I am now off-duty so I will be spending this time writing to you. While I have gotten used to the stench of the trenches, I am still repulsed by the awful smells. The mixture of scents of rotting carcasses, overflowing latrines, poison gases, stagnant mud, cigarette smokes and cooking food continues to bombard our sense of smell. There is also the continuous firing of guns and mortars.
Our day usually starts off with stand to, for which starts an hour before dawn. During this time, the soldiers stand at the front steps of our trenches to guard against potential enemy raids at dawn. Although both sides expect raids, there are still many raids that occur. As light grew, morning hate starts and tensions of the night are broken by machine gun fire, shelling, and small arm fire. After stand to occurs, there is often breakfast peace during which both sides ceased firing during breakfast. This will eventually be broken by officers. During the day, I spend much of my time underground, digging and digging and digging. My duty is to dig tunnels to the enemy trenches and to plant explosives in them. Often, the weather would be horrible and it would be damp underground. My back would ache and my muscles will be sore for spending hours bent over in the small tunnels. At the end of the day, there is another stand to and finally, at night, men from the front lines are relieved and the rear lines are sent to fetch rations and water. The firing and supporting trenches exchange places every 48 hours; after 4 days, retire for 4 days. Also, patrols are sent out at night into No Man's Land to repair the barbed wired fences and to attend to listening posts. I usually do not take part in these duties as I am a sapper. The following morning, this routine is once again repeated.
Trench warfare is quite arduous as little ground is gained over a long period of time and at the cost of many lives. From the day I arrived here to now, we have not made any progress toward the enemy trenches. The battle of attrition taking place right now has never before been seen in this world. My instincts, unfortunately, tells me that there are many more to come. I must return back to my duties now. I miss you and the children. Please take good care of yourself.
Thinking of you,
George Wright
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http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/trenchlife.htm
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