The Belgian village of Passchendaele before and after the Third Battle of Ypres, 1917. Aerial photography showed 1 million shell holes in one square mile.

After the battle, the following notice was found in a dugout full of dead British soldiers. It was signed by their Australian commander:

1. This position will be held and section will remain here until relieved.
2. The enemy cannot be allowed to interfere with this program.
3. If the section cannot remain here alive it will remain here dead.
4. Should any man through shell shock or such cause attempt to surrender he will remain here dead.
5. Finally the position, as stated, will be held.

Clemenceau said, “War is a series of catastrophes that results in a victory.”