Trench Life during World War I
Between years 1914 and 1918 the world saw a drastic occurrence between countries of
the world. This war between countries was known as “The Great War” with a more common
name now of World War I. World War I (WWI) was the first war of its kind, the world saw
changes in not only home technology and communication, but also advances in military
technology and communication. WWI gave the world trench warfare, the soldiers would dig
deep trenches and resided in them to protect themselves, but what was their actual purpose? How
were they built? And more importantly how was the life of the soldiers who manned the
trenches?
The trenches in WWI were built for one reason: protection of the troops. Moreover, over
the course of the war, the trenches became more than just means of protection. They became
home. Although, the trenches became popularized during WWI, they originated during the
American Civil War. However, it was during WWI when the trenches came into full use by the
troops on each side ultimately creating the famous “No Man’s Land” and ‘the beginning of
trench warfare proper is usually given as September 1914, when the German VII Reserve Corps
turned around on the Chemin des Dames Ridge and blocked the advance of the British I Corps.’1
After several weeks, the standoff would advance along the entire western front. ‘This line spread
from the North Sea to the Swiss Frontier. Obviously, on such a long line, 475 miles in all, the
nature of the terrain varied considerably, and this in turn had its effect upon the type of trenches
and fortifications that were built.’2
1
2
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page 10, 1992.
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page 10, 1992.
Many do not know how the trenches were built during WWI, they just understand that the
trenches were built and used by the troops. Understanding how the trenches were built requires a
deep dive into the construction of the trenches. During WWI the ‘Germans did their best to make
life even more intolerable by continually shelling the locks and trying to flood out the
defenders’3 it was because of this the troops had to find a better way of building the trenches.
They had to repeatedly deal with the ‘struggle against the mud and the constantly collapsing
trenches.’4 In the year of 1915, the troops started establishing ‘what were called parapet or
command trenches’5 German military personnel named these “Box Trenches”, and in these
trenches only one soldier dug down no deeper than one or two feet, that was if they dug down at
all. They would then line the rest of the area with thick walls of sandbags, however while called
sandbags they were rarely filled with sand, they were usually filled with dirt or clay. The
standard trench was dug typically several feet deep and several feet in width. ‘The walls of the
sandbags themselves were made as thick as possible to absorb, any bullets or shell fragments.
Often, they measured as much as ten feet at the top and twenty feet at the base’6 Moreover,
segments from the surrounding area had a terrain that was too marshy or muddy to grant the
construction of protected command trenches. For example, ‘in the La Bassée sector, which lay
below sea level, a system of ferro-concrete emplacements had to be built. The 42nd East
Lancashire Division on one Brigade front of about 2,000 yards used 5,036 bags of cement,
19,384 bags of shingle and 9,692 bags of sand in creating a single reserve trench line’7 ‘The front
of the trench was known as the parapet, generally about ten feet high.’8 As for the trenches that
3
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page 12, 1992.
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page 12, 1992.
5
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page 12, 1992.
6
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page 12, 1992.
7
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page 12, 1992.
8
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page 12, 1992.
4
were burrowed down, the very top of the parapet consisted of a thick layer of sandbags ranging
from around two to three feet deep. With having a trench this deep it would be incredibly
difficult if not impossible to try and fire over the top of the trench. To have adequate fire, the
soldiers would build at the bottom of the trench a ledge, which was two to three feet high and
was known as the fire step. ‘The back wall of the trench was known as the parados, and it too
was often built up with sandbags.’9 However, with the terrain, it was inconceivable for the
borders of the trench to stay elevated by themselves and any kind of issue would cause them to
collapse, such as rainfall, natural pressure, or shellfire. ‘To minimise the chance of such disasters
it was usual to revet the parapet and parados.’10 Different countries were required to use different
items in their trenches for example, the German military used sandbags or logs, as well as the
British military, and the French military were more predisposed to try a variety of different items
such as barriers, tree limbs and large branches cut from the trees surrounding the area. They
hardly used stone, mainly because of the effort it would take to transport the rocks to the trench
was too substantial, but also because it was deemed as ill-advised to build a structure that was
too solid. The French troops tried using stones for a short time but found that while it was strong
and sound it trapped rainwater, and the pressure of the rainwater caused the walls surrounding
trenches to enclose on themselves. Moreover, the trenches were not just built in long straight
lines, this would pose as a threat to the soldiers and commanders residing within the trench and
would have given the enemy an advantage. ‘They could have simply set up a machine gun and
fired right down the trench’11 It is because of this, the trench was separated into small pieces,
every section was divided from the other by using barriers made from dirt and sandbags. Straight
9
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page 13, 1992.
