Chevaux de Frise

[Cliff. Hobson]

Two weeks ago I asked on the forum what Chevaux de Frise were, there were several replies even givng the history of these, Paul Reed (the expert) described them and said they were sometimes referred to as :Knife Rests". Wooden Frames strung with barbed wire.

Last week I managed to borrow the War History ( Capt.,W.C. Weetman M.C.) of the 1st/8th Sherwood Foresters, Quote Kemmel 1915, The barbed wire defences were very poor,-- Our entanglemnts conssited mainly of

" knife rests" these were made by the men of the Brigade Workshop at Kemmel. One Officer learnt a very practical lesson in their use from the enemy . He had some very carefully placed in position one night where he thought his wire was particularly weak but his spirits fell to zero the the following morning when looking over the top he saw his preciuos knife rests in position guarding the Boche trenches opposite.! from that time onwards the knife rests were securely fastened to each other and to the ground.

Cliff. Hobson

[Guest Hussar]

In a document that has recently come into my possession,

( Trench Warfare. A lecture by Captain Brownell, E.L.D ( Worcester Regt.) (Chief Instructor) , these items (knife rests) are described thus :-

" Obstacles of barbed wire, in appearance like knife-rests, are constructed behind the lines in Brigade workshops and carried into the front line trench. They consist of barbed wire attached to two cross-pieces, with a centre pole. They are rolled out in front of the line to form obstacles when the enemy's trenches are close in front and entanglements cannot be constructed in the usual way.

These would prove very effective obstacles to use at the forward end of the 40 yards straight between the first and second line trench. An island traverse could be constructed, and the obstacles, which could be kept in a recess in the wall, could be drawn out and placed in position by the men when retiring, if the enemy should break through the front line, or a special recess could be constructed without a traverse.

If piled several together, and especially if end-on, they would prove very effective barricades."