World War 1 Exercise

How well did Irish regiments cope with life in the trenches?

The main aim of this lesson is to see what we can learn about life in the trenches for Irish troops by using archive film footage.

The focus of the lesson is on two main questions:

• Did troops from Nationalist and Unionist backgrounds bring their disputes with them from Ireland into the trenches?
• How well did Irish troops adapt to the conditions in the trenches?

1. What you have to do: Study these clips:

• 1.1 Daily routine
• 1.3 16th Irish Division
• 1.9 A Unionist regiment

Note down anything the clips tell you about aspects of life such as:

• Ordinary comforts such as food
• Bringing Irish identities into the trenches
• Daily chores – not least the huge amounts of marching troops had to do.
• General morale of the troops

After viewing the clips, consider what they have told you about the two key questions. Record your ideas on a mind map like this.

2. Now study clip 1.10 Daily Grind for Troops

• 1.10 Daily Grind for Troops

Identify any aspects of life in the trenches which can be seen in this clip which has not appeared in previous clips. Add any relevant points to their mind map.

3. The next two clips 1.12 and 1.14

Study these clips and add further points to your mind map.

• 1.12 Combat and open battle
• 1.14 Combat and open battle

Finally

Use your work to write a letter or series of letters back from the trenches to home. If you want to do further research first, a good starting point might be the National Archives Learning Curve resource on the Great War link.