Dont take the image of the slit trench as gospel for 'complete soil removal'. Having been in 'the mob' and dug many of them, the spoil was always piled at the back of the trench. The training staff said it was to prevent the occupants' heads from being silhouetted against the skyline. We (the occupants) thought it was there to act as a round-stopper to prevent enemy fire (directed at us) going into the safe 'rear areas'!
Regs
Ian
Ian,
Having been in the Australian mob and also having dug far too many hole to fill them in again, there is a difference between putting the spoil behind a trench/weapon pit (the 'parados') and removing the spoil from around a drainage ditch. If the spoil isn't removed from the drainage ditch area it would hinder water removal, thereby the inevitable mud holes under the track and derailments will occur.
Ditched!
in Up the Line - 1918
A blog by KH1 in RMweb Blogs
Posted
Ian,
Having been in the Australian mob and also having dug far too many hole to fill them in again, there is a difference between putting the spoil behind a trench/weapon pit (the 'parados') and removing the spoil from around a drainage ditch. If the spoil isn't removed from the drainage ditch area it would hinder water removal, thereby the inevitable mud holes under the track and derailments will occur.
Cheers,
Chris