Role Of Rum Rations In Ww1

WW1 was predominantly fought in trenches, long winding holes in the ground which soldiers dug to protect themselves from enemy artillery. When the war started the trenches were sometimes reinforced with wooden paneling, but as it progressed they became more and more makeshift. The conditions deteriorated with mud and water flooding them with the seasons, artillery shelling would cause the trench walls to cave in. Diseases such as trench foot became common, rats would feast on human corpses thusly becoming the sizes of cats. These factors took a physical as well as mental toll on soldiers. The destruction of war became routine, and the trenches they lived in became their world. Those who tried to escape from the destruction of war chose self inflicted death, or their

This is the way that many soldiers lost their friends and comrades. Such a life of strain and panic became too much for many soldiers to bare. Many soldiers chose to take their own life rather than continue to fight. Approximately 3,828 German soldiers walked into enemy fire. Those who were able to continue fighting, hardened themselves to the conflict using rum rations. Rum rations were given at stand to and stand down every day with an extra two ounces being given if no attack came. Rum rations became liquid courage for the soldiers, helping them throughout their daily horrors to perform their duties to the best of their abilities. Private Boyd of the 8thn Bn. recalled ‘if we had not had the rum we would have died.” (firstworldwar.com) Trench warfare strained soldiers mental and physical health. Death was a loyal companion that would act randomly. Soldiers would try and escape war through their rum rations, or by taking their own lives. The physical and psychological suffering that trench warfare caused through the trench’s horrible conditions is something that is not easy to