THE COLTMAN TRENCH

Our trench system is a replica of a 100 meter section of WW I British trench. It is named after L/Cpl W. Coltman V.C., a stretcher-bearer in the North Staffordshire Regiment. He was the most decorated soldier of the first world war, in addition to his Victoria Cross he was awarded the DCM and Bar and the MM and Bar. Other features of the trench itself are called after the Regiment's six other WW I V.C. winners.

The trench is over 2 meters deep and its sides are shored up with sandbags. These also form the parapet (in front) and the parados (behind).

In the interests of Health and Safety and to facilitate wheelchair access this trench is provided with non-slip duckboards along its length. In reality this was often not the case, in the wet winters of Belgium and Northern France the natural ground surface soon turned to thick mud.