WW1 experience Flashcards
how many men died in WW1?
10 million
how many British dead in WW1?
750,000
what was the biggest killer in WW1?
warfare
why was disease less impactful on WW1?
the introduction of better medical equipment
what medical techniques were widely used in WW1?
antiseptics
mass inoculation against disease
anaesthetics
X-ray techniques
blood transfusions
which diseases did play a major factor in WW1?
trench foot
venereal disease
how many men served in the British Army in WW1?
5.7 million
why was there a vast range of experiences faced by British troops?
- many didn’t serve at the Western Front
- the different services in the army had different experiences
- the war was different across the years
- many men never experienced trench warfare
why were conditions in the trenches so bad?
- shit weather
- frostbite and trench foot
- rats carrying diseases
- blood-sucking lice
how many were infected by the blood-sucking louse?
95% of British troops
what were the main concerns of men at the front?
food
clean water
cigarettes
what were the feelings of the men who went over?
anxiety or exhilaration
many men wanted to kill a German simply to avenge their pals
many felt the exhilaration in just being a soldier
what was the main stance of soldiers to the war?
stoicism
with dark humour
was discipline an issue with the BEF?
NO
men performed their duty instead of being cowards
what was the only instance in which a British force surrendered in WW1?
when the 5th Army surrendered in 1918
what was the relationship between the officers and the soldiers?
it was mainly harmonious
there was no issue of class divide which was evident
what was the relationship between soldiers and the staff?
major hatred
even the officer class despised the staff for their inability to emphasise
how many British soldiers were court-martialled?
300,000
how many British soldiers were executed?
350
what was the main reason for an execution?
desertion
what was the main offence committed by British troops?
drunkedness
how many men served in the Royal Navy?
500,000
how many men did the Royal Navy lose in WW1?
43,000
what were the problems faced by naval men?
stress due to being at sea for long times
boredom from being stationed at ports
