4 episodes · 20th November 2005
Ian Hislop explores the history of soldiers listed on Britain's war memorials, talking to relatives of the deceased and considering the impact the conflicts had on society. He begins by travelling around the country to find out how - and why - so many monuments were erected, discovering that the lack of bodies to bury meant the bereaved needed a focus for their grief.
Ian Hislop discovers the impact World War One had on the class system in Britain. The deaths of so many landed gentry left holes in the ranks of the officers, which were filled by middle-class men. However, the new recruits often had a difficult time in the officers' mess and were labelled 'temporary gentlemen' by their working-class colleagues.
Ian Hislop finds out what effect World War One had on the lives of British women. Those serving as nurses, ambulance drivers and munitions workers came closer to the front line than ever before - and many died during the conflict. Back at home, bereaved mothers, wives, sisters and daughters were left behind by countless slaughtered soldiers.
Ian Hislop explores events following Armistice Day, as Britain's five million surviving soldiers returned home after World War One. Although promised a land fit for heroes, they faced widespread unemployment and poverty, while physical disability and psychological trauma meant their lives would be changed for ever.
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