Trench Game Terms

Western Front

The area of military operations during the First World War which ran from Belgium, through northern France, and to the Swiss border.

Dugout

shelter dug on the side of a trench, in the ground, used as living quarters, for storage of supplies or for protection.

Platoon

a unit of soldiers, normally consisting of 50 men.

Trenches

a long, deep and narrow hole in the ground, with the earth thrown up in front, dug to protect soldiers from bullets and other projectiles.

Stand-to

the daily routine of standing in the trenches, half an hour before dawn, waiting for a German attack.

Lice

plural form of “louse”; a small, flat, wingless insect that lives off the blood of its host.

Artillery

weapon used to fire very large projectiles. Howitzers, guns and mortars are types of artillery. Popularly known as cannons.

Duck-boards

floor sections made of wooden slats which can be laid on wet, muddy or cold surfaces.

No Man’s Land

the narrow, muddy, treeless stretch of land, characterized by numerous shell holes, that separated German and Allied trenches during the First World War.

Puttees

cloth strip made of wool and wrapped around the leg, from ankle to knee, to prevent trousers from being torn or soiled.

Webbing

a type of military back-pack, made of sturdy canvas and containing numerous pouches for carrying the ammunition, water bottle, bayonet, food, clothing and personal belongings of a soldier.

Firesteps

narrow ledge, located inside a trench, that allows soldiers to see over the parapet.

Parapet

the inner wall of a trench, made of earth and wood and topped with sandbags, to protect soldiers.

Stand down

permission given to soldiers to leave their defensive positions when an attack by the enemy is deemed unlikely.

Work detail

a specific task assigned to an individual or group, usually entailing physical labour.

Communication wire

type of wire used for establishing telephone connections between posts.

Sniper

a soldier, armed with a rifle and usually well hidden, who shoots at exposed individuals of an enemy’s forces.

Shell

an artillery projectile containing an explosive bursting charge.

Bayonet

steel blade, shaped like a short sword, that is fixed at the end of a rifle and used for hand-to-hand combat.

Sector

a portion or division of a large military area.

Poison gas

type of gas which gives off a poisonous vapour, designed to kill, injure or disable a soldier by inhalation or contact.

Gas Mask

cloth and/or rubber mask connected to an air filter and used to protect the face and lungs from poison gases.

Jerry

nickname used by Allied soldiers to describe Germans.

All safe

a signal, given by siren, to announce that it is now safe to remove one’s gas mask after a gas attack.

Stand Down

permission given to soldiers to leave their defensive positions when an attack by the enemy is deemed unlikely.

Bully Beef

from the French word boulli, meaning boiled. Meat that is pickled or canned, usually corned beef.

Kaiser

German word meaning “emperor”.

Mortar

a type of cannon used to fire projectiles at high angles.

Lip

the edge of a large hole.

Billet

a place that is designated for soldiers to receive food and shelter.

Sap

a tunnel within a trench, dug to a point beneath the enemy’s trenches.

Lollygagging

to waste time.

Cocked

to draw back the hammer to prepare it for firing.

Bayonet

steel blade, shaped like a short sword, that is fixed at the end of a rifle and used for hand-to-hand combat.

Going over the top

climbing out of the safety of a trench and advancing across open ground into No Man's Land to attack the enemy.

Company

a unit of soldiers, normally consisting of 100 men.

Decoration

a badge of honour; a medal awarded for bravery.

Fritz

nickname used by Allied soldiers to describe Germans.

Home Leave

permission given to soldiers to go home for an extended period of time.

HQ

short form for “Headquarters”; a place from which military commanders perform their duties.

Pin

Metal pin that is removed to activate a grenade.

Stick Grenade

German hand grenade; small, metal container, attached to a stick, which explodes after it is thrown.

Tommy

nickname used by German soldiers to describe British (and Canadian) soldiers.