What did soldiers do for fun in the trenches?

The ‘sports’ range from pillow fights, wheelbarrow races and even wrestling on mules. Games played in the trenches were part of the entertainment program arranged by WWI officers to keep the morale of the fighting soldiers in the middle of the war. There was even a precise scale sketch of a trench tramway.

Was life in the trenches really that bad?

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.

What did they drink in the trenches?

Soldiers were sometimes issued beer, cider, or brandy in lieu of Pinard, but it remained the most common alcoholic drink consumed at the front. On special occasions, other drinks like spiced wine or sparkling wine would be issued.

What was the land between the trenches called?

“No Man’s Land” was a popular term during the First World War to describe the area between opposing armies and trench lines.

What did rats do in the trenches?

More horrifically the rodents were sometimes referred to as corpse rats. They bred rapidly in their millions and swarmed through No-Mans Land gnawing the corpses of fallen soldiers. The rats would taut sleeping soldiers, creeping over them at night. There were long bouts of boredom and rat hunting became a sport.

Where did soldiers sleep in the trenches ww1?

Getting to sleep When able to rest, soldiers in front line trenches would try and shelter from the elements in dugouts. These varied from deep underground shelters to small hollows in the side of trenches – as shown here.

What killed thousands of soldiers in trenches?

Thus, trenches may have afforded some protection by allowing soldiers more time to take other defensive steps, such as putting on gas masks. Trench warfare caused enormous numbers of casualties. Later in the war, forces began mounting attacks from the trenches at night, usually with support of covering artillery fire.

What does from the trenches mean?

: a place or situation in which people do very difficult work These people are working every day down in the trenches to improve the lives of refugees.

How would you survive in the trenches?

How To Keep Clean And Healthy In The Trenches

1. Drink clean water. Equipment.
2. Drink clean water. Drinking water was transported to front line trenches in petrol cans.
3. Take medicine. Equipment.
4. Take medicine. In winter, soldiers in the trenches were plagued by sore throats, common colds, ‘flu and vomiting.
5. Chatting. Photographs.
6. Chatting.
7. Get a pet.
8. Get a pet.

What was life like in the 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 animal was used to hunt down rats in trenches?

Cats and terriers were kept by soldiers in the frontline trenches to help free them of disease-carrying rats. The terriers were actually very effective in killing rats.

What were duckboards in the trenches?

‘Duckboards’ (or ‘trench gratings’) were first used at Ploegsteert Wood, Ypres in December 1914. They were used throughout the First World War being usually placed at the bottom of the trenches to cover the sump-pits, the drainage holes which were made at intervals along one side of the trench.

Why was life in the trenches difficult?

Life in the trenches was very difficult because they were dirty and flooded in bad weather. Sustained exposure to the wet, muddy conditions could cause Trench Foot, which sometimes would result in the foot being amputated. Cold weather was dangerous too, and soldiers often lost fingers or toes to frostbite.

What were some everyday things in the trenches?

Individuals spent only a few days a month in a front-line trench. Daily life here was a mixture of routine and boredom – sentry duty, kit and rifle inspections, and work assignments filling sandbags, repairing trenches, pumping out flooded sections, and digging latrines.

Why are trenches full of water?

Much of the land where the trenches were dug was either clay or sand. The water could not pass through the clay and because the sand was on top, the trenches became waterlogged when it rained. The trenches were hard to dig and kept on collapsing in the waterlogged sand.

What were some positive things about living in the trenches?

ADVANTAGES:Advantages of trench warfare was that you were invisible to the other enemy because you were protected from inside the trench, you were also protected by enemy fire and shells. It was also a safe place to live despite the bad conditions. You also had a good view of the other enemy.

What did soldiers do in the trenches in their spare time?

In their spare time, soldiers wrote letters and diaries, drew sketches, read books and magazines, pursued hobbies, played cards or gambled. There were also opportunities for more-organised social activities. Other soldiers entertained their mates with impromptu musical, pantomime and comedy performances.

Were there toilets in the trenches?

Soldiers lived in the trenches when fighting during WW1, it was muddy, noisy and pretty basic. They didn’t have toilets so it was probably a bit stinky too.

Why are the trenches so disgusting?

They were actually quite disgusting. There were all sorts of pests living in the trenches including rats, lice, and frogs. They made the soldiers’ itch horribly and caused a disease called Trench Fever. The weather also contributed to rough conditions in the trenches.

How did they get rid of rats in the trenches?

Many troops were awakened by rats crawling across their faces. Cats and terriers were kept by soldiers in the frontline trenches to help free them of disease-carrying rats. The terriers were actually very effective in killing rats.

What do soldiers do to pass time in the trenches?

Troops on both sides of the trenches used board games to pass the time because, obviously, video games weren’t a thing yet. Plenty of games were popular in the war. Checkers could be played with bits of metal or buttons on a hand-drawn board, or a travel game of Chess could be popular.

What happened to the trenches from ww1?

In some places, trenches cut across farms, roads, towns, etc. and were naturally filled in by returning inhabitants. In other places, trenches didn’t get in the way and were simply abandoned to nature. In yet others, especially major battlefields, small sections were deliberately preserved.