5 True World War I Survival Stories

World War I (1914–1918) was a conflict marked by unimaginable hardship, heroism, and resilience. Amid the horrors of trench warfare, mustard gas, and aerial bombardments, countless individuals displayed extraordinary courage and resourcefulness to survive. Here are five compelling survival stories from the Great War:

1. Albert Gitchell: Surviving the Spanish Flu and the Front Lines

Albert Gitchell, a U.S. Army cook stationed at Camp Funston in Kansas, became one of the first documented cases of the 1918 Spanish Flu, a pandemic that killed more people than the war itself. Gitchell developed flu symptoms in March 1918 and was quickly quarantined. Remarkably, he recovered from the illness, which devastated his camp and later spread globally. Gitchell’s survival in both the trenches and the pandemic underscores the resilience required to endure not only the war but the additional threats it brought.

Gitchell returned to duty after his recovery and, like many soldiers, faced the daily dangers of trench warfare. Despite constant exposure to shellfire, chemical attacks, and disease, Gitchell lived to see the war’s end, a testament to his endurance during one of the most perilous periods in modern history.

2. Henry Johnson: Fighting Against All Odds

Henry Johnson, an African American soldier in the 369th Infantry Regiment (the Harlem Hellfighters), became a symbol of courage when he single-handedly defended his position during a German raid in 1918. One night near the Argonne Forest, Johnson and his fellow soldier Needham Roberts were on sentry duty when they were attacked by a German patrol.

Despite being outnumbered and wounded, Johnson fought off the attackers with a rifle, knife, and his bare hands. He killed or wounded at least 12 German soldiers, saving Roberts and preventing the Germans from breaching their line. Johnson’s actions earned him the nickname “Black Death. Although he returned home with severe injuries, Johnson’s valor and survival made him a hero, inspiring future generations.

3. Sergeant Stubby: A Canine Hero

One of World War I’s most famous survivors wasn’t a human but a dog named Sergeant Stubby. Found as a stray by Private J. Robert Conroy in 1917, Stubby was smuggled to France with Conroy’s unit and became a mascot for the 102nd Infantry Regiment.

Stubby’s keen senses and loyalty saved countless lives. He could detect gas attacks before humans, alerting soldiers in time to don gas masks. He also had a knack for finding wounded soldiers on the battlefield, barking to alert medics. During one German attack, Stubby captured an enemy soldier by biting him and holding on until reinforcements arrived.

Stubby survived 17 battles and numerous injuries, returning to the U.S. as a decorated war hero. His survival and bravery made him a beloved figure, symbolizing the enduring bond between soldiers and their animal companions.

4. The Christmas Truce of 1914: A Moment of Humanity

In December 1914, just months into the war, British and German soldiers on the Western Front experienced an extraordinary moment of peace during the Christmas Truce. After days of heavy fighting, soldiers on both sides began singing carols from their trenches. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, they emerged from their positions to exchange greetings, gifts, and even play soccer on no-man’s-land.

While the truce was not officially sanctioned, it allowed soldiers to experience a brief reprieve from the horrors of war. Men who had been enemies hours earlier shared cigarettes and chocolate, buried their dead, and even repaired trenches together. For many who survived the war, the Christmas Truce remained a poignant reminder of the shared humanity that transcended the conflict.

5. Wilfred Owen: Survival Through Poetry

Wilfred Owen, one of the most celebrated war poets, used his writing to process and survive the trauma of war. Owen served on the Western Front and endured harrowing experiences, including being buried alive during a shelling. The incident left him with shell shock, but during his recovery, he found solace in writing.

His poems, such as Dulce et Decorum Est and Anthem for Doomed Youth, vividly captured the brutality of war and the emotional toll it took on soldiers. Though Owen tragically died in combat just a week before the Armistice in November 1918, his poetry ensured his survival in memory. His work continues to resonate as a voice for the countless soldiers who endured the war.