[ WP ] Write a soldier 's journal entry on his first day at war . Then write his last journal entry .

June 24th, 1916. 
 
 Well, this is a grand old mess, if ever I did see one. We came in on foot and from the back of the lines one may stare down the miles of ruin bought on by this war. The sight was a distinct kind of terrible, yet at the same time I found myself in a simple trance at the tragic beauty associated with such destruction. And by God, the mud. Tonnes of the stuff, gets in your boots, in your hair, in your rifle and your eyes, and as much as you clean it off you wind up knee deep in the stuff with the next step you take anyway! The boys we've moved up to replace have set our lines abuzz with rumours, apparently the section leader told one of the old hands that an attack would come soon. Now we wait, I guess. I do wish our guns would stop causing all of that racket though, I've scarcely slept since I got off the boat. 
 
 Thomas Wallace, the muddy fields of France. 
 
 1st July, 1916. 
 
 It's been a while since I last put my old pen onto the page, but I find it hard with all of the din going on about us. Both our artillery and the German guns pound the landscape as though it was a lump of meat. Poor Robert was hit yesterday, shrapnel through the guts. They dragged him off to the aid station, but he wo n't be back in time for the attack. Section Leader has ordered us all to fix bayonets, we'll be going over the top soon. With all of the artillery we've already lobbed at the Huns I'll be surprised if any of them are even left. Regardless of resistance I'm sure our men can overwhelm them nothing to it really. If anything should happen to me, I hope this diary reaches home. 
 
 Thomas Wallace, the muddy fields of France near the town of Albert. 

