Zero Hour: Historical Note on the British Underground War in Flanders, 1915–1917

Abstract

This note reviews the work of the Tunnelling Companies of the British Royal Engineers in developing mine warfare in Flanders from 1915–1917, culminating in the Battle of Messines in June 1917. Mine warfare had been carried out by both sides for some time, but the detonation of 19 mines in opening the Messines offensive is arguably the pre-eminent example of the use of mine warfare. The note examines in turn the developments leading to Messines, including: the explosives used — gun powder, gun cotton and ammonal; the construction and design of mine chambers; the importance of the closure (tamping) of these chambers; the methods of preparing detonators; the effect of the explosions themselves; and finally the form of the craters.