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Trench Warfare
Social Studies
Grade 8
No Man’s Land
Trench Foot
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Many soldiers fighting in the First World War
suffered from trench foot. This was an infection
of the feet caused by cold, wet and unsanitary
conditions. In the trenches men stood for hours
on end in waterlogged trenches without being
able to remove wet socks or boots. The feet
would gradually go numb and the skin would turn
red or blue. If untreated, trench foot could turn
gangrenous and result in amputation. Trench foot
was a particular problem in the early stages of
the war. For example, during the winter of 191415 over 20,000 men in the British Army were
treated for trench foot.
Trench Foot
Trench Foot…Remedy
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The only remedy for trench foot was for the
soldiers to dry their feet and change their socks
several times a day. By the end of 1915 British
soldiers in the trenches had to have three pairs of
socks with them and were under orders to
change their socks at least twice a day. As well
as drying their feet, soldiers were told to cover
their feet with a grease made from whale-oil. It
has been estimated that a battalion at the front
would use ten gallons of whale-oil every day.
Trench Mouth
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Trench mouth is a painful bacterial infection and ulceration
of the gums
Trench mouth is a painful form of gingivitis (gum
inflammation). The term "trench mouth" comes from World
War I, when the disorder was common among soldiers.
The mouth normally contains a balance of different
microorganisms. Trench mouth occurs when there is too
much mouth bacteria resulting in infection of the gums,
which develop painful ulcers . Viruses may be involved in
allowing the bacteria to overgrow
Trench Mouth
Causes:
Poor oral hygiene
Poor nutrition
Throat, tooth or mouth infections
Smoking
Emotional stress
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Trench Mouth
Zig - Zag Trenches
John Bernard Croak
Croak
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The Croak family moved to Glace Bay, Nova Scotia when John was
two years old. He attended school there and then began work as a
coal miner. Croak enlisted in the military in 1915. He was 26
years old, and a private in the 13th (Royal Highlanders of Canada)
Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World
War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded
the VC.
On 8 August 1918 at Amiens, France, Private Croak, having
become separated from his section, encountered a machine-gun
which he proceeded to bomb, taking the gun and crew prisoners.
Shortly afterwards he was severely wounded, but nevertheless
rejoined his platoon. When several more machine-guns at a
strong point were encountered, Croak, seeing an opportunity,
dashed forward, followed almost immediately by the rest of the
platoon in a brilliant charge. He was the first to arrive at the
trench line into which he led his men, bayoneting or capturing the
entire garrison. He was again wounded and died shortly thereafter
at the age of only 26
Croak or Croke
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The Newfoundland spelling of the name is
"Croke," and that is also how it appears
on Pvt. Croak's birth certificate. However,
Pvt. Croak enlisted with this spelling,
which remains on many of his official
documents.
In Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, where John
Bernard Croak grew up, there is a school,
a park and a Royal Canadian Legion
branch named in his honour.
Tommy Rickets
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Tommy Ricketts was born in Middle Arm, White Bay, on
April 15, 1901. He enlisted for service in September 1916,
a grim time in the war. Just two months earlier, the
Regiment was decimated at Beaumont Hamel, during the
Battle of the Somme.
Barely 15, Ricketts was well aware of the risks of enlisting.
However, he was certainly not the only teenager to tell
recruiting officers he was older than he was.
Tommy Ricketts is a household name, decades later,
because of what he did in battle on Oct. 14, 1918, in
Ledgeham, Belgium – an act of courage so remarkable he
was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for
valour
Ricketts
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"During the advance from Ledgehem the attack was temporarily
held up by heavy hostile fire, and the platoon to which he
belonged suffered severe casualties from the fire of a battery at
point blank range. Private Ricketts at once volunteered to go
forward with his Section Commander and a Lewis gun to attempt
to outflank the battery. They advanced by short rushes while
subject to severe fire from enemy machine guns.
When 300 yards away, their ammunition gave out. The enemy,
seeing an opportunity to get their field guns away, began to bring
up their gun teams. Private Ricketts at once realized the situation.
He doubled back 100 yards, procured some ammunition and
dashed back to the Lewis gun, and by very accurate fire drove the
enemy and their gun teams into a farm. His platoon then
advanced without casualties, and captured four field guns, four
machine guns and eight prisoners. A fifth field gun was
subsequently intercepted by fire and captured. By his presence of
mind in anticipating the enemy intention and his utter disregard
for personal safety, Private Ricketts secured the further supplies
of ammunition which directly resulted in these important captures
and undoubtedly saved many lives."
Ricketts
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Three months later, Ricketts was awarded the
Victoria Cross by King George V, who introduced
Ricketts as "the youngest VC in my army." The
King wrote in his diary on Jan. 20, 1919, the
following entry: "Yesterday I gave the V.C. to
Private Ricketts, Newfoundland Regiment, who is
only 17 and a half now, a splendid boy."
Ricketts returned to Newfoundland a hero, but a
modest one. For the rest of his life, he never
boasted of his valour, and was content to keep a
low profile in private life.