Many soldiers fighting in the First World War suffered from
trench foot. This was an infection of the feet caused by cold,
wet and insanitary conditions. In the trenches men stood for
hours on end in waterlogged trenches without being able to
remove wet socks or boots. The feet would gradually go numb and
the skin would turn red or blue. If untreated, trench foot could
turn gangrenous and result in amputation. Trench foot was a
particular problem in the early stages of the war. For example,
during the winter of 1914-15 over 20,000 men in the British Army
were treated for trench foot. Brigadier-General Frank Percy
Crozier argued that: " The fight against the condition known as
trench-feet had been incessant and an uphill game." Arthur
Savage pointed out that trench foot had serious consequences:
"My memories are of sheer terror and the horror of seeing men
sobbing because they had trench foot that had turned gangrenous.
They knew they were going to lose a leg." Brigadier-General
Frank Percy Crozier explained h