Life In The Trenches Flashcards
Give 3 reasons why so many men chose to join the army in 1914
Some joined because they were patriotic, others joined to try new things like foreign travel and some others went with friends to firm Pals Battalions
How did trench welfare come about
Weapon army was so powerful that both sides had to dig into the ground Like moles to prevent them from being blown to smithereens
What did the trench smell so much
It had turned into a muddy swamp with mess from the latrines (toilets) and was thickened by dead bodies
Why were German dugouts better than French and English ones
They were gas proof and had concrete walls
What was a ‘stand-to’
Standing ready for attack, especially before dawn or after dark
What duties were men given to fill time during the day
Fetch rations, clean their weapons, clean the latrines, repair duckboards and drain the trench
How did snipers do their job
The main strategy was to creep out into no mans land after dawn and wait there all day in camouflage and wait for a soldier to pop their head above the parapet
What law allowed officers to censor soldiers letters
The defence of the realm act
Why were letters censored
In case they let out any army secrets or undermine moral back home
What was the wipers times
Funny newspapers produced by the soldiers
What happened to men who fell asleep on century duty
They were strapped to a cartwheel and put in the range of the enemies artillery shells
Why was this so harsh
If the Germans attacked they could kill anyone in the trench
Why did rats become such a problem in the summer
They were breeding like rabbits each producing 880 offspring a year and they were eating the dead bodies
Why were lice such a problem for the soldiers in the trenches
They attached to clothes and soldiers would have ran a hot flame down their clothes to kill the lice
What were the symptoms of trench foot
Cause feet to swell, go numb, rot, turn red/blue and eventually would need to be amputated
Why were the Tommies asked to walk across no mans land at a walking pace
In case they slipped and fell down a hole and died
How many people were injured and killed on the first day of the battle of the Somme
40000 were injured and 20000 were killed
How much longer did the battle of the Somme go on
5 months
Why did the battle of the Somme finish
Snow, cold, bad weather and no progress
What was field punishment number one
When 3894 men were found guilty of a crime and so were punished
What kind of people were punished
Cowards
What happened to soldiers who breathed in gas
Their eyes would bulge out of their heads and they would most likely drop to the floor in agony
When did the war end
The 11th day of the 11th month
Why did Germany surrender
They admitted defeat after gas attacks
What long term effects did the war have on soldiers who survived the war
Shell shock, couldn’t move, many became chronic alcoholics