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page 13, 1992.
11
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page 14, 1992.
10
sections were about ten yards long and bore the name of firebays, in this area is usually where
the infantry soldiers stayed while on duty or while having to be on alert for the unit. The curved
sections of the trenches were known as traverses. ‘A trench will, perhaps, run diagonally across a
field, will then go along a hedge at right angles, suddenly give it up and start again fifty yards to
left’12 The front line of the trenches was not in actuality the most straight outright defensive
position in the trench. Moreover, stretching out at right-angles known to most trenches as saps,
these saps were narrow passages some of which were between twenty to thirty yards long and led
to a confined obstacle which was set in a location for a lookout for a few several soldiers to man
throughout the day. These positions were dubbed as listening posts, which for several hours per
day multiple different soldiers would sit and listen for slightest sound coming from enemy lines.
‘Trenches also had outlets from the back. For they were usually built in triple lines: the lire
trench, the support trench, and the reserve trench or dugouts.’13 These dugouts were essential for
the protection of the soldiers and military officers, against not only the elements of the weather
but also against adversary cannon. ‘Officers could almost always expect to find a corner in some
kind of dugout, but the soldiers, in many cases, had to make do with even cruder refuges.’14 A
majority of the time the troops would spread different chunks of lumber, ridged iron or oilcloth
surrounding the area of the foxhole beginning at the parapet and ending at the parados. In
different situations soldiers would also dig out and hollow the parapet or rather the parados
throughout the trench, this is where the troops would grab a small amount of sleep. Water was
also expected in the dugouts, which would cause soggy floors, running walls, lower ceilings, and
a murky atmosphere. ‘In October 1915 dugouts in front of Kemmel were tiny ‘rooms’ four feet
12
Bruce Bairnsfather, Bullets & Billets: An Eyewitness To World War I CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016.
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page 16, 1992.
14
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page 16, 1992.
13
by seven foot, containing a bed, six foot by two foot, and two tw’o foot square tables made of
board and old boxes’15 Moreover, sides as well as ceilings had been coated in dirt or clay
sandbags and they had cramped doorways and windows. ‘Whether trenches were dug or built,
they were all – French, German or British – designed according to the same basic pattern’16
‘The trench experience on the Western Front was one of the most sustained onslaughts on
the human sensorium: it thrust man’s fragile body between the ooze of primordial slime on the
one hand and the terrors of shellfire on the other.’17 Many know the normal images when looking
at events during WWI, such as mud, weapons, barbed wire, and rain. However, while looking
more in depth of the lives of the troops fighting in WWI, we find that the focus for the life of the
troops was having a routine, such as work, rest, and recreational activities. For the men fighting
in WWI it was a remarkably interesting occurrence rather than a normal one. To compensate the
troops for fighting in the war, they ‘were rotated to ensure that time spent facing the enemy was
balanced by periods of rest and, occasionally, home-leave.’18 Keeping a sense regularity
surrounding this schedule was used to keep the troops determined and motivated, because of this
some units in the military were more efficient than others. ‘One wants to have been at the front,
in the nasty parts, to appreciate fully what getting seven days’ leave feels like. We used to have
to be out at the front for three consecutive months before being entitled to this privilege’19
However, even while at rest on the front the soldiers could find themselves having more
extenuating and debilitating work. The labor on the front was on the short side so to compensate
many of the troops while in their down time would still find themselves on the front tending to
15
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page 17, 1992.
