Reserve trenches provided a second line of defence in case the front line fell. Reserve trenches were generally safer than the front line, which perhaps explains the shallowness of the trenches.
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What were reserve trenches?
The reserve trench was several hundred yards behind the support trench. This trench held more men and supplies for if the front trench was invaded or overrun.
What did soldiers do in reserve trenches?
In their spare time, soldiers wrote letters and diaries, drew sketches, read books and magazines, pursued hobbies, played cards or gambled. There were also opportunities for more-organised social activities.
What were the 3 types of trenches in WW1?
As historian Paul Fussell describes it, there were usually three lines of trenches: a front-line trench located 50 yards to a mile from its enemy counterpart, guarded by tangled lines of barbed wire; a support trench line several hundred yards back; and a reserve line several hundred yards behind that.
What are the different types of trenches?
WW1 Trenches: The Heart of Battle
- Artillery Line. The artillery line was where the big field guns were located.
- Communication Trench. The communication trenches were used to move between the front and rear trenches.
- Support Trenches.
- Bunker.
- Traverse.
- Machine Gun Nest.
- Front Line Trench.
- Barbed Wire.
Where did ww1 soldiers go to the toilet?
These latrines were trench toilets. They were usually pits dug into the ground between 1.2 metres and 1.5 metres deep. Two people who were called sanitary personnel had the job of keeping the latrines in good condition for each company.
How did soldiers go to the toilet in ww2?
Cat holes
Well, the military adapted that idea when it comes to human waste disposal and created what are known, aptly, as “cat holes.” According to field manuals, proper cat holes are 12-inches long, 12-inches wide, and 12-inches deep.
How long would soldiers stay in trenches?
The image of a soldier in a muddy trench is what many people visualise when they think of the First World War. However, most soldiers would only spend an average of four days at a time in a front line trench. Their daily routine when in the front line varied according to where they were.
What did the trenches smell like?
The stink of war
Then there was the smell. Stinking mud mingled with rotting corpses, lingering gas, open latrines, wet clothes and unwashed bodies to produce an overpowering stench. The main latrines were located behind the lines, but front-line soldiers had to dig small waste pits in their own trenches.
What was life like in a trench?
Trench life involved long periods of boredom mixed with brief periods of terror. The threat of death kept soldiers constantly on edge, while poor living conditions and a lack of sleep wore away at their health and stamina.
Do ww1 trenches still exist?
A few of these places are private or public sites with original or reconstructed trenches preserved as a museum or memorial. Nevertheless, there are still remains of trenches to be found in remote parts of the battlefields such as the woods of the Argonne, Verdun and the mountains of the Vosges.
Where is No Man’s Land?
No Man’s Land is the term used by soldiers to describe the ground between the two opposing trenches. Its width along the Western Front could vary a great deal. The average distance in most sectors was about 250 yards (230 metres).
What did soldiers in ww1 eat?
By the First World War (1914-18), Army food was basic, but filling. Each soldier could expect around 4,000 calories a day, with tinned rations and hard biscuits staples once again. But their diet also included vegetables, bread and jam, and boiled plum puddings. This was all washed down by copious amounts of tea.
What was the land between the trenches called?
The Legend of What Actually Lived in the “No Man’s Land” Between World War I’s Trenches. During World War I, No Man’s Land was both an actual and a metaphorical space. It separated the front lines of the opposing armies and was perhaps the only location where enemy troops could meet without hostility.
Who built the best trenches in ww1?
Main difference between the two trenches was that the Germans dug their trenches first, which meant they got the better soil conditions because they dug their trenches on higher ground compared to the British trenches. The Allies used four “types” of trenches.
Why did ww2 not have trenches?
In summary: The ability of radio-coordinated mechanized forces to maneuver in concert was what made trench-warfare untenable for most World War II fronts. These mechanized forces existed at the end of a long supply line, capable of operating at far greater distances and far greater speeds than previously possible.
How did soldiers poop in trenches?
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.
What was hygiene like in the trenches?
There was no running water, so often they would just “wipe” their feet. The stench in the trenches was often dried sweat, body odor, and blood. Feet had to be washed or wiped at least once a day, nails, mouth, and hair required attention as well. Rats ran around the entire place, nibbling at the men’s wounded areas.
What did they drink in ww1?
The beverages provided from the army command were beer, rum, gin and whisky. Especially the ‘barbed wire whiskies’ were rolled out by the barrel. Whiskies like Old Orkney and 9th Hole and later Johnnie Walker were popular among the troops.
How do female soldiers deal with periods?
Bases have stores with menstrual products available.
Many troops live on them—sometimes with their families! —so there are restaurants, post offices, and stores known as “exchanges” that sell hygiene products (among other things), including tampons and sanitary pads.
How often did soldiers shower in ww2?
About once every week to ten days
About once every week to ten days, Soldiers would go to the rear for their shower. Upon entering the shower area they turned in their dirty clothing. After showering they received new cloths. They had their choice for size: small, medium, or large.