Why were the fighting and living conditions so bad for British soldiers on the Western Front in World War One?

Question

How did they become so bad? What were the causes? What made them bad?

Detail, please!

Answer 1

Because no one was prepared for what a new and mechanised form of warfare could actually do.

Prior to WWI most British regiments had the superior training and quality of weaponry when going into battle. Unfortunately the government made a slight error in letting German observers tag along during a number of colonial wars and see the effect of vickers machine guns and the like.

This of course led to the Germanys own advancement in arms and consequently led to something of a stalemate on the western front, neither side being able to advance very far without being killed or wounded in thousands (60,000 in one day for the British at the Somme).

Therefore it became a war of attrition, digging in so as not to get shot, amongst all the filth which of course draws rats, sitting there for months at a time because most generals had no idea how to break the stalemate except with occassional charges towards the German trenches with officers armed with a Browning revolver and a swagger stick going up against heavily defended machine gun posts.

The weather played its part too. At certain times of the year northern France is not reccommended for sun worshippers. The rain was so heavy at the battle of Passchendale many British soldiers drowned in mud before a shot was fired or during the fighting fell into large shell holes full of water and were unable to get out.

Most were unable to recieve the little extra comforts from home either, because most letters were censored as the government didn't want the civilians to know what hell trench warfare was like.

All in all, it was a combination of many things; high ranking officers trying to fight a 20th century war with 19th century methods, the first time in over a century the British army had come up against an enemy as equally well equipped as itself and the endless waiting for something to happen in all conditions leading to outbreaks of unpleaseant diseases such as trenchfoot due to lack of correct supplies. These are just to name but a few.

Answer 2

They were not a lot better for the Americans all so. It was another time and technology was not what it is today. Man found many things and has improved them. People have become soft in some ways, not like they used to be 100 yrs ago. Now with A/C, heated homes and cars, why cook at home when you can go out and let someone else clean up after you. Back then it was not like it is today. Is it better in some ways but then to our young do not know how good they have it.

Answer 3

Well when you dig a hole in the ground for protection and link it up with all your Buddy's excavations add wet weather, local water table, mass shelling thousands of dead bodies rotting in the ground, poor toilet facilities you can imagine what happens.

The other side was in the same position, it was a war of attrition because neither side had the power to keep moving forward.

Answer 4

They faced a situation which they didn't anticipate, and the winter came.

Answer 5

You know, Crazyfreak, I was just thinking about that over breakfast.