ss002d6252 Posted 23 September , 2012 Share Posted 23 September , 2012 Does anyone have any idea as to the exact location of 'The Russian' in respect of the trenches near Houplines. On 9th Oct 1915 the diary states 'A patrol consisting of Corporal Moyle and Privates Coglan, Pybus, Brown and Fairhurst , all of W company went out at midnight, called at the listening post of 83 trench and went on to find the left listening post of 82 trench but were have not been seen since. It is likely that they walked in to the German trenches up the “Russian” thinking they were returning to their own trench.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EDWARD1 Posted 23 September , 2012 Share Posted 23 September , 2012 There are two Russian Saps on the NA British Trench Maps DVD at 36cNW1 G4b & 36cSW1 M5c. 81,82,83 trenches were in 36NW2(s) Apr 16 at C23c&C29a Eddie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss002d6252 Posted 23 September , 2012 Author Share Posted 23 September , 2012 There are two Russian Saps on the NA British Trench Maps DVD at 36cNW1 G4b & 36cSW1 M5c. 81,82,83 trenches were in 36NW2(s) Apr 16 at C23c&C29a Thanks. Do you know how far the nearest one would be from 83 trench ?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EDWARD1 Posted 24 September , 2012 Share Posted 24 September , 2012 Dont think these are the Russian mentioned as the nearest to 83 is aprox 7miles SW. Eddie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin spof Posted 24 September , 2012 Admin Share Posted 24 September , 2012 It is probably a Russian sap rather than a trench. It may be shown in Engineers diaries but the ones I've seen are fairly sparse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 24 September , 2012 Share Posted 24 September , 2012 It is probably a Russian sap rather than a trench. It may be shown in Engineers diaries but the ones I've seen are fairly sparse. A sap is a trench (albeit one directed towards the enemy rather than in parallel) and a russian sap is a covered trench Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss002d6252 Posted 24 September , 2012 Author Share Posted 24 September , 2012 Thanks. It appears that it may be one that didn't appear on a map but presumably no mans land was probably full of various trench sections. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 24 September , 2012 Share Posted 24 September , 2012 Saps were often driven into no mans land to establish listening posts at their end. Some times they would be jumping off points for trench raids. They could also be used defensively to establish forward machine gun posts to enfilade any attack. So as not to act as a finger pointing to the listening post, jump off, machine gun post etc on aerial observations it would not be unusual for them to be camouflaged by being covered (russian saps). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 24 September , 2012 Share Posted 24 September , 2012 This illustrates how saps were thrown into nomansland. Note how the forward traverse can provide covering fire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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