Wash and brush up in the swamps of the Somme (4687954307)

Soldiers have been photographed washing at the edge of a flooded field or marsh in the Somme. The mud up to the thighs on their trousers shows how wet the conditions were in the trenches. These men are cheerful, however, as they have stripped off their jackets and shirts to have a wash. One man appears to be holding a towel and razor.

The wet conditions in the mud were not only unpleasant in themselves, but they were also a breeding ground for other problems. Lice were common and were the carriers of the very weakening Trench Fever. Constantly wet feet also caused severe forms of foot rot.

[Original reads: 'A wash and brush up in the swamps of the Somme.']

http://digital.nls.uk/74549328