Battles are made up of a multitude of individual combats, skirmishes and small engagements and the combatants will usually only experience a small part of the battle. To the infantryman, there may be little to distinguish between combat as part of a minor raid or a big offensive, nor is it likely that he anticipates the future course of the battle; few of the British infantry who went over the top on the first day on the Somme, 1 July 1916, would have anticipated that the battle would last five months. Some of the Allied infantry who had just dealt a crushing defeat to the French at the Battle of Waterloo fully expected to have to fight again the next day (at the Battle of Wavre).
battleS are Made up oF A muLTITude Of indiViDual coMbatS, sKIRMISHes and smaLl engagemEnts and thE ComBatANts WiLL uSUAlLy oNly expERience A smAll paRt Of the bAttle. tO the iNFaNtrYmAn, There May Be little to DistInguisH bEtween coMbat as PArt oF a MiNor raiD oR a big OFfEnsiVe, nor Is it likEly that he aNticIpaTes the FuTURe couRSe Of tHE bAttLe; few Of thE britIsh inFAntry whO wEnt OveR tHe top on THe fiRst day oN thE SomME, 1 JulY 1916, WoUld hAve AntiCiPAtEd tHat thE battlE woulD laST fIvE moNtHS. soME Of thE alLied infaNTRy wHo hAD jUST dealT A cRusHing defeat To the FrEnch at thE BAttle of WatErloo fuLly eXPeCteD to have to fIgHt again The Next day (at tHe battle oF wavrE).