The Experience of War.

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The Experience of War

        There were many different experiences during the Second World War, most of

which were bad. The war did not just affect Europe, it affected the whole world reaching

areas such as the Far East. The types of experiences varied for different people in different

parts of the world. As many memories were shocking and terrifying, a lot of people involved

in the war never bring up their experiences in conversation as they would rather not talk

about it. However, there are still many accounts of those who do talk to be found. I am

going to give an account of the likely experiences faced by soldiers in the army in Dover,

Britain and British soldiers fighting in Burma, presently known as Myanmar. You will come

to see the appalling conditions in which they had to fight for their country and how similar the

experiences of soldiers, who were many thousand miles apart, were.

        “ I have to tell you that no such undertaking has been received, and that

consequently this country is at war with Germany.” Germany had not withdrawn its troops

from Poland and the war for Britain had started. That was part of the speech made by

Neville Chamberlain announcing Britain’s declaration of war with Germany in 1939. It was

taken from chapter 21 in Expanding World by Philip Sauvain. It came as no big surprise to

British civilians as they had been issued with gas masks since 1938. Families including those

of soldiers knew that food was going to be rationed. And soon after, soldiers received

letters from their families describing the long wait in queues for ration books.

        Troops in Dover, Kent were the Front Line, once the French Government had

surrendered, after the German attack on Paris. The harbour was packed with every type of

vessel. Living conditions for men in the army were bad and usually there would not be any

washing or sanitary facilities.          

        “Often over forty of us were crowded into one hut that had no lighting or heating.

There were no beds and we had to sleep on straw - filled bags.” revealed Mr Erwood who

served in the Royal Artillery. His account of the war was in a book called Shellfire

Memories. It is a book about reminiscences of East Kent during the Second World War. “It

took several weeks before the huts became reasonably habitable and it took over half a year

before bath and lavatory accommodation became accessible.” he continued. There was very

little time to be bored because soldiers were kept very busy through the day and had several

practises through the night. Soldiers had to wear many layers of clothing and carry very

heavy equipment. This can be proved by seeing the actual uniform many of them wore.

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Every layer that soldiers were expected to wear can be found in the National Army

Museum. In summer they would get very hot but in winter they would feel as if they still

needed a few extra layers. Those who were conscripted in 1939, were issued with eighty

items of clothing and were provided with six weeks of basic training according to the

National Army Museum.         

        Figures from the National Army Museum show that out of the millions of people

who were in the army, only 14% of them used guns and 90% of ...

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