Life in the trenches
Life in the trenches was a miserable experience. The ‘Great War’ was supposed to be a short skirmish. Instead long drawn out war, where both sides dug in and formed a stalemate.
Death
In the trenches soldiers were in danger of artillery fire, gas attacks, disease and or from the bullet of an enemy sniper.
Disease
Rats and itchy lice helped spread disease around the trenches. The rats grew so big that they were said to be the size of cats and the reason? They fed on dead human corpses.
Lice meanwhile caused trench fever, and spread their eggs on the dirty clothes of soldiers.
The damp, wet unsanitary trenches caused a horrible infection known as trench foot, which caused a fungal disease of the foot. The result could mean amputation.
Routine
A battalion would serve on the frontline trench for a spell then move back to the reserve trench and repeat.
The officer would order his troops to ‘stand to’ with rifles ready, making them alert for a possible attack from the enemy who would come over ‘no man’s land’.
Boredom
Soldier’s would suffer from boredom with little to do. They would write letters home while eating rations and trying to catch some sleep, which was difficult in such conditions.
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