Before even engaging the Germans, Allied soldiers had to climb out of their sunken trenches, which provided shelter from enemy fire. They then had to make their way through their own barbed wire, before reaching the unprotected expanse of No Man's Land.
This "Instruction diagram for constructing a reverted fire-trench with bays and traverses" is labelled with letters, but no legend is provided. Exact measurements are provided for some elements, but others are described only vaguely ( "as steep as possible",
"about 2 paces", a "slight fall" or "one rifle length"). Also labelled are the "Traverse" and "Ground line". The diagram provides a good view of the size and construction of trenches.
