While the Great War is rightly remembered for its battles and hardships, the soldier’s experience was also characterized by long periods of waiting. “Boredom punctuated by moments of terror” is a common description of trench life. To maintain sanity and morale, soldiers of the Dorset Regiment and others developed a rich culture of leisure activities. From writing poetry to organizing football matches, and engaging in games of chance, these activities were vital for mental survival. This article explores how soldiers filled the empty hours and the role that games played in bonding and stress relief.

The Psychology of Boredom and Waiting

The mental strain of the Great War wasn’t solely due to combat; the sheer monotony of holding the line was equally taxing. Soldiers spent days or weeks in support trenches where the primary enemy was inactivity. Psychologists of the era, and modern historians, note that keeping the mind occupied was a survival mechanism. Without distraction, the mind would dwell on the dangers and the horrific conditions, leading to a breakdown in morale.

Commanders recognized this and often turned a blind eye to, or actively encouraged, recreational activities. Routine was established to structure the day, but in the “off hours,” soldiers needed autonomy. This need for distraction led to a creative explosion of humor, art, and gaming that provided a temporary escape from the reality of the Western Front.

Trench Magazines and Letters Home

One of the most intellectual forms of leisure was the production of trench magazines. The “Wipers Times” is the most famous example, but many battalions, including units from Dorset, produced their own newsletters. These publications were filled with dark humor, poetry, and sketches that satirized the military hierarchy and the absurdity of the war. They served as a vent for frustration and a way to share inside jokes that only those at the front could understand.

Letter writing was another massive consumer of time. It was the only link to the civilian world. Soldiers would spend hours composing letters, often self-censoring the true horrors to protect their families. Receiving mail was an event of huge significance, with mail call being the highlight of the day. The exchange of news, even mundane details about village life in Shaftesbury, grounded the men and reminded them of what they were fighting for.

Organized Sports Behind the Lines

Whenever a battalion was rotated out of the line for rest, sports became a priority. Football (soccer) was universally popular. It required little equipment—just a ball and four coats for goalposts—and could be played almost anywhere. Inter-platoon and inter-company matches were fiercely contested, often drawing large crowds of spectators from other units. These matches fostered teamwork and physical fitness while allowing men to burn off nervous energy.

Boxing tournaments were also common, encouraged by officers for building aggression and toughness. Cricket, rugby, and athletics also featured, depending on the season and available space. These sporting events provided a semblance of normality and structure, echoing the school sports days and village matches the men had left behind.

Music and Frontline Theatre

Music was the soundtrack of the war. From mouth organs played in a dugout to full brass bands during parades, music lifted spirits. Soldiers would sing while marching to keep rhythm and morale high. Traditional folk songs from Dorset mixed with the popular music hall hits of the day. Concert parties, sometimes featuring professional entertainers or talented soldiers in drag, were organized in barns and makeshift halls behind the lines.

These “divisional concert parties” were incredibly popular. They offered a few hours of laughter and escapism. The humor was often bawdy and irreverent, poking fun at the Sergeant Major or the Quartermaster. It was a safe space for collective release, where rank was temporarily forgotten in the shared enjoyment of a show.

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The Culture of Card Games

Perhaps the most ubiquitous form of leisure in the trenches was card playing. Cards were portable, easy to hide, and could be played by any number of people in the cramped confines of a dugout. A deck of cards was a prized possession. In the dim light of a candle, soldiers huddled together to play, creating a microcosm of society where skill and luck intertwined.

Card games offered a unique thrill. They required concentration, which helped block out the noise of shelling. They also provided a social setting where stories were swapped and bonds were forged. The stakes were often low—cigarettes, extra rations, or small coins—but the competitive spirit was high. It was a way to exercise control in a world where soldiers had very little agency over their own fate.

Several games dominated the trench tables. “Crown and Anchor” was a dice game popular in the British Navy and Army, but card variations existed. “House” (an early form of Bingo) was also played, but card games like Whist and Pontoon were the staples. Pontoon, a precursor to modern Blackjack, was particularly favored for its speed and mix of luck and strategy.

Game Type Why it was Popular in Trenches
Pontoon (Vingt-et-un) Comparing Card Game Fast-paced, simple rules, allowed for banking dynamics. Predecessor to Blackjack.
Whist Trick-taking Required partnership and strategy, popular with older soldiers.
Crown and Anchor Dice/Board Simple betting game, often played on a cloth mat. High excitement.
Brag Poker-style involved bluffing and psychology, testing nerve.

These games were not just about winning money; they were about managing resources. A soldier might wager his tobacco ration on a hand of Pontoon, weighing the risk of going without a smoke against the potential reward of doubling his stash. This primitive risk assessment mirrored the larger risks they faced daily.

The Mechanics of Chance and Morale

The prevalence of gambling games in the army highlights a fascination with “luck.” In a combat environment where a shell could land anywhere, soldiers became fatalistic. Games of chance resonated with this worldview. If you could win at cards, perhaps your luck would hold on the battlefield. It was a form of magical thinking that provided a psychological buffer.

  • Risk Management: Soldiers learned to calculate odds intuitively.
  • Bluffing: Maintaining a “poker face” was a useful skill both in a game and when facing an officer.
  • Social Hierarchy: Skill at games could earn a soldier respect regardless of his military rank.

Craftsmanship and Trench Art

Another leisure activity was the creation of trench art. Soldiers would take the debris of war—shell casings, bullet cartridges, shrapnel—and fashion them into lighters, vases, or rings. This required immense patience and skill. It was a way of reclaiming the tools of destruction and turning them into objects of beauty or utility.

This creative process was meditative. Filing down a piece of brass for hours allowed the mind to focus on a tangible, constructive task. Many of these items were sent home to Shaftesbury as souvenirs and are now displayed in the Gold Hill Museum, standing as a testament to the human urge to create even in the midst of destruction.

The Legacy of Wartime Recreation

The leisure habits formed in the trenches didn’t end with the Armistice in 1918. Returning soldiers brought these games and sports back to their local pubs and clubs. The popularity of Whist drives and local football leagues in the 1920s can be directly traced to the camaraderie of the war years. These activities had proven their worth in maintaining mental health and social cohesion.

Today, we look back at these activities not just as pastimes, but as vital survival tools. Whether it was kicking a ball or shuffling a deck for a game of Pontoon, these moments of leisure were acts of defiance against the dehumanizing nature of the Great War.