The Camp Hughes Trenches Self-Guided Tour

Feature #1 Headquarters of Main Trench System
“ Dulmage Dugout”
This feature was Battalion Headquarters of the Main Trench
Network. (See start Point) It was here that the troops entering the
trenches would receive their munitions and rations.
Feature #2 The Communication Trenches
There are two main long communication trenches (known on map as White and Green Trench)
leading up to a line of support and front-line trenches. All along the route dugouts with thick earth
overhead cover housed the troops and protected them from artillery fire. A communication trench
was designated to move soldiers and supplies to and from the front line to the rear.
“Hughes Highway” This feature begins (on map known
as White Trench) has several diamond like trenches
known as island traverses along its route. These were to
serve as a reserve trench in the event of a successful
assault by the enemy.
Feature #3 “The Covering or Support Trench”
Known as the “Red Trench” this trench parallels the
front line. It has fire bays to cover or support the front
line from attack. At each of these bays is found a dugout
that would house the reserve troops and shelter them
from enemy artillery and small arms fire. Looking
southward one can observe that this trench system is
concealed from the enemy.
Feature #4 The Communication Trenches
between the Support Trench and the Front Line
These four communication trenches (known as the
Yellow trench on the Map) between the cover
trench and the front-line held many dugouts housing
the various company units. They were very narrow
and were built for movement of supplies from the
front to rear.
Feature #5 The Front-line Trench
This feature known as the “Blue Trench” on the
Map extended over 1000 metre frontage situated on
the reverse slope of a flat area known as no-man’s
land.
Immediately below this trench one finds a fairly
linear trench with dugouts below the fire trench.
This was a “travelling trench” totally concealed
from the enemy designed to move troops safely from
end of the trench to the other end.
Once established, the battalion would undergo training in daily routine, sentries, listening posts,
trench clearing, and finally, a frontal assault on the "enemy" by going over the top and across no-
man’s-land into the enemy line of trenches.
Feature #6 The Enemy Trenches
As you leave the safety of the Canadian trench you march
towards a small hill-like feature crossing “no-man” One cannot help but feel exposed to the possible
danger of attacking in no-man’s land. The enemy on the Western Front began constructing circular
like defensive trenches known as “stellungs” occupying redoubt like features as their focal
point.Feature #6 trenches replicates this concept of defence. When you look to the main Canadian
Trench system one cannot help but notice how the trenches at Camp Hughes reflected the reality of
trench warfare on the Western Front. Most of the Canadian trenches are concealed and movement of
their troops are hardly noticeable.
Map of Trench Network
Easy Access Route is for those who are bit challenged in walking.
Regular Route is for those who are able to climb up and down the trenches.

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