Hardships in the Trenches 1. Trenches flooded often

“Through the winter, weariness and water were our chief enemies…One walked in the trenches in thigh-high boots with water above the knee, and one remembers the icy stream welling up inside the boot when you punctured it on concealed barbed wire…” C.S. Lewis, 1917

2. These wet, muddy conditions often led to an infection called Trench Foot Standing for hours in waterlogged trenches without removing wet socks or boots

Feet would turn red or blue, go numb, and could turn gangrenous and result in amputation

The only remedy for it was for soldiers to dry their feet and change their socks several times a day

3. Dysentery also set in with some of the soldiers This is a bacteria caused by contaminated water and poor sanitation among men It involved stomach pains, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever…and dehydration

4. Soldiers experience shell-shock because of their high-stress surroundings

They experience tiredness, irritability, lack of concentration, headaches, and eventual mental breakdowns 2% of British army (active duty) experienced this

5. Brown and Black Rat infestations plagued the soldiers as they fed on the bodies of the dead Could become as big as cats

1 rat can have 900 babies a year They spread disease and contaminated food

6. Lice were also a never-ending problem as men lacked the ability to wash their clothes

They caused constant itching and Trench Fever—a painful disease that involved severe pain and high fever that could last for 3 months