Life in the Trenches
Ever wondered what it was really like for soldiers during World War I? Trench warfare created living conditions that were absolutely dreadful - imagine being stuck in a muddy ditch for months, surrounded by danger and disease.
Soldiers were completely cut off from their families and normal life. They spent their time writing diaries and letters to document the horrors they witnessed daily. These personal accounts give us a real glimpse into their experiences.
The trenches were crawling with rats as large as cats that fed on dead bodies scattered around. Soldiers constantly battled lice infestations that caused unbearable itching and led to trench fever. Many also developed trench foot - a painful condition where feet became swollen and infected from standing in cold, wet mud for days.
Did You Know? The Battle of the Somme was one of the largest battles of World War I, with over a million men wounded or killed.
The sensory experience was overwhelming too. Soldiers had to cope with the sight of blood everywhere, the smell of rotting bodies and poison gas, plus the constant sounds of bullets and artillery fire. Any sudden noise could send them into a panic, knowing death could come at any moment.