Trench Rats In World War one;
Rats in their millions infested trenches.There were two main types,
the brown and the black rat. Both were despised but the brown rat was
especially feared.Gorging themselves on human remains (grotesquely disfiguring
them by eating their eyes and liver) they could grow to the size of a
cat.(!)
Men, exasperated and afraid of these rats (which would even scamper
across their faces in the dark), would attempt to rid the trenches of them by
various methods: Gunfire, with the bayonet, and even by clubbing
them to death.
It was futile however: A single rat couple could produce up to 900
offspring in a year, spreading infection and contaminating food.
The rat problem remained for the duration of the war (although many veteran soldiers
swore that rats sensed impending heavy enemy shellfire and consequently
disappeared from view).
Rats in their millions infested trenches.There were two main types,
the brown and the black rat. Both were despised but the brown rat was
especially feared.Gorging themselves on human remains (grotesquely disfiguring
them by eating their eyes and liver) they could grow to the size of a
cat.(!)
Men, exasperated and afraid of these rats (which would even scamper
across their faces in the dark), would attempt to rid the trenches of them by
various methods: Gunfire, with the bayonet, and even by clubbing
them to death.
It was futile however: A single rat couple could produce up to 900
offspring in a year, spreading infection and contaminating food.
The rat problem remained for the duration of the war (although many veteran soldiers
swore that rats sensed impending heavy enemy shellfire and consequently
disappeared from view).
