Trench Life During World War I

Trench Foot

• Caused by prolonged exposure to cold, wet conditions in trenches.

• Symptoms include numbness, swelling, and skin damage on feet.

• The army provided gum boots and dry socks to prevent it.

• Soldiers would rub each other's feet with grease regularly.

Trench Rats

• Infestation due to available food and poor waste disposal.

• Rats could grow as large as cats.

• They often fed on decomposing matter and scraps of food.

• Signs of rats at night included noise from moving tins.

• Soldiers would attempt to shoot them but faced penalties for wasting ammo.

Body Lice

• Soldiers suffered from lice bites, causing discomfort and infections.

• Lice thrived in clothing seams and warm areas of the body.

• Removal methods included using lighted candles and delousing baths, though these were often ineffective.

• Lice transmitted diseases such as trench fever, causing significant illness among soldiers (15% of sickness cases).

Discomfort Caused by Lice

• Sleeping fully dressed was uncomfortable; lice were particularly bothersome.

• Soldiers engaged in "chatting" (lice hunting) to alleviate irritation.