The First World War, or Great War, as it was often known as, lasted from August 1914 until November 1918. It marked a new era of warfare, with tanks and even planes, but was notable chiefly for the stalemate represented by two opposing sides entrenched in their positions, and seemingly unable to break the stalemate. The scale of casualties was truly shocking, and the succeeding decades were strongly marked by its shadow. Here is my history of the Great War as experienced in Great Shelford.