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page 12, 1992.
17
Santanu Das, "Sensuous Life In The Trenches", The British Library, last modified 2014, accessed November 16, 2020,
https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/sensuous-life-in-the-trenches.
18
Paul Cornish, "The Daily Life Of Soldiers", The British Library, last modified 2014, accessed November 21, 2020,
https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/the-daily-life-of-soldiers.
19
Bruce Bairnsfather, Bullets & Billets: An Eyewitness To World War I CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016.
16
the duties needed to be done. Officers, however, were exempt from any tiring labor, but were
forced to deal with different and more exhausting mountains of paperwork. ‘However, time spent
out of the line at least offered the opportunity for the frontline soldier to get clean. Communal
baths would be set up and lice-infested clothing steam-cleaned.’20 Having an bathing
opportunities and keeping good hygiene was an important aspect for the troops on the front to
remain happy and determined to keep fighting, another important factor for the troops was the
food they ate while fighting on the front. If the supplies were sparce or the quality of food was
unsatisfactory it could have profoundly serious effects on the units and could cause animosity
between officer and soldier. Unfortunately, with the Allied naval blockade it became
increasingly difficult for Germany and Austria-Hungary to keep their troops fed. Moreover, to
ensure their troops were being fed on the front, Germany and Austria-Hungary had to make
boundless efforts to keep their soldiers fed and have food continuously coming their way, even if
that meant civilians were starving. The ‘starvation eventually played a key role in the collapse of
the latter’s army in 1918’21 Moreover, when discussing the recreational activities, the troops
played a series of games while on the front. Examples include, card games, “Skat” which played
by German soldiers, “Crown and Anchor” which was a gambling game that was officially
prohibited though it was still played by the British, and the British soldiers would also often play
football (what we in the United States know as soccer), and the British Tank Corps often held
tank races in their down time.
20
Paul Cornish, "The Daily Life Of Soldiers", The British Library, last modified 2014, accessed November 21, 2020,
https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/the-daily-life-of-soldiers.
21
Paul Cornish, "The Daily Life Of Soldiers", The British Library, last modified 2014, accessed November 21, 2020,
https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/the-daily-life-of-soldiers.
Although, being in a war is strenuous, it also takes a toll on the mind and body of the
soldiers. Many of the men responded in various ways especially while under enemy attack, for
some ‘the helplessness of suffering artillery bombardment was the hardest thing to deal with’22
Several of the troops chose to not stay cowered and the only way they could endure with the
commotion and the constant exposure to near death was to walk, which would have actually
increased their chances of being caught and killed by the enemy. In the event of an attack, group
panic would break out and could cause further serious infringement of discipline, especially if
the men were too drained or were in a state injustice towards their commanding officers.
Moreover, the soldiers that were just thrown into battle during heavy fire tended to be unable to
deal with their emotions and cope, than those soldiers that were exposed to battle over a longer
time. ‘As soldiers spent more time under fire, they tended to develop what among German troops
was termed ‘Dickfelligkeit’ (‘thick-skinnedness’) and became hardened to the rigors of the
Front.’23 Older more experienced soldiers studied on how to focus their attention to their
surroundings, use a cover for protection when needed, and increase performance while under fire
from enemies. Overall, the older and more experienced soldiers did better at managing the
feeling of fear and helplessness that came over those under enemy fire. Soldiers also had to deal
with not only the fear of the unknown, but also anxiety and boredom on top of having to respond
and participate in an incoming attack. In order to keep the men from feeling overwhelmed,
routines to keep them busy were placed, these routines included safeguarding that trenches were
repaired, the men were being supplied with what they needed, and ensuring everything was
prepared for the long night ahead (daytime was understood as being too treacherous for any kind
22
Matthew Shaw, "How Did Soldiers Cope With War?", The British Library, last modified 2014, accessed November 26, 2020,
https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/how-did-soldiers-cope-with-war.
