Soldiers were not always in the front line of trenches. Men were rotated between front line, support and reserve positions along with periods of rest. However, even when in a rest period soldiers were often given roles which placed them in danger from enemy fire. As well as these four areas of duty a soldier would be granted occasional leave. How much leave to visit home could a soldier expect in a year?

Faced with a long war, the WW1 armies dug trenches in the muddy ground.  These trenches, dirty, cold and wet, were to be the temporary homes for millions of young men.