A Soldier's Diary

S5 spent the day working in trenches (tables turned over) - if we talked we became injured and went to hospital, if we talked again we died.  Authentic 'war' sounds exploded overhead as we put ourselves into the shoes of a soldier. 

The senario: We were 16 years old and had lied about our age to get into the war.  We were excited as first but lying in the trenches listening to gunfire that never let up, reality set in and we were scared and desperate for contact from home.  

Read the children's amazing writing as they imagined themselves as a soldier.

A Soldier’s Diary

I feel my own fear rushing through my body very fast.  I hear the guns shouting up above me.  I see my food stuck in the sand.  I miss my family because I haven’t seen them in four years.  I wish I had one envelope left to write to them.  I am scared and feel the scaredness of my heart.

By Arwen

Dear Mum and Dad,

So war’s okay I guess.  I made a new friend.  He’s really nice.  We caught a chicken last night.  Me and my pals played cards all night.  Thanks for the cookies.

Love Zinaya

I feel sad because I might never see my Mum and my sister ever again.  I am nervous because I might die.

Today it is my second day in the trenches.  I can smell gunpowder.

By Bryden

I wish I was at home.  I didn’t want to go to war.  I don’t want to go over the trenches.

By Monique

I can smell smoke and I can see bullets and people shooting.  It’s raining lots and there’s a flood coming.  There’s a storm coming as well.  It sounds like tanks shooting grenades.  Bombs are going everywhere.  One went over the trench but it was a long way away.  I wish I was with you.  I’m starving to death.  All we are eating is mouldy food.  I am so scared – my brother got hit but he’s only injured.  I feel like I should go and fight.  We got some good news – we won!  We did it!  It was a scary as a spider.  I was relieved as the Easter Bunny.

By Lauren

The war is scary.  I am so terrified.  I wish my family was here.  The food is so dry and we only get to sleep for about 10 minutes.  The gunpowder is getting in my mouth.  My clothes are wet like a river.

By Paige

Dear Mum and Dad, it’s Tuesday.  It’s raining.  The guns are getting closer.  Last night I had to sleep in the water without a proper bed.  I can hear gunshots and bombs going off.  People are injuring themselves.  Someone injured himself so he would be sent home but we shot him.  My brother got shot, I hope he’s only injured.  My legs are sore like every one else.  I can also hear reloading.  I was talking to my friend when a bomb went off.  I had to wipe mud off my face but my friend was dead.  I saw my granddad and my friends one after the other.  People are hurt.  I feel scared.  We told our Captain we could hear them coming.  I found a dead body in the sand and a trumpet.  We fought in Egypt and I have a photo.  It’s not too bad.  We get to play cards at night.  I want news from home.

I just put my boots on.  I’m making this diary to tell people my story, like you.  If I die my diary will go to someone else.  I can hear guns again.  I don’t know how I’m going to cope any longer.  I’m at war in Gallipoli now.  Our own Captain got shot and there are heaps of other horrible stories.  People are feeling scared.  I kind of feel good because I’m fighting for my country.  I got some Anzac biscuits.  By the way, I’m called and ANZAC now.  There’re two different guns around.  There’s a fighting trench and a rest trench.  I have to do a lot of chores.  I think the wear will end soon.

By Josh

I wish that the war was over.  In one day I’m so scared of the shooting, the tanks and the Turks.  I’m getting wet.  I hate grenades and am sick of the bombs and bullets.

By Jonny

I feel very sad when I hear people thundering to the ground.  I am starving to death.  I have a sore, sore, sore, sore tummy.  I am soaking and scared, as sad and hungry as a person that has not eaten for 100 years.  I have already been injured but now it’s time to go to fight the battle.  I am scared to go out of the trench.  I am wet, my feet stink but all the lads are the same.  My friend is in the war too but he died.

By Addison

I’m so scared I want to go home.  I want to hear some news about my family.  I’m starving and I hate eating dry food.  Dear Mum and Dad, it is my second day in the war.  I am frightened because I can hear all the bombs.

By Olivia

I feel ultra scared because of gunfire, bombs and explosions.

By Matthew

Today is Tuesday.  I hear guns go off and bombs.  I feel sad.  I see trenches covered in blood.

By Maddison

Today is Tuesday.  I’m hating this.  I miss my family and I’m soaking.  The sound of bombs is driving me mad.  I feel sick inside.  Day two of war.  It’s drizzling with rain and I’m getting wet because the trench is filling with water.  I’ve seen bullets flying through the air.

By Jordan

I really want to quit the war because I am at that rate when you can quit or save the Country.  I feel confident enough to fight but it is my day to go over the top.  I miss my family, even my brother, because he went over the top and he screamed so I tried to look but all I could see was dust.  It’s raining and the trench is filling up with water and I’m soaking wet already. 

Day 2 – I am injured now.  I am in a care bay right next to where the fights are.  Some of my mates are here with me.  I got shot in the left arm and the right leg.

By Cassia

I am a soldier and I am scared.  I’m up next.  I wish I could go home.  Next I’m up and I will soon be walking out of the trench.

By Riley

My name is Jordan.  I was only 16 when I came to war.  In the trench I could hear the bombs everywhere but luckily none landed in the trench.

By Jordan

My second day in the trenches was okay.  I saw shrapnel everywhere.  The wish has gone, it’s time to go into the battlefield and battle big time.  Before I go I look over to Flanders Field.

By Molly

I am scared because I might die in the middle of this war.  I’m scared because I might get blown up.

By Oliver

It’s the first day and we’re hiding in a trench.  I feel scared.  I can hear explosions.  I can taste gunpowder.  I feel mud from the trench.  It’s about 11.55pm.  In about 4 hours I have to go over the top.

By Finn

It’s time for war.  I might get shot.  I’m so, so, so scared.  All of my friends were dead by midnight.  I just need food.  Mum and Dad I wish I had more friends alive.  I can hear banging and explosions.

It’s my second day.  I have survived a day.  I’m fighting in Gallipoli.  I hope I survive for the whole war.  Mum and Dad are you okay? Are my sisters okay?

By Luke

I can see bullets flying, guns going off, shells going off and people getting killed.  I feel scared.  I see people running out of trenches.  I see flashes in the distance.  I can hear the enemy coming.  I can smell smoke.  I can see dead bodies.  Yesterday a shell hit by me.  I could see fire in the trenches.  I see soldier’s running across the fields.

By Andrew