Some soldiers had a habit of trying to outwit the enemy in rather humorous ways. There was a group that would put up fake soldiers made of straw and old uniforms at the edge of their trench. The enemy would sometimes waste ammo shooting at these fake targets, much to the amusement of the real soldiers.
One main event was the sharing of food. Soldiers from different sides would exchange things like chocolate or biscuits. Another was the singing of Christmas carols together, creating a strange but beautiful harmony in the midst of war. Also, there were some cases of soldiers simply chatting and getting to know a bit about each other's lives away from the battlefield.
Some soldiers found a stray dog and tried to train it to do military - like drills. The dog would often mess up and do the opposite of what was expected, like running away when it was supposed to stand at attention. The soldiers' attempts to correct it were hilarious, and the dog became a beloved mascot of the unit, bringing a lot of joy to the soldiers.
Well, themes in this novel may include change. The war would have brought a lot of changes to farm life. For example, there could be new regulations on farming to support the war effort. Also, family is likely a theme. Families on farms had to deal with the absence of men who went to war and the added responsibilities at home.
Food shortages were a big challenge. The boy might have had to deal with rationing, not having enough to eat like before the war. Also, the constant fear of air raids. Every time the sirens went off, he had to rush to the shelters.
Christmas in WW1 was also a time of reflection for many. The troops, in the cold and muddy trenches, might have remembered the Christmases of their childhoods. Some soldiers made makeshift Christmas decorations in the trenches using whatever materials they could find. Despite the war, the idea of Christmas still held a special place in their hearts. It was a symbol of hope, peace, and normalcy in an otherwise abnormal and violent situation.
I'm not sure specifically which story of Dr. Ravi Zacharias involves a man's missing wife during WW2. He was mainly known for his apologetics work, but without more context, it's hard to provide details about this particular story.
Well, I know a story. A boy in England during WW2 was called Jack. Jack's town was often under air raids. He and his friends formed a small group to help the air raid wardens. They would run around and make sure people were in the shelters. Jack once found a stray dog during an air raid. He took it in and it became his loyal companion throughout the war. He also collected scrap metal for the war effort.
During WW1, gay relationships were mostly hidden due to social stigma. In love stories from that time, the characters had to be very discreet. For example, they might not be able to show their affection publicly. Today, while there are still challenges, same - sex relationships are more accepted and can be openly expressed.