Hi, I have this history question on a past exam paper i'm confused about, and was wondering if you could help?

The question: "I write from the battlefield of the Great Push with thousands of shells passing in a tornado overhead, and thousands of unburied dead around me. It seems easy to say that, but you who have not seen it can hardly conceive the awfulness of it all.

My battalion has been in it for eight days, and one-third of it is left - all shattered at that. And they're sticking it still, incomparable heroes, all. We are lousy, stinking, ragged, unshaven, sleepless. Even when we're back a bit we can't sleep for our own guns. I have one puttee, a dead man's helmet, another dead man's gas protector, a dead man's bayonet. My tunic is rotten with other men's blood, and partly splattered with a comrade's brains. It is horrible, but why should you people at home not know?"

This is a letter written by a soldier to his friend in August 1916. Using BOTH what you know about fighting in WW1 and the information in the source, how accurate is this account of a battle? (Aim to write a paragraph).

What do you know about the fighting in WWI? (Note that this is probably a British soldier.)

Do you think this account is accurate? Does it go along with other information you have read about this horrible war?

By the way, I Googled a couple of terms I wasn't sure about.

i think it is pretty accurate, im not 100% sure however as i was out of school the whole term we spent doing WW1 because of an injur

Google WWI battlefields and read a few articles about it.

To assess the accuracy of this account of a battle in World War 1, it is essential to consider the historical context and other available sources. The letter provides a firsthand glimpse into the harsh realities experienced by soldiers on the battlefield. The mention of shells passing overhead and unburied dead suggests a chaotic and dangerous environment. The soldier's description of his battalion being shattered and only one-third remaining indicates heavy casualties. The soldier's assertion that they are still sticking it out and being incomparable heroes showcases the resilience and bravery of the soldiers. The mention of being lousy, stinking, ragged, and sleepless further conveys the deplorable conditions faced by soldiers, while the reference to bayonets, helmets, and gas protectors obtained from fallen comrades indicates the scarcity of resources. The soldier's statement that it is horrible implies the horror and brutality of war. Overall, this account aligns with historical knowledge of the challenging and devastating nature of World War 1 battles, making it plausible and accurate. To confirm its accuracy further, one can consult secondary sources, such as historical records, diaries, and other firsthand accounts from the same period.