Several underground explosive charges were fired during the First World War at the start of the Battle of Messines. The battle was fought by the British Second Army and the German 4th Army near Mesen
Example of a mine gallery with timber roof support
Spanbroekmolen crater ("Lone Tree Crater" or "Pool of Peace") on one of the highest points of the Messines Ridge, in November 2009.
Plan for the British deep mines at Hollandscheschur Farm with German counter-mining efforts clearly visible
SMLE with shortened stock and barrel for fighting underground
Hill 60 (Ypres)
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Hill 60 is a World War I battlefield memorial site and park in the Zwarteleen area of Zillebeke south of Ypres, Belgium. It is located about 4.6 kilometres from the centre of Ypres and is directly on
Mines in the Battle of Messines (1917)
…Suddenly at dawn, as a signal for all of our guns to open fire, there rose out of the dark ridge of Messines and "Whitesheet" and that ill-famed Hill 60, enormous volumes of scarlet flame [...] throwing up high towers of earth and smoke all lighted by the flame, spilling over into fountains of fierce…
Caterpillar1 crater, Hill 60
Zillebeke, Belgium: tracks of Ypres-Comines railway, with Hill 60 on the left
Entrance to the memorial site and park
Location of Hill 60 and The Caterpillar in the Ypres Salient