. Many believed it would 'all be over by Christmas', but it soon became clear that the glorious adventure they had expected would be very different to the reality of battle and life in the trenches.