Old Front Line
WW1 Podcast with Paul Reed
Somme Mine Craters with Peter Doyle
In this latest Trench Chat we speak to Professor Peter Doyle about his current research on the mine craters of the Somme battlefields. We learn how were these craters formed, what their wartime story was, and what do they mean in relation to the landscape of the Western Front today?
Peter Doyle on Social Media: Peter Doyle on Twitter.
BOOKS BY PETER DOYLE:
9 Comments on “Somme Mine Craters with Peter Doyle”
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Old Front Line 
Hi Paul, thanks for another great podcast, really enjoyed Peters interview. I also really enjoyed your chat with Dan Snow on General Snow, 2 very interesting listens. Thank John
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Thank you, John!
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Great interview with Peter. And much respect for all the men in the tunnelling companies. I’m working in the tunnelling business myself for 15 years now and even with all modern technology, drilling a tunnel isn’t a piece of cake. Find it ironic that some of the biggest tunnelling companies in the world nowadays, are German.
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Maybe I misunderstood but Peter said Lochnagar was the only ‘overcharged’ mine but he kept referring to overcharged mines on the Somme.
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Just picking this up! All the mines were intended to be ‘overcharged’ – but the findings of my recent research shows that in truth, it was only Lochnagar that achieved this.
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Thanks Paul.
I’ve always been surprised that they didn’t tunnel and blow at Thiepval. It was such a key position on the frontline. Do you think it was time, geology or something else. Maybe Hawthorn, apart from its strength, was almost a diversion for Thiepval, knowing its importance positionally.
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That’s a good point. I would guess geography as there no evidence of either French or German mining in that sector either. Curious!
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Shell holes are stark reminders of how humankind has fallen into a self created abyss. The horrors of war, the follies of a few men at the top who decide the fate of millions ~ these are still relevant today. Man hasn’t learnt any lesson, sadly.
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Thanks for a great trench chat covering mine/tunnelling warfare on the Somme. It was good that Professor Doyle always kept the human element and cost of the battle in mind.
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