Essay Ww1

Soldiers in the front lines were rarely provided with fresh food and they frequently suffered from acute constipation. Drinking water was often in short supply, as it had to be carried to the lines in cans. The chemicals which were added to purify it left a horrible taste, though British troops always had plenty of tea which helped to make it a more palatable drink. A lot of alcohol was consumed in the trenches. Some men found that only by drinking could they cope with the horrors around them. British officers drank whisky; other ranks were almost always given a tot of rum to boost their courage before an attack.

Men soon became infested with lice, and louse hunting became an inevitable part of the daily routine. Soldiers spoke of using matches to roast them out of clothing and of the satisfactory crunch as the insects were crushed between the fingernails. Rats were also a problem and there was the constant worry that they would spread disease.

Sickness was as great a problem as enemy gunfire. Troops exposed to damp, cold weather soon fell victim to bronchitis and pneumonia. Trench lavatories were disgusting, and dysentery and similar complaints were common.