the western front Flashcards
when was the first battle of ypres
oct-nov 1914
what happend at the first battle of ypres
the british held on to ypres, which was vital for control of the channel, but the germans gained ground
when was the second battle of ypres
april-may 1915
what happend at the second battle of ypres
the germans used chlorine gas for the first time in battle, got closer to ypres
when was the somme
jul-nov 1916
what happened at the somme
60,000 british casulties on day 1, creeping barrage and tank warfare
when was arras
apr-may 1917
what happend at arras
used tunnels in chalky ground, underground blood bank
when was the third battle of ypres
jul-nov 1917 rain, ground was waterlogged, used a creeping barrage
when was the battle of cambrai
nov-dec 1917
what happened at cambrai
large-scale use tanks almost 5000
what were the three rows of trenches
front-line, support, reserve trenches
features of the trench system
communication trenches, dugouts, traverses
how were gas attacks prevented
cotton pads smoked with urine untill 1915, they had gas masks
brodie helmets
helmets to reduce injuries made by shrapnel
injuries from shells, shrapnel and bullets
removing limbs, internal injuries, penertrating organs, fracturing bones
cause of trench fever
lice, so they were deloused in 1918
trench foot
could lead to gangrene and amputation, they were given whale oil and and duckboards
how was shell shock treated
some soilders were accused of cowerdice, moved to hospitals
why was infection a big problem
soil had tetnus and gas gangrene bacteria which could easily infect during attack or from lying on the ground
RAMC
cared for the wounded e.g doctors, strecher bearers and ambulence drivers
FANY
volunteers used for cooking, cleaning and driving ambulences
transport problems
sometimes only strecher bearers and horse wagons could be used because of the conditions an constant artliary
features of the underground tunnel at arras
700 beds, operating thearte, mortuary, running water and electricity
chain of evacuation
regimental aid posts- dressing stations-casulatary clearing stations-base hospitals
how were x-rays discovered
1895-roentgen discovered x-rays could pass through human flesh
how were blood transfusions improved for the western front
by 1902 scientists discoverd the for blood groups, blood transfusions improved when blood could be stored
how were antiseptics used on the western front
steam sterilizer for surgical instruments, wore masks, steralizing cloths and surfaces
the carrel dankin method
using tubes to move steralized salt through wounds
advances in surgery
plastic surgery, brain surgery
the thomas splint
reduced fatalites from broken limbs from 80% to 20%
