Monday, 26 January 2015

Redoubt Work


Tuesday 26th January 1915: Since 17th January the 1st Field Company, East Anglian Royal Engineers, attached to 2nd Division, have been constructing redoubts at Festubert. This area is very flat and our defences can only be improved by constructing what amounts to a fortress of trenches, barbed wire and concrete emplacements.

Unusually, the engineers have been helped by French civilians. The local inhabitants have been providing much of the labour under the engineers’ instructions. They are providing an intermediate line of trenches between the front line and reserve line to help soak up any German attack as the enemy has shown himself aggressive in this locality.

Source: War Diary of 1st Field Company, East Anglian Royal Engineers at The National Archives [WO95/1332/1]

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