The film will also be shown on a number of occasions throughout the week. More details can be found on the BBC’s dedicated page: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01skvnh

“The Somme: Secret Tunnel Wars” BBC Four, 9pm Monday 20 May 2013

A dedicated page on Siebe Gorman’s Proto breathing apparatus and the life-saving work of the specially trained rescue teams in the Great War will soon be added to our website.

“Beneath the Glory Hole & Unearthing the Past”: Industrial Fire Journal Winter 2013. Please click the image to read the article.

The ante-room with ‘pop-up’ and archaeological artefacts on display

After a brief introductory talk by Peter Barton and Jeremy Banning we went downstairs to be treated to a delicious three-course dinner. Full regimental mess protocol was observed with a Loyal Toast to Her Majesty The Queen, a toast to fallen comrades and a minute’s silence.

Archaeological artefacts on display in the ante-room

There followed an hour’s illustrated presentation by Peter Barton and Jeremy Banning on the history of the Glory Hole at La Boisselle, tunnel warfare on site and the ongoing archaeological work; it was followed by many questions. The evening ended with an auction which was very generously supported. We would like to thank all of those who attended and made the evening such a memorable success.

Dinner guests seated in the Officer’s Mess

Our sincere thanks to the Commandant of Sandhurst, Major-General Timothy Evans, Giles Orpen-Smellie (The Sandhurst Foundation) and Paul McQuillan of Compass Group. We would like to express our gratitude to Richard Anderson (auctioneer extraordinaire), Rohit Tanna, Roy Murphy, Andrew Norton, Bill Gornall-King and Nick Mercer for their assistance in organising the evening and guests plus a million other kindnesses.

Peter Barton & Jeremy Banning’s after dinner presentation

We are grateful to our volunteers for their help during this period – the work would not be possible without them. The site will be winterised over the weekend. Access to the site will not be possible until further notice.

Here are a few selected images. More will follow in due course. The website will be updated with details of May and October’s digs in the coming months.

The view looking south east along the lateral gallery from the foot of W Shaft. The tunnels are in a remarkable state of preservation. Exploration continues section by section in order to ascertain structural integrity in advance of archaeological survey.

Peter Barton in W2 mine chamber, 80ft below No Man’s Land. The floor was carpeted with sandbags.

One of the journalists was Martin Mace from ‘Britain at War’ magazine. June’s edition of the magazine includes a 30 page pullout special on the Missing of the Somme which includes a five page article on underground warfare at La Boisselle and our group’s work.  There is also  an article entitled ‘The Worst of the Worst’ (referring  to casualties sustained on the 1^st July 1916) focussing on the 34th Division’s attack at La Boisselle.

Another visitor that day was Derek Johnson from ITV Meridian News who arranged to come back to La Boisselle at the end of May’s archaeological dig. Derek visited us on 16 May and gained access to the newly opened tunnel entrance (W Incline) whilst also witnessing the ongoing work on the Granathof. His story and news report videos can be viewed by clicking on the following links:

Part 1 video and story: http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2012-06-06/time-tunnel/

Part 2 video: http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/story/2012-06-06/time-tunnels-of-the-somme/

Granathof - an early French trench driven through the stable block. The brick stable floor is evident. Both sets of human remains were uncovered in this area.

The first set of remains was found near an early trench that had been driven through the stable block; unfortunately this man was unidentifiable. The small collection of bones was carefully excavated and removed by a qualified archaeologist. No identifying artefacts, other than French line regiment buttons, were found with the remains.

The second soldier was found by Peter Barton during work on the walls of the adjacent farmhouse. There was present an 1881-model identity disc which carried the name ‘BIDEAU’. The following casualty form confirms his name as François Marie Bideau of the 118th Infantry Regiment, killed at La Boisselle on 27 December 1914. The disc also bears his call-up year and recruiting region, with the regimental number on the reverse side. The region is Tréguier, a port in Brittany. Found alongside were buttons, a toothbrush and small pieces of leather – possibly from personal equipment. It required five days to complete the exhumation.

