Western Front Flashcards
What was the environment like in the Western Front?
Rural, cold, very wet and muddy, pools of water from holes of explosions, trenches to hide, fighting on farmland, full of animal faeces (bacteria everywhere)
What was the western front?
Britain declaring war on Germany. The line of fighting between the British and Germans.
Key features of The 1st Battle Of Ypres
Germans held higher ground so British were down on the low-lying waterlogged ground.
1st battle: 50,000 casualties
How many Battle of Ypres were there?
3.
What year was each battle of Ypres?
1st battle: 1914
2nd battle: April-May 1915
3rd battle: June-Nov 1917
Which battle of Ypres had the most casualties, and how many?
3rd battle- 160,000 British and Canadian casualties.
Which battle of Ypres had the least amount of Casualties, and how many were there?
1st battle- 50,000 casualties.
Which battle was the first effective use of poison gas by Germans used?
The Battle of Ypres. 1915.
What were the key features of the Battle Of The Somme?
Cold, wet, muddy. Low-lying ground down by the river. Tanks first used at the Somme. Lots of casualties. On the first day, Britain: 60,000 casualties, 20,000 dead.
Casualties made it hard for medical staff to cope.
When was the Battle Of the Somme?
July-Nov 1916.
How many casualties were there on the first day of the Battle of the Somme?
60,000 casualties, 20,000 dead.
Which year was the Battle of Arras?
April 1917
What were the main features of the Battle of Arras?
-Ground dry and chalky.
-Old tunnels in the chalk ground.
-Almost no mud.
-Tunnels were expanded for soldiers to rest and protection.
-Lots of casualties
-Medical staff cared for casualties inside an underground hospital set in the tunnels.
Where did medical staff take care of injured soldiers in the Battle Of Arras?
An underground hospital inside the tunnels.
When was the Battle Of Cambrai?
July-Nov 1917
What were the key features of the Battle Of Cambrai?
-Low lying ground down by the river
-Rained constantly (wet, muddy)
-First large-scale of tanks (450)
-Blood bank prepared for wounded soldiers
-Mass casualties but more survival than earlier battles.
Which battle had the first large-scale of tanks?
The Battle of Cambrai.
Name each battle of the Western Front in order with dates.
1: Battle of Ypres (1914) (April-May 1915) (June-Nov 1917)
2: Battle of Somme (July-Nov 1916)
3: Battle of Arras (April 1917)
4: Battle of Cambrai (July-Nov 1917)
Describe two key features of the Battle of Ypres? (4 marks)
One key feature: Fought in difficult conditions
Detail: Low-lying waterlogged ground, ground turned to deep mud- difficult to fight.
Another key feature: Use of underground
Detail: Britain dug tunnels to try blow Germans up. Some died inside tunnels.
Which features of a Trench helped keep soldiers safe?
Barbed wire, Parapet, Duckboards, Sandbags, Dugout.
Which features of a trench helped soldiers shoot enemies?
Parapet, Ammunition shelf, Elbow rest, Firestep.
Which parts of the Trench System provided protection to soldiers?
Zig-zag design, support trench, dugouts (from bombardments and weather)
Which part of the Trench System meant resources could get to the Front Line trench?
Communication trenches, reserve trenches.
Where was the communication trench?
In between the other trenches.
Where was the reserve trench?
At least 100m behind the support trench.
What was the reserve trench?
Reserve troops could be mobilised for a counter-attack if the frontline trench was captured by the enemy.
Where was the support trench?
About 80m behind the frontline trench.
What was the support trench?
Troops would resort here if the front line trench was under attack.
What was the front line trench?
Where attacks are made.
Why would the Earth itself cause Ill-health?
-Used to be farmland
-Bacteria in the soil
-Lots of infections
Why was destroyed land surface hard to move on?
-Low-lying land
-Waterlogged
-Muddy
Why was it hard to reach the wounded because of the trench system method?
-Had to be collected from no-man’s land.
-Dangerous
-Has to happen under fire and at night
What did lack of space in trenches mean?
Hard to carry stretchers in crowds, equipment pile everywhere.
What was the path to treatment on the Western Front?
1: Stretcher Bearers
2: Regimental Aid Post
3: Dressing Station (Field Ambulance base)
4: Casualty Clearing Station
5: Hospital Train
6: Base Hospital
Key features of the 2nd Battle of Ypres
2nd battle: 1st effective use of poison gas by Germans. 59,000 casualties. Dug tunnels inside the hills to blow Germans up. Some died inside tunnels.
Key features of the 3rd Battle Of Ypres
3rd battle: Ground turned to deep mud, due to constant rain. 160,000 British and Canadian casualties.
What was the evacuation route?
This is where soldiers are taken to see if their injuries are serious, until they reach a point where they can be treated.
Where were regimental aid posts?
Within 200m of the front line trench, often within the support/reserve trench or near deserted buildings.
Which medical staff are based at the Regimental Aid Posts?
A medical officer, a stretcher-bearer team of 16, and orderlies.
How did soldiers arrive to the regimental aid post?
By foot, carried by other soldiers, on stretchers- mostly from No-Man’s Land.
What treatment occurs at the Regimental Aid Post?
First aid. Serious cases get sent to dressing stations (step 2 in evacuation route)
Where were dressing stations based and what did they look like?
Advanced dressing stations- 400m from front
Main dressing stations- 1000m from front
They were either abandoned buildings or tents.
Which medical staff are based at dressing stations?
The field ambulance team (10 medical officers, orderlies, a few stretcher bearers). Some have nurses.
How did soldiers arrive at the dressing stations?
By foot or carried.
What treatment occurs at dressing stations?
Treatment for wounds.
How long do soldiers stay at dressing stations?
Up to several days and then sent back to fight. If they had serious injuries they were sent on by horse-drawn or motorised ambulance.
Where were casualty clearing stations based?
Several miles from the front.
How did soldiers arrive at casualty clearing stations?
Horse-drawn or motorised ambulance.
Which medical staff are based at CCS?
Very large, many medical staff, operating theatres, x-ray units, wards, kitchens, laundries, staff accommodation.
Mostly housed in a series of huts or large tents.
