Release date is 2014-09-02

Introductory -- To the front -- Underground -- Crater fighting -- Tunnelling in the Vimy Ridge trenches -- Chalk caverns and trench mortars -- Around the Vimy Ridge -- The Somme show -- The battle of the Ancre -- The retreat of Arras -- The battle of Arras -- The Hindenburg line -- The psychology of fear -- Some principles of mining.

E-text prepared by Brian Coe and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries (https://archive.org/details/toronto)

"Fighting the Boche Underground" by H. D. Trounce is a military memoir written in the early 20th century. This work provides an insider's perspective on the experiences of the engineering units during World War I, particularly focusing on the often-overlooked underground warfare tactics employed throughout the conflict. The author, a Captain in the Engineers, shares insights into the grueling and dangerous conditions faced by the soldiers tasked with tunneling and mining operations beneath enemy lines. At the start of the narrative, Trounce introduces his motivation for writing, emphasizing the critical yet underappreciated role of the engineers in trench warfare. He reflects on the psychological and physical demands of underground combat, describing the constant threat posed by enemy miners and the reliance on stealth and precision in their operations. Throughout the opening pages, Trounce outlines the challenges faced while working in cramped and hazardous conditions, detailing the strategic significance of their objectives, which include laying explosives and counter-mining. The vivid recounting of these experiences sets the stage for a gripping exploration of life on the frontlines, offering readers a blend of historical insight and personal reflection on the sacrifices made by those in the engineering corps. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Original publication data not identified