From dawn to dusk you're hunched underground, making the best of things in a covered trench 6' long, 3' deep and 2 1/2' wide or so.
With your mate crammed in there with you. /2
So how easy was it for British & Canadian soldiers to keep clean and healthy in Normandy?
Couldn't be too hard, right? /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
From dawn to dusk you're hunched underground, making the best of things in a covered trench 6' long, 3' deep and 2 1/2' wide or so.
With your mate crammed in there with you. /2
They may not get you, but their rounds may well kill or maim your friends. /3
In darkness fresh, hot grub is bought up in large thermos flasks from the cooks in B Echelon. It's good hearty stuff.
The problem is the closer you are to the enemy, the more likely it'll be delayed or obliterated by an errant 155mm shell. /4
The latter is really nice.
Chocolate laced with amphetamine or high dose of caffeine.
Yum. /5
A few others sense it's time to feast.
The millions upon millions of bloated bluebottles.
They land on the living, the dead, cattle, the rotten. The food. /6
You waft away the first load, but eventually... well... feel rather like King Canute.
You tuck in. /7
You've got it.
"Compo Tummy"
"Beachhead Bully"
"Compo Sickness"
Or just, "The Shits."
Diahorrea is endemic in Normandy. But only 0.17% of those afflicted require serious medical intervention.
Almost everyone has it. /8
By night you may risk it to relieve yourself in a small hole near the trench.
By day... either go in a sludgy, disgusting mini-latrine in your trench, or discreetly risk it and crawl out, but there are snipers.
Or crap in your helmet and sling out the mess. /9
