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Life in the trenches - Part 4

60 second histories

This video covers:

A description of troop rotation to ensure soldiers weren't always on the frontline; they spent time in reserve trenches where they carried out duties such as repairing trenches or emptying latrines

In order to maintain troops in the front line a system was in place of rotating the troops from the front line trench into support and then into reserve or rest. A soldier could spend as little as twenty four hours in the front line trench before being rotated back however some times this could extend to a week or even longer and when he was in support or reserve trenches or even out on rest he may still find himself back at the front bringing supplies and rations up of a night time. A soldier could even find himself out in No Mans Land on a wiring detail erecting or repairing the barbed wire entanglements in front of our defences. One duty, which was unpleasant, was collecting the latrine buckets for emptying or even worse burial detail collecting any dead from the daytime and removing them for burial behind the line. You may also find yourself back in the front line to help repair or strengthen a trench so life in reserve is not so reserved and life in the rest area may not be so restful.
Eras: 
20th Century
WW1
Topics: 
Trench Life
Character: 
WW1 British infantry soldier
Key words: 
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