Sanitation in the African campaign

[A.E.B]

A large impacter on hygene standards on the frontline was the presence of snipers/artillery.

A relation who fought in New Guinea mentioned in his diary that men collected shell casings from the 25 pounder unit in the rear-area (no pun intended). When stationed on the frontline, men would use the shell casing rather than risk unseen Jap snipers or bring down artillery by leaving their foxholes.

I can imagine that most soldiers caught in the same situation would use any covered location as a toilet, rather than risk exposure.

Now, if you want a more interesting debate, how about the rates of VD in the various armies and the methods used to combat them.

A.E.B