Western Front

• What is the focus of the video mentioned in the study material?

  An overview of the British sector of the Western Front from 1914 to 1918
• What are the four key locations of the British sector of the Western Front that need to be known?

  • Ypres
  • The Somme
  • Arras
  • Cambrai
• Why was EEP a key area of fighting during World War One?


  Because the Germans had the high ground, giving them an advantage over the Allies
• What disadvantage did the British face when building trenches in EEP?


  They had to build in low-lying, waterlogged, and muddy ground
• What does the term "salient" refer to in the context of EEP?


  A battlefield area surrounded on three sides by the enemy
• How many battles took place at EEP during World War One?


  Three battles
• What significant event occurred during the Second Battle of Ypres in 1915?


  Chlorine gas was used as a weapon by the Germans
• Why is the Third Battle of EEP, also known as Passchendaele, significant?


  It was fought under extreme conditions with waterlogged and muddy ground
• How many casualties did the British suffer in the Third Battle of EEP?


  245,000 casualties
• What is the significance of the Battle of the Somme in 1916?


  It had a high casualty rate with 60,000 British casualties on the first day
• What was the total number of Allied casualties in the Battle of the Somme?

  400,000 Allied casualties
• What was unique about the terrain in Arras compared to other areas of the Western Front?


  It had chalky terrain, allowing for better digging
• What was built underground in Arras to support soldiers?


  A network of tunnels with running water and electricity
• How many beds were in the underground hospital built in Arras?


  700 beds
• What was the significance of the Battle of Cambrai in 1917?


  It was the first major use of tanks
• How many tanks were used by the Allies in the Battle of Cambrai?

  450 tanks
• What was a key problem faced by the Allies after the initial success of the tanks in Cambrai?


  They did not have enough infantry to support the tanks
• What was the evacuation route system used by the army during World War One?


  • A system to rescue and treat wounded soldiers
  • Involved stretcher bearers fetching the wounded
  • Carried basic medical supplies
  • Worked under dangerous conditions
• What role did stretcher bearers play in the evacuation route?


  They fetched the wounded from the trenches and carried medical supplies
• What was a major limitation faced by stretcher bearers at the start of the war?


  There were not enough stretcher bearers, usually only about 16 per 1,000 men
• What was the regimental aid post (RAP) used for?


  To bandage minor wounds and send soldiers back to the front
• Where was the regimental aid post typically located?


  In the frontline trench or close behind it
• What were some problems faced by the regimental aid post?


  It was often poorly lit and dirty, leading to infections
• What was the role of the field ambulance and dressing station?


  To treat wounded soldiers and send severe cases to casualty clearing stations
• What was a key problem faced by dressing stations at the start of the war?

  There were not enough ambulances to transport the wounded
• What was the purpose of casualty clearing stations?


  To perform emergency operations and triage casualties
• How did casualty clearing stations categorize patients?


  Using a triage system to divide casualties into categories
• What was the capacity of casualty clearing stations?


  About 1,000 patients at a time
• What were base hospitals used for during World War One?


  To treat serious cases and perform advanced operations
• How many patients could base hospitals treat?


  Up to 2,500 patients
• What was a major problem with transport from casualty clearing stations to base hospitals?


  Transport was often slow and painful, leading to delays
• What types of injuries did soldiers receive during World War One?


  • War wounds from various weapons
  • Blood loss was a common issue
  • Infections due to battlefield conditions
  • Injuries from poison gas
• What was a common treatment for severe war wounds?

  Amputation of a limb
• What was a significant issue related to infection during the war?

  Gas gangrene caused by bacteria in the soil
• How did the army attempt to keep wounds clean?

  By using antiseptic dressings, though they were often ineffective
• What were the effects of poison gas on soldiers?


  Caused temporary blindness, skin irritation, and coughing
• What did soldiers use for protection against gas before gas masks were issued?


  They resorted to urinating on handkerchiefs
• What caused trench fever among soldiers?


  Body lice in clothing and kits
• What were the symptoms of trench fever?


  Flu-like symptoms that left soldiers too weak to fight
• What treatment methods were tried for trench fever?


  Drugs like quinine and passing electric currents through the body