1881-model identity disc carrying the name ‘BIDEAU’. Parts are corroded.

The reverse side bears his recruiting region, Tréguier, a port in Brittany.

Casualty form of François Marie Bideau, 118th Infantry Regiment

The War Diaries of the French 118th Infantry Regiment and 11th Army Corps, and also the history of the 13th Wurttemberg Pioneers enable the events of 27 December to be pieced together. After the loss of the farm on Christmas Eve, the Germans tried to retake the position on 27th with a grenade attack by infantry and pioneers. Determined to hold the line, the French had amassed a large amount of artillery. The farm buildings were at this time held by the 3rd Company of the 118th Regiment commanded by Lieutenant de Castel. After a heavy bombardment by trench mortars, the Germans advanced from their trenches some 60 metres away with fixed bayonets. According to the war diary of the 118th Regiment, the Germans came forward with right hands raised, signifying surrender, until nearing the French some amongst their ranks threw melinite bombs. The attack was repulsed at bayonet point, but was followed by another heavy German bombardment, which itself preceded another grenade attack half an hour later. The French then bombarded La Boisselle and the German artillery batteries, reporting that this fire combined with that of the infantry defeated the assault. De Castel’s Company was now very tired, having held the position for three days. It was therefore relieved by a company of the 65th Regiment later in the day. Sandbags, logs, improvised grenades and coils of wire known as ‘réseaux Brun’ were brought up to reinforce the farm. The German fire gradually lessened and by the end of the day quietened down. Losses to the 118th were one officer wounded and approximately forty casualties to other ranks. Amongst the German casualties were two pioneer officers killed.

Francois Marie Bideau

Several coils of wire were recovered during the excavation. Soon after the discovery of the remains of François Bideau, Claudie Llewellyn-Lejeune, one of the Glory Hole’s proprietors, made contact with the family in Brittany and also the Mairie of the soldier’s home town. François Bideau’s son served in the Second World War; he was killed in 1940. Other family members are in the process of being traced. Further information will appear as soon as it becomes available.

Volunteers working on the Granathof

Brick floor of the Stable Block - Granathof

A concerted effort began on uncovering what we believed was a surviving corner of the Granathof farm.  Results have been spectacular with walls and a brick floor of the stable block uncovered. Using French maps sourced from archival research we have discovered one of the first trenches, dug through the stable block to the forward French trench. Many artefacts including large quantities of French and German small arms ammunition have been found at this spot.

Our efforts underground have been equally rewarding. Over the first week we have cleared an estimated 40 metric tonnes of chalk spoil from W Shaft chamber. The duckboard floor laid on W Adit has been extended further. Working in Petzl harnesses under strict safety requirements we have cleared the spoil from around the 50ft vertical W Shaft. As this will be our main access point into the underground system we have endeavoured to make this area as safe as possible. Using the expertise of key sponsor, Danny Gunner a bespoke steel safety cage has been built which which sits over the shaft.  Bolted and welded together, there is now a secure area with steel mesh floor in which to work from. Work will continue this week installing electric winches and a safety cage in which to stand under when at the shaft foot. We will also begin the delicate process of assessing the integrity of the vertical shaft walls and, if safe to do so, clearing up to 12 feet of spoil from the shaft foot.

Spoil clearance in W Shaft Chamber. Over 40 metric tonnes have been removed this week.

Clearing spoil from area around W Shaft. Steel beams and timbers cover the 50 ft shaft.

We have welcomed hundreds of visitors. Many have been very generous in leaving donations. We would like to thank them for their help and for those who have donated via PayPal. If you are interested in helping us financially then please visit the Donate page. Our public thanks to the dedicated volunteers who have given up their time to help us with our work. Further thanks to Phil Giles from Pan 3Sixty who has been with us from the start, taking panoramic images above and below ground. These will be made freely available via our website.

We will be joined by Meridian TV on 16 May who are filming for an extended news piece to be broadcast later that day.

A full report of the archaeological work will be made available via the website upon completion of the dig. If you are planning on visiting the Somme battlefields before 16 May then please come and visit us.

