Background information
The Ypres salient (bulge) was a vulnerable part of the Allied line. German forces occupied ridge of high ground overlooking the Salient which meant they could fire down on British and Allied forces, and they could see the layout of defences and the movement of Allied troops. In addition, the higher German positions were all well drained so they were healthier and better for transport, and stronger defences could be created. The British trenches were in low-lying ground with heavy soil, which easily became water-logged and flooded, especially when churned up by shell-fire. |
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Source A: Diary entry from Bombardier J.W. palmer, Royal Field Artillery, describe conditions in 1917 at the Third Battle of Ypres.
Source A: Diary entry from Bombardier J.W. palmer, Royal Field Artillery, describe conditions in 1917 at the Third Battle of Ypres.
"It was mud, mud everywhere: mud in the trenches, mud in front of the trenches, mud behind the trenches. Every shell-hole was a sea of filthy, oozing mud. I suppose there's a limit to everything but the mud of Passchendaele – to see men sinking into the slime dying in the slime - I think it absolutely finished me off."
1 Describe key features of the Battles of Ypres.
One key feature of conditions and fighting at Ypres was its strategic significance. For example the town of Ypres stood on the most direct to the route to the Channel port such as Calais and Dunkirk. If Germany caught these, they would cut off most of the supplies to the British army- equipment, men and food. The Ypres salient (bulge) was also a vulnerable part of the Allied line. German forces occupied ridge of high ground overlooking the Salient which meant they could fire down on British and Allied forces, and they could see the layout of defences and the movement of Allied troops.
A second key feature of conditions and fighting at Ypres was that three battles took place across the region. During the first battle of Ypres (1914), the BEF had moved to Ypres in order to prevent the German advance towards the sea. When the Germans launched on the British, the British lost over 50 thousand troops. The Germans captured Hill 60 in December 1914 and its height gave them a strategic advantage. The British used offensive mining to tunnel into and under the hill, blowing the top of Hill 60 and taking bake their position. The Second Battle of Ypres,1915, featured the Germans’ use of chlorine Britain lost about 59,000 men and Germany gained 2 miles. In the Third Battle of Ypres, the British wanted to remove the German advantage of having higher ground. The army advanced about 2 miles on the first day. Heavy rain and water logged ground meant many men drowned. By Nov 1917, the British have moved the edge of the salient back by about 7 miles, but had 245,000 casualties.
2a Utility: How useful is Source A for an enquiry into the impact of fighting and conditions on soldiers on the Western Front?
Source A is useful because it provides some evidence about the conditions on soldiers on the Western Front. It says "It was mud, mud everywhere" emphasising that it rained a lot and the consequences for soldiers.
It provides insight because Bombardier J.W. Palmer was in the Third Battle of Ypres as a member of the Royal Field Artillery. This means that he was there so he saw everything first hand. IT provides specific details of what he witnesses and how he was affected by the conditions and environment, including emotionally. It is also insightful, as diary entries are written at the very point events and experiences occur, giving a clarity and accuracy to the things described. Furthermore, as diaries are produced for oneself, the author has no reason to exaggerate or misrepresent what they record.
However, it does not provide a typical picture of this issue across the War, because not all battles were as muddy, in particular, the Battle of Arras as it had chalky ground. Furthermore, because Source A is describing the conditions in 1917, it does not provide an accurate portrayal for the impact of fighting and conditions on soldiers for the entirety of the War, because the whole war lasted between 1914-1918, and the situation changes across the period. Furthermore, a diary necessarily only provides evidence of one person’s experiences, which may contrast with others’ and of one point in time, rather than an overview or reflection with hindsight, this can be both a strength and limitation.
2a Utility: How useful is Source A for an enquiry into the impact of fighting and conditions on soldiers on the Western Front?
Source A is useful because it provides some evidence about the conditions on soldiers on the Western Front. It says "It was mud, mud everywhere" emphasising that it rained a lot and the consequences for soldiers.
It provides insight because Bombardier J.W. Palmer was in the Third Battle of Ypres as a member of the Royal Field Artillery. This means that he was there so he saw everything first hand. IT provides specific details of what he witnesses and how he was affected by the conditions and environment, including emotionally. It is also insightful, as diary entries are written at the very point events and experiences occur, giving a clarity and accuracy to the things described. Furthermore, as diaries are produced for oneself, the author has no reason to exaggerate or misrepresent what they record.
However, it does not provide a typical picture of this issue across the War, because not all battles were as muddy, in particular, the Battle of Arras as it had chalky ground. Furthermore, because Source A is describing the conditions in 1917, it does not provide an accurate portrayal for the impact of fighting and conditions on soldiers for the entirety of the War, because the whole war lasted between 1914-1918, and the situation changes across the period. Furthermore, a diary necessarily only provides evidence of one person’s experiences, which may contrast with others’ and of one point in time, rather than an overview or reflection with hindsight, this can be both a strength and limitation.