The Wiring Party. Use of barbed wire

Barbed wire was used by all combatants in the Great War in their defensive preparations. These became more sophisticated as the war progressed with the use of screw pickets and concertina wire.As part of the Rifles on going research, our members conducted a training exercise while at the Passchendaele 100 event. With the aid a a section of battlefield dug at the Passchendaele Memorial Museum, the Rifles went through the procedure for quick defensive wiring of shell holes.These are the results.

*Riflemen cover the wiring party as it moves forward. Riflemen in light skirmish order.*

*A RE NCO surveys the area. This job would also be undertaken by divisional pioneers.*

*Work begins on improving the shell hole Time to get a move on, wiring begins*

The battlefield at passchendaele 100

*An original American advertisment for barbed wire*

Barbed wire as part of defensive systems

*The riflemen set off with screw pickets and wire up to the battlefield.* Wiring party make their way accross the duck boards to the shell holes.

Work begins on the defensive wiring around a shell hole.