WW1 troop training trench

Category

Library Item

Item no

32481

Title

World War One troop training trench, partially buried by a century of leaf litter, Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh

Artist / maker

MacLean, Kevin

Date

2014

Type

Digital image

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

The small network of World War One training trenches now lies just beyond the Dreghorn Barracks boundary within publicly accessible woodland near Colinton. It is often assumed that allied troops were ill-prepared for the trench warfare of World War One. However, archaeological evidence reveals the attempts to train soldiers in advance for the situations they would face.

There are remains of practice trenches all over the UK. Many are most easily recognised by aerial photography. They are often overgrown and forgotten, but can be identified by the distinctive zig zag of the front lines. There were even defensive trench networks on key locations such as along the Scottish East Coast.

You can find out much more about World War One practice trenches as well as other physical markers on Britain's landscape remaining from the conflict from The Home Front Legacy project .

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Related subjects

Events > Wars > World wars

Landscape > Land > Woods and forests

Military > Military facilities > Barracks

Military > Military facilities > Dug-outs

Military > Military facilities > Trenches

Places > Edinburgh areas > Colinton

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Plants > Trees > Trees