Living in the Trenches
Learning Resources
IWM Learning Resources: Terms of Use
•
The images in this resource can be freely used for non-commercial use in
your classroom subject to the terms of the IWM’s Non Commercial Licence:
http://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright/licence
•
You can use the full presentation or use individual slides within other
presentations for use within school and to share with other teachers for their
non commercial use as well.
•
You can print the images out up to A4 size if you wish to use hard copies with
your class.
•
Each image comes with an attribution statement, which must be included
wherever the image is used. For example, © IWM (Art.IWM ART 1179).
•
By downloading this PowerPoint and using these images you agree to these
terms of use, including your use of the attribution statement specified for each
object by IWM.
© IWM (Q 61479)
Aerial view of a trench system
Trenches were introduced very quickly during the First World War. Trenches provided a very efficient way for
soldiers to protect themselves against heavy firepower. Over time, they developed into elaborate systems like
these trenches at Beaumont Hamel.
© IWM (FEQ 5255)
British Army Shovel
General service shovels like this one were widely used in the excavation and
construction of trenches. The trained sappers of the Royal Engineers used larger
shovels, with broader blades, to help them create more extensive trench networks.
© IWM (Art.IWM Art 2243)
Oppy Wood by John Nash
Trench systems included different features, like support trenches and communication
trenches, as well as the front line trenches themselves. This painting of a trench also
shows the area of land between enemy trench systems, known as No Man’s land.
© IWM (Q 31794)
Trenches in Salonika
Trench systems weren’t confined to the Western Front and were established in a variety of different landscapes
across different fronts. This photograph shows stretcher-bearers carrying an injured man down a narrow
communication trench in Salonika. In this area of northern Greece, extremes of climate and the threat of disease
led to more casualties than the fighting.
© IWM (HU 82035)
Anti-Mosquito Clothing
It was essential that soldiers were equipped to deal with conditions in the trenches. These conditions were
different depending on where you were fighting, what the weather was, and the time of year. This photograph
shows Lance Corporal Harrison wearing protective clothing which was issued to troops on night duty during the
summer months in Salonika.
© IWM (Art.IWM Art 1145)
The Ypres Salient at Night by Paul Nash
Night time was often the busiest part of the day in the trenches, as it was easier to
avoid detection by the enemy. It was the only time to repair your defences and go on
patrol across no man’s land, whilst sentries would be on guard throughout the night.
© IWM (CO 2533)
Canadian Soldiers on the Western Front
During the day time soldiers often slept or wrote letters, like these Canadian soldiers photographed near Willerval.
© IWM (Documents.15774)
Albert Tattersall
Albert Tattersall (sitting down with his arms folded) was born in 1893. He volunteered
in 1914 with his brothers John (standing) and Norman (seated). Albert came from
Moston in Manchester and served with the Manchester Regiment (5th City Pals). In
this letter home Albert describes life in the trenches.
© IWM (Documents.15774)
Letter from Albert Tattersall
In this letter home Albert describes life in the trenches
© IWM (EPH 9795)
Cigarette Tin
These cigarettes belonged to Albert Tattersall. Cigarettes were an important part of life in
the trenches, and were given to soldiers as part of their rations. If you didn’t smoke yourself
they could be swapped and traded for other goods. Albert’s cigarettes were sent home after
he died of wounds received on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
© IWM (EPH 2012)
Army Biscuit
Food was an important part of the daily routine and Biscuits like this one were part of the rations given to soldiers in
the British Army. They were infamous for being tough and hard to eat and were often crumbled or mixed with
water to make them more edible.
© IWM (Q 1582)
Dinner Rations
Hot food was not supplied to front line soldiers until late 1915, but even then kitchens
could not always get close enough to provide a hot meal for all soldiers. Troops in the
front line often endured a repetitive diet of cold tinned food. A unit would spend a few
days in the front line, followed by periods in reserve and rest.
© IWM (Q 8668)
A party of WAACs marching through Etaples
The Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was formed to carry out essential noncombatant tasks, so that more soldiers could be freed up for service in the front line.
The first party of 14 women arrived on the Western Front in March 1917 and
eventually, 9,000 women served with the unit in France.
© IWM (Q 8447)
The Chinese Labour Corps
Men from China were recruited by the British Government from 1916 onwards to
perform support work and manual labour as the Chinese Labour Corps . These duties
included digging and maintaining trenches. In this photograph men can be seen
unloading duck boards from a train.
© IWM (Q 5100)
The British Army on the Western Front
This is one of the few photographs which shows the moment of an attack. It shows
an officer of the Scottish Rifles leading his men out of a trench for a raid on German
trenches near Arras on 24 March 1917.
© IWM (UNI 8312)
Camouflaged Steel Helmet
Soldiers faced many dangers in the trenches, but most casualties on the Western
Front were caused by artillery shells, explosions and shrapnel. The German army
introduced this type of steel helmet in 1916 to help protect soldiers from head injuries
and you can see an impact dent where this helmet has been struck.
Living in the Trenches
Learning Resources