What was it like at night in the trenches?

What was it like at night in the trenches?

At night, the trenches often became hives of activity. Construction parties beavered away repairing trenches and fortifications, laying duckboards and wire and preparing artillery positions. To help detect enemy activity along the front, both sides established observation (‘listening’) posts in front of their trenches.

Where did soldiers go to the bathroom in WW1?

Soldiers Used Either Buckets Or Deeper Holes Within The Trenches As Latrines. In order to go to the bathroom in the trenches, soldiers designated specific areas to serve as the latrines.

Did they have 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.

How did soldiers sleep in the trenches?

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.

How did soldiers sleep in trenches in ww1?

6. 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.

Why were conditions in the trenches so bad?

Life in the trenches was very difficult because they were dirty and flooded in bad weather. Many of the trenches also had pests living in them, including rats, lice, and frogs. Cold weather was dangerous too, and soldiers often lost fingers or toes to frostbite. Some soldiers also died from exposure in the cold.

How long did soldiers sleep in trenches in WW1?

Men generally spent about 5-7 days in a front line trench before being relieved (there were usually multiple lines of trenches and a rear area), and were invariably glad to get some rest afterwards. In respect to this, what did soldiers do to pass the time in the trenches in ww1?

What was the living conditions in the trenches?

Living Conditions The living conditions in the trenches were very unpleasant. The soldiers were not only put through so much devastation but also having to deal with the loss of their fellow mates, starvation, sudden attacks, diseases and agony.

How did soldiers sleep on the front line?

Most soldiers on the front line simply slept in the trench, as there weren’t a lot of beds available. During the lulls in fighting, when soldiers were not under artillery barrage or infantry attack it was not uncommon for soldiers to just sit down and fall asleep, regardless of the time of day.

What was life like for Canadian soldiers in the trenches?

The inability to defend oneself against shelling or snipers, and the constant hardships of trench life, contributed to extreme stress and exhaustion. Dozens, sometimes hundreds, of Canadian soldiers were killed and wounded each day along the Western Front. The infantry and machine-gunners,…