What is Trench Foot?
Trench Foot (Trench Feet) was a highly debilitating condition bought about by having the feet in water for long periods. It caused 12% of the non fatal casualties in the AIF. It was avoided in the early days by rubbing the feet with whale-oil. Other later treatment was to use talcum powder and to air dry the feet daily. It was a lesser problem in WW2 and is reducing almost to the point of non-existence because of Army insistence on hygiene standards in the field, better footwear and a reducing use of fixed trenches. In the 1960s I was required to inspect the feet of my Platoon on a regular basis and if any one got Trench Foot he got a kick up the ask your mother and so did I.
