On topic Trivia

[Flyby PC 23]

I've just read another curiousity about flying over the WW1 trenches.

 

While difficult to differentiate between the appearance of French and German trenches from the air, it was relatively easy to spot the British trenches because of the frequent trenches running into no-man's land towards the enemy serving as 'listening' posts.

 

 

(Then again, who dug them, and who's actually in them might not be so simple to determine).

 

All the same, it might help you get your bearings on a map, (if your TAC had been shot out).

Edited September 5, 2009 by Flyby PC

[RAF_Louvert 101]

Flyby PC, I'm not so sure that's true Sir. Both sides dug the small trenches out into NML, as is evident in this aerial photo of French and German trenches about mid-war:

 

 

 

Just out of curiosity, where did you read this Sir?

 

Cheers!

 

Lou

 

 

 

 

[Flyby PC 23]

It's the MacMillan Dictionary of the First World War, under trenches, or 'trench warfare' if I remember correctly. It was published in the 90's I think, 96 maybe? I'll need to check tonight. I'll pass on the details, (or perhaps not if it's talking out of it's Arras).

 

Seems well enough researched on the whole to me, but I'm not very well read on WW1, - just trying to improve my learning. If you can shoot the statements down, then crack on. Delighted to learn more.

 

I didn't mean to imply the other nations didn't dig similar trenches, but there was something in the pattern which identified a British Trench. Perhaps I should quote the book exactly.

 

This is it...

 

http://openlibrary.org/b/OL10554903M/Macmillan-Dictionary-of-the-First-World-War

Edited September 5, 2009 by Flyby PC

[RAF_Louvert 101]

Thanks for the point to your reference, Flyby PC. Much appreciated Sir. I am always learning here too, and was not saying you were necessarily wrong, just wanted to know where you found this bit of info. I have noticed myself that in the aerial photos the British trenches tended to be a bit more freeform and less "structured" than the German trenches in the same areas. They also sometimes look a bit more sparse in terms of just how many trenches were dug in the same amount of space.

 

Cheers!

 

Lou

[Von Paulus 8]

I've read in one my WW1 books, that even the materials and the way the trenches were dug were different, like if there was a German style, a British Style and a French style.

Regarding this, it doesn't surprise me you observation RAF_Louvert.

Thanks for sharing this info.