Features of the Trenches Flashcards
What were Duckboards?
Wooden planks on the bottom of trenches, to stop soldiers sinking into the mud.
What were sandbags used for in the trenches?
They support the trenches.
What were Dug-Outs?
Holes boarded with wood, usually reserved for officer accommodation.
What was the Fire Step?
When there wasn’t any fighting, it would be used to sit/eat/sleep on etc. When fighting, soldiers stood on it to be able to attack over the trenches.
What were the Fortifications?
Trenches built up over time, especially when they realised the war wasn’t going to be over by Christmas. Rows of barbed wire etc.
What was the Parapet?
The top of the trench.
When did soldiers usually attack the enemy trench?
- Couldn’t attack during the day - too light.
- Couldn’t attack during the night - enemy sent up flares, made it light.
- Usually attacked early in the morning.
Fill the blanks:
At night, they sent soldiers to crawl across _____________ with wire cutters, to cut through the rows of _________ _____. But, they had to note down where they cut it.
- No-Man’s Land
- Barbed
- Wire
Why were the trenches laid out in a zig-zag fashion?
It made it harder to attack. The curves in the trenches provided cover from the bombs too.
