Trenches come back to life

As the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day approaches, Hope Busák, curator at The Black Watch Castle and Museum, describes the horrific conditions of life in a First World War trench

A replica First World War trench offers the unique opportunity to step into the shoes of a Black Watch soldier and become immersed in the daily routine of trench life.

Hope Busak, curator of The Black Watch Castle and Museum in Perth, explains: “Our guides tell fascinating stories from the front line about how trench warfare worked and the effects it had on our soldiers.

“Visitors of all ages can see the uniform and equipment, attempt to spy on the enemy with a periscope and alert fellow soldiers of a gas attack.”

Trench life could vary depending on the season, the location and the type of trench soldiers were stationed in.

Some parts of the Western Front were regarded as quiet, and boredom was a common complaint.

Other sections were muddy, smelly and disease-ridden, where soldiers lived with a constant fear of attack and imminent battle. Either way, the conditions were not pleasant.

Regardless of their location, soldiers in the trenches had daily routines, tasks and inspections to keep them focused.

“These included tidying the trench and cleaning themselves whenever possible,” explains Hope. “Such tasks were to discourage the masses of rats and lice that would invade the trenches.

“They also needed to keep weapons clean and in working order for daily “stand-to” routines whereby soldiers would stand on a fire step and aim across no man’s land just before dawn and dusk,” she continues.

“First and foremost, there was a strong sense of camaraderie between soldiers; this was encouraged and reinforced.

“Soldiers were never expected to spend more than eight days in a frontline trench, typically spending eight days on the frontline and four days in reserve trenches. However, when there was a shortage of men this couldn’t always be the case.”

As vistors will discover, the design of the trenches themselves also helped soldiers cope with living on the frontline. Duck boards were placed above ground to raise the floor of the trenches in an attempt to prevent mud-swamped paths and reduce the risk of conditions such as trench foot.

Dug outs and funk holes (concealed nooks and crannies) were carved into the sides of trenches; these provided protection and a place to rest.

However, as Hope explains, no matter what was done to ease the living conditions, it was a war and soldiers lived in fear of disease and attack.

“For many it was a simple case of getting used to the conditions of the trenches and constant attack or fear of attack,” she says. “Those who had been exposed to the conflict for some time would tend to cope better than the new recruits sent in.

“Busy routines were developed to counteract boredom and anxiety during the day when it was too dangerous for any major activity. Most movement was done under the cover of night.”

The conditions of the trenches meant that infection and disease were ever present.

“Kilts would get heavy with mud and constantly scratch against the back of soldiers’ legs,” says Hope, “and if the scratches turned into wounds and those wounds were left untreated, it would lead to infection. The damp conditions found in many trenches along the Western Front commonly led to trench foot.

“Unable to keep them dry, soldiers whose feet were constantly submerged in the muddy water would eventually find it very difficult to keep them warm.

“Fellow soldiers would try to stop this by placing their friend’s foot under an armpit in a desperate attempt to find warmth. In extreme cases, the skin would begin to die and eventually fall away.”

Trench foot was only one consequence of life in the trenches.

“Hundreds upon thousands of lice were impossible to be rid of. Lice, or “chats” as they were known, particularly liked the pleats of a Highland Soldier’s kilt and so one could argue that they got the worst of it,” says Hope.

“‘Chatting’ eventually became a pastime where men would run a lit candle along the seams of their clothes in an attempt to burn the tiny invaders off.

“Unfortunately it was never enough.” Visit theblackwatch.co.uk for trench opening times and tour details. Look out for our special commemorative First World War supplement on 1918 free with The Courier on Tuesday April 17.

Dougie Nicolson.