Cliff. Hobson Posted 20 June , 2003 Share Posted 20 June , 2003 I came across the above in the war history of the 1st Bn. Sherwood Foresters, " B" Company managed to get within 40 yards of the German wire; this however had been cut in one place only where there was a gap some four yards wide, but it was noticed that in several places the CHEVAUX DE FRISE were sunk and so had escaped injury." What is, was, chevaux de frise, The nearest I can get is curly haired horses. Cliff. Hobson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 20 June , 2003 Share Posted 20 June , 2003 They were moveable barbed wire entanglements. They were often referred to as 'knife rests' by British soldiers - there is a thread somewhere else about this. Basically they were two cross sections of wood with a strut between them with wire strung round thus: x----x Sometimes the design varied. They could be moved about, used to block gaps in the wire etc and in soft mud would sink - as per your account. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff. Hobson Posted 21 June , 2003 Author Share Posted 21 June , 2003 Paul, Thank you for your help, I don't think I could have worked it out, one could not think of barbed wire receiving injury. Regards, Cliff. Hobson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 21 June , 2003 Share Posted 21 June , 2003 Cliff Whilst Paul is quite correct with his description of the chevaux-de-frise, the term existed well before WW1. Originally this was an anti-cavalry device. The cross member would be studded with broken sword blades or custom made metal spikes. Terry Reeves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 21 June , 2003 Share Posted 21 June , 2003 Indeed, I am sure I have seen photos of similar devices being used in the American Civil War? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROONAERT Posted 21 June , 2003 Share Posted 21 June , 2003 Indeed, I am sure I have seen photos of similar devices being used in the American Civil War? Quite right, Paul. Mainly (though not exclusively) used in Confederate defences. Here's a photo of some from this period.... dave PS. they were also known as "Spanish Riders". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger Posted 22 June , 2003 Share Posted 22 June , 2003 These were also used during the Napoleonic wars (and probably before and since.) as an improvised defence in breeches made by siege artillery in fortress walls. Roger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Steve Seaman Posted 22 June , 2003 Share Posted 22 June , 2003 Cliff Re Knife rests, If you look in the new to this forum section , there is a thread entitled Trenches, which has some info . Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedley Malloch Posted 22 June , 2003 Share Posted 22 June , 2003 I have a post-card of French soldiers with some chevaux de frise: see below (I hope this works) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROONAERT Posted 22 June , 2003 Share Posted 22 June , 2003 I think it's still possible to see WW1 period Chevaux de Frise in situ. on the Butte de Vauquois. At least it was on my last visit there (roughly 7 years ago). Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
182 CEF Posted 23 June , 2003 Share Posted 23 June , 2003 During the Civil War the Americans called them " Sheep racks" Dean Owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 25 June , 2003 Share Posted 25 June , 2003 I think it's still possible to see WW1 period Chevaux de Frise in situ. on the Butte de Vauquois. At least it was on my last visit there (roughly 7 years ago). Dave. Yes, quite true. They are still there; I have also found them in the forests of Verdun at various points over the years, and there used to be some near Navarin Farm in the Champagne, and at Fort La Pompelle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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