What was life like in WW1 trenches?
On the Western Front, the war was fought by soldiers in trenches. Trenches were long, narrow ditches dug into the ground where soldiers lived. They were very muddy, uncomfortable and the toilets overflowed. These conditions caused some soldiers to develop medical problems such as trench foot.
What did soldiers experience in the trenches?
Trench life involved long periods of boredom mixed with brief periods of terror. The threat of death kept soldiers constantly on edge, while poor living conditions and a lack of sleep wore away at their health and stamina.
Are there still bodies in WW1 trenches?
The bodies of 125 World War One soldiers have been discovered entombed in a perfectly preserved German trench system 101 years after they were killed. Most of the men, who were British, German, French and South African, were found where they fell during some of the most ferocious fighting of the war.
What did ww1 soldiers smell?
They could smell cordite, the lingering odour of poison gas, rotting sandbags, stagnant mud, cigarette smoke, and cooking food. Although overwhelmed at first, new arrivals soon got used to it and eventually became part of the smell with their own body odour.
What is one example of trench warfare?
The trench lines of the Petersburg–Richmond theatre of operations in the final months of that war were the foremost example of trench warfare in the 19th century.
How do you write like a Civil war soldier?
Letters were addressed to a “P.O.” or “in care of.” Letters were frequently composed in a “crosshatched” style, meaning the writer would write vertically and horizontally on the same page. This was done to save paper or because there was no extra paper.
Why did soldiers write diary entries?
There is a particular comfort in putting down one’s daily experiences on paper—particularly if those experiences take place in a war zone. For many who served during World War I, keeping a diary offered an outlet, a place into which they could unload their fears and frustrations.