ROUTINE LIFE IN THE TRENCHES

When troops were not engaged in actual fighting, daily life in trenches took on a routine of sorts. The day would begin with a 'Stand-To' at dawn. At this time, all men needed to be in their allocated firebay (a 10 metre section of the trench, held by 8-10 men), fully equipped and armed, looking forward to detect any possible attack. This 'Stand To' lasted for about an hour. During daytime, one man was left on guard duty while the remainder of his section would rest, have breakfast and a tot of rum. After this, the men who were off duty would try to get some sleep in niches in the trench wall. While they tried to sleep, other soldiers not on front line duty would be bringing up rations, ammunition and other stores. Sometimes, inspections by officers disturbed their rest. In addition to this, if a man was not rostered for sentry duty, he was expected to provide four hours' labour on improving defences.

The other 'Stand-To' was at dusk. The same routine as at dawn would be applied. For one hour, soldiers would be on the highest level of alert. If there was no hostile enemy action, then troops would be placed on "Stand Down". Double sentries would be posted in the firebays, while the rest of the men had to stay awake, fully equipped and ready to repel any attack that might develop. Sometimes there were outposts in advance of ther front line that might consist of a shell hole containing between four and six men. Their role was to cover any gaps in the wire and were to act as an early warning of any enemy raiding parties by firing flares or throwing grenades at them. Night time was often when "fatigues" - work was down to improve or strengthen the defences of the trench line - was completed. In damp areas, sandbag breastworks would be built up. Wiring parties repaired or built up the barbed wire entanglements in No Man's land. Stores such as ammunition and water were brought forward.

Arthur Elderton kept a brief record of such activities in his diary. On Sunday 21 May 1916 he wrote: "Stood to at 2.30am. On fatigues all day but things fairly quiet. Heavy shelling in reserves. Stand to from 7.30 to 8.30. Everything going good and not loosing (sic) any sleep." The next day he wrote "Fairly quiet day but reserves and headquarters shelled and a few wounded Very quiet night." On Tuesday 23 May: "On fatigue and very little fighting."

A unit would not remain in the front line for extended periods. Companies or battalions that had been in reserve were rostered to relieve a company or battalion that had been occupying the front line for some time. If necessary, men from a reserve unit could reinforce a front line unit if there was a particular local concern. On Wednesday 24 May, following on from the previous entry, he wrote "The same, and came back into reserves at night. Raining and plenty of mud and things very miserable. Tenth Reinforcements joined up." The next day he commented "On fatigue at HQ and firing line at night. Putting up a false traverse to encourage Fritz to make a charge."

When men were in reserves and had completed their often onerous fatigue duties, they might patronise local estaminets (if they had money), or stay in billets writing letters or mending personal equipment.