ISBN: 1 86227 237 9 Hardback, 304 pp £25
Published by Spellmount Ltd.
The result of over 25 years of research, this book pays a fulsome and fitting
tribute to those men who served as tunnelers and sappers during the Great War
and as a memorial to the 1, 516 who lost their lives.
The reader is guided through the development of military mining and sapping
throughout history, from ancient times up to the Great War. The evolution of
the Royal Engineers is explained and the scene is ably set for the outbreak of
the war, and the myriad changes and challenges that would be faced by this new
type of warfare.
The complex geology of the Ypres Salient and the problems it gave the miners
are amply illustrated by excellent diagrams and maps, and first hand accounts.
The book shows how various methods were developed to cope with the vagaries of
the terrain, and how the Allied miners coped better with the conditions.
That the British were able to progress so well was largely due to the dynamic
personality and driving force of John Norton-Griffiths, who rapidly realised
the importance of mining and tunnelling, and forced the War Office to recruit
Clay Kickers, men who usually worked in civilian sewer construction as “Moles”.
The horrific conditions that the men worked under in constructing mines and
tunnels, and the sheer terror of the process is conveyed well, again using
first hand accounts. The prospect of sudden death through collapse, the enemy
blowing a camouflet charge, gas, shell fire on the surface, or hand to hand
fighting where enemy galleries were penetrated, was ever present.
The Messines offensive launched on June 7th, 1917, was the climax of the
tunnelers work. The mines which exploded that day, changing the geography of
the ridge, were the result of many months hard toil. Many had been ready for
some time, and the effort involved in keeping them viable is fascinating.
Others were ready literally at the last minute. The descriptions of the
explosions are exciting and terrifying at the same time.
After Messines, mine warfare petered out, and the construction of dugout
systems became paramount. The final chapter deals with the modern day effects
of these dugouts and tunnels which lie below the surface of
This is a fascinating book lavishly illustrated with excellent quality
photoraphs, covering a huge subject, which until recently, has been little
covered. Highly recommended.
Reviewer - Michelle Young