23
Matthew Shaw, "How Did Soldiers Cope With War?", The British Library, last modified 2014, accessed November 26, 2020,
https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/how-did-soldiers-cope-with-war.
of extensive activity). Troops would additionally find contentment in understanding and knowing
the incapability of most WWI weapons. The soldiers often devoted themselves ‘to black or
gallows humor, as well as bitter fatalism and superstition, as means of dealing with everyday
reality; doses of rum may have also played their part in steading the nerves.’24 ‘Many of course,
did not cope with the stresses of the war. This manifested itself in a number of ways, including
the reporting of physical ailments, such as trench foot, which, in the British army, was tracked as
a marker of morale.’25 After noticing an increase of particular amount conditions were being
related to complications with soldier spirit, British military documented multiple issues of trench
foot and requested the commanding officers to construct reports if the amount of cases ascended.
‘Others responded to the strains with what was called ‘shirking’, a general lassitude and lack of
aggression in combat’26 On the other hand, many soldiers suffered from psychological
breakdowns upon reentering the assigned position in the field, which advised by medical opinion
that the soldiers who had abandoned their position temporarily (meaning those who were
convicted and charged of being AWOL which means leaving without permission of officers)
were indeed in anguish from the mental affects the war had on them individually. Unfortunately,
for some soldiers, suicide was a legitimate way out the war and it was not reported like it should
have been. ‘at least 3,828 German soldiers killed themselves; a figure that does not reflect the
numbers of who simply walked into enemy fire or whose death was ambiguous.’27 The soldiers
who were able to cope with the increased stress and mental strain of the war, had to readjust
themselves when they finally were able to return to civilian life. Men coming home from the war
24
Matthew Shaw, "How Did Soldiers Cope With War?", The British Library, last modified 2014, accessed November 26, 2020,
https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/how-did-soldiers-cope-with-war.
25
Matthew Shaw, "How Did Soldiers Cope With War?", The British Library, last modified 2014, accessed November 26, 2020,
https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/how-did-soldiers-cope-with-war.
26
Matthew Shaw, "How Did Soldiers Cope With War?", The British Library, last modified 2014, accessed November 26, 2020,
https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/how-did-soldiers-cope-with-war.
27
Matthew Shaw, "How Did Soldiers Cope With War?", The British Library, last modified 2014, accessed November 26, 2020,
https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/how-did-soldiers-cope-with-war.
soon realized it was troublesome to discuss about their experiences and discovered it was even
harder to pertain their servitude with what civilization started to represent it as. Moreover,
millions of civilians and soldiers had to learn to endure with physical strain and grieve the losing
of not only friends but family members as well. ‘The psychological consequences of the war
continued to be felt for a generation or more.’28
When the soldiers were in a good state of mind and body for fighting in the war, they
were occasionally required to go “Over the Top”. ‘Going over the top usually meant a patrol into
a no mans land to secure information about the enemy dispositions and level of preparedness.’29
The groups going over the top were usually exceedingly small consisting of one officer and one
to two soldiers. While the German patrols tended to be significantly larger consisting of six or
seven men and an officer was not required to be present for these. ‘For a period in 1916 every
battalion in the British Army had a special scouting platoon.’30 However, the arrangement
became deserted, shortly after every soldier including officers were required to rotate who was
going to go out on the nightly patrols. Those out on patrol would inch forward cautiously on their
stomachs toward enemy frontlines, listening in and attempting to hear a pieces of enemy
discussions or the sounds of the opposing sides various plans for activities. A private once told
about a stretch of road that coursed throughout no man’s land, he explained that a solider who
came immediately upon the end of said road would secure a helmet on an up righted gun and
when the enemy would reach the same area, they did the same. For about an hour or two both
sides would sit without meeting or speaking to each other then they would quietly return to their
28
Matthew Shaw, "How Did Soldiers Cope With War?", The British Library, last modified 2014, accessed November 26, 2020,
https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/how-did-soldiers-cope-with-war.
