Chronology of Tunnelling in the La Boisselle Sector in 1916 (Work in
progress)
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Date/ Source |
Mining |
Infantry |
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[strength 19 officers 603 OR] Attack on enemy position launched
at The under mentioned mines were
successfully fired by this company at 40,000 lbs Ammonal in chamber at
end of S4 D transversal under the Y Sap. 60 000 lbs Ammonal in two chambers
at end of Lochnagar drive. 8 000 lbs in No 2 straight, 8 000
lbs in No 5 right All these mines did considerable
damage to the enemy field works (This was ascertained by actual inspection
after the infantry had carried the position). D transversal and Lochnagar
severely wrecked his surface works, whilst the Inch St mines wrecked his
underground mine system in their vicinity. All the mines caused casualties. All trench emplacements
constructed at ends of the various saps on the fronts of the 8th,
32nd & 36th Divisions were completed and opened up.
SANDA was opened up to the surface at its extremity and a trench cut
connecting the tunnel to the German front line. The company met with no casualties
in carrying out the above functions. |
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Orders received from 3rd
Corps commander through Chief Engineer to commence work in repairing the
entrances etc to our own mine system which had been damaged by enemy shell
fire during the recent operations, and also to destroy the German mine
system. Parties at once detailed to
proceed to the trenches and start this work. [Killed : 79061 Cpl Sime A; wounded by enemy shrapnel: 148456 Spr Dyas A, 132758 Spr Hall M, 46919 Spr Crimes G,
132770 Spr Stringer T;] 79576 Spr
Bryce D accidentally killed by falling down S5 shaft. |
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Visited 179, but found Hance away.
Saw Capt Kerr who had been responsible for Lochnagar blow [sic]. Kerr stated
that this & the D (S4) mines were very effective. The Kirriemuir
[sic] shallow was opened into the front line & used for communication
extensively, in connection with La Boisselle attack. The Waltney & Rivington --- I think all Tunnelling officers
who worked in the saps at the time of the attack should be individually
examined. Probably each one gained some definite information that may be useful
in future schemes of this character
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Lt R Hawtrey RE appointed to
command D Section. [wounded by shrapnel: REs: 147664 Sgt Mortimer H, 136434 Spr
Long T, 112700 Spr Auty
T, 1[or4]4787 Spr Hall C. 13774 Pte Hooper E 7/N Lancs attached.] 102357 A/L-Cpl Lambert D wounded
by bridge falling on him as a result of an enemy shell hitting him. |
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[Weekly Mine Report 179 Coy Strength RE 19 officers 384 OR,
attached infantry 214 OR, total 19 officers 598 ORs. Designation of working: Lochnagar;
Map Ref. X.20.c; Depth: 50; nature of ground: hard chalk; Report:] A straight gallery had been driven
for a total distance of 500 feet in front of our front line trench. A Y
branch was then driven to within an estimated distance of 100 feet of the
German trenches, when chambers were excavat[ed]
These two branches of the Y totalled 100 feet in length. This
distance, and the last 34 feet of the straight in gallery, were
excavated wit[h] the bayonet only, for silent work. Latterly the enemy was
heard very plainly working at a slightly lower level than ourselves
Subsequent examination points to his work having been of the nature of a
defensive mine system in which it is probable that the sounds we heard were caused
by his work on a transversal gallery as they did not seem to come any closer
(as would have been the case had he been driving an attack gallery) but
rather to cross our front. The objects of the mine were (1) to destroy the
enemy trench and to knock out his machine guns at this point, where his
trench formed a pronounced salient (2) to destroy his underground system
whatever it might be (3) to kill any troops he might have sheltering
underground from our bombardment. As the work of excavating the chambers
required to receive the necessary charges was very slow, it became necessary
to place portions of the charges in each of the two branches of the Y
[added:] (galleries the chambers not being large enough to accommodate
them). And as the one branch was roughly normal to the enemy trench, and the
other inclined thereto, the charge was divided into 24000 lbs in the former
and 36000 lbs in the latter. These charges were tamped solid for 350 feet
outside the junction of the Y branches. 12 detonators in series, each with
a guncotton primer attached, were distributed among each charge, the two
charges being [??ed] in parallel. A second and
reserve system of detonators was also connected in case of accident to the
first. The mine was fired at -2 minutes on Z day, and was wholly successful.
