What is going over the top in WW1?
Today we use the expression ‘over the top’ to mean something that is extreme, outrageous or inappropriate. Most soldiers in the Great War must have felt the same way about orders to go ‘over the top’. For them it meant leaving the safety of their trenches and attacking the enemy.
How often did soldiers go over the top in WW1?
At one point, an infantryman complained that pilots got all this special treatment- good food, nicer bedding, etc, while the infantry was stuck in the trenches. His commanding officer berates him, telling him, in paraphrase, “You go over the top maybe once or twice a year, those guys go over the top every single day.”
What did it mean to go over the top in no man’s land?
The phrase “over the top” is best known, however, as meaning to order or encourage troops to climb out of their trenches to cross No Man’s Land under enemy fire and to jump into the enemy’s trenches with rifles, bayonets, and hand grenades.
Is the game trenches based on a true story?
The game is based on the real-life experiences of Canadians who lived and died in the trenches during the First World War. Part history and part adventure story, Over the Top is divided into sections.
Why was the death toll so high in ww1?
In absolute numbers, major battles on all fronts claimed the highest number of casualties, primarily because of the technology of warfare based on explosive artillery shells. The death toll among prisoners of war amounted to between 5 and 10 % of prisoners.
What fear dominated the lives of soldiers living in the trenches?
Exposed to the elements, trenches filled with water and became muddy quagmires. One of the worst fears of the common Western Front soldier was ‘trench foot’: gangrene of the feet and toes, caused by constant immersion in water. Trench soldiers also contended with ticks, lice, rats, flies and mosquitos.
Did they actually play football in ww1?
When war was declared on 4 August 1914, it was expected that the Football Association (FA) would follow the example soon set by cricket and cancel all matches. But, despite opposition, matches were played in the Football League throughout the 1914-1915 season and the FA Cup held as normal.
What were the duties in World War 1 trenches?
Trenches could quickly flood during heavy rain and one of the duties of the men was to drain water with a pump. Other duties included refilling sandbags and repairing the wooden flooring. Rats, which could grow as large as cats, were a problem in the trenches. Frogs, spiders and lice were also pests that the soldiers had to battle daily. One of the worst things about life in the trenches was the horrible smell.
Where were the trenches situated in World War 1?
The Western Front in World War I, located in France, was fought using trench warfare. WWI started on 28 June 1914, and by the end of 1914, both sides had built trenches that went from the North Sea and through Belgium and France. Neither side made much ground for nearly three and a half years – from October 1914 to March of 1918.
What does the trenches mean in World War 1?
Trenches-long, deep ditches dug as protective defenses-are most often associated with World War I, and the results of trench warfare in that conflict were hellish indeed. Trenches were common throughout the Western Front.
What is the definition of trench in World War 1?
The definition of a trench is a long, narrow ditch sometimes dug by troops during wartime to hide from enemies. A long narrow ditch dug in World War I to protect troops from being seen by the enemy is an example of a trench.