1. © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Interpretation What was it like living in the trenches?

2. © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Interpretation Objectives In this activity you will: Evaluate interpretations about life in the trenches.

3. © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Interpretation Living in the trenches Following the failure of the Schlieffen Plan in August 1914, both sides ‘dug in’ to try to stabilise the front line. Trenches soon stretched all the way from the Swiss border to the North Sea. What was it like living in a trench?

4. © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Interpretation What was it like living in the trenches? Correlli Barnett, The Great War, BBC Books, 2003 Does the evidence you have agree with Correlli Barnett? ‘ For the majority of soldiers actual living conditions in and behind the lines on quiet sectors were hardly any worse than in peacetime. Certainly many British soldiers enjoyed a better diet, better medical care and better welfare than they had as civilians.’

5. © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Interpretation What was it like living in the trenches? ‘For the majority of soldiers actual living conditions in and behind the lines on quiet sectors were hardly any worse than in peacetime…’ Do you agree or disagree with the above statement by Barnett?

6. © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Interpretation What was it like living in the trenches? ‘During the last three days the weather has continued very wet. Continual work is required to keep the trenches dry and to prevent the earth from falling in…’ Daily Record and Mail, 6 January 1915

7. © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Interpretation What was it like living in the trenches? ‘The outstanding feature of this part of the front was the extraordinary number of rats. They grew fat on the food they pilfered from us. One night a rat ran across my face. Unfortunately my mouth happened to be open and the hind legs of the filthy little beast went right in…’ A. Stuart Dolden, Cannon Fodder, Littlehampton Book Services Ltd, 1980

8. © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Interpretation What was it like living in the trenches? ‘Ration parties from each company went to carry back the rations which were tied in sandbags and consisted, usually, of bread, hard biscuits, tinned meat, tinned jam, tinned butter, sugar and tea, pork and beans, cigarettes and tobacco. Water was sent up the line in petrol cans. The medical officer was responsible for ensuring all drinking water was chlorinated. In winter there was a ration of rum…’ Malcolm Brown, Tommy Goes to War, The History Press, 2004

9. © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Interpretation What was it like living in the trenches? ‘One blanket per man was the issue for sleeping, and Phillips and I found it beneficial to sleep together, and share our blankets and greatcoats… Wanting to wash next morning we found that the only water was in the ditches and shell-holes near the camp…’ Frank Dunham, The Long Carry: The War Diary of Stretcher Bearer, Elsevier, 1970

10. © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Interpretation What was it like living in the trenches? ‘For the majority of soldiers actual living conditions in and behind the lines on quiet sectors were hardly any worse than in peacetime…’ Do you agree or disagree with the above statement by Barnett?

11. © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Interpretation What was it like living in the trenches? ‘For the majority of soldiers actual living conditions in and behind the lines on quiet sectors were hardly any worse than in peacetime…’ Do you agree or disagree with the above statement by Barnett?

12. © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Interpretation What was it like living in the trenches? ‘For the majority of soldiers actual living conditions in and behind the lines on quiet sectors were hardly any worse than in peacetime…’ Do you agree or disagree with the above statement by Barnett?

13. © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Interpretation What was it like living in the trenches? AgreeDisagree ‘For the majority of soldiers actual living conditions in and behind the lines on quiet sectors were hardly any worse than in peacetime…’ Correlli Barnett