river6 Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Help! For a WW1 Trench project. Does anybody have the dimensions for a length of Ducboarding as used in the trenches of WW1, I need to know what was the standard length, width and the size of the timbers also the width, thickness and spacing of the cross timbers. I know some duckboards have been taken out of some excavated trenches near Ypres but don't have any measurements. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzkpfw-e Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 These are displayed at Varlet Farm. http://www.varletfarm.com/en/index.htm They don't look "standardised" to me, more like "Get some wood & make duckboards for these trenches" The Sappers would thus get wood of the right size, give or take, saw to fit & nail together. What's your local timbermerchant got? Just eyeballing them, I'd say the struts are 4" square, the slats 1.5" thick 4" wide 18-20" long. 6 foot lengths? Couple of lucky souls carrying them. This bloke's probably your best source of info. http://www.warhistoryonline.com/articles/24hr-trench-mark-barnes-spends-the-day-with-the-author-andy-robertshaw.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
river6 Posted January 21, 2014 Author Share Posted January 21, 2014 These are displayed at Varlet Farm. http://www.varletfarm.com/en/index.htm They don't look "standardised" to me, more like "Get some wood & make duckboards for these trenches" The Sappers would thus get wood of the right size, give or take, saw to fit & nail together. What's your local timbermerchant got? Just eyeballing them, I'd say the struts are 4" square, the slats 1.5" thick 4" wide 18-20" long. 6 foot lengths? Couple of lucky souls carrying them. This bloke's probably your best source of info. http://www.warhistoryonline.com/articles/24hr-trench-mark-barnes-spends-the-day-with-the-author-andy-robertshaw.html Hi, Thanks for the info. I think you're right - knocked up from what was around. I'll go down to the sawmill at the weekend and see what I can find All the best Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woa2 Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Just to save a bit of money, how about using old pallets for a source of wood? Might be OK for the slats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon_M Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Made using the 'anything that comes to hand' principle. I'd guess that some, at least, were just made up from the remains of supply crates or whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzkpfw-e Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I think the slats are a bit more substantial than packing crate material. They'd need to solidly support a man (with his hobnail boots), plus his kit & carrying heaven knows what else. Trench mortar, Vickers MG, ammo, rations. So they'd need to be solid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 (edited) Without checking, I think the duckboars and revetting were produced, behind the lines by Chinise workers. The trench dimensions were supposedley standard so the duck boards would have been the same. Remeber that they were mounted on an inveted A frame so that , in theory, water would run underneath. http://www.1914-1918.net/intrenches.htm Edited January 22, 2014 by Tony B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
river6 Posted January 23, 2014 Author Share Posted January 23, 2014 Just to save a bit of money, how about using old pallets for a source of wood? Might be OK for the slats. Good suggestion Robert. I'll check out our local Pallet re-cycler. Thanks Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatchFuzee Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 I don't know the dimensions of the duckboards but these links may be able to help you:- http://andyrobertshaw.com/ http://staffordshireregimentmuseum.com/ http://www.greatwar.co.uk/ http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/national-centre-great-war-plans-2345411 http://www.birminghampals.co.uk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
river6 Posted January 26, 2014 Author Share Posted January 26, 2014 I don't know the dimensions of the duckboards but these links may be able to help you:- http://andyrobertshaw.com/ http://staffordshireregimentmuseum.com/ http://www.greatwar.co.uk/ http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/national-centre-great-war-plans-2345411 http://www.birminghampals.co.uk/ Thanks for the information Guy. Andy Robertshaw and Staffordshire look to be best bet. I'll keep you informed of progress. Bill:-):-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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