Trenches Flashcards
Why did soldiers fight in trenches
To protect them from snipers, machine guns and bombs.
What does a trench look like
Built in zigzags to offer extra protection from bombs
Why did men volunteer to fight
Money, Loyal to king / country, Stay with friends, To be able to travel, Family tradition, Pride
Explain why men chose to fight for money
Soldiers wages were better than civilians wages.
Soldiers got 35p a week while civilians got 15
Explain why men chose to fight to be loyal yo their king/country
These men often had portraits of the king in their home. As respect
Explain why men chose to fight to stay with friends
Wanted to stay with friends and members of their football team
Explain why men chose to fight to be able to travel
Adventure, they couldn’t afford to go to the seaside so this was their only chance to see the world.
Explain why men chose to fight for family tradition
They had Family ties to armed forces (e.g. father /brother were already soldiers)
Explain why men chose to fight for pride
Proud to serve their country
What do you think was the most important reason to volunteer as a soldier
Money, many people were living in poverty and this was their only chance to earn a higher wage
What was the front wall of a trench called
Parapet
What was the back wall of a trench called
Parados
Name all the parts of a trench (cross section of a trench)
Barbed wire- at the top front.
Parapet- front wall.
Sandbags- at the top on either side.
Parados- back wall.
Dug out- area to sit on back wall.
Fire step- area to stand cut out from front wall to fire.
Duckboard- at the bottom of trench to stand on.
Sump- water rubbish and filth underneath the duckboard.
Tell me about trench foot
An infection caused by cold, wet, dirty conditions.
No blood getting to toes- numb- soldiers lost toes and feet.
20,000 affected by this.
Give me 2 symptoms of trench foot
Your feet would swell to 2 or 3 times their regular size.
You could stick a bayonet in the man’s still feel nothing.
Tell me about the soldiers equipment
30 kgs to carry.
Rifle.
Shaving kit.
Wire cutters.
It was handed out in pieces, you didn’t get it all at the same time.
Why were letters censored
To prevent secrets being given away to enemies (e.g. plans of going over the top) or horrific information on what happens to the public.
They wanted as many people to join as possible so they had to censor most things.
What is SIW
The nickname for self inflicted wounds
Tell me something about a young person who joined the war
Private Lewis was 12 years old!
How old did you have to be to join
19 to go overseas
When did people think the war would be over and how did they know they were wrong
Thought to be over by Christmas - 6 months.
But they saw wounded soldiers coming home indicating it will be much longer.
What were some jobs in the trenches
Ration/water party, on patrol, fixing barbed wire, sentry duty, listening post.
Tell me about the soldiers weather conditions
Mud up to your knees. 1916 had the coldest winter. Danger with heavy equipment was that it caused soldiers to fall and drown in the mud.
What was used to cure trench foot
Whale oil
What is chatting
Getting rid of lice eggs.
Popping lice eggs with a candle or between your thumbs.
Tell me about the rats
Size of kittens, punched rats to get rid of them, they ate bodies and soldiers food. They bred in tens of thousands. When the soldiers slept the rats ran over them. They turned over tins at night time to find food. They were noisy.
Tell me about rations
Basic foods- bully beef + bread + cheese.
Water tasted of petrol and chlorine.
Extra rations were stew and jam, these were in special occasions.
Tell me about the dangerous gas
Gas warning - shell case was banged when chlorine could be smelled.
Mustard gas made you sick, blind, and it burns.
There is chlorine gas and mustard gas.
What is shell shock
When soldiers had been in the war and seen horrific things they were mentally and physically impacted…
A terrible impact on soldiers meaning they often had to lay down on the ground as they couldn’t cope. It was both a mental and physical illness.
Give me 3 ways a German sniper tried to target their enemy
Creep out at dawn into no man’s land and stay there all day- maybe then throw bombs or cut barbed wire.
Wearing camouflaged clothing.
Using the cover of a fake tree.
Name a few weapons
Snipers.
Machine guns.
Bombs/shells.
Gas attacks with poisonous gasses e.g. mustard or chlorine
Tell me about snipers shooting
If you stuck your head up out of the trench, you could be killed in 3 seconds. They had 3 seconds to hit target.
Tell me about going over the top
Over the top of trench into no man’s land.
To attack the enemy.
Zero hour is another term for going over the top.