An enormous crater was formed, extending considerably behind the enemy
trench, which, with its occupants and machine guns etc, was entirely
destroyed for a considerable length, as well as all his dug-outs for a
considerable distance beyond the actual crater being entirely closed, and
large portions of his trench being buried. There can be no doubt that the
mine generally caused him considerable loss, and by the violence of the shock
to his garrison, and the shelter afforded by the lips of the crater itself,
enabled our attacking infantry to reach his trenches here, and to pass over
them in the first assault, with comparatively light loss. Such loss as was
incurred must have been caused by fire from his flank. The infantry were also
on Z night to establish themselves inside this
crater, forming an advance position in front of our original trenches.
Observations have been taken to the boundaries of this crater but so far each
attempt to measure the same with a view to estimating the affect [sic] of the
charge has been prevented by the amount of fire the enemy has still, until
today [5/7], been able to bring to bear at the point. These investigations we
hope to continue at a subsequent moment. [Designation of working: No 2;
trench name: A charge of 8000 lbs ammonal was
laid in a chamber at a point X.20.a.½.7½, the enemy being known to have an
attack gallery close to this point. The charge was tamped solid 180 outside
the chamber. The charge was fired at -2 minutes on Z day and was intended to
destroy his attack gallery at this point. Subsequent examination has proved
that it did so. [Designation of working: No 5
right; trench name: The enemy was known to be very
close at this point, as he could be heard moving and talking with the naked
ear. A charge of 8000 lbs Ammonal was laid, and tamped for a total distance
of 160 feet. The object of the mine was to destroy his mine system at the
pint and to gas his workings. His loss in personel
[sic] cannot be estimated, as his trenches at this point were not carried
until he had tie to remove any dead from his workings. His attack gallery was
absolutely closed to within a few feet of his transversal, and blood etc at
this point show that he suffered loss in life. The mine, like others, was
fired at -2 minutes on Z day. [Designation of working: S4.1;
trench name: This mine was aimed to destroy the
enemys Y sap, and a chamber was made at an estimated distance of 30
in front of the nose of this sap. The total distance driven in this gallery
to reach this point round the enemys flank, at such a distance that he could
not hear us until too late to check our operations, in the absence of a
defensive mine system, was 1008 ft. A charge of 40000 lbs ammonal was laid in
this chamber, and was tamped with 100 feet solid tamping followed by 200 ft
of alternate 6 ft air-spaces and 10 ft solid tamps. The enemy was heard at the last
moment, whilst we were excavating the chamber, sinking down on top of us. He
was however too late to prevent us attaining our object. The mine was fired
at -2 minutes on Z day, and wholly destroyed his Y sap, and any machine-guns
etc that he had at that point. Such loss as was incurred by fire form this
point was suffered before the mine was fired. Thereafter the infantry were
able to approach his trenches on the south of the crater protected from fire
by the lips formed. It has been impossible to measure this crater without [?ing] needless work from the fire which he still brings to
bear on this point from Ovillers, and attempts to do so this afternoon
immediately produced heavy shell [fire?]. The enemys mine system, which is
very complete and contains an extraordinary number of shafts, has been
examined and surveyed, and will be destroyed. Much valuable information as to
the means by which he has been able to tap our telephone messages, copies of
many of which were found underground, has been obtained. [sgnd]
H M Hance Major OC 179 Co RE |
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10AM
Inspector of Mines GHQ and Controller of Mines 4th Army here &
interviewed officers on duty in the trenches at time of launching the attack
on Z day. Chief Engineer 3rd Corps visited German mine system with
OC. Capt J Young to hospital wounded. |
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Capt G Rowan proceeded on leave to
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[casualties during the day, all
shrapnel: 116420 Pte Bleakley
J 7/N Lancs wounded (attached) 144829 Spr
Wills W RE Killed. 13890 Pte Jones J 7/S Lancs Killed 97062 Spr
Phipps W RE Wounded. 2841 Cpl Turner A ASC wounded.] |
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Orders were sent to Corps that
enemys mining systems must not be destroyed without reference to Controller
of Mines, Fourth Army. |
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[wounded by shrapnel: 132912 Spr
Maul G RE 13132 Pte Williams S 7/S Lancs 19073 L/Cpl Adlington
W H 11/N&D 102760 Spr
Gaines J RE] Demolition of enemy mine system
completed. |
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[Wounded during bombardment of
billets: 144868 Spr
Robinson T RE 112586 Spr
James J RE 137587 Cpl Bennett R RE 17400 L/Cpl Froggart
B 9/Y&L 139001 Spr
Beezers S to hospital suffering from shell shock. 112647 Spr