29
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page 73, 1992.
30
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page 73, 1992.
own trench. Eventually the soldiers on patrol became so tense while patrolling they found it
difficult to decipher what they heard or saw. ‘For all this going out on patrol was an extremely
nerve-wracking enterprise.’31 Those who patrolled and reported back to the trench, often felt
drained and exhausted. The effort of trying to remain quiet and not make a noise while in no
man’s land was an appropriate strain on the soldiers, ‘A lieutenant from Princess Patricia’s
Canadian Light Infantry thought that the.. hardest thing on your nerves was litter in no man’s
land. The tin cans, the sheets of corrugated iron, the hundreds of seemingly loose pieces of
barbed wire which always turned out to be anchored at the other end and sent you sprawling
among all that lethal and noisy junk.’32 Moreover, these items were just a few that littered no
man’s land, there were also bodies everywhere. However, the commanders had other techniques
for maintaining the illusion of offensive standpoint, trench raid was considered a much larger
endeavor than patrolling and allowed the purpose of infiltrating enemy lines. The British military
appears to have been the first to initiate a raid, but there are some disagreements as to who
initially conducted the first. Historians disagree on who was the actual first, many say it was the
Canadians, while others ‘give the credit to the First and Second Battalions of the Gerwhal Rifles,
an Indian unit on 9/10 November 1914.’33 However, regarding to actual truthfulness, raiding a
trench quickly became the most universally used and acknowledged mechanism in the war. ‘A
typical raiding party would comprise about thirty men, often volunteers, from one company.’34
Soldiers attending a raid received information over purposes for raiding, what the raiding would
entail and the outline of the enemy trenches before setting out. Soldiers would spend three to
31
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page
33
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page
34
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page
32
74, 1992.
75, 1992.
76, 1992.
76, 1992.
four days behind their own lines practicing on dummies for the upcoming raid. ‘From about
1916, Germans became particularly adept at this, referring to such a mission as a “winkle raid”’35
Just before a raid began, the soldiers and officers had to prepare themselves, they were required
to unload themselves of any equipment that could either cause problems with range of motion or
show the enemy the identification of the military of which they belonged. ‘All water-bottles and
haversacks were left behind, and only a skeleton webbing was worn with ammunition pouches
attached.’36 It was also a standard procedure for those involved in the raid to paint their face with
either grease-paint or burnt cork. In the beginning, it was standard for all the raiders to carry a
rifle and bayonet, however, as WWI progressed the weapons the soldiers were using eventually
evolved.
“They lived in a world which is different from this known world of ours as though
belonged to another race of men inhabiting another planet” -Philip Gibbs 37
World War I gave the world trench warfare; these trenches were used not only for protection of
the soldiers but also for some as living quarters. These trenches were new to the world and new
to warfare, they were miles long, many feet deep and had multiple different areas for different
things. Trench warfare and everything that went along with it was key for successful fighting on
the fronts of World War I.
35
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page 76, 1992.
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page 77, 1992.
37
John Ellis, Eye-Deep In Hell Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, page 189, 1992.
36
Bibliography
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Accessed November 16, 2020. https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/sensuous-life-in-the-trenches.
Cornish, Paul. "The Daily Life Of Soldiers". The British Library. Last modified 2014. Accessed
November 21, 2020. https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/the-daily-life-of-soldiers.
Matthew Shaw, "How Did Soldiers Cope With War?", The British Library, last modified 2014,
accessed November 26, 2020, https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/how-did-soldiers-cope-with-war.
Ellis, John. Eye-Deep In Hell. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1992.
Bairnsfather, Bruce. Bullets & Billets: An Eyewitness To World War I. CreateSpace Independent
Publishing Platform, 2016.