FWW trench life Flashcards
1
Q
trench life for the Tommie
A
- boredom
- conscripted soldiers not ready for trench life like the BEF and TA were
- pay was good - reassured their family would be taken care of - recruitment element
- still had to battle elements when not fighting
- psychological impact
- trench foot and trench fever
- hypothermia
- poor hygiene - smelly - bodies and poo - gas
- discipline
- daily inspections from officers on shined buttons etc
- daily medical inspections - feet had to be kept dry as trench foot overwhelming medical sector
- 1/3 of all allied casualties sustained in trenches
- rats
- soldiers were fed before officers
2
Q
food for soldiers
A
- good
- but got less over time
- hot meal each day when not major offensive going on
- immesne output of British/empire
- Britain’s commonwealth churning it out 24/7 - not endless supply but careful with it so dif to Crimea
- mealtimes were morale boosters
3
Q
discipline and officer relationships with the men
A
- CLASS LEVELING
- paternal instinct of officers to men
- everyone in it together
- all slumming it
- meant troops had more respect for officers - morale better
- officers would risk their lives for their men
- not individual glory
- after Haldane reforms anyone good go to OTC not just elite eton boys
- baiden powell scouts and cubs
- liberals improved school system and healthcare
4
Q
equipment
A
- not able to deal with water and flooding
- boots good but not good enough
- issues for medical sector
- did provide greases
- tie round trousers to seal gap between boots and trousers
- public oblivious due to censorship and propaganda
5
Q
stretcher bearers
A
- terrain
- exposed
- exhaustion
- witness a lot of death decide who to save
- contentious objectors or people in reverse trench on rota or general volunteers
6
Q
regimental aid post
A
- in thick of it
- bunker or dug out
- most basic of a and e
- got blown up a lot
7
Q
dressing stations
A
- behind trench lines
- open ground
- still in range of some artillery
- still like little bunkers
- four or five
- a few nurses
- 50-100 waiting in major battles - legit on floor
- triage
- no major surgery - stabilise you for hosptial
8
Q
casualty clearing stations
A
- triage
- decide whether you sent home to hospitals or back to trench
- different levels of injured
9
Q
hospital
A
- field and base
- beds separated and clean with wards thanks to Nightingale
- base LT recovery
- field ST closer to battlefield
- hospitals better but weaponry worse
10
Q
in front line of trench cycle
A
- fire
- repair phone wire man communication posts
- go over top
- worst flooded and smelly trenches - explosions - fear - lack of sleep
- four days of hell - only four days so not to break the men
11
Q
support trench (cycle)
A
- fill gaps if people die in front line
- bring medical supplies ammunition and water to cool the guns
- pass messages on bring intel
- keep front line going
- don’t really get a rest - constant running around
- not as muddy or death ridden
12
Q
reserve trench (cycle)
A
- all the odd jobs
- digging new trenches
- sort deliveries
- look after horses
- manufacturing
- non-essential jobs to front line
- still could be hit but less chance
- 8 days hard labour rather than intense fighting
13
Q
at rest (trench cycle)
A
- long rest to make sure ready to fight
- need pyschological and physical rest
- chill, eat, sleep , catch up with mates, write letters home, better food
- bars and shops
- pass the time
14
Q
when was the French mutiny
A
1917
- 30,000 went home and around half on strike
- germans didn’t know the scale but had they captialised on it would have been bad
- lasted one week
- french end up copying British 28 day cycle
- arrest key people only kill 50
- show value of men and empathy for situation
15
Q
supply after 1916
A
- much better due to DLG as minster of Munitions - efficiency drive and DORA
- whole country started volunteering
- outproduce Germans by end of war
