Time spent out of the line at least offered the opportunity for the frontline soldier to get clean. Communal baths would be set up and lice-infested clothing steam-cleaned. The chance to be clean was another essential prop to morale.
![British soldiers splashing in the water at Corfu.](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/vintage-soldiers-swimming-and-playing-in-the-water-during-world-war-i-01.jpg)
British soldiers splashing in the water at Corfu. Image: Imperial War Museums
![Soldiers in a farm pond near St. Eloi, Flanders, 1917.](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/vintage-soldiers-swimming-and-playing-in-the-water-during-world-war-i-02.jpg)
Soldiers in a farm pond near St. Eloi, Flanders, 1917. Image: Imperial War Museums
![Enthusiastic splashing in the sea at Etaples, France, 1917.](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/vintage-soldiers-swimming-and-playing-in-the-water-during-world-war-i-03.jpg)
Enthusiastic splashing in the sea at Etaples, France, 1917. Image: Imperial War Museums
![British troops in the River Tigris, Baghdad, 1917.](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/vintage-soldiers-swimming-and-playing-in-the-water-during-world-war-i-04.jpg)
British troops in the River Tigris, Baghdad, 1917. Image: Imperial War Museums
![Piggyback wading (location unspecified)](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/vintage-soldiers-swimming-and-playing-in-the-water-during-world-war-i-05.jpg)
Piggyback wading (location unspecified) Image: Imperial War Museums
![Patients from a convalescent hospital playing in the sea, France, 1918.](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/vintage-soldiers-swimming-and-playing-in-the-water-during-world-war-i-06.jpg)
Patients from a convalescent hospital playing in the sea, France, 1918. Image: Imperial War Museums
![British soldiers playing with a ball in the water at Corfu.](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/vintage-soldiers-swimming-and-playing-in-the-water-during-world-war-i-07.jpg)
British soldiers playing with a ball in the water at Corfu. Image: Imperial War Museums
![Members of an army entertainment troop posing after a swim in the Sea of Marmora, Turkey.](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/vintage-soldiers-swimming-and-playing-in-the-water-during-world-war-i-08.jpg)
Members of an army entertainment troop posing after a swim in the Sea of Marmora, Turkey. Image: Imperial War Museums
![Soldiers smile for the camera during a swim in the Somme region, France, 1916.](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/vintage-soldiers-swimming-and-playing-in-the-water-during-world-war-i-09.jpg)
Soldiers smile for the camera during a swim in the Somme region, France, 1916. Image: Imperial War Museums
![...and immediately afterwards splash each other.](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/vintage-soldiers-swimming-and-playing-in-the-water-during-world-war-i-10.jpg)
…and immediately afterwards splash each other. Image: Imperial War Museums
![Romanian soldiers in a pond in the Balkans.](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/vintage-soldiers-swimming-and-playing-in-the-water-during-world-war-i-11.jpg)
Romanian soldiers in a pond in the Balkans. Image: Imperial War Museums