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When asked "Name the first thing you think of," when asked about the First World War, most people would say "Trenches”, but what exactly are 'Trenches'...
Extensively dug from 1915 onwards and stretched like a muddy scar from Nueport on the Belgian coast to the French border with Switzerland...
Not that you could walk along continuously but you virtually could...
Trenches of the Western Front...
Trenches of the Western Front...
This booklet was published in 1916 by john Murray printers under a government contract was intended to be an Aide Memoir for Officers, it detailed What, Where and How to dig or build Entrenched Defensive Works...
It explains that in 1916, there were Three General Types of Entrenchment...Permanent, Provisional and Field, Fortifications.
1. Permanent Fortification. —'Permanent fortification implies defensive measures of the most complete nature, and includes works designed and constructed in peacetime with all the advantages which can be derived from ample time'
2. 'Provisional Fortification. - includes works designed and sited in peace, but constructed in immediate anticipation of war or during war at points of strategical or tactical importance'
3. 'Field Fortification'- is implied all those measures which may be taken for the defence of positions intended to be held only temporarily. Works of this kind are executed either in face of the enemy or in immediate anticipation of his approach. Field fortification presupposes a defensive attitude, and, though recourse to it may under certain circumstances be desirable, it must always be regarded as a means to an end and not an end in itself.
But what does this all actually mean...
In 1914 the BEF, when contact with the enemy was made, were trained to use their 'Grubber' (shown below) entrenching tool. Initially to create a shallow delve the length of the occupant, using any 'spoil' to bank up in front of them. As they continued, even under fire, the shallow 'trench' would be deepened to provide cover from fire whilst still enabling the rifle to be used...
A diagram from the booklet, shows how a shallow depression 6 feet in length(183cm) sloping from 6 inches (16cm) at the head to 1 foot (30cm) at the feet, were dug during an 'Encounter' battle, but as the war progressed and the so called 'Race to the Sea' began, then more deliberate entrenchments were then dug. These 'Trenches' were known as 'Deliberate' works, requiring the use of various tools like pickaxes and shovels...
These next illustrations, also taken from the booklet, show the process, of construction from initial 'Fire Cover' (nowadays known as a 'Shell Scrape') to the point of next creating a 'Shallow Pit', unbelievably this would be achieved whilst under fire! From that final kneeling or standing pit, a shallow connecting trench would be dug behind to allow movement behind the pits. Eventually with the use of picks and shovels the pit would be deepened and a 'passing' trench would be dug, so that the positions were eventually connected up, with several positions combining into one continuous position.
The next point was to creat a 'Shallow Pit', (unbelievably this would be achieved whilst under fire!) From that final kneeling or standing pit, a shallow connecting trench would be dug behind to allow movement behind the pits...
Eventually with the use of picks and shovels the pit would be deepened and a 'passing' trench would be dug, so that the positions were eventually connected up, with several positions combining into one continuous position.
These very rudimentary trenches with no 'dug outs' or 'fire steps' and only a crude Parapet to the front of the Trench and Parados to the rear of the Trench, were meant to provide basic protection from 'Shrapnel' shells and small arms fire. At this time there were also no 'Communication' trenches meaning when moving up to this 'Firing Line' the soldier had to come into the open which exposed them to fire.
By the end of 1914 these very simple trench positions were joined up with traverses creating a long defensive line, much like the photo below. According to the Manual of Military Engineering (1914) 'Open trenches and parapets which may be exposed to enfilade fire and to the oblique fire of artillery, should be traversed and recessed. Traverses are simple means of gaining protection against enfilading shell, and also of localising the effect of a shell bursting in the trench. They are also effective against rifle bullets, on account of their flat trajectory. An irregular line of trench will answer the same purpose, when it suits the ground. Against shrapnel bullets coming obliquely, or in enfilade, traverses will not suffice, on account of the steep angle of descent of the bullets. Recesses made in the parapet, large enough to hold one or two men, give the best protection against these. Such recesses are best made after the trench is excavated. Traverses to localise bursts may consist of two walls of brushwood, with about 1 foot of earth between’...
The trenches seen above took years to create and then modify, usually by the divisional Pioneers and Royal Engineers, to get to the state shown. If you examine the photo, you can see how the trench has been deepened and then, upended 'A Frames' were sunk into the bottom, on top of which would be fitted 'Duckboards', this kept the bottom of the trench dry. The sides of the trench were shored up to prevent collapse with 'wicker hurdles' as seen on the left of the photo. The front of the trench has been strengthened using timber frames and 'chicken wire' along which a wooden 'Fire Step' was created, providing firing positions but also sleeping positions that were not on solid earth and therefore warmer. Sandbags are provided along the 'Parapet' allowing firing of weapons and cover from small arms fire entering the trench. Firing Bays were created divided by what was termed a 'Traverse' this was the ground undug and was primarily left to break up the 'Continuous' trench, which prevented shell explosions, splinters and rifle fire passing directly along the trench causing increased casualties, All of the above examples were built in areas conducive to deep digging but in areas where the water table was only a few feet below ground level then a whole different method had to be employed.
As can be seen by the photo left, the depth of trenches in some parts of the Western Front were difficult to dig, as the water table (level of natural water) was so high a trench culdn't be dug down, in this case sandbag 'Breastworks' had to be created. The sides of the trenches were shored up using timber props and 'Corrugated Iron' sheets, along the trench at set distances was also a 'Sump', this was created allowing the use of hand pumps to try to keep the water level as low as practical. Unfortunately, this wasn't always possible leading to appalling conditions in the Winter, in some areas the water could be thigh deep...
A look at the model right, gives an idea of how the trench sides were created by rows of sandbags with an earth bank in front of them, the sides have been 'Revetted' using wicker hurdles. Of course, all the materials for this work had to be carried up by hand, usually at night.
The plate above is from the 'Manual of Military Engineering' published by the War Office in 1914...
Showing how eventually ‘slit trenches’ became a 'Firing Line', created in 1.5 to 3 hurs!. A few hundred yards behind that would be the 'Support Line' and further back again wuld be the 'Reserve Line'. Between these ‘lines’ ‘communication’ trenches were dug which connected each line to the line behind, protecting men moving between these 'Lines'. Men usually spent 24 hours in the firing trenches, then 24 hours in the support trenches, before moving into the reserve trenches for two days...
Most units of British Infantry spent about 4 days in the 'Trenches' before moving back into a 'Rest Area' behind the lines, not that they got much rest, as men were required to form working parties, to assist in digging and repairing of the front line as well as carrying parties, taking up material, ammunition and food to the support lines.
During the period late 1914 to mid 1918 these trench lines were continually modified and repaired during all Seasons but how did you live in them? Next time we'll explore Daily Life in the Trenches...
All IWM images are from the Imperial War Museum collections website at https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections
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