| How deep and wide were the British and German trenches in the winter of 1914? | British trenches were just over 2 metres deep and 1.8 metres wide, while German trenches were often deeper. |
| What were some of the functions of the trenches behind the front-line trenches? | Behind the front-line trenches were communication, reserve, and support trenches, which housed kitchens, lavatories, field hospitals, and battalion headquarters. |
| What were some of the key defensive features of the front-line trenches? | The front-line trenches were protected by sandbags to absorb enemy bullets and barbed wire to trap soldiers. |
| Why was the trench system dug in a Z pattern? | The Z pattern made it impossible for the enemy to fire straight down the line of trenches if they were captured. |
| What contributed to the difficulty of attacking the trench systems? | The trench systems were difficult to attack due to barbed wire, sandbags, and especially machine guns, which made crossing no-man's-land deadly. |
| Why were attacking weapons less effective than defensive ones in trench warfare? | The attacking weapons were less effective because the machine gun was superior in defense, and artillery and poison gas were only occasionally successful. |
| What technological developments were key to success in trench warfare, but not sufficiently developed in 1914? | Tanks and planes were key to success, but they were not sufficiently developed by 1914 to make a significant difference. |
| How did the geography of Flanders affect advances on the Western Front? | The wet geography of Flanders made it incredibly difficult to cross, especially due to constant shelling and troop movement, which churned up the area. |
| Why were the generals' tactics often ineffective in trench warfare? | Many generals were trained in traditional warfare with cavalry charges and hand-to-hand combat and lacked the experience or skills for the unique conditions of trench warfare |
| How were battalions rotated in the trenches? | A battalion was divided into four companies, and the companies would rotate through the fire trench, support trench, and reserve trench, with no company staying in the front line for more than a couple of days. |
| What was the normal schedule for soldiers in the British trenches? | The normal schedule was 4 days in the front-line trenches, 4 days in the support trenches, 8 days in the reserve trenches, and 14 days resting. However, during a battle, everyone stayed in the front line. |
| What was one of the most difficult aspects of day-time trench life for soldiers? | Boredom, as soldiers often had to perform routine tasks like sentry duty, trench repair, or bringing supplies from reserve trenches. |
| What was night-time like in the front-line trenches? | Night-time was a time of silence and fear, with selected groups of men going on night patrol through no-man's-land or sometimes launching a night attack on enemy trenches. |
| How long could soldiers go without seeing their family and friends? | Soldiers often went over a year without seeing their family and friends. |
| What types of items did families and organizations like the British Red Cross send to soldiers? | They sent luxuries like razor blades, soap, cigarettes, cake, chocolate, and hand-knitted socks and gloves. |
| What is 'Trench Art'? | Trench Art refers to objects made from the debris and by-products of modern warfare, typically associated with the First World War. |
| Why did servicemen and prisoners of war make Trench Art? | They made Trench Art to pass the time when not in the front line, often due to boredom. |
| What activities did soldiers typically do at night during their ‘tours’ of trenches? | At night, soldiers repaired trenches and barbed wire defences, gathered information, or launched local trench raids. |
| What did soldiers do during the day in the trenches? | During the day, soldiers slept, ate, wrote letters home, and posted sentries. At dusk and dawn, they had to 'stand to' and keep watch for potential enemy attacks. |
| What did British soldiers find during a pause in the fighting around Ypres? | They found an old printing press. |
| What type of content did the 'Wipers Times' include? | It included cartoons, advertisements, letters, announcements, and articles that made fun of British officers, their living conditions, and battle plans. |
| What was the common problem soldiers faced due to standing in wet trenches for hours? | Trench foot. |
| What was the treatment for trench foot if it became gangrenous? | Amputation. |
| What was the most common way soldiers dealt with body lice in the trenches? | Squashing them or burning them with a candle or lit cigarette. |
| What did the rats in the trenches feed on? | Leftover food and rotting bodies in no-man's-land. |
| What was the standard food provided to soldiers at the front line? | Bully beef, hard biscuits, bread, margarine, jam, with occasional cheese and bacon. |
| When were soldiers able to get regular hot meals? | When they went back down the line to the army field kitchens. |
| What was one of the constant threats faced by soldiers in the trenches? | Sudden death from a sniper's bullet or a planned attack. |
| How were soldiers killed or wounded between battles? | Through night raids on enemy trenches and by snipers. |
| Where were seriously wounded soldiers sent for medical treatment after being assessed by regimental medical officers? | Casualty Clearing Stations (CCS), located several kilometres behind the trenches. |
| What was the main challenge in treating wounds during World War I, and why was it so difficult to treat them effectively? | Wounds became infected quickly due to the dirt and filth of battle, and antibiotics were not developed until the 1930s. |
| What psychological condition developed in soldiers who could not cope with the horrors of war, and how was it initially viewed? | Shell-shock. Initially, it was seen as a sign of cowardice. |
| How were soldiers suffering from shell-shock treated, and what was the long-term outcome for some? | They were treated well away from the front. Some never recovered. |
| What were some of the reasons soldiers deserted during World War I? | Fear, shell-shock, problems at home, or complete exhaustion. |
| What happened to soldiers who were caught deserting during World War I? | They were put to death by firing squad. |
