What where the living conditions in Trench Warfare?
The soldiers during World War 1 were put through
so much devastation, not only did they deal with the loss of their fellow mates,
but they had to deal with many diseases and horrible living conditions. Life in
trenches for soldiers left them in hysterics and caused some of them to
continuously feel traumatised.
This is a quote from a man in WW1;
“Col. Joseph Hyde Pratt described in his diary trying to sleep
with a German plane flying over his camp: "July 24, [1918] Wednesday. Last night
was a beautiful moonlight night, a few clouds but clear. Just the kind that the
aeroplanes want in making the raids. We knew the German planes would be over
and we were not (agreeably) disappointed. They came over and it seemed as
though one of them just persisted in circling our camp looking for a good place
upon which to drop a bomb. Each one of us feels that our hut or tent is the
particular one that the aeroplane is hunting for, and as one lies there,
listening to the enemy plane, he begins to swell up and grow in size until he
knows that it is impossible for the observer to miss seeing him or the bomb to
miss hitting him. That was the way I felt last night. I just knew that
particular machine was flying continuously back and forth over my hut looking
for a good place to drop a bomb. Nothing happened and I got a pretty good
night's sleep. I can sleep through the artillery fire even if the guns are
somewhat close by."
From the
Diary of Colonel Joseph Hyde Pratt, page
50-51.”
The weather confined in World War 1 caused many soldiers to suffer
server diseases like Trench Foot. During the War the grass and trees had been
killed dew to constant bombardment in the area. The earth was transformed into
mud and slush from all the rain. This was in perfect condition for Trench Foot
disease to occur. The weather affected the WW1 soldiers by the continuous
dampness that was created by a mixture of defoliation and precipitation. The
damp conditions caused the injuries to become more infected as they didn’t have
a dry environment to heal in. During winter most of the soldiers surfed due to
frost bite and lack of warmth. However in contrast to that, summer was
completely different, many soldiers became dehydrated.
In trench warfare countless infections and diseases occurred,
many of which ended the young men’s lives. These are some of the many common
diseases and infections that occurred; Trench foot, shell shock,
blindness/burns from mustard gas, lice, trench fever, cooties (body lice) and
the ‘Spanish Flu’. These not only left the men fighting for their country, but
they were fighting for survival. The common cold and flu was also a big part of
trench warfare. During the war, “rats were detested by both sides; they carried
diseases and grew fat and sluggish on the rich pickings of German, French and
Britain alike in no man’s land.” (The Western Front, David Ray, page 39
The soldiers also had to wear ‘gas masks’, these
were in packs
that were placed on their backs and they were constant risk
of being gassed.
This meant that they were at risk of dying all the time even when they slept.
The American soldiers dreaded clear nights because
the German plans hovered
around the Trenches dropping random bombs on their fields. Cooties were one of
the common irritations that left the men with skin rashes that became infected.
However although they were extremely
irritating, some of the men claimed that
they saved their life. This
particular man is an example;
"August 9,
1918, Friday. … The Reward of the Kootie- A British
officer was going
through the front line trench, when he stooped over and
reached back of his
neck to pick off a "kootie" that was particularly
irritating. Just as he got him off, a bullet passed immediately over his neck… I
know of no way to
reward you except to put you back where you were and let you
keep on
biting.' This he did."
From
the Diary of Colonel Joseph Hyde Pratt, page
79.
Food in the Trenches for the soldiers was known as a luxury. Very
rarely was hot food prepared for the soldiers when a battle was on going (in
full flow) or in imminent. However food was easily accessible when war was at
stand-down. Life for the Triple Entente was very deprived compared to the
contrasting life of the Triple Alliance.
Food in the Trenches for the soldiers was known as a luxury. Very
rarely was hot food prepared for the soldiers when a battle was on going (in
full flow) or in imminent. However food was easily accessible when war was at
stand-down. Life for the Triple Entente was very deprived compared to the
contrasting life of the Triple Alliance.
The
theoretical daily rations for a British soldier
were:
server diseases like Trench Foot. During the War the grass and trees had been
killed dew to constant bombardment in the area. The earth was transformed into
mud and slush from all the rain. This was in perfect condition for Trench Foot
disease to occur. The weather affected the WW1 soldiers by the continuous
dampness that was created by a mixture of defoliation and precipitation. The
damp conditions caused the injuries to become more infected as they didn’t have
a dry environment to heal in. During winter most of the soldiers surfed due to
frost bite and lack of warmth. However in contrast to that, summer was
completely different, many soldiers became dehydrated.
