Sappers on the Western Front - New Facebook Post

• by ral104 moderator, scientist

  https://www.facebook.com/OperationWarDiary/posts/721065997976995:0

  Posted December 17, 2014 1:09 PM

• by DZM admin

  Man, that picture... War was horrible enough in good weather, can't imagine it in winter!

  Posted December 18, 2014 3:01 PM

• by ral104 moderator, scientist

  There was an earlier comment in the diary about the ground being 'like iron' - imagine having to dig trenches in that!

  Posted December 18, 2014 6:56 PM

• by cyngast moderator

  The impression I've gotten from a number of diaries is that February 1917 was relentlessly cold. I think every diary I've been through that covered that month mentioned the cold.

  Posted December 19, 2014 7:03 PM

• by ral104 moderator, scientist

  I can only imagine the effect it must have had on morale.

  Posted December 22, 2014 10:07 AM

• by brownfox

  Not just the diaries. The following is from the History of the 2nd/6th King's Liverpool Regiment 1914-1918 for 1917:

  The weather was again positively arctic, and everyone looked half
  frozen. No one, therefore, was particularly displeased when orders
  were issued at 11 p.m. on March 7th that "Gilt"--i.e., the
  2/8th K.L.R.--would relieve us

  Hope this is of interest.

  Posted December 24, 2014 4:26 PM

• by ral104 moderator, scientist

  It is! Thanks.

  Posted December 29, 2014 11:25 AM