Life+in+the+Trench

EWG Pg 102, “He had first trench watch…" pg 105, "Even in daylight with a compass and a map you can get lost [in the trench]." Daily endeavors (in order) - Woken up an hour before dawn by the orderly officer/sergeant for “stand to”: they had to climb to the fire step to guard against dawn raids. - Often times, men were then given rum to drink. - Time to clean rifle equipment, followed by inspection of it - Breakfast: an unofficial but known truce during this feeding time. - Inspection by company or platoon commander - Daily Chores assigned: refilling of sandbags, repairing duckboards on the floor of trench, draining of trench(After rain they were filled with muddy water and prone to collapse), repair of trench itself, preparation of latrines, repairing barbed wire to front line, go to assigned listening posts to pick up info from enemy - After chores were completed, people could do what they wanted (reading, writing letters, etc.) - The opportunity to sleep was taken at any time possible
 * __Life in Trenches__ [[image:trench2.jpg]]**

- Constant death: often times people would die the first day from snipers - a third of casualties on Western Front were in trenches - Rat Infestation: spread infection and contaminated food. Single rat couple could have 900 in a year - Lice: infestation! People started shaving their heads - Trench Foot: fungal infection of feet from the wet and unsanitary trench conditions. Often turned gangrenous and needed amputation - Smell: rotting bodies, overflowing latrines, men without showers, dried sweat, feet, chloride of lime, poison gas, rotting sandbags, mud, cigarette smoke, food
 * Aspects of Life**

- Life in the trench was, as pointed out, incredibly rough. Contaminated with germs and infested with lice and disease, it was hard to survive in such conditions. The soldiers had long days with little sleep. This gives us an insight into some of the patients we've been introduced to. Specifically with the instance where an eyeball was found while doing the daily chore of cleaning the trench out.

http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/trenchlife.htm