Yorkshire Trench & Dug-Out (1915-1917)

Hoeve Klein Zwaanhof

Kleine Poezelstraat 6
8904 Boezinge

DISCOVER MORE

In Flanders Fields Museum

Grote Markt 34
8900 Ieper

DISCOVER MORE

Throughout the Ypres Salient, the First World War is still present underground. During the construction of the industrial estate (1997-2005), more than 200 bodies were recovered in this area.

On this plot, well-preserved trench structures came to light and an association of amateur archaeologists (De Diggers) was able to descend into an underground shelter. They recorded their initial exploration on film.

The site turned out to be an untouched time capsule. The finds moved to the In Flanders Fields Museum and the city of Ypres was able to acquire the site.

A Franco-British trench was created in the aftermath of the Second Battle of Ypres (22 April - 25 May 1915). This was a narrow communication trench, single file to 'Irish Bridge', a footbridge over the canal. The course of this trench is indicated here as a shallow ditch.

In July 1916, a new trench was constructed and named "Yorkshire Trench", after the home region of the British 49th (West Riding) Division that served in this sector during the second half of 1915.

In the spring of 1917, a deep dugout was built out from this trench at a depth of 10 metres. This served as a battalion headquarters for two battalions of the 38th (Welsh) Division. From here they launched the attack on Pilkem on 31 July 1917 (start of the Third Battle of Ypres).

The first trenches were shallow and often flooded due to the Ypres clay layer. Duck-boards sank into the mud. Heavy rainfall only made conditions worse.

From 1916 onwards, a new construction method provided a solution: duckboards were henceforth laid on top of A-frames. The space underneath provided drainage. The new trench was constructed according to this method.

In the grass, the corridors and chambers of the dug-out are indicated by dolomite surfaces. The front chamber is located under the current road.

Within the contours of the archaeological survey plan, British cartoonist Dave Chisholm sketched a vivid picture of life underground.

Around 180 such dugouts were built in the Ypres Salient. To keep them dry in the wet soil, pumping had to be done continuously. After the successful attack of 31 July 1917, the pumps here were left unmanned and the dugout filled up with water. Thus, the entire installation was salvaged underground.

In the entire Ypres area, this site is historically and archaeologically unique. At the same time, the trench and dugout entrances are very fragile: the structure was never meant to survive for decades.

The lowering of the groundwater table and exposure to air have caused most of the original oak to rot away.

In 2023, the top part of the stairs giving access to the dugout were completely renewed. Pending a thorough restoration of the entire trench, the most vulnerable sections were filled with sand.