FightingintheTrenches.ppt.pptVIP

The British Army on the Western Front Although trenches protected soldiers in them they also led to a state of deadlock. Trench systems developed significantly over the course of the war. This photograph was taken in 1917 and shows a sentry from the Lancashire Fusiliers looking through a box periscope to observe No Man’s Land and avoid being seen himself. ? IWM (Q 4654) Trench Raids The first Trench Raids took place in 1914 and were seen as a good way of maintaining an ‘offensive spirit’ during the stalemate of trench warfare. During trench raids, soldiers would aim to kill the enemy, take prisoners and gather information. Soldiers carried specialised weapons, like knives and knuckledusters, during these raids, but also improvised weapons like this trench club. It was made and used in 1915, by Private Harold Startin of the 1st Leicestershire Regiment. It is made from an entrenching tool handle fitted with a roughly cast lead head and a cord wrist strap. ? IWM (WEA 2160) Webley .455 Mark 6 (VI military) Service revolvers were initially only carried by officers, but as the war progressed they were issued more widely. The Webley was the standard British service revolver during the First World War, they were robust and powerful weapons and remained in use until 1932. This revolver belonged to 2nd Lieutenant J R R Tolkien who went on to write The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien joined the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1915 and went on to serve in the front line trenches of the Somme. The impact of the Battle remained with him for the rest of his life and its influence can be clearly seen in his unique mythological world and stories. ? IWM (FIR 11492) Heavy Artillery by Colin Gill With the development of trench warfare, increasingly large artillery was developed to fire high explosive shells and smash enemy trenches, like this battery of 9.2 inch howitzers. The majority of casualties on the Western Front were caused by artillery shells, explosions and shrapnel