In trench warfare countless infections and diseases occurred,
many of which ended the young men’s lives. These are some of the many common
diseases and infections that occurred; Trench foot, shell shock,
blindness/burns from mustard gas, lice, trench fever, cooties (body lice) and
the ‘Spanish Flu’. These not only left the men fighting for their country, but
they were fighting for survival. The common cold and flu was also a big part of
trench warfare. During the war, “rats were detested by both sides; they carried
diseases and grew fat and sluggish on the rich pickings of German, French and
Britain alike in no man’s land.” (The Western Front, David Ray, page 39
The soldiers also had to wear ‘gas masks’, these
were in packs
that were placed on their backs and they were constant risk
of being gassed.
This meant that they were at risk of dying all the time even when they slept.
The American soldiers dreaded clear nights because
the German plans hovered
around the Trenches dropping random bombs on their fields. Cooties were one of
the common irritations that left the men with skin rashes that became infected.
However although they were extremely
irritating, some of the men claimed that
they saved their life. This
particular man is an example;
"August 9,
1918, Friday. … The Reward of the Kootie- A British
officer was going
through the front line trench, when he stooped over and
reached back of his
neck to pick off a "kootie" that was particularly
irritating. Just as he got him off, a bullet passed immediately over his neck… I
know of no way to
reward you except to put you back where you were and let you
keep on
biting.' This he did."
From
the Diary of Colonel Joseph Hyde Pratt, page
79.
Food in the Trenches for the soldiers was known as a luxury. Very
rarely was hot food prepared for the soldiers when a battle was on going (in
full flow) or in imminent. However food was easily accessible when war was at
stand-down. Life for the Triple Entente was very deprived compared to the
contrasting life of the Triple Alliance.
Food in the Trenches for the soldiers was known as a luxury. Very
rarely was hot food prepared for the soldiers when a battle was on going (in
full flow) or in imminent. However food was easily accessible when war was at
stand-down. Life for the Triple Entente was very deprived compared to the
contrasting life of the Triple Alliance.
The
theoretical daily rations for a British soldier
were:
|
20 ounces of bread 16 ounces of flour instead of above 3 ounces of cheese 5/8 ounces of tea 4 ounces of jam ½ ounce of salt 1/36 ounce of pepper 1/20 ounce of mustard 8 ounces of fresh vegetables |
1/10 gill lime if vegetables not issued ½ gill of rum maximum of 20 ounces of tobacco 1/3 chocolate – optional 4 ounces of oatmeal instead of bread 1 pint of porter instead of rum 4 ounces of dried fruit instead of jam 4 ounces of butter/margarine 2 ounces of dried vegetables |
The rations where occasionally supplemented by welcomed food
parcels from the Red Cross. The smoking of cigarettes helps reduce the apatite
of the men, although cigarettes were bad for you it came in useful because they
were able to run off little amounts of food. Back during World War one, the men
did not know that smoking was bad for their health; in fact they thought that
it calmed their nerves. The water in Trench warfare was shipped in large
containers that were sometimes contaminated with bacteria and bugs. The food
contained in World war one was very little for every individual and was barely
enough to keep them going.
Life in the Trenches was almost unbearable. The
men were forced to become unhygienic and never once had a clean pair of
clothing. They continuously suffered severe diseases and they hardly ever had a
full tummy to keep them going. The
men were continuously tormented by the ongoing threat of death. Life in the
Trenches was like hell on earth!
parcels from the Red Cross. The smoking of cigarettes helps reduce the apatite
of the men, although cigarettes were bad for you it came in useful because they
were able to run off little amounts of food. Back during World War one, the men
did not know that smoking was bad for their health; in fact they thought that
it calmed their nerves. The water in Trench warfare was shipped in large
containers that were sometimes contaminated with bacteria and bugs. The food
contained in World war one was very little for every individual and was barely
enough to keep them going.
Life in the Trenches was almost unbearable. The
men were forced to become unhygienic and never once had a clean pair of
clothing. They continuously suffered severe diseases and they hardly ever had a
full tummy to keep them going. The
men were continuously tormented by the ongoing threat of death. Life in the
Trenches was like hell on earth!
