Slit Trench Weapon Pit

An Introduction to Identifying Trenches

Introduction

Trenches, and other earthworks, were key to the 1940's defensive landscape. A trench was cheaper and quicker to construct than a pillbox and, as was soon realised, offered better protection to artillery fire and aerial bombs. From 1942 onwards pillbox construction was halted and they became officially obsolete. The trench superseded the pillbox as the defensive position of choice for the Home Forces.

Weapon Pit with surviving corrugated steel revetment Many trenches that survive today remain to be identified and recorded. Sometimes trenches have been deliberately ignored, often overshadowed by their more photogenic concrete cousins.

By far the best way to identify the location of surviving trenches is through documentary research, in particular original documents and aerial photographs from the period. Don’t be misled that original documents don’t survive or were never kept. The opposite is true, with thousands of documents and war diaries relating to Second World War era defences in the UK being held in the National Archives, Kew. You can find out more about this myth HERE

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However, we appreciate that not everyone can access the archives easily, which is why this guide was compiled. To help you identify surviving trenches, we will point out some of the more common types and identifying features which you can use to re-discover and record these almost forgotten fieldworks. As always, UK Second World War Heritage recommend you record all your discoveries with the local Historic Environment Record. Recommended Site Type Terms

We recommend you use standardised site type terms of the Defence of Britain thesaurus when recording sites. The standardised terms in this guide are from the official Defence of Britain Thesaurus.

These recognised site type terms are used by heritage organisations and Historic Environment Records to ensure a consistent vocabulary is used to record sites. Using standard site terms when recording sites and structures is very important and aids the transfer of data to Historic Environment Records. This page on Historic England’s page explains things far better than I can.

Here are the recommended terms from the Defence of Britain Thesaurus used in this guide-

Trench Communication Trench Fire Trench Slit Trench Weapon Pit

Please consult the thesaurus link above for the associated scope notes for these site types. Be aware that some of the scope notes are not particularly accurate but are still useful when recording specific types of trenches with your local HER. Examples of most of the trench types mentioned above will be provided shortly. Disclaimer

Under no circumstances should you attempt to excavate any earthworks you identify. Excavation is a destructive process and will ultimately destroy the feature. Excavation is always a last resort in archaeology and requires detailed recording. Often, excavation is not required when it comes to surviving Second World War sites.

Any excavation or removal of items from a site without landowner consent, and/or prior consultation with the local Historic Environment Record or Natural England, can constitute a Heritage Crime. Illegal excavation of wartime sites is actively destroying our shared heritage and causing irreparable damage to the archaeological record.

If you do witness or observe any illegal excavation, please report it to the local Police force via 101.

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Trench Location

Surviving trenches very rarely survive to their original extent. Often, they will be significantly back-filled, silted up, or ploughed out by later farming activity. Please use some discretion when considering trenches as not every lump or bump in the landscape will be a trench. Again, documentary research is key to confirming the discovery of a trench.

Slit trench to the flanks of a pillbox. The parapet and parados still survive in good condition As with everything, practice makes perfect. You will eventually ‘get your eye in’ and will be able to identify potential trenches with some certainty.

Trenches will often be sited in close proximity to pillboxes (and other defences) to cover blind-spots in the arcs of fire and to protect the pillbox from incoming infantry attack. The moral of this is to not get distracted by the surviving concrete and spend time investigating the surrounding area.

Many trenches survive as low earthworks which are easily obscured by vegetation and high grass. You may sometimes feel surviving earthworks underfoot before you actually see them. So, be careful not to trip or twist your ankle! Winter and early Spring is often the best time to identify and record surviving fieldworks.

If you use Google Earth Pro it is possible to view 1940s aerial photographs covering much of Kent and Cambridgeshire.

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By scouring the Kent coastline, you will come across some obvious and pretty extensive trench systems. This guide shows you how to identify wartime defences using aerial photographs.

Substantial trench system overlooking a beach in Kent Doing this simple exercise will give you an idea where trenches were generally located in the Coastal Crust network. Diagnostic Features

Trenches tend to measure approximately 60cm (2ft) to 1m (6.5ft) in width, depending on their function. As mentioned earlier, the width and length of surviving trenches can vary considerably depending on current levels of preservation.

Slit trenches, fire trenches and communication trenches may retain their parapet and parados (the rear and forward protective earth banks) and traverses or dog-legs may still be visible.

In-situ revetment pickets are a great indicator of a surviving trench. These were used to shore up the sides of the trench. Everything from wooden board, wattle panels, and corrugated steel (Sometimes referred to as ‘wriggly tin’ or ‘expanded metal’) was used to revet the sides of the trenches to prevent collapse. Wooden revetment pickets and boards are unlikely to survive in-situ, but may be encountered if ground conditions are favourable.

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Trench Examples

Trench

Trench is a useful catch-all term for any trench you intend to record. This is best used to describe earthworks you can identify as an infantry trench but can’t ascribe to one of the more specific terms mentioned above.

