Western Front: trenches and ambulances

Question 1

What were traverses in the trench network?

Answer 1

A zigzag detour to protect soldiers from shell blasts and reduce casualties

Question 2

What role did duckboards play in trenches?

Answer 2

They lined the floors of trenches in wet areas

Question 3

What was the parados and what role did it play in the trench?

Answer 3

A mound of earth or sandbags that raised the height of the back of the trench

It protected soldiers from shell explosions behind the trench

Question 4

What role did the fire step play in the front line trenches?

Answer 4

Men could stand on the fire step to fire their rifles

Question 5

Why was barbed wire placed in front of the trench?

Answer 5

To make it harder for enemy infantry to attack head on

Question 6

What was the dugout in a trench?

Answer 6

A hole dug into the side of the trench to provide protective cover

Question 7

What was the purpose of the communications trench?

Answer 7

Ran between other trenches - allowed communication to take place between soldiers in different parts of the trenches

Question 8

How far was the support trench behind the front line?

Answer 8

About 80 metres

Question 9

How far was the reserve trench behind the support trench?

Answer 9

At least 100 metres and often 350-550 metres

Question 10

What proportion of their time would a soldier spend at the front line trench?

Answer 10

15%

Question 11

What type of ambulances were sent to the Western Front in August 1914?

Answer 11

Horse-drawn ambulances

Question 12

What problems did horse-drawn ambulances have on the Western Front?

Answer 12

Could not cope with large numbers of casualties

Shook soldiers about, making their injuries worse

Question 13

How many motor ambulance wagons were bought by October 1914?

Answer 13

512

Question 14

What advantages did motor ambulances have over horse-drawn ambulances?

Answer 14

Prevented injuries being made worse when moving soldiers

Question 15

What disadvantages did motor ambulances have compared to horse-drawn ambulances?

Answer 15

Could not operate in muddy terrain

Question 16

How many horses were used to pull ambulance wagons in muddy terrain?

Answer 16

Six

Question 17

In what month and year was the first ambulance train used on the Western Front?

Answer 17

November 1914

Question 18

What were the advantages of ambulance trains on the Western Front?

Answer 18

They had spaces for stretchers on both sides of the carriage, and they could even contain operating theatres

Question 19

What disadvantages did ambulance trains have on the Western Front?

Answer 19

They damaged the war effort by blocking other trains on the rail network

They could only operate where there were railways

Question 20

What were the advantages of barge ambulances on the Western Front?

Answer 20

They were comfortable and could send soldiers directly onto the ships back to Britain

Question 21

What were the disadvantages of barge ambulances on the Western Front?

Answer 21

They were slow and could only operate where there were canals