7360 Report on First World War fieldworks in England

Tender description

During the 20th century as the firepower of modern armies increased exponentially through the deployment of powerful, mass produced artillery, machine guns, and rifles fieldworks were recognised as one of the most effective means of protecting troops. The trench became synonymous with the First World War’s Western Front. At home the digging of trenches became an important part of infantry training, a place to develop new tactics and to rehearse for future battles. Training trenches were rarely recorded in official documents, yet many are identified as archaeological crop marks and earthworks, and are one of the most numerous First World War monument types. They are monuments to the men who trained in them and reflect the often unappreciated efforts to prepare troops for new kinds of warfare. For those unable to visit the continent they are a valuable educational resource. During the First World War there was also a fear that the Germans might invade or attack key coastal installations. To guard against this threat elaborate defensive lines were prepared, notably in Kent and around London in Essex and Surrey. Most defended ports, such as, Dover and Portland, were also provided with landward defensive perimeters. Despite the majority of trenches being filled after the war many survive as archaeological features. Through archival research and synthesis of previous archaeological surveys this project will identify the most significant First World War fieldworks in England, provide an illustrated type series for their identification, and describe their evolution. The project is being undertaken as part of Historic England’s contribution to the First War World War centennial commemorations. This aims to improve the understanding of the impact of the war on the Home Front and to ensure that key places are protected.