Trench Warfare By: Mitchell Mook

World War I, also known as the First World War was a world conflict that lasted for five years.The Allied Powers (British Empire and France, and the United States) defeated the Central Powers (led by the German Empire, Austria- Hungary and the Ottoman Empire), thus leading to the collapse of the four Central Powers and a radical change in the map of Europe.world conflictAllied PowersBritish EmpireFranceUnited States Central Powers German EmpireAustria- HungaryOttoman Empire

The First World War was the first major conflict that made use of what we would consider to be 'modern' weapons. No longer were the Cavalry and the sword the most potent weapons on the battlefield. It was now a case of the machine gun and a gas canister taking control of the battle

Millions of men lived and fought in the trenches during World War 1 and more than six million died their. There was a constant struggle within the men to find something to do to prevent boredom and the thought of death.

Over 1.65 million men in the British Army alone were wounded during the First World War and around 240,000 of these men were fitted with artificial limbs because they were partially or totally amputated as a result of war wounds.

Soldiers who suffered from shell shock ( known as “war neurosis” and “PSTD”) and cowardice sometimes received court martial or even executed. Another common horror of war was trench foot. Trench foot is a horrendous infection in the foot caused by cold, wet conditions which were commonly found within the trenches.

In the begging of the First World War a common strategy was to send troops over no- man’s land in large numbers with the objective to reach and infiltrate the enemy trenches.

Usually, the distance between opposing trenches was around several hundred yards of flat, exposed land that was littered with dead bodies and barbed wire., but if any soldier did make it to the opposing trenches he would be able to shoot maybe one enemy before getting shot himself. With this tactic every enemy soldier killed fifty to hundred of ones own soldiers were killed.

With the introduction of the machine gun and gas canister Cavalry and the sword quickly became an inferior weapon used during the war.

Snipers were specially trained marksmen that had rifles with telescopic sights and would normally camouflage themselves in no- man’s land.

Many men killed in the trenches were buried almost where they fell. If a trench subsided, or new trenches or dugouts were needed, large numbers of decomposing bodies would be found just below the surface. These corpses, as well as the food scraps that littered the trenches, attracted rats. One pair of rats can produce 880 offspring in a year and so the trenches were soon swarming with them.

A total of 3,240,948 tons of food was sent from Britain to the soldiers fighting in France and Belgium during the First World War. The British Army employed 300,000 field workers to cook and supply the food.First World WarBritish Army

At the beginning of the war the British Army owned 25,000 horses. This was not considered enough and during the next two weeks a further 165,000 were recruited from Britain. The best horses were used by the cavalryBritish Army cavalry

Poisonous gases were known about for a long time before the First World War but military officers were reluctant to use them as they considered it to be a uncivilized weapon. The French Army were the first to employ it as a weapon when in the first month of the war they fired tear-gas grenades at the Germans.First World War French Army

After two weeks training at Etaples Base Camp, soldiers were sent to the Western Front. This usually involved a journey of about 60 miles. This was usually a combination of a train journey and several hours of marching. This became known as going 'Up the Line'.Etaples Base Camp Western Front

Each battalion had its own supply of rum that it distributed to its soldiers. Each division (20,000 men) received 300 gallons. Rum was usually distributed after, rather than before an offensive. It was also issued during very cold weather.

Dysentery is a disease involving the inflammation of the lining of the large intestines. The inflammation causes stomach pains and diarrhoea. Some cases involve vomiting and fever. The bacteria enters the body through the mouth in food or water, and also by human feaces and contact with infected people.

The last key battle was in Amiens in 1918 which ended the war. Colonel John Fuller managed to persuade General Rawlingson to use 412 tanks followed by soldiers and supported by over 1,000 combat aircraft.