Life in the Trenches Daily Routine Lesson starter: What do you think would have been the worst part of living in trenches? give reasons for your answer.

Today we will… Explain the daily duties of a soldier in the trenches

I can… Write about an ordinary day in the trenches in a ‘letter home from the Trenches’

The daily routine we will learn about today is that of a front-line soldier Soldiers spent around a week at the front followed by some time ‘behind the lines’

As we move through the soldier’s itinerary, take notes in your jotter. You will write a diary entry at the end, describing a typical day in the trenches

05:00 ‘Stand to’ at daybreak Most likely time for enemy attack – soldiers had to be on guard Nicknamed ‘the daily hate’

07:30 ‘Stand down’ – dangerous time over Breakfast time while some remained on guard 07:30

08:00 Duties or ‘fatigues’ assigned Repairing trenches, cleaning rifles, fetching equipment Some did sentry duty

19:00 ‘Stand to’ at dusk

20:00 period of great activity Barbed wire replaced, spying commenced Flares went off constantly to light up No-Mans land

21:00 onwards Those not on sentry duty ate, wrote letters, sang, smoked, played cards and chatted with friends

A soldier’s rations If you were lucky enough to be near a field kitchen, you could rely on a hot meal. Usually bacon and eggs. Bread Hard biscuits Bully (tinned) beef Tinned jam and butter Tea and sugar Pork fat and beans Rum or porter Cigarettes & tobacco Many soldiers asked for good from home like toffee, chocolate and candles.

A field kitchen

A Day in the Trenches Imagine you were a soldier on the front line. Write a letter home describing a typical day in the trenches. Use the notes from this lesson to describe your day in the trenches. Remember that most soldiers would ask for things to be sent from home!

Soldier Name: A Quigley Soldier Number: 67453322 Today’s date 1915 Dear Mum/ Dad/ Granny/ Dog, I have now been away from home for six months. I thought I’d write you a letter to let you know what a typical day on the front line is like…