|
Trench warfare can be separated into their two words to determine the general meaning. The word trench means a long excavation in the ground, and the word warfare means the process of a military struggle between two opposing sides; war. When we put these two words and their meanings together, the words trench warfare mean a military combat in which both sides have a system of protective trenches.
The trenches that the AIF occupied were divided into three main sections; the front line, the support line, and the reserve line. Some of the trenches were dug in a zigzag pattern so that if a soldier from the opposing army were to get into the trenches, they couldn’t shoot down a whole trench of men.
The front line was the first line of defence and was the main danger zone within the trenches, as it was the place where the troops fired back upon the enemy's imposing attack. Many people died in the front line from various things ranging from bullet wounds to gas attacks, and many new troops did not survive longer than a week.
The support line was the second line of defence, meaning that if the enemy were to successfully capture the front line, then the troops could fight back from the support line. The support line was also where the troops retreated to so that they could attempt to sleep or rest. This was the only place they could go after their shift on the front line was over.
The reserve line was the last line of defence between France and Britain and was the only thing stopping the enemy from invading their countries if the front and support lines failed. The reserve line was also where all the supplies (food, clothing, medicine) and reinforcements were kept.
The middle ground between the two opposing trenches was known as ‘No Man’s Land'. It was known as this because it was the most dangerous place in the battle, and with little to no cover, any troops that went out into ‘No Man’s Land’ were killed rather quickly by the opposing side’s snipers. Travelling across No Man's Land was made difficult by the many obstacles such as barbed wire and ditches, which became the reason that many men could not cross 'No Man's Land'.