For men used to mining - fighting in trenches was seen as an escape

Mine exploration, photographs and mining history for mine explorers, industrial archaeologists, researchers and historians

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

4737carlin
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

11 years ago

For men used to mining - fighting in trenches was seen as an escape FROM HELL

ON THE heather-clad moor above Blaenavon, the pithead wheel whirrs as the cage lowers men to the bowels of the earth. Away across the valley, the miners' cottages slope down the hillside, and the glass of their windows gleams in the morning sunlight.

This is an interesting article on the Express website yesterday, Read on-
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world-war-1/479552/For-men-used-to-mining-fighting-in-trenches-was-seen-as-an-escape-FROM-HELL

Wanna join the discussion?! Login to your AditNow Community forum account or Register a new forum account

Trewillan
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

Some journalistic licence there, but I must agree for a lot of people, returning to 40 years of factory work or something similar, the war must have been the only "interesting" thing they ever did.

Morlock
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

Interesting and emotive reading.

agricola
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

Interesting ...

Have these people read - War Underground by Barrie or Hill 62 ?

There is one major difference between mining in say a coal mie or any other mine, and those dug on the western front, in that in addition to all the dangers you know that someone is tunnelling towards you and all they want to do is kill you. I suppose there has to be something in the knowledge that the very next step might be you last !

Inspite of any report, I would agree that the tunnelling companies on the western front, were a brave lot and should be remembered as such.

How many on here would like to change places with them ?

If it can't be grown it has to be mined.