The Western Front Today - Dixmude Trenches of Death
Located in Dixmude the 'Trenches of Death' comprise preserved trenches featuring galleries, shelters, firesteps, chicanes, concrete duckboards and concrete sandbags.
Together they give a fair impression of the makeup of trenches during the First World War - that is, notably leaving aside the quiet, serene nature of the trenches as they appear today.
The Dixmude trenches were in fact held by the Belgians for over four years during the Battles of the Yser against determined German forces (often ranged just 100 yards away), hence their grim name.
A Demarcation Stone was unveiled at this site - representing Belgian determination, resistance and heroism - on Easter Sunday 1922 by King Albert amid a sizeable gathering including many former veterans of the struggles which had occurred there during wartime.
Film Footage of the Trenches of Death (1)
Film Footage of the Trenches of Death (2)
References:
Before Endeavours Fade, Rose E.B. Coombs, After the Battle 1994
Major & Mrs Holt's Battlefield Guide - Somme, Leo Cooper 2000
A 'corkscrew' was a metal post for supporting a wire entanglement, with a twisted base enabling it to be screwed into the ground, removing the need for a hammer, the use of which could attract enemy fire.
- Did you know?
