Simon Jones Posted 3 July , 2016 Share Posted 3 July , 2016 For the centenary I have posted a detailed account of the digging and impact of the mine, based on many years of research into underground warfare at La Boisselle. The link is here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fattyowls Posted 3 July , 2016 Share Posted 3 July , 2016 Simon Many thanks for this; I've had a quick scan of it and I will be sitting down to read it properly later. It looks fantastic in it's detail. Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigelS Posted 3 July , 2016 Share Posted 3 July , 2016 Yes, many thanks Simon, a very interesting read. NigelS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frajohn Posted 3 July , 2016 Share Posted 3 July , 2016 Thank you Simon for sharing this article, it looks extremely interesting. Kind regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cullbaggie Posted 3 July , 2016 Share Posted 3 July , 2016 well worth half an hour of time -good read Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knotty Posted 3 July , 2016 Share Posted 3 July , 2016 As echoed above. A very interesting read, as cullbaggie said it was worth the half hour. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 3 July , 2016 Share Posted 3 July , 2016 Splendid account, Simon. Many thanks for sharing it. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 4 July , 2016 Share Posted 4 July , 2016 Started to read and will continue later - well written, informative, and well referenced. I greatly appreciated the annotated aerials. Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Jones Posted 4 July , 2016 Author Share Posted 4 July , 2016 Thanks to all for your comments. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towisuk Posted 4 July , 2016 Share Posted 4 July , 2016 Just another one thanking you for an excellent article Simon, much appreciated ..... best regards Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonrb Posted 4 July , 2016 Share Posted 4 July , 2016 Excellent article, thanks for sharing it. Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy 60th Posted 4 July , 2016 Share Posted 4 July , 2016 A really good and informative article. Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sly Posted 5 July , 2016 Share Posted 5 July , 2016 Merci Simon ! Sly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 5 July , 2016 Share Posted 5 July , 2016 On 7/4/2016 at 08:43, trajan said: Started to read and will continue later - well written, informative, and well referenced. I greatly appreciated the annotated aerials. And finished it! Very enjoyable and very informative. I had simply no idea about the extent of the mining operations in F&F until I read Lucas' book on the Saxons, and that was an eye-opener, with your piece filling out even more on a much more significant operation. One question, though - what is a 'Russian' sap? Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Jones Posted 5 July , 2016 Author Share Posted 5 July , 2016 Many thanks Julian, much appreciated! I briefly define Russian Saps in the article as: '...shallow tunnels across no man’s land... intended as mortar or machine gun positions and to enable re-supply once the German front line had been captured.' There is a much more detailed discussion of their use throughout the war in Underground Warfare 1914-1918 where I devote a chapter to tunnels and infantry attacks. Regards Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 5 July , 2016 Share Posted 5 July , 2016 37 minutes ago, Simon Jones said: I briefly define Russian Saps in the article as: '...shallow tunnels across no man’s land... intended as mortar or machine gun positions and to enable re-supply once the German front line had been captured.' Thanks - my bad phrasing at fault here as what I was really wondering why they were so-called? My interest stems in part from some research I am currently doing on contemporary plans from the Russian military archive that show a 1790's Russian sapping (as in 'trenching', with saps) and associated mining attack on an Ottoman fortress on the Dniester... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Jones Posted 5 July , 2016 Author Share Posted 5 July , 2016 The British term comes from the French 'sape russe' but I've found no usage of it in either language before 1915, or an explanation of why they were so named. The French tend to use it to mean a shallow tunnel which doesn't need support, whereas the British usage refers more specifically to a shallow tunnel run beneath no man's land, i.e. a buried or blinded sap. It sounds like it should originate with the Crimean or Russo-Japanese wars but a search in Gallica doesn't show it in use before WW1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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