Smith J W wounded |
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Work commenced constructing deep
dug-outs situated at junction of trenches near X.15 central (Sheet 57D SE)
1000x E of La Boisselle village. 13935 Pte Redan W admitted to
hospital gassed by enemy lachrymatory shell. Studebaker Box-Car ( 15585) damaged by enemy shell evacuated to Base as a
casualty. |
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[report by Hance on demolition of
German mine system] |
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7/16 War Diary 179 Coy |
Notes on the German Mining System
at LA BOISSELLE Map Reference X.13.d X.19.b. X.20.a 1. General Description. The enemy has always gone for a continuous
transversal, with attack galleries therefrom at
more or less regular intervals. He has adopted this system right from the
first, a plan of his system against the French having come into my
possession. As he blew up the French
in the ILOT in early February 1915, and some small camouflets appear to have
been fired in early 1915, it is clear that he started a Mining System
directly he settled down in this Trench Area. Tradition has it that he blew
up the French before they started Mining. All his
original mine entrances were in the front line. He had a shaft connected to
his transversal behind practically every attack gallery. In his system as taken over, with the exception of the deep level
backing up system, he had a dipping adit leading out in front of his trench,
on an inclination of 1 in 1½ or 1 in 2., until he
had gained about 20-30 feet of cover. He then sank a shaft. His main
transversal either passed directly under this shaft or not more than eight
feet in front of it. He therefore had no room for doors to isolate a shaft if
so desired. 2. He had evidently had, at different times, at least four mining
systems; (a) A system about 30 deep in which he fought the French, and later
ourselves. (b) A system about 50-60 feet deep, which he probably started when we
first went down to that depth, the attack galleries here being served from
the upper transversal, beginning at its North end at H.8.[?] 85.10. on
accompanying plan. This transversal to the south changes gradient frequently, and finally connects with the deeper
transversal at about I.11.50.95. [corrected from 95.50] It was from this system that he blew us on (c) His main system (shewn red on attached plan) over most of his
front, where his transversal was 80 deep, and his chambers, connected
thereto by dipping attack galleries, 20 lower. This transversal is
continuous from I.11.50.95. [corrected from 95.50]
to M.19.95.10. This 80 system on his right front, from G.6. to
H.11., has been smashed to pieces by our blows, the attack galleries being
all closed or water-logged. At four points to the south of this system, over
a front of 1100 feet between Shaft 1, and LOCHNAGAR (not shewn on plan as
beyond the limits of our mining system proper.) he had four dipping inclines,
down to a depth of 80, which looks as if he were about to protect his
trenches over this front also with a mining system. He almost certainly had a fifth, directly opposite LOCHNAGAR charge,
as he was heard here regularly towards the end, working at a lower depth than
our chambers which were 53 deep. This incline was, of course, totally
destroyed. (d) On his right, his front line system having been smashed by our
various blows, he had gone back to is reserve lines, RESER He had similarly driven one such dipping gallery farther South, from
L.16.45/45 to a 100 depth at J.17.15/65. the same
feature as to chamber depth is noticeable here. 3. It will be noticed from the plan that many of his galleries
are shewn dotted or cross-hatched. The former refer to galleries we know to have
existed, frequently having heard working in directions pretty accurately
fixed, such as, for example, at G.10-11,0/75 and H.11.70/40. Access to these
two galleries was impossible owing to the workings being filled in or
water-logged. The latter refer to galleries, the beginnings of which were visible,
and in which we were able to get the early direction, and which, from our
listening, we assume to have been straight, but which we could not survey,
the cross-hatched portions being destroyed or water-logged. 4. Water. The water trouble alluded to above
would not seem to present much difficulty to persons with electric power at
their command, as the Germans had. Still it appears to be the only
explanation of his latest system (d) being at the same level as (c). In
working down to this depth he (from our own experience) would only have to
deal with surface percolation, but, in our lower backing system, at a depth
of 100 (on our side, the ground rises towards him) we had found the natural
water level in our K, S.5 and L shafts, and in our D, lower level, attack
heading G.6, had struck a spring, necessitating continuous pumping. 5. Ventilation. As he had no doors or curtains in the whole
of his system, his air was not so vigorously coursed as ours, and despite
his many shafts, the presence of the power driven fans in his transversal
seems to indicate that he found it necessary to force the ventilation. We
know from information derived fro other fronts, that he allowed 48 hours to