Examples of re-purposed earthworks, such as field boundary ditches can also be included in this category. However, you will need additional evidence from documents or aerial photographs to confirm whether an existing earthwork was adapted to act as a trench during the war, so use some discretion when recording these features.

Period Trench example

A soldier of the 4th Battalion, The Royal Norfolk Regiment, mans a trench near a pillbox at Great Yarmouth, 31 July - 2 August 1940 © IWM (H 2702) -note the wooden revetment.

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Contemporary Trench example

Trench constructed from existing field boundary ditch. Aerial photographs of the area show this boundary ditch was improved to create a trench joining two defended localities. Fire Trench

The fire trench came into use during the First World War. This substantial fieldwork features a distinctive crenelated shape in plan, with regular traverses to reduce the effect of flanking machine gun fire and shell bursts. During the First World War, fire trenches would be incorporated into extensive trench systems, including multiple lines of fire trench joined by communication trenches. This formed defence in depth and was key to First World War trench warfare strategy.

Sections of crenelated fire trench continued in use during the Second World War but tended not to be developed into the larger defensive systems reminiscent of the First World War. First World War style trench systems had been constructed in France during the Phoney War, but it was soon realised that these elaborate trench networks were obsolete due to the German Army's combined arms strategy.

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Period fire trench example

Troops from the Royal Berkshire Regiment manning trenches near Mouchin, 29 November 1939 © IWM (O 415)- Note the fire step and fire bays Contemporary fire trench example

Traverse of a First World War era fire trench with 2m scale. This image illustrates the problem of photographing surviving earthworks in summer

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Communication Trench

This type of trench also came to prominence during the First World War. Used to connect two lengths of fire trench, this type of trench featured regular changes in direction to reduce the risk of shells bursting within the trench. Often approximately 60cm in width, with frequent changes in direction, creating an almost zig-zag effect.

Though rarely used during the Second World War to form elaborate trench systems capable of defence in depth, communication trenches were sometimes used to join one or more defended localities, or used as an actual fighting position.

Period communication trench example

Men of 1st Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders constructing trenches at Aix, 12 November 1939 © IWM (O 223)

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Contemporary communication trench example

Surviving communication trench on a First World War era training site Slit Trench

The slit trench is often found within the wartime defensive landscape. The slit trench was used extensively in the UK to form defended localities within the Coastal Crust, GHQ stop line and nodal points. I use 'slit trench' when recording relatively small trenches constructed to protect a Section up to a Platoon of infantry (8-28 soldiers).

Period slit trench example

An infantry section fire from a prepared sandbagged position during a training exercise, November 1939 © IWM (H 99) -Note this trench lacks any traverses as it was not employed in a defensive setting

Contemporary slit trench example

Well preserved slit trench for a Section of infantry. Not clear in the image, but this trench is 'S' shaped in plan (1m scale) Weapon Pit

Weapon pits, referred to as ‘Weapon Slits’ in the period training manuals, are simple trenches constructed to accommodate 2-3 soldiers.

Infantry Training Part VIII (1944) highlights three forms of weapon pit. These include-

I have encountered examples of the two-man and v-shaped weapon pit/slit visible in aerial photographs taken in March 1941, so these designs were used in the field prior to 1944.

Weapon pits are often referred to as ‘foxholes’, which is incorrect. Foxhole was a term used by the US Army from 1942 onwards and the was never officially used by the British Army at the time.

A foxhole was specifically for a single soldier, while it was standard doctrine for British weapon pits to accommodate two to three soldiers. By 1944 the US army adopted the two-soldier weapon pit doctrine as it increased morale and security (Bull, 2004).

Period two-man weapon pit/slit example

Universal carriers 'attack' men of 10th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment defending from slit trenches during training near Sudbury in Suffolk, 10 June 1942. © IWM (H 20535)- Note the way spoil from the pit has been spread around the position. This can act as an indicator of weapon pits on aerial photographs

Contemporary two-man weapon pit/slit example

Note the use of corrugated steel and angle iron pickets to revet this two-man weapon pit

Recording Considerations

Generally, trenches can be recorded using basic archaeological recording techniques. Our recording form can be used to create a basic record that can be submitted to the local Historic Environment Record.

You should aim to provide a grid reference (preferably to 10-figure accuracy), directions, site type and a description of the trench you are recording. Photographs and a simple sketch plan with dimensions can also prove very useful when recording trenches, helping to illustrate form and condition.

See our HER guide for further information.

This recording guide provides further information regarding archaeological recording practices (under construction). Over to You!

Please feel free to seek advice regarding identification at the UK Second World War Heritage Facebook page. Sources

Bull, S., 2004. World War II Infantry Tactics (1): Squad and Platoon. Osprey Publishing.

War Office, 1944. Infantry Training Part VIII. - Fieldcraft, Battle Drill, Section and Platoon Tactics