Selected other images

Looking vertically down W Shaft. Approximately 12 feet of spoil needs clearing from the foot before access can be gained into the lateral tunnel.

Clay pipe and corked glass bottle containing a small drop of rum. Both items, in a remarkable state of preservation were found in W Shaft chamber.

Peter Barton standing above W Shaft

Jonathan Porter shows a group around site

At the suspected corner of the Granathof

Visitors queue to visit W Adit

Richard Porter explaining about the digging of W Adit

We are still seeking donations to help us with our work. Please see our fundraising video and visit the Donate page: http://www.laboisselleproject.com/donate/

Gary Andrews & Danny Gunner at W Shaft discussing plans for the steel cage

Our primary task, however, was to inspect and survey parts of W Shaft chamber in order to determine dimensions for the planned steel safety cage which will be specially fabricated to sit over the W Shaft. We were joined by one of our key colleagues Danny Gunner who is generously sponsoring the fabrication, transport and erection of the structure, as well as safety equipment, winches and lighting, and briefing and training for working in confined spaces.

Over the past 95 years small falls from the roof have altered the chamber’s shape so it now resembles that of a bell. The logistics of designing and installing a rectangular steel frame into this irregular shape was discussed in detail. The dimensions of W Shaft were re-confirmed (1.8m square) in order to ascertain the necessary size for the steel collar which will form the base of the cage. The shaft itself was ascertained to have 4 metres of spoil at the bottom. It was also calculated that up to 40 metric tonnes of spoil will need to be removed from the chamber area to allow for archaeology, shoring and bracing to take place.

To facilitate the removal of spoil from the chamber, and to protect the original 1916 floor, a wooden duckboard walkway was installed along 30 metres of W Adit.

Team members constructing the duckboard floor in W Adit

W Adit with new duckboard flooring - 6 March 2012

Archaeology was continued at the bottom of the steeper 1915 ‘X Incline’.  Finds included a well-preserved sandbag wall, a long and intertwined length of steel-reinforced rubber air hose with brass fittings, and an axle with rubberised wheels at each end.  When first uncovered we hoped it would be a small miners truck. However, as it was excavated it soon became evident that it was too long for use in mine galleries, its length being considerably wider than the tunnels.  The base of an oil lamp, a mess tin, and an empty tin of 25 Meadowland cigarettes were also uncovered. Work continues on cleaning, cataloguing and preserving these finds.

Sandbag wall, air pipe and rubber wheeled axle uncovered at the bottom of X Incline - 6 March 2012

Further archival study of several surface features was planned. This includes the history of the Ilôt/Granathof prior to the war, the struggle for the farm, detail of a German raid across the craters against 1/7^th Black Watch on 4 August 1915 which resulted in the first British prisoner being taken, and two raids on the German lines by the Northumberland Fusiliers in June 1916. We now also have material to illustrate the symbolic 1937 ceremony at the Glory Hole between representatives of the Black Watch and 19^thBreton Regiment. When we are next on site there should be much more interpretative material for visitors to enjoy.  Archival research in French, British and German records continues.

Selected images

Empty tin of Meadowland cigarettes found at the foot of X Incline. Hidden for over ninety years, they are in a superb condition.

The brass fitting at the end of the intertwined length of steel-reinforced rubber armoured hose found at the foot of X Incline.

The well preserved base of an oil lamp found in X Incline

Anthony Byledbal & Romain Leroy excavate the bottom of X Incline

Kate McIntyre filming for Live with Gabby TV show at the entrance to W Adit

We also showed Frank Barrett, the Mail on Sunday’s travel editor around site and took him underground in W Adit. His article, entitled In search of Birdsong: Unearthing the scars of war on a drive through Northern France was published in today’s paper. It covers our work at La Boisselle, focussing on last June’s visit to site by Birdsong actors, Eddie Redmayne and Joseph Mawle. Frank’s article can be viewed online by clicking the image below.

Our thanks to Ruth Bray and all at Premier PR for organising this.