medicine on the British sector of the western front. Flashcards
what 2 fronts was WW1 fought on?
the Eastern and Western Front.
what 4 locations on the Western Front did the British fight on?
Ypres, Somme, Arras and Cambrai.
what was the terrain at the battle of Ypres like?
the terrain included heavy soil and was easily waterlogged. this created problems for stretcher bearers as it was difficult to move through the wet and muddy ground.
significant things took place at Ypres?
- the Germans were on a higher ground than the British.
- poisonous gas was first used by the Germans. this presented medical services, new injuries and challenges.
what was the most notorious battle of WW1 and why?
the most notorious battle was the battle of Somme and this was because more men died on the first day of this battle then any battle before or since.
how many casualties did Britain suffer from the battle of Somme?
Britain suffered nearly 60,000 casualties, 20,000 of which died on the first day of the battle. the battle lasted from july-nov 1916.there was nearly 400,000 British casualties in total.
at the battle of Somme, was the use of tanks successful?
no as they created an uneven ground which meant that it was difficult for the wounded to be transported away.
what did the soldiers from Britain and new Zealand do before battle?
they dug a network of tunnels in the chalky ground. they added rooms and fitted water and electricity. these tunnels were used to accommodate the soldiers. these tunnels were used to shelter soldiers form fighting an also an underground hospital was added with operated theatres.
how many tanks did the British use at the battle of arras?
the British used over 450 tanks.
what problems came from treating the wounded?
- there were constant dropping of bombs.
- bacteria within the soil.
- high casualty rates.
- ambulances struggled to move in the mud.
- stretcher bearers struggled to see their route correctly.
what was the pattern of the trench system, and why was it placed as such?
the trenches were in a zig zag line as a defensive strategy. this would prevent enemy fire.
what was the problem with trenches?
they were narrow and often got blocked. this led to problems moving and treating the wounded during battle.
what was the frontline trench?
the trenches closest to the enemy. soldiers would fire across no mans land from here.
was was the communication trench?
the trenches that were connected to another line of trenches. soldiers would use them to move between other trenches.
what was a support trench?
these were dug behind the frontline trenches and soldiers would retreat to them during an attack.
