Life in the trenches Flashcards
What is a trench?
A trench is a long, narrow ditch to protect soldiers in war.
Why did soldiers dig trenches?
- It was dangerous to be above ground.
- There was no cover above ground to shield yourself from gunshots.
- Planes were very new, so the soldiers couldn’t use them.
- You couldn’t attack at night because both soldiers had flares.
What was the purpose of a dug out?
To keep cover of the soldiers when they go to sleep.
What was the purpose of the fire step?
To steady ground to focus fire.
What was the purpose of the wooden or iron step?
To stop the ground from slipping when it rains.
What was the purpose of the sandbags?
To absorb the bullets.
What was the purpose of the wooden periscope?
To keep an eye on the Germans without looking above the ground.
What was the purpose of the barbed wire?
To hinder the enemies attack.
What was the purpose of the duck boards?
To keep the soldiers out of water.
What was a soldiers day in the trenches?
5: 30 am- Reveille
6: 00 am- Stand to
6: 30 am- Breakfast
7: 30 am- Roll call
9: 30 am- Break
11: 30 am- German Barrage starts
13: 00 am- Lunch
16: 00 am- Cleaning uniform/ kit
17: 00 am- The big push
19: 00 am- Letters from home
What does ‘stand to’ mean?
‘Stand to’ was when the soldiers were ordered to climb up on the fire step to guard against a dawn raid by the enemy, bayonets fixed. The daily ritual often turned the ‘morning hate’.
What were the key features of trench life?
- Lice
- Rats
- Rations
- Camaraderie
- Trench foot
