Military Wiki
in: Articles containing German-language text, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, 1917 in Belgium,
and 7 more

Mines in the Battle of Messines (1917)

Sign in to edit
Main article: Battle of Messines (1917)

The Mines in the Battle of Messines comprised a series of mines built near the village of Messines in Belgian West Flanders during the First World War. At the start of the Battle of Messines (7–14 June 1917), a series of mines was detonated beneath German lines, creating 19 large craters. The joint explosion of the mines in the Battle of Messines ranks among the largest non-nuclear explosions of all time. The evening before the attack, General Sir Charles Harington remarked to the press, "Gentlemen, we may not make history tomorrow, but we shall certainly change the geography."[1]

Background[]

As part of the allied operations in the Ypres Salient, the British had begun a mining offensive against the German-held Wijtschate (sic) salient in 1916. Sub-surface conditions were especially complex and separate ground water tables made mining difficult. To overcome the technical difficulties, two military geologists assisted the miners from March 1916, including Edgeworth David, who planned the system of mines.[2][3]

Co-ordinated by tunnelling companies of the Royal Engineers, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and British miners dug a line of mines charged with a total of 447 long tons (454 t) of ammonal explosive.[4] Sappers dug the tunnels into a layer of "blue clay" 80–120 feet (24–37 m) below the surface, then drifted galleries (horizontal passages in underground mines) for 5,964 yards (5,453 m) to points beneath the position of Gruppe Wytschaete, despite German counter-mining.[4][5] German tunnellers often came within metres of several British mine chambers. Before the Battle of Messines, German counter-mining troops found the Petit Douve Farm mine and wrecked the chamber with a camouflet.[6] The British diverted the attention of German miners from their deepest galleries, by making many secondary attacks in the upper levels.[7]

In preparation of the Battle of Messines, two mines were laid at Hill 60 on the northern flank, one at St Eloi, three at Hollandscheschur Farm, two at Petit Bois, single mines at Maedelstede Farm, Peckham House and Spanbroekmolen, four at Kruisstraat, one at Ontario Farm and two each at Trenches 127 and 122 on the southern flank.[8][9] The largest single mines were at St Eloi, which was charged with 95,600 pounds (43,400 kg) of ammonal, at Maedelstede Farm, which was charged with 94,000 pounds (43,000 kg), and beneath German lines at Spanbroekmolen, which was charged with 91,000 pounds (41,000 kg) of ammonal. The Spanbroekmolen mine was set 88 feet (27 m) below ground, at the end of a gallery 1,710 feet (520 m) long. When detonated on 7 June 1917, the blast formed the "Lone Tree Crater" with a diameter of 250 feet (76 m) and a depth of 40 feet (12 m).[10] By contrast, the mine at Ontario Farm did not produce a crater but only left a shallow indentation in the soft clay.[11][12] Six more mines were prepared, but not fired in the event: four on the extreme southern flank (Birdcage 1–4) were not required because the ridge fell so quickly, Peckham 2 was abandoned due to a tunnel collapse, and the mine at Petit Douve Farm (see above) was lost to a German counter-mining attack.[9]

List of mines[]

No. Name /
Location 		Explosive
charge[13] 		Tunnel
length[13] 		Depth[13] Construction
start 		Construction
end[13] 		Fate Notes
1 Hill 60 53,500 pounds (24,300 kg) 7002354000000000000354 m 700130000000000000030 m 22 August 1915 1 August 1916 fired on 7 June 1917 Also known as „Hill 60 A“; shared gallery with Caterpillar. The gallery was started in summer 1915 as one of the first allied mines at Ypres and known as Berlin Tunnel. By June 1917, the mine consisted of a main gallery leading to two separate mine chambers (Hill 60 A und Hill 60 B).[14]

