The British Sector of the Western Front, 1914-1918: Injuries, Treatments and the Trenches - Year 11 History

Summary of Topic:

In this topic students will learn

• How to use sources and ask appropriate questions in your enquiry into medicine in the British sector of the Western Front
• How developments in medicine in the early 20^th Century contributed to the treatment of soldiers on the Western Front
• The types of injuries and illnesses experienced by soldiers in the British sector of the Western Front
• The different developments in surgery and medicine used to treat soldiers of the Western Front​

Newspaper Articles:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/firstworldwar/military_conflict/trenches.htm

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/ng-interactive/2014/jul/25/the-western-front-in-the-first-world-war-and-now-interactive

http://historyattallis.weebly.com/the-british-sector-of-the-western-front-1914-18-surgery-and-treatment.html

https://www.historyscotland.com/articles/scotland-and-world-war-one/scottish-nurses-on-the-western-front-in-world-war-i

Video Clips and Documentaries:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE8GoAzFM2c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDeJvYilsig
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8OazQml0gw

Further Reading:

• The Medical War: British Military Medicine in the First World War Hardcover – 1 Nov 2010
• Medical Services in the First World War (Shire Library)

Other Resources:

Medicine through time, 1250-Present Pearson

Assessment/Test and Answer Sheet:

1. Describe two features of the trenches that led to ill health? (4marks)

Sample Answer

Trenches got very wet and muddy, as there was little drainage to get rid of the water. This lead to problems, such as trench foot, as people’s feet were constantly wet and became wet and swollen. This could lead to gangrene.

The trenches were very crowded and there were few chances for people to wash themselves or their clothes. This meant that there were many lice, which spread from person to person and passed on trench fever where people became very ill with fever like symptoms.

2. Give one way in which each of these would be useful in treatinng injuries during WW1: x –rays, blood transfusions, aseptic surgery?

Sample Answer