Why did soldiers write diaries in WW1?
Why did soldiers write diaries in WW1?
For many who served during World War I, keeping a diary offered an outlet, a place into which they could unload their fears and frustrations. Today, these diaries stand as unparalleled historic documents, providing readers with a wealth of information about the day-to-day lives of service members.
Why did soldiers write diaries?
Like civilians, members of the military kept diaries to fight off boredom and to record the day’s events. They wrote to capture the sights and sounds of what the writer was experiencing far away from home and to cope with loneliness and fear.
Did soldiers have journals?
Writing letters to loved ones and keeping personal journals was one of the primary ways in which Civil War soldiers passed the time in camp or at the end of a long day’s march.
How did soldiers communicate in ww1?
During WWI, on the Western Front, telephones were used to communicate between the front line Marines and Soldiers and their commanders. The U.S. Army Signal Corps constructed 2,000 miles of telegraph and telephone pole lines using 28,000 miles of wire, and 32,000 miles of French communication poles.
What happens in the trenches?
Disease and ‘shell shock’ were rampant in the trenches. With soldiers fighting in close proximity in the trenches, usually in unsanitary conditions, infectious diseases such as dysentery, cholera and typhoid fever were common and spread rapidly.
How were the letters written by the soldiers and the letters written to the soldiers important?
Letter writing was the main form of communication with loved ones at home and letter writing helped to relieve boredom. Almost all soldiers begged for their parents, friends, wives and sweethearts to write back right away as there were few pleasures greater than receiving mail from home.
What was life like in WWI trenches?
Trench life involved long periods of boredom mixed with brief periods of terror. The threat of death kept soldiers constantly on edge, while poor living conditions and a lack of sleep wore away at their health and stamina.