aerial view

2 Caterpillar 70,000 pounds (32,000 kg) 7002427000000000000427 m 700133000000000000033 m 22 August 1915 18 October 1916 fired on 7 June 1917 Also known as „Hill 60 B“. The mine consisted of one gallery (Berlin Tunnel) leading to two separate mine chambers (Hill 60 A and Hill 60 B).[14]
aerial view, photo
3 St Eloi 95,600 pounds (43,400 kg) 7002408000000000000408 m 700142000000000000042 m 16 August 1915 11 June 1916 fired on 7 June 1917 Largest single detonation during the Battle of Messines.[15] Located next to double crater dating from 1916.[12]
aerial view of all 3 craters
4 Hollandscheschur Farm 1 34,200 pounds (15,500 kg) 7002251000000000000251 m 700120000000000000020 m 18 December 1915 20 June 1916 fired on 7 June 1917 Located around the German strong point Günther, near the Bayernwald trenches between Wijtschate and Voormezele. The mine consisted of three mine chambers (Hollandscheschur Farm 1, 2 and 3) and a shared gallery.[15]
aerial view 1, aerial view 2
5 Hollandscheschur Farm 2 14,900 pounds (6,800 kg) 7002137000000000000137 m 700118000000000000018 m 18 December 1915 11 July 1916 fired on 7 June 1917 Located around the German strong point Günther, near the Bayernwald trenches between Wijtschate and Voormezele. The mine consisted of three mine chambers (Hollandscheschur Farm 1, 2 and 3) and a shared gallery.[15]
aerial view 1, aerial view 2
6 Hollandscheschur Farm 3 17,500 pounds (7,900 kg) 7002244000000000000244 m 700118000000000000018 m 18 December 1915 20 August 1916 fired on 7 June 1917 Located around the German strong point Günther, near the Bayernwald trenches between Wijtschate and Voormezele. The mine consisted of three mine chambers (Hollandscheschur Farm 1, 2 and 3) and a shared gallery.[15]
aerial view 1, aerial view 2
7 Petit Bois 1 30,000 pounds (14,000 kg) 7002616000000000000616 m 700119000000000000019 m 16 December 1915 30 July 1916 fired on 7 June 1917 Located west of Wijtschate. The mine consisted of two mine chambers (Petit Bois 1 and 2) and a shared gallery.[15]
aerial view of the double crater
8 Petit Bois 2 30,000 pounds (14,000 kg) 7002631000000000000631 m 700123000000000000023 m 16 December 1915 15 August 1916 fired on 7 June 1917 Located west of Wijtschate. The mine consisted of two mine chambers (Petit Bois 1 and 2) and a shared gallery.[15]
aerial view of the double crater
9 Maedelstede Farm 94,000 pounds (43,000 kg) 7002518000000000000518 m 700133000000000000033 m 3 September 1916 2 June 1917 fired on 7 June 1917 Located west of Wijtschate. The mine was planned as gallery with two mine chambers (Wytschaete Wood and Maedelstede Farm), lack of time prevented the former from being finished and all effort was concentrated the latter.[16][12]
aerial view
10 Peckham 1 87,000 pounds (39,000 kg) 7002349000000000000349 m 700123000000000000023 m 20 December 1915 19 June 1916 fired on 7 June 1917 The mine consisted of two mine chambers (Peckham 1 and 2) and a shared gallery, of which Peckham 1 was actually fired during the battle.[16] King George V visited the crater in July 1917.[11]
photo
11 Peckham 2 20,000 pounds (9,100 kg) 7002122000000000000122 m 700123000000000000023 m 20 December 1915 December 1916 abandoned after tunnel flooded Located under a farm building.[9][12] The mine consisted of two mine chambers (Peckham 1, 2) and one shared gallery, of which Peckham 2 was abandoned after the tunnel flooded.[16]
12 Spanbroekmolen 91,000 pounds (41,000 kg) 7002521000000000000521 m 700129000000000000029 m 1 January 1916 26 June 1916 fired on 7 June 1917 Discovered by German troops in February 1917, later reclaimed and fired in the Battle of Messines.[11] Also known as Lone Tree Crater;[12] acquired in 1929 by the Toc H foundation in Poperinge, today used as Pool of Peace memorial.[11][17]
