AlwaysDigging

On The Front

From May 1917 to mid-July 1918, the Tunnellers carried out various digging operations beneath the trenches along the front line[1]. The phase of underground warfare conducted beneath no man's land had ended for the New Zealanders with the beginning of the Battle of Arras in April 1917. From that point on, the Tunnellers organized underground living beneath the trenches through the creation of dugouts, machine gun nests, trench mortar emplacements, and observation posts—a significant part of the work performed by all British Tunnellers during the conflict.

Following the Battle of Arras, British troops established a new position east of the village of Monchy-le-Preux[2]. Entire new trench systems had to be dug and developed. The Company’s area extended from the Arras–Cambrai road to about 500 yards north of the Scarpe river, covering approximately six square miles. The Tunnellers began constructing more comfortable billets for the troops than the original shelters hastily opened in trench parapets by infantrymen in August 1915 to protect themselves from the coming winter.

The activity of the Tunnellers was subject to the hazards of war. Three shifts—each consisting of a non-commissioned officer and four sappers—worked night and day[3]. They were assisted by infantrymen, who participated in digging their own accommodations. Each day followed the same routine: each section of the Company worked in a specific area of the front line.

The Tunnellers were too far from Arras to remain in their billets in town. Instead, they established advanced billets in an underground quarry beneath the ruins of an old farm on the road to Cambrai[4]. However, not all men were deployed on the front line. Some were engaged in preparing the necessary materials—especially the essential wooden planks used to furnish the subterranean accommodations.

In early September 1917, the Tunnellers built their own sawmill near the Arras railway station in the Ronville neighbourhood[5]. Hundreds of wooden planks were stored near the tracks and transported to the front in small trucks. Once received near the trenches, the planks were used across a wide range of underground works.

Digging Underground

The location of the underground works was of primary importance. A site had to be as close as possible to a road or communication route to allow the Tunnellers to transport tools and equipment. A prior study of the ground helped identify the most suitable area for digging. The white chalk geology around Arras was particularly favorable for underground work. It offered a near-natural layer of protection just a few feet below the surface, typically between 20 and 26ft[6].

Before beginning their work, the Tunnellers had to prepare the trench. The parapet was first squared down, and then sufficient excavation was carried out to allow the insertion of four vertical box sets, forming a rectangular opening 6ft 3in high and 3ft 6in wide[7]. The sets created a solid timber box leading forward and downward, acting as steps. A corridor was constructed at the bottom of the stairs, linking various rooms within the dugout.

Although underground shelters were used as aid posts or section and company headquarters, their primary function was to provide accommodation for the troops. The smallest dugout typically measured around 9ft wide and 30ft long, and could house 24 men[8]. The infantrymen appreciated this modest space, which they regarded as a haven of peace in the heart of the battlefield. They quickly embraced the reassuring rhythm of subterranean life.

Not all soldiers were treated equally, however. The dugouts for the other ranks resembled dormitories with bunk beds and constant humidity. By contrast, officers were much better accommodated; some of their dugouts featured single rooms, sometimes equipped with electricity and luxury furnishings such as a wrought iron bed or a small washbasin for daily ablutions—a true “house with all modern conveniences”[9]. For all soldiers, this small underground space became an essential element of life at the front.

Between Surface & Underground

After 8 hours underground, relieved shifts returned to the surface. The men were exhausted from digging in the chalk. A little comfort awaited them in their advanced billets at Les Fosses Farm: a ration of rum, a hot snack, and an old bed[10]. After 9 days in the trenches, the Tunnellers were entitled to 3 days in the Company camp at Arras to wash and rest[11].

Three rest days were essential for the men. During this time, they breathed fresher and cleaner air than in their underground construction sites. Inside the works beneath the trenches, the Tunnellers had to breathe candle smoke, stale air, and a unique underground atmosphere, which could cause respiratory issues.

The New Zealanders worked underground until March 1918, creating more than 200 dugouts. The major German offensive of 21 March 1918 brought an end to the Tunnellers’ work and pushed back the British front line[12]. The German advance was eventually halted just 1100yds east of Arras. The Tunnellers now focused on digging new trenches along the Arras front. Houses on Arras’s main streets were connected and reinforced to serve as bunkers. Everyone took part in the defence of Arras[13].

The Germans failed to capture Arras, and the front line stabilized again in front of the town. The Tunnellers prepared new machine gun nests and dugouts throughout the Arras trench system. Digging efforts intensified: in the month of June 1918 alone, 89 new dugouts, machine gun nests, and trench mortar emplacements were begun[14].

The Company remained in Arras until 15 July 1918 and was then transferred to the Marieux sector, near Doullens, on the border of Pas-de-Calais and the Somme area. Numerous positive reports commending their work in Arras were received from both British and New Zealand High Command[15]. Even after the Company left Arras, the Tunnellers' mission remained the same: always digging.