LIFE IN THE TRENCHES

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LIFE IN THE TRENCHES
Strong eyes, fine limbs, haughty athletes, Less
chanced than you for life, Bonds to the whims of
murder, Sprawled in the bowels of the earth
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PHOTOS OF THE TRENCHES
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Conditions in the Trenches
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This is an entry in the diary of Harold Saunders,
a soldier during World War One. He describes
trench life as he knows it.
When I made my debut in the line I had a cheerful
conviction that nothing would hit me.  And I
remember standing on the fire-step for the first
time and saying to myself exultantly "You're in
it at last! You're in it! The greatest thing
that's ever happened!" Lice and wind-up came into
my life about the same time.  At stand-to one
morning a flight of whizz-bangs skimmed the top
of the trench.  The man next to me went down with
a scream and half his face gone.  The sand-bag in
front of me was ripped open and I was blinded and
half-choked with its contents.
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Rats and Lice

• Two types black and brown
• Soldiers made games of killing them
• Lice were an even worse problem

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Diseases in the Trenches
TRENCH FEVER
TRENCH FOOT
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What Else?

• Novice Death
• The Trench Cycle
• Stand To and The Morning Hate
• The Breakfast Truce
• Inspection and Chores
• Patrolling No Mans Land

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GAS

• First used by the French
• Second Battle of Ypres

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DIARY ENTRY of Anthony Hossack on THE FIRST GAS
ATTACK
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