Trench Maps

[Bantamenace]

Hi

Having recently studied a trench map of the Somme, i noticed a few indications on the map which said 'Sap 1' & 'Sap 2'. Anybody any ideas what these mean?

Cheers

Dave

[Desmond7]

Sap - an 'extension' of a trench. Think of a trench as an artery with a sap like a vein probing out towards enemy lines. Often had listening posts etc in them.

Kinda rough description but there you go!

Sap/Sappers etc

[shaymen]

Short trenches called saps were dug from the front-trench into No-Man's Land. The sap-head, usually about 30 yards forward of the front-line, were also used as listening posts.

I think !!

Glyn

Beaten by the expert by 2 mins !!

[Desmond7]

Careful who yer calling expert!

[Marty]

Saps were often used to extend current trench lines. Seperate saps were driven out into no man's land, the heads of each sap were then connected forming a new line. This was used to close the distance between opposing trenches and to create new front lines in the safest possible manner as just going out to dig a new line would have resulted in heavy losses.

The Germans used this method in a number of places on the Somme in 1915.

Marty

[John S]

Sap - an 'extension' of a trench.

Sap/Sappers etc

Trenches weren't dug solely by the engineers so why were the RE's called 'sappers'?

Regards

John

[Desmond7]

The Royal Engineers trace their origins back to the military engineers brought to England by William the Conqueror and claim over 900 years of unbroken service to the crown. Engineers have always served in the armies of the Crown, however the origins of the modern corps, along with those of the Royal Artillery, lie in the Board of Ordnance established in the 15th century. In 1717, the Board established a Corps of Engineers, consisting entirely of commissioned officers. The hard work was done by the Artificer Companies, made up of contracted civilian artisans and labourers. In 1782, a Soldier Artificer Company was established for service in Gibraltar, and this was the first instance of non-commissioned military engineers. In 1787, the Corps of Engineers was granted the Royal prefix and adopted its current name and in the same year a Corps of Royal Military Artificers was formed, consisting of non-commissioned officers and privates, to be officered by the RE. Ten years later the Gibraltar company, which had remained separate, was absorbed and in 1812 the name was changed to the Corps of Royal Sappers and Miners.

In 1855 the Board of Ordnance was abolished and authority over the Royal Engineers, Royal Sappers and Miners and Royal Artillery was transferred to the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces, thus uniting them with the rest of the Army. The following year, the Royal Engineers and Royal Sappers and Miners became a unified corps as the Corps of Royal Engineers. In 1862 the corps also absorbed the British officers and men of the engineer corps of the East India Company.

The Corps has no battle honours, but its motto Ubique (Everywhere), awarded by King William IV in 1832, signifies that it has seen action in all the major conflicts of the British Army. A second motto is Quo Fas et Gloria ducunt (Where right and glory lead).

[edwin astill]

I've come across references to 'Russian Saps', where (from what I can gather) tunnels were dug close to the surface and had explosives placed inside. The charge would be set off at the appropriate moment to remove the tunnel 'roof' and - hey presto - you have a sap.

Edwin Astill