WORLD WAR 1 Life In The Trenches.

Dogs were much-loved pets for soldiers but many were also trained to work. Dogs carried messages between trenches, scouted for hidden enemies, carried medical supplies to injured men and acted as watchdogs. They also killed rats in the trenches.

Soldiers found themselves working in dirty and unpleasant conditions, especially when the weather was bad. Daily duties included cleaning their weapons for inspection, refilling sandbags, fixing barbed wire and repairing collapsed trench walls after bad weather. Emptying the latrines (trench toilets) was a very smelly and dirty job and everyone tried to avoid getting that duty. In the wintertime, trenches were freezing cold and often flooded with water after rainfall. 'Trench foot' was a condition that many soldiers suffered from as a result of standing in water and mud for a long time. In serious cases, soldiers had to have their feet amputated (cut off).

Photographs of soldiers sleeping in the trenches during World War One were usually taken during daylight. Soldiers worked during the night and used the cover of darkness to observe enemy trenches. The only time they were able to sleep was in the daytime, but only after morning duties

Soldiers serving on the front line were very far from home Soldiers serving on the front line were very far from home. They did not see their families and friends for months on end. Writing and receiving letters became a lifeline for many soldiers. They looked forward to hearing news from their loved ones at home whilst they served their country on the front line. Many soldiers also kept diaries and journals which helped them to record their experiences and feelings about war.

Many soldiers found themselves having to share their trenches with packs of rats. The rats stole food rations and caused damage by chewing through clothing and haversacks. Unlike pet rats, wild rodents spread disease and made the trenches horrible and dirty places to live. Some rats were reported by soldiers to have grown as large as cats. Dogs were used as rat catchers to help clear the trenches and prevent them from being overrun.

Soldiers took turns being on watch duty at lookout posts whilst the other men worked and rested. Being on watch duty was a very important job as you needed to be alert for any sign of attack. Sleeping at the post was a very serious crime and a soldier faced being sentenced to death or imprisonment if they were caught.

Sandbags were filled with earth and mud Sandbags were filled with earth and mud. They were stacked on top of one another and lined the walls of trenches to provide protection for the soldiers below. Trench duties often included the refilling and restacking of sandbags after damage from enemy fire.

Now For A Quiz. Now that you've seen a trench close up, see if you can remember what caused 'trench foot'. Choose one of the three options. Rats Fleas Standing in water