Research Projects

by Mavis Dixon

After the formation of Tunnelling Companies many accidents occurred from explosions, cave-ins and gases so that in June of 1915 Mr Arthur B Clifford was appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal and sent out to begin training officers and men in the use of mine rescue apparatus and was solely responsible for this work until October 1915. He was asked to train 3000 mine rescuers in a month with only 36 sets of PROTO (self-contained breathing apparatus) being available in the country at the time.

In September 1915 Captain D. Dale Logan was appointed as advisor to GHQ on all matters connected with the health of the men in the Tunnelling Companies. His task was to organise a system of rescue work and protection against gas. L/Cpl. Clifford began training in the yard of the Royal Engineers Park at Strazeene then a sub-station was started at Berguette, which became the First Army Mine-Rescue School. This developed into the setting up of the Second Army Area School at Armentieres.

Rescue Schools trained men in mine rescue work and to repair, test and maintain a reserve stock of rescue apparatus. They trained personnel in the use of mine listening instruments and their testing and repair. Their officers were trained in advanced mining tactics and trench surveying. Men were trained in teams in the use of boring machines. Explosives, new instruments and engineering appliances were tested and demonstration was taught. Officers and other ranks of other units were trained to construct mined dugouts and to detect and remove enemy traps. L/Clp Clifford was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 1917 for his intimate knowledge of the equipment and his devotion to his training work.

Digitised by Mr & Mrs Trotter

This is part of a series of projects, others are listed below:

Miners at the Front in World War 1 (Part 1) - an introduction

Miners at the Front in World War 1 (Part 2) - Trench Warfare and the Tunnellers

Miners at the Front in World War 1 (Part 4) - Specialised Skills of Miners

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