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trench notes
15
C A S U A L T I E S
British casualties (killed) from all forms of gas
were 5,981 but many died later. It also saw the first
recognition of psychological trauma, initially known
as ‘shell shock’. In terms of physical injury, the
heavily manured soil of the Western Front encouraged
the growth of tetanus, and gas led to gangrene,
causing medical complications. Disease also flourished
in unhygienic conditions, and the influenza epidemic
of 1918 claimed many more lives.
On the first day of the Somme, some 13 Divisions went
into the attack and by the end of the day there were
57,470 casualties including 19,240 killed. The battle
of Loos had 21,000 killed including 7,000 serving in
Scottish regiments.