elapse after a blow before he attempted to resume work. For many months we
have never evacuated our system for more than one shift, eight hours. At the
time of our examination, when of course, his fans were not working,
his air was, in many places, semi-stagnant. 6. Timbering. He, everywhere
used casing, in his adits, transversals or attack galleries. His consumption
of timber is out of all proportion to ours. His main adits were 1.8m x 1.16m
or in British units 5 10 x 3 11 ½ . In some cases his height was reduced
to 1.6m. His transversal was 1.8m x
.8m or 5 10 x 2 7 ½ . His attack galleries were 1.76m x .8m or 5 3 x 2
7 ½ . His chambers were about 18 x 4 x 5 10. His old style high level
galleries, into which we got in places, where he had not been blown were 1.2m
x .8m, or 3 11 x 2 7½. As he went deeper he enlarged his galleries. In
this respect only, the height of his galleries, I think his methods were
better than ours. His shafts were 1.25m or .6m or 4 1Ό x
1 11½. All the above mentioned sizes are inside the timbers. 7. Haulage. He had no mechanical haulage
whatsoever, nor was a rail to be found anywhere, not a trolley. The only
piece of plant was a wheel barrow in his main transversal. This confirmed
the view we had formed from our listening, that his men were given a task; to
cut so much, clear the spoil and return to fix their timbers. In the entrance
adits from the trenches to the shafts, he had a mono-rail, actuated by a
small hand power reel, with a capacity of two sandbags (smaller than ours) per
run. He hauled his bags up his shafts by hand, using a small (8) pulley
block at the top. From J.13.4/5 he was driving a main exit from his
transversal at a 15% rise; 1 in 6 2/3. Here a wheel barrow was found, and the
bottom of two recent shot holes were to be seen at
the face. 8. Habitation. It would [appear] that many of the men
engaged in tunnelling lived underground for in the gallery running from
I.7.65/75 to I.8.4/3 was an elaborate system of sleeping berths, living
rooms, kitchens etc. This system resembled the cabins in a ship more than
anything else. Here officers and men lived, ate, slept and had their
telephone cabin (see below) and listing room. These chambers were about 40-50
feet below the surface. it will be noticed that
there were three entrances to this living quarter. The air here, at the time
of our inspection, was fairly good, but must have been foul when inhabited.
All the sleeping rooms were fitted with beds, consisting of wooden frames,
cross-stripped with thin hoop-iron. Any amount of blankets, etc., had been
left here. Here, as in all his dug-outs, these chambers were connected with
the surface by bell wires, to be pulled in case of alarm. there
was electric light everywhere. 9. Listening. This was entirely electric, and confined
to the Reiner System. Every finished chamber had a microphone fixed to the
face, connected by leads to a central listening chamber. Here was one or more listening terminals. These microphones
were mounted on Ύ piping of various lengths, 4 2½ being
about the longest found, other being 3 6 and shorter. They were driven into
the ends or floors of the chambers, generally the ends, the sides being
timbered, for about 9, and, again, generally inclined to the face, not
normal thereto. This does not appear to have been very efficient, as in
I.16.65/50, we had crept up by quiet work with the bayonet, the ground being
blown sufficiently close to his working to be able to hear him talking by
naked ear. He had a pump chamber here. He certainly did not know we were
there. We blew him here on Moritz System. In going through his listening
room at I.8.2/3 I found certain papers which made me suspicious. They were
obviously copies of British Signal messages recorded by a Germans, from the
style and characteristics of the hand writing, spelling etc. From this room
all instruments had been removed. We found a whole plant, which was handed
over to Intelligence, in the chamber in the adit to No. 7 Shaft. Mine Rescue Station. One of
the chambers in the gallery from I.7.65/35 to I.8.4/3 was apparently what we
should call his Proto Dugout, as there were a number a [sic] small Draeger
Sets hanging up. A large bundle of splints were also found. Small Draeger
Sets were found in great profusion in all the trenches and in many dugouts,
indicating their provision for troops other than miners. Similar sets have
been observed in the German Trenches at other parts of the line. Blasting. In
his all his [sic] back line system, where work was in progress up till the
end, there were signs of blasting. This explains the blasting which we have
heard for many months past. In some cases the ground was not hard enough to
justify blasting according to our ideas. Signed H. Hance. Major, R.E. O.C. 179th Coy, R.E. |
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[91874 Spr
Woodward T wounded] |
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[132802 Spr
Hartopp H wounded at |
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Lt & Adjt
H C Cherry proceeded on leave to 155779 Spr
Webb F killed} 148552 Spr
Davey T wounded} by enemy shrapnel while returning
to billet after relief. |
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Box-Car (Studebaker) α 17195 arrived. |
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2/Lt A M