photo
13 Kruisstraat 1 30,000 pounds (14,000 kg) 7002492000000000000492 m 700119000000000000019 m 2 January 1916 5. July 1916 fired on 7 June 1917 Shared gallery with Kruisstraat 4, fired together.[12][18] Building preparations for a two chamber mine started in December 1915. The first charge (Kruisstraat 1) was placed at the end of a 538 yards (492 m) long gallery, the second (Kruisstraat 2) some 55 yards (50 m) to its right. A third charge (Kruisstraat 3) was added two months later and a fourth (Kruisstraat 4) in 1917. Of the four explosion craters, two remain. These seem to have been caused by the first and the second charge.[19][20]
Photos of the double crater: photo 1, photo 2, photo 3
14 Kruisstraat 2 30,000 pounds (14,000 kg) 7002451000000000000451 m 700121000000000000021 m 2 January 1916 23 August 1916 fired on 7 June 1917 Building preparations for a two chamber mine started in December 1915. The first charge (Kruisstraat 1) was placed at the end of a 538 yards (492 m) long gallery, the second (Kruisstraat 2) some 55 yards (50 m) to its right. A third charge (Kruisstraat 3) was added two months later, a fourth (Kruisstraat 4) in 1917. Of the four explosion craters, two remain. These seem to have been caused by the first and the second charge.[19][20]
Photos of the double crater: photo 1, photo 2, photo 3
15 Kruisstraat 3 30,000 pounds (14,000 kg) 7002658000000000000658 m 700117000000000000017 m 2 January 1916 23 August 1916 fired on 7 June 1917 For description, see above. Kruisstraat 3 had the longest gallery of the mines at Messines.
16 Kruisstraat 4 19,500 pounds (8,800 kg) 7002492000000000000492 m 700119000000000000019 m February 1917 5 July 1917 fired on 7 June 1917 Shared gallery with Kruisstraat 1, fired together.[12][18]
17 Ontario Farm 60,000 pounds (27,000 kg) 7002392000000000000392 m 700134000000000000034 m 28 January 1917 6 June 1917 fired on 7 June 1917 Located west of Mesen. When fired, the mine did not produce a crater but left a shallow indentation in the soft clay.[11][12]
18 Petit Douve Farm 50,000 pounds (23,000 kg) 7002518000000000000518 m 700123000000000000023 m 28 January 1916 finished abandoned after discovery by Germans Located under the barn of the farm La Basse Cour.[9] The mine was discovered by German troops on 24 August 1916, then flooded and abandoned.[11][12][21]
19 Trench 127 Left 36,000 pounds (16,000 kg) 7002302000000000000302 m 700125000000000000025 m 28 December 1915 20 April 1916 fired on 7 June 1917 Located east of St. Yvon/St. Yves, also known as Trench 127 North. The crater was filled in with building spoils in the later part of the 20th century and is no longer visible.[22] It was located in a field near the Khaki Chums Cross memorial.[23]
20 Trench 127 Right 50,000 pounds (23,000 kg) 7002405000000000000405 m 700126000000000000026 m 28 December 1915 9 Mail 1916 fired on 7 June 1917 Located east of St. Yvon/St. Yves, also known as Trench 127 South or Ash Crater.[24] It is in a field near the Khaki Chums Cross memorial but has been partly filled in.[25][12][23]
21 Trench 122 Left 20,000 pounds (9,100 kg) 7002296000000000000296 m 700120000000000000020 m February 1916 14 April 1916 fired on 7 June 1917 Located east of St. Yvon/St. Yves, also known as Factory Farm 1 or Ultimo Crater.[12][23][24][26] Building preparations for a two chamber mine extending from Trench 122 started in December 1915. A first charge of 20,000 pounds (9,100 kg) was laid in May 1916, a second of 40,000 pounds (18,000 kg) was placed at the end of a 220 yards (200 m) long gallery beneath the derelict Factory Farm.[25]

