Lice posed a great threat to both sides during the First World War. These parasitic insects thrived in the trenches where it was difficult to maintain good hygiene. The reason lice were so despised was because they were adept at carrying many dangerous diseases from one host to the the next. Typhus and Trench fever were two of the most common.

On the Eastern front, typhus was especially rampant and was the cause of many soldiers' deaths. Steps were taken to stop this plague such as increased sanitation and baths for soldiers but they were only marginally successful. On the Western front where Jack Turner was stationed, typhus was less of a threat but careful precautions were still made. Any suspicious cases were reported quickly and often dealt with by widespread delousing. Soldiers were also forced to keep their hair short to lower the chance of contraction. Few soldiers were transferred from the Eastern front to the Western front for fear the typhus would be transferred as well.

The fear of typhus and other illness were well founded. In some areas the number of casualties due to enemy fire were far outnumbered by those killed by sickness. The lice was at the center of this dilemma and by destroying the lice the military could save many lives. Some steps were outlined by the military as a means of controlling lice and were issued to soldiers:

• Change clothing as often as possible.
• Keep verminous clothing away from an infested kit.
• Lice die of starvation in a week's time in discarded clothes.
• Brushing and ironing are the two best means of destroying the eggs.
• Badly infested clothes not needed should be burnt, buried, or sunk in water.
• The wearing of silk underclothes will prevent lice.