trenches where located on the?
western front
Artillery line
where big field guns were located
used to fire shells at the enemy
noise from a barrage of guns was deafening
Communication trench
used to move between the front and rare trenches
used to transport injured men to the field hospital
supporting trench
provided a second line of defense, incase the front line trench was taken by the enemy
contained first aid station and kitchens to ensure men in the front line had medical treatment and hot food
bunker
used to store food underground
used to store weapons and artillary
command centers
offered men protection from fire and the element
traverse
trenches were not built in a stright line so that if they managed to get into the frontline trenches, they would not have a straight firing line along the trench. trenches were therefore built alternating straight and angled lines
machine gun nests
where the machine gun was located at the rare trench
operated by 2/3 soldiers who fired on any advancing enemy
front line trench
8ft deep and 4-6ft wide
soldiers would spend a week in the frontline trench and spend a week in the rare trenches or rest camps
barbwire
used extensively in trench warfare of WWI
it was laid several rows deep by both sides to protect the front line
wire breaks were placed at intervals to allow men access to NO man’s land
however, attackers had to locate wire breaks and many men lost their lives by becoming entangled in the wire and shocked.
listening post
was used to monitor the enemy’s activity
used a stethoscope to listen to the enemy
No man’s land
the area between two trenches
Sandbags
used to protect soldiers from any riffle fire
they were less effective in shell fire
placed at the bottom of the trench to soak up water
Parapet
name given to the front wall of the trenches: that is the nearest wall to the enemy. It would be often strengthened with wood and covered with sandbags
Bolt hole/ dug out
built into the sides of the trenches. the earth was shored up with wood and the roof was lined with iron
used bolt hole for protection, for eating and sleeping
Duck board / sump
To prevent the trenches from becoming waterlogged, a narrow drainage channel known as a sump would be built at the bottom of the trench. This would then be covered with wooden trenchboards known as duckboards.
trench block
A trench block was a wood and wire structure that was made to block the trenches and prevent the enemy from advancing through a trench system.
Machine gun
The machine gun was the most widely used weapon in world war one. The guns were very heavy and had to be supported on a tripod. They also required three or four men to operate them. The men in this picture are also wearing gas masks for protection against gas attacks.