History – 4. Historical skills | e-Consult

This letter provides valuable insight into the conditions experienced by soldiers during the First World War. It's a primary source offering a personal perspective on the war's impact. However, its usefulness as evidence needs careful consideration.

To analyse the source effectively, a response should:

• Identify the author's perspective (a soldier in the trenches).
• Explain the emotional impact of the language used (e.g., "living hell," "nightmare").
• Consider the context of the letter – who was the intended recipient? What might the soldier have been trying to communicate?
• Evaluate the potential biases – the soldier is likely to be emotionally affected by his experiences, potentially exaggerating or focusing on the negative aspects.
• Compare the source with other sources about the war (e.g., official reports, newspaper articles) to see if the soldier's experience aligns with broader historical narratives.

The letter is a powerful source of evidence, but it should not be accepted uncritically. Its value lies in providing a human perspective on a major historical event, but it needs to be interpreted within a broader historical context.