The Animals’ war Mines and tunnels Q 1451 A soldier with "Sammy", the mascot of 1/4th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. This dog went to France with the unit in April 1915, was wounded in the Second Battle of Ypres, and also gassed on Whit Monday, 1915. He was with the battalion in the trenches and injured by shell fire on several occasions. The dog was also with the battalion during the Somme offensive. (Source: IWM) Mines and tunnels

WWI map of La Boiselle section of the Somme front (La Boisselle Study Group: www.laboisselleproject.com)

Aerial photos of The Glory Hole (La Boiselle) (1915)

Interior of the Lochnagar Crater at La Boisselle, The Somme, August 1916. (IWM Q 912)

Aerial photos of La Boiselle (2011) (La Boisselle Study Group: www Aerial photos of La Boiselle (2011) (La Boisselle Study Group: www.laboisselleproject.com)

Aerial photos of The Glory Hole (La Boiselle) (1915)

La Boisselle trench Map (La Boisselle Study Group: www La Boisselle trench Map (La Boisselle Study Group: www.laboisselleproject.com)

Clay kicking © Andy Gammon

Mine shaft construction © Andy Gammon

E01681 Men of the 3rd Australian Company excavating a chamber in the chalk in the Hulluch subway system. The chalk was dug out with miners' picks and filled into bags. These bags were trucked along the gallery to suitable positions, hauled to the surface and emptied at night. In places where the chalk crumbled, the walls had to be revetted, as is seen on the left. Identified left to right: Captain R. J. Langton MC, Officer Commanding, No. 1 Section (holding bag); 1194 Sapper (Spr) D. C. Vecchia; 6772 Spr C. A. L. Robinson, all members of the 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company. (Source: Australian War Memorial) E04563 A group of unidentified Australian soldiers, possibly members of the 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company, in a tunnel in the Hulluch underground system known as 'Charing Cross'. On the left is a pile of timber and several sets of wheels, which fit the tracks seen in the centre. The Hulluch tunnels could accommodate 2000 troops and were excavated at a depth of 30 to 40 feet, forming a huge subway consisting of several miles of galleries, large chambers for dining rooms, sleeping apartments and offices. The tunnels were all ventilated by power fans and lighted with electricity provided by the Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company. The 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company was at the time engaged in various defensive works in this area. (Source: Australian War Memorial)

Officer of the French Army Engineers listening to the sound of enemy operations with a microphone in the underground tunnel. (IWM Q 69984)

Soldier with a cage of canaries from a ruined house in St Soldier with a cage of canaries from a ruined house in St. Venant, 15 April 1918. (IWM Q 10903)

A member of an Australian Tunnelling Company with canaries and mice in cages. E01683 A view of the Mine Rescue Station of the 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company at Hulluch Tunnels, near Loos. Seen here is 1057 Sapper E. Kelly on duty, wearing the proto-apparatus and carrying a canary (or white mice) used for testing air conditions underground. Owing to the poisonous gas (carbon monoxide) formed by explosions, much of the mine fighting had to be done by men wearing this kind of protective apparatus. The 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company had several such mine rescue stations in their forward subways and also in the Infantry subways for rescue purposes or mine fighting when necessary. (Source: AWM)

Q 1451 A soldier with "Sammy", the mascot of 1/4th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. This dog went to France with the unit in April 1915, was wounded in the Second Battle of Ypres, and also gassed on Whit Monday, 1915. He was with the battalion in the trenches and injured by shell fire on several occasions. The dog was also with the battalion during the Somme offensive. (Source: IWM) ww.animalaid.org.uk