WWI was a notoriously deadly clash of old styles of fighting and new industrial weapons technology. using the content of this letter, explain the experience of soldiers during this war and the significance of this experience in the historical context.

Question

This is one of many letters sent by staff of the Great Western Railway Audit office at Paddington who had enlisted to fight in the First World War. (RAIL 253/516)

Albert Edwin Rippington, undated, England. Born: 21 November 1893, Regiment: 5^th London Rifle Brigade, discharged due to injury November 1917, Died: 1982

Transcript

Dear Ernie,

Thanks very much for your letter and kind wishes. My wounds are getting on all right and they have discovered eleven in all. It is hard not to be able to get up, but I suppose a month will soon be slip by. My people came to see me yesterday and the day before.

You ought to see my face. They cannot shave me because I have scraps of shell sticking in, and as I had not had a shave for about a week before I was wounded, I look a pretty picture.

Well old chap, I am glad I am wounded to get out of that hell, and if you ever meet a chap that says he wants to go back call him a liar.

If you could manage to come down at any time I should be delighted. I have not received any letter from Dalton but perhaps will get it later. That will be the time old chap when I look into the office on my way home. We’ll manage to get a drink then. Well I must close now and I expect you will have quite enough trouble to read what I have written already. Hoping to be with you all,

Your old pal, Rip.

WWI was a notoriously deadly clash of old styles of fighting and new industrial weapons technology. using the content of this letter, explain the experience of soldiers during this war and the significance of this experience in the historical context.