Life in the Trenches Daily Routine Lesson starter: 1)Name and describe one physical effect of the trenches. 2)Do the same for a psychological effect.

Daily Routine in the Trenches Understand the daily duties of a soldier in the trenches Identify the negative aspects of trench life

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

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 Bread Hard biscuits Bully (tinned) beef Tinned jam and butter Tea and sugar Pork fat and beans Rum or porter Cigarettes & tobacco If you were lucky enough to be near a field kitchen, you could rely on a hot meal. Usually bacon and eggs. 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.