W: The Changing Nature of War

Question 1

Communication - beginning

Answer 1

Conditions on the front meant that communication was often through non-technological methods
* Visual signalling - coloured flags
* Carrier pigeos, messanger dogs.
* Trench runners

Question 2

Communication

Answer 2

Civilian style telephone wires were frequently broken (artillery fire, trampling)

Radio- early radios were fragile and easy to intercept, requiring use of code - this slowed communication.
Later sets were portable and could transmit voice messages, not just morse code.

Question 3

Soundranging

Answer 3

Recordings of artillery fire allowed triangulation of the weapon, allowing for accurate and precise targeting of heavy machinery

Question 4

Developing weaponary

Answer 4

• Aircraft - air to air combat (“Air Aces”) and bombing to support ground troops
• Zeppelins - bombing, instilling fear
• Poison gas - more of a pyschological weapon (< 1% of casualties), also dependent on weather
• Flame throwers - German weapons, French developed them - strong pyschological weapon although dangerous/hard to operate.
• Artillery - one of the most prominent weapons (One million shells fired by the Germans at the first day of the battle of Verdun, 1916), 60% of battlefield casualities. Very loud, exploding shrapnel, even gas
• Tanks - necessary for trench warfare, penetrating barbed wire, infantry support and firepower for swift advances. However, mechanical problems, poor mobility.
• Grenades - initially only the Germans had sufficient technology, but soon became part of the soldiers kit. Good for trench warfare, but close range
• Machine guns - creating artillery cover or barrage, stationed at trenches or carried into battle.

Question 5

Common injuries

Answer 5

Injuries
* Head wounds - helmet introduced into uniform.
* Leg wounds, arm injuried from artillery shells.
* Gun shots - British surgeon “every gunshot wound is more or less infectd at the moment of its infliction

Illness
* Trench foot - gangrene from standing days in mud and water
* Lice - scratching and infection by trench dirt and mud
* Disease was easily spread, low sanitation, close quarters
* However less men died of injuries than in previous wars

Question 6

Development - Medical organisation

Answer 6

• Medical and surgical units were moved closer to the front.
• Motor transport ensured quick treatment for serious cases.
• Several medical locations (regimental aid post, casualty clearing, base hospital) + transportation (stretcher bearers, ambulance, train) -> high organisation, priority of injuried.

Question 7

Medical advancements

Answer 7

X Rays - locating the exact injury (where the bullet/shrapnel pierced the body) efficiently was vital, allowing for precise surgery saving lives and preventing diasbility

Fighting infection - vaccinations decreased death from sickness, iodine wipes helped clean wounds, antiseptics. This effort of sanitation kept infection at bay.

Thomas Splint - reduction in death from leg fractures, also preventing diasbility (from amputation as alternate treatment)

Blood transfusion - anticoagulants allowed blood to be stored and aiding injured soldiers. However not widely used till 1930s.