I particularly enjoy letters that give candid insights into the every day lives of soldiers. The small but crucially important aspects that often get overlooked due to the enormity of the Great War.

Bert Clements of the Royal Artillery wrote:

“They pay us ten francs a fortnight (sometimes), well that’s nothing, it only lasts about three days, and if we go on the beer it only lasts one night.”

Driving through French villages, you see estaminets and can picture men queuing up for that first longed for beer.

Bert survived the war.