Life in the Trenches

In early 1915 trench warfare was at a standstill on the western front. Both sides were building networks of trenches to secure their positions. These trenches reached across France and Belgium for almost 600 miles.

Trenches were often enhanced shell holes which were joined by man-made ditches. At some points, less than 100 yards separated the German and Canadian front line trenches. This area between the two front lines was called "No Man's Land", a very dangerous area by day or night.

The front line trenches were at least two metres deep. They were made up of firing lines and traverses. The firing lines were linked to one another by connecting traverses. This created a zigzag pattern which was used to prevent German fire from sweeping the entire length of the trenches. With the heavy rain and snow, trenches became filled with mud and water, often causing sickness and disease. To give the soldiers firm footing in these conditions, bath mats or duckboards were used. More times than not, the water was up to the soldiers knees.

Second and third trench lines, or the support and reserve trenches, were constructed to easily move supplies and troops to the front. These trenches were linked to one another by communication trenches and a telephone communication network . Barbed wire was stretched across the lines to protect the trenches and strong points. The wire would not only slow down an attack but also slow down troops on trench raids at night.

The troops' daily routine did not vary much. There was little food to eat as rations often ran out and the water was bad. Meals often consisted of "bully" beef or tinned corned beef, bread and hot tea. The soldiers faced cold, wet weather on a regular basis .

Because there was so much rain, the trenches filled with water and mud. The soldiers' uniforms and kilts were often heavily soiled with mud. In the winter, the troops had to contend with the bitter cold and numb body parts. The rats, lice and flies swarmed the trenches, not bothered by the chaos around them. Instead, they thrived. For the troops, this was a fact of life in the trenches. There was little peace for the troops, from nature or from the enemy.

The troops manned the trenches in rotations, spending 15 days out of 20 in the line, 10 on the firing steps and 5 as working parties. Most of their time was spent shoring up the trenches, building more dugouts and working on the infantry tunnels. In total, the soldiers would stay in the trenches for a month before moving to the rear. At the rear, the soldiers were able to wash and clean up. This was also a chance for them to get a good meal and sleep on dry land.

Overhead, there was always the deafening ring of fire from shells and guns. The hissing of gas shells or sniper fire created an eerie feeling. Looking over the parapets was always risky in broad daylight, resulting in sniper fire and possibly even death. Snipers lurked about, firing at anyone who dared to make a move from under the protection of the trenches. Life in the trenches was anything but glorious. During the day, soldiers would sleep or rest in funk holes, small holes dug into the side of the trenches. Activity above ground was very limited during daylight, as it was unsafe. Instead, it was a time for regrouping.

However at night, things came to life. It was during the night that ammunition, rations and supplies could be moved safely. This would all happen in the maze of trenches to and from the front lines. The maze of holes provided little comfort for the soldiers, other than limited protection from the shelling and gunfire. With the constant shelling from both sides, the trenches were steadily changing in appearance and regular maintenance was required. Under the safety of the darkness, the troops would repair the trenches.

Trench raids were also carried out by the Canadian troops under the blanket of darkness. These surprise attacks were helpful in gathering information and destroying enemy trenches and guns between major attacks. The raiding parties would sneak across No Man's Land, cut through the barbed wire and carry out a surprise attack on the German trenches. On occasion, the raiders themselves would be surprised by enemy shell fire. The sky would light up as if it were daytime. Because of the brightness, any movement could easily be seen by the enemy. Soldiers quickly learned to remain still after the shelling. This was crucial to concealing one's position and staying alive. The Canadians became well known for these daring raids. Their constant trench raids kept the enemy on edge. These raids were later accepted as a regular wartime activity.

After the night's activities were complete, the soldiers would then return to the trenches and prepare for dawn. They would wait silently and patiently for daylight to arrive. Especially at dawn and dusk, there would be heavy shell attacks. Generally, this was the best time for any attack.

Because of the difficulty for the infantry to attack on the battlefield, troops resorted to underground warfare. This was especially true at the Battle of Vimy Ridge. There was just as much action underground in the tunnels as above ground. The tunneling companies burrowed into the chalk at Vimy, creating an elaborate system of passageways and saps at various levels. These saps or smaller tunnels were useful for listening posts, gathering information on the Germans. The Germans also resorted to this type of war.

Allied troops would tunnel under the Germans who were also mining into No Man's Land. Each side would listen to the other's activities. Underground mines were then placed in some of these smaller tunnels in No Man's Land. Each side would try to blast the other from their positions. This type of explosion would destroy the underground line and possibly kill soldiers above ground. It became a war of wits using trench warfare and explosives.

From these mine explosions and heavy artillery shelling, large craters and shell holes were created. Battlefields became honeycombed with these craters. Often, these craters would fill with water and mud making it difficult for troops to safely move across the battlefield. In some instances, the rough terrain prevented artillery from being moved by horse to locations further up the line. Often, large areas became a sea of mud and many wounded would drown in these shell holes.

In the trenches, there was always a danger of a poison gas attack. This silent killer could sweep across enemy trenches causing high casualties without any close combat. Gas masks protected soldiers from an agonizing and slow death.

Initially, the tunnel system had served as a safe method of moving troops to the front line. This network later became more important for attack operations. More importantly, the tunnels gave safe access to the trenches and to the front line. The infantry could safely move from the reserve trenches, through heavily shelled areas, and onto forward positions immediately before a battle. Troops were then housed in the tunnels for long periods of time before a battle. This provided protection from shelling, especially important during an attack using the creeping barrage. As the entrances to the tunnel could easily be damaged, there were several entrances built to each tunnel. And during an attack, troops would have easy access to the battlefield via the tunnel exits that were concealed and would be exploded at the precise time. Because the troops were underground for so long, ventilation was necessary for the latrines or bathrooms and kitchens. A ventilation system, gas doors and curtains also served as a precaution for gas. The lights, run by petrol, also needed ventilation.

The size of the tunnels or subways, varied from six feet high by three feet wide to 6 feet 6 inches by 3 feet 6 inches. All tunnels were 20 feet or more below the surface of the ground. At some points, they were almost 50 feet deep. The walls were made of soft chalk, making it relatively easy to mine.

Living in the trenches was nothing short of endless hardship. Uncertainty was also present in the soldiers' minds. Soldiers were always waiting, preparing for trench raids or going over the top. And for days on end, they faced the sounds of death. The echoes of shells, gunfire and screams from the wounded or dying soldiers often filled the air. Soldiers learned to endure these hardships.

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