Morgan proceed on leave to |
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[Report by Capt G M Smyth list of
Mining Machinery captured
179th Coy] 1. Keith-Blackman Fan, same as
those at 174th and 183rd Companies, (fan and motor
badly damaged by shell fire) 1. 6 Fan old type inefficient,
damaged. 1. German Make Motor about 1 H.P
usual D.C. type. 1. Single Cylinder Petrol Engine
about 5 H.P., very old type, with low tension ignition system, not a suitable
pattern, damaged by shell fire. |
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As directed in your message No A87
dated the 26th, I beg to report as foll:- 8th Division Front Here we drove two tunnels, Waltney
and Rivington, the former in chalk, the latter in clay. Waltney was from our front line at
X7.b.37.64 and terminated in No Mans Land at X.7.b.50.57; a distance of 520
feet. Rivington as from our
front line at X7.b.55.18 and terminated 40 from the German front line at
X7.b.94.10, a total length of 600 feet. The dimensions of both were 5 6
(height) x 3 6 (width at bottom) x 2 6 (width at top). As both these two
tunnels were designed as covered communications I am sure that these sizes
are too small, as they get blocked with traffic going both ways, wounded
seeking shelter & c. Off both tunnels cross cuts were
driven giving access to four Stokes Gun emplacements in each case, as per
plan attached. These gun chambers had 5-6 feet of cover over each and were
opened to the surface on Y-Z night. The guns were able to fire unobserved and
I know of no casualties having taken place during their operation. Both tunnels had from 9-15 feet of
cover according to the undulations of the surface, and both escaped damage
from shellfire. Both were timbered with 5 x 3 sets, every 4 feet, and the
roof supported between the sets by lagging. The overhead cover was reduced at
the ends by stepping the floor of the galleries up to within 2 feet of the
surface. We took the risk of the end being knocked in by our own shell fire,
at Rivington a pretty considerable risk. Waltney We opened up, according to
orders, directly the assault was launched on Z day. No great harm was done by
this as the hole at that distance from the enemy front line would only look
like a shell hole, if visible at all. It was originally intended to open
Rivington at the same time, but a we did not at
first succeed in holding the enemy line at this point, the gallery was kept
closed so as not to give its existence away. We subsequently opened it up
directly after the successful assault by the 12th Division, the
end being connected to the German front line by a short trench. An assembly trench having been dug
in No Mans Land in front of Waltney, which crosses the tunnel 128 feet back
from the face, steps have been put in from the side of the tunnel up into
this assembly trench. 34th Division Front Here we drove a covered
communication trench Kerriemuir,
for a total length of 410 feet. The last 150 ft of this tunnel was excavated
with the bayonet only, for silent work, the whole tunnel being in chalk. enemy patrols were constantly heard passing over the top
at night. The tunnel had 12-14 feet of cover, chalk with a few feet of clay
on top, and escaped damage from shell fire. Size of tunnel here also was 5 6
x 3 6 x 2 6. This tunnel at the end was stepped up to within 2 of the
surface, at a point 120 feet from the enemy line, & was holed up to the
surface on the night Y-Z. Subsequently, when the enemy line
had been carried, the end of the tunnel was connected thereto by a trench. This tunnel was immediately used
as a communication, I myself saw with what eagerness, by parties carrying
bombs and other supplies up, & by wounded coming down. Consequently it
was immediately blocked, and I am convinced, that such tunnels, tho altogether admirable in conception, have been made
too small, and, to be efficient, must have two roads for traffic both ways. I am aware that certain official
opinion inclines to having similar tunnels, at intervals of 50 apart, cross
connected for ventilation, instead of one larger tunnel. I am convinced that
however many such tunnels you may have they will all get blocked, wounded men
will always seek the nearest shelter, and consequently every such tunnel must
permit of traffic both ways. For this reason I think they ought to be 6 ft or
6 6 in height, and 5 wide, with a dividing centre partition. This tunnel was of great use, and
was regularly used, until the enemy had been driven back so far as to admit
of troops passing over the surface. This tunnel was started from our
front line trench at X.20.a.28,10, and was opened to
the surface at X.20.a.39,35. A report on the mines actually
blown follows under a separate cover H M Hance Major OC 179 Co RE
27.7.1916 |
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Hance has, he claims, cleared his
Company of crime as regards the RE & permanently attd.
infantry. He is insisting of 4 mos. clean sheet
immediately preceding any grant of leave. (It was originally 2 mos.) |
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20 yrs After, Supp Vol, p658 |
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Remains buried in little mound at
bottom of crater, skull placed on top |
© Simon Jones 2006