Trench Warfare

June 12, 1915

Dear Mary,

            I apologize for not being able to write back to you as often as I would like. I really enjoy your letters though and I hope that you and Sammy are always living happy and peaceful lives. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for myself. I’m sure you are curious about the details of the life I’m living as I have yet to inform you specifically. After the battle of Ypres and until now, we have not made much progress in this war. We just moved to Ploegsteert (still in Belgium) and it seems like this will turn into a long static warfare against the Germans. I guess I should openly tell you about how it’s actually like to be in the trenches which we've only begun to make use of in the previous battle I just mentioned. We have improved them making them at least 10 feet deep now and much more complex, instead of only knee-high. First of all, it’s important to know that it rains a lot here. So if you imagine the zigzagging trenches being at least dry, nice and clear, sorry to say that it’s not like that at all. A lot of the time, my pants are soaked in a fairly think mixture of mud and water that goes up to my thighs and sometimes we have no choice but to painfully walk over the dead, rotting corpses of our fellow soldiers. Do you understand how it might smell like here? The dusty air mixed with blood, sweat, smoke and other foul-stenched things is not a good combination. The trenches are never comfortable or warm and were in fact, painful for some who acquired the nasty condition we call “trench feet.” Walking in cold water, especially in the winter trenches can cause the feet to swell or turn numb. When trench feet do warm up, it turns red, dry, itchy, blisters form and a more painful sensation occurs. Recently, we learned that rubbing the waterproof whale oil on our feet once a day can prevent us from getting trench feet. 

 

             Anyway, in this unpleasant environment, we can't forget the continuous deafening noises of gunshots, shrapnel shells and explosions flying across no man's land. Sad to say, sometimes they would dangerously land in our trenches and wound or even kill a few people. Although, we aren't entirely alone in this. You see, there are lots of huge rats here too so lice is common and we often have to get examined for it. But I think that's enough detail for now. As bad as I’m making it sound, we do have breaks between these difficult times every four days for four days long. I should also remind you that I’m not easily disheartened, nor weak. I calm myself down during the breaks which is how I can be prepared for battle. So despite all that I’ve said, you don’t need to worry about me. I'm really more worried about you guys. I'm sure I can survive through all of this as long as I get to read more of you and Sammy's fascinating stories. Do take care. 

P.S. Thanks always for being patient with my replies.

                                                                                                 Your beloved, James Carter

(Sources:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Canadian_Division)