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The British sector of the Western Front 1914 to 18

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What medical breakthroughs were made on the Western Front?

The new techniques and developments on the Western Front: the Thomas splint, the use of mobile x-rays, blood transfusions and the blood bank, brain and plastic surgery, and the treatment of wound infection by the Carrel-Dakin method.
A focused answer to the medical breakthroughs on Edexcel's Western Front historic environment study, covering the Thomas splint, mobile x-rays, blood transfusions and the blood bank, brain surgery, plastic surgery, and the treatment of infected wounds by the Carrel-Dakin method.
13 min answer →

How do you answer the Western Front source enquiry questions?

The nature of the historic environment source enquiry, the role of different sources and how to find evidence about the Western Front, and how to answer the 'How useful are Sources A and B' (8 marks) and 'How could you follow up Source A' (4 marks) questions.
A focused answer to the Edexcel Paper 1 historic environment source enquiry, explaining the role of sources for studying the Western Front, and the exact method for the 'How useful are Sources A and B' (8 marks) and the distinctive 'How could you follow up Source A' (4 marks) questions.
12 min answer →

What was the British sector of the Western Front like, and what conditions did soldiers face?

The context of the British sector of the Western Front (the trench system, key battles such as the Somme and Cambrai, and the terrain), the everyday conditions, and the illnesses caused by trench life.
A focused answer to the context and conditions of Edexcel's British sector of the Western Front historic environment study, covering the trench system, key battles (Ypres, the Somme, Arras and Cambrai), the terrain, and the illnesses of trench life such as trench foot, trench fever and shell shock.
12 min answer →

What wounds did soldiers suffer, and how were they moved and treated by the RAMC?

The nature of the wounds suffered on the Western Front (shrapnel, gas and head wounds), the work of the RAMC and FANY, and the chain of evacuation from the front line to the base hospital.
A focused answer to the wounds and the RAMC on Edexcel's Western Front historic environment study, covering shrapnel, gas and head wounds, the work of the RAMC and FANY, and the chain of evacuation through the RAP, dressing station, casualty clearing station and base hospital.
13 min answer →