photo

22 Trench 122 Right 40,000 pounds (18,000 kg) 7002241000000000000241 m 700125000000000000025 m February 1916 11 June 1916 fired on 7 June 1917 Located east of St. Yvon/St. Yves, also known as Factory Farm 2 or Factory Farm Crater.[12][23][24][26] Building preparations for a two chamber mine extending from Trench 122 started in December 1915. A first charge of 20,000 pounds (9,100 kg) was laid in May 1916, a second of 40,000 pounds (18,000 kg) was placed at the end of a 220 yards (200 m) long gallery beneath the derelict Factory Farm.[25]
photo 1, photo 2.
23 Birdcage 1 20,000 pounds (9,100 kg) 7002130000000000000130 m 700118000000000000018 m December 1915 7 March 1916 not fired[9] Also known as Trench 121; five mines were planned here, of which four (Birdcage 1–4) were constructed.[27] Located east of Ploegsteert, around the German Birdcage strong point near Le Pelerin, near the southern end of Messines Ridge.[26] None of the four Birdcage mines was fired, as they were too far behind British lines by the time the Battle of Messines commenced.[12][24]
24 Birdcage 2 32,000 pounds (15,000 kg) 7002236000000000000236 m 700118000000000000018 m December 1915 finished not fired Also known as Trench 121; five mines were planned here, of which four (Birdcage 1–4) were constructed.[27] Located east of Ploegsteert, around the German Birdcage strong point near Le Pelerin, near the southern end of Messines Ridge.[26] None of the four Birdcage mines were fired, as they were too far behind British lines by the time the Battle of Messines commenced.[12][24]
25 Birdcage 3 26,000 pounds (12,000 kg) 7002261000000000000261 m 700120000000000000020 m December 1915 30. April 1916 Not fired during battle, exploded in 1955 during a thunderstorm.[11] Also known as Trench 121; five mines were planned here, of which four (Birdcage 1–4) were constructed.[27] Located east of Ploegsteert, around the German Birdcage strong point near Le Pelerin, near the southern end of Messines Ridge.[26] None of the four mines was fired as they were too far behind British lines by the time the Battle of Messines commenced. Birdcage 3 exploded on 17 June 1955, during a thunderstorm, killing a cow on the site.[12][21]
26 Birdcage 4 34,000 pounds (15,000 kg) 7002239000000000000239 m 700118000000000000018 m December 1915 finished not fired Also known as Trench 121; five mines were planned here, of which four (Birdcage 1–4) were constructed.[27] Located east of Ploegsteert, around the German Birdcage strong point near Le Pelerin, near the southern end of Messines Ridge.[26] none of the four Birdcage mines was fired as they were too far behind British lines, by the time the Battle of Messines commenced.[12][24]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ↑ Passingham 1998, p. 90.
  2. ↑ Cleland 1918, pp. 145–146.
  3. ↑ Branagan 2005, pp. 294–301.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Wolff 1958, p. 88.
  5. ↑ Liddell Hart 1930, p. 331.
  6. ↑ Wolff 1958, p. 92.
  7. ↑ Bülow & Kranz 1938, pp. 103–104.
  8. ↑ Edmonds 1948, pp. 52–53.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Neil Tweedie: Farmer who is sitting on a bomb. In: The Telegraph. 12. January 2004 (online), access date 15 February 2015. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Tweedie" defined multiple times with different content
  10. ↑ Edmonds 1948, p. 53.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 Messines, access date 16 February 2015. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "ww1battlefields" defined multiple times with different content
  12. ↑ 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 12.11 12.12 12.13 12.14 12.15 Photo gallery: Battle of Messines Ridge, access date 16 February 2015.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Turner, Messines 1917 (2010), p. 44.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Holt & Holt 2014, pp. 116–119 and 247–248.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 Holt & Holt 2014, p. 248.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Holt & Holt 2014, p. 249.
  17. ↑ Holt & Holt 2014, pp. 192–193.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 With the British Army in Flanders: A Tour of Ploegsteert Wood Part 5 – The Kruisstraat Craters, access date 16. February 2015. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Kruisstraat" defined multiple times with different content
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Holt & Holt 2014, pp. 193–194.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 The Western Front Today – Kruisstraat Craters (online), access date 16 April 2015.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Messines, access date 16 February 2015.
  22. ↑ ypres1917.fr.yuku.com
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 With the British Army in Flanders: A Tour of Ploegsteert Wood Part 12, access date 16 February 2015.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 Peter Pedersen, ANZACS on the Western Front: The Australian War Memorial Battlefield Guide (books.google.at online) Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Pedersen" defined multiple times with different content
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Holt & Holt 2014, p. 251.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 With the British Army in Flanders: A Tour of Ploegsteert Wood Part 11 – Le Gheer & the Birdcage, access date 16 February 2015.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 Location map, access date 16 February 2015.

References[]

  • Bülow, K von; Kranz, W. et al. (1943). Wehrgeologie (Engineer Research Office, New York 1943 ed.). Leipzig: Quelle & Meyer. OCLC 44818243. 
  • Branagan, D. F. (2005). T. W. Edgeworth David: A Life: Geologist, Adventurer, Soldier and "Knight in the old brown hat". Canberra: National Library of Australia. ISBN 0-642-10791-2. 
  • Cleland, H. (1918). "The Geologist in War Time: Geology on the Western Front". pp. 145–146. Digital object identifier:10.2113/gsecongeo.13.2.145. ISSN 0361-0128. 
  • Edmonds, J. E. (1991). Military Operations France and Belgium, 1917: 7 June – 10 November: Messines and Third Ypres (Passchendaele). History of the Great War Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence. II (Imperial War Museum and Battery Press ed.). London: HMSO. ISBN 0-89839-166-0. 
  • Holt, Tonie; Holt, Valmai (2014) [1997]. Major & Mrs Holt's Battlefield Guide to the Ypres Salient & Passchendaele. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books. ISBN 978-0-85052-551-9. 
  • Liddell Hart, B. H. (1963). The Real War 1914–1918. New York: Little, Brown. ISBN 0-31652-505-7. 
  • Passingham, I. (1998). Pillars of Fire: The Battle of Messines Ridge, June 1917. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-1704-0. 
  • Wolff, L. (2001). In Flanders Fields: Passchendaele 1917. London: Penguin. ISBN 0-14139-079-4. 

Further reading[]

External links[]

All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Mines in the Battle of Messines (1917) and the edit history here.
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.