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Experiences of the Great War

Mud and clay

An abiding image of the First World War is of soldiers and animals struggling in the mud.

George Ramage's experience, still early in the war, was no different. The mud made communications difficult and it permeated the soldiers' clothing and equipment.

Here are Lance Corporal Ramage's thoughts on 25 April 1915:

'New overcoat no longer beautiful — everybody 'clarted' with clay — shovels required to take clay off boots — trench wet and filthy — some dirty wet straw makes the place look like a pig sty or byre — field behind more sordid than ever — wet, soft, slippery, trampled, rubbish-bestewn clay'.

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