How many died at Lochnagar Crater?
At Mash Valley, the attackers lost 5,100 men before noon and at Sausage Valley near the crater of the Lochnagar mine, there were over 6,000 casualties, the highest concentration on the battlefield.
Why is it called Lochnagar Crater?
The British named the mine after ‘Lochnagar Street’, a British trench where the Tunnelling Companies of the Royal Engineers dug a shaft down about 90 feet deep into the chalk; then excavated some 300 yards towards the German lines to place 60,000 lbs (27 tons) of ammonal explosive in two large adjacent underground …
What were clay kickers?
Their technique – known as “clay kicking” or “working on the cross” – involved a man sitting with his back supported against a wooden rest (the cross) and pushing a small, razor-sharp spade-like implement (a grafting tool) into the clay face before him. It was not only quick and efficient, but quiet.
Are there still trenches from World War 1?
A few of these places are private or public sites with original or reconstructed trenches preserved as a museum or memorial. Nevertheless, there are still remains of trenches to be found in remote parts of the battlefields such as the woods of the Argonne, Verdun and the mountains of the Vosges.
Why were Tunnelers so respected?
They have earned the thanks of the whole Army for their contributions to the defeat of the enemy. Their fighting spirit and technical efficiency has enhanced the reputation of the whole Corps of Royal Engineers.
What is the Lochnagar Crater Memorial?
The Lochnagar Crater Memorial is privately owned. No profit has ever, or will ever, be made from the site of Lochnagar Crater. The upkeep of the site is totally dependant on private funding and donations. Looking across the diameter of Lochnagar Crater from south-east to north-west. The wooden cross was placed at the crater in 1986.
What was the Lochnagar mine in WW1?
The Lochnagar mine south of the village of La Boisselle in the Somme département was an underground explosive charge, secretly planted by the British during the First World War, ready for 1 July 1916, the first day on the Somme. The mine was dug by the Tunnelling Companies of the Royal Engineers under a German field…
What was the charge at Lochnagar?
The charge at Lochnagar was one of 19 mines that were dug under the German lines on the British section of the Somme front, to assist the infantry advance at the start of the battle. The mine was sprung at 7:28 a.m. on 1 July 1916 and left a crater 98 ft (30 m) deep and 330 ft (100 m) wide, which was captured and held by British troops.
What is the largest mine crater on the Western Front?
The Lochnagar mine crater on the 1916 Somme battlefields in France is the largest man-made mine crater created in the First World War on the Western Front.