The Underground War
Australian Tunnellers at Hill 60
Image: Hill 60 crater, Ypres (AWM E00581)
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E00581
Caption: Describe the photograph and its relevance.
World War I Context
1914–1918 global conflict
Image: Western Front soldiers in trench (IWM Q 3990)
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections
Caption: Describe the photograph and its relevance.
The Western Front
Trench stalemate across France and Belgium
Image: Aerial view of Western Front trenches
World history encyclopedia
Caption: Describe the photograph and its relevance.
Western Front Map
Key locations: Ypres, Messines, Arras
Image: Western Front 1914–1918 map
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Western_Front_1914-1918_map.png
Caption: Describe the photograph and its relevance.
Trench Warfare
Defensive trenches and barbed wire
Image: Barbed wire in No Man's Land
https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3g03964/
Caption: Describe the photograph and its relevance.
The Problem of Stalemate
Armies struggled to advance
Image: Shell crater landscape Western Front
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shell_craters_WWI.jpg
Caption: Describe the photograph and its relevance.
Mining Warfare
Digging tunnels under enemy trenches
Image: WWI mining diagram
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mining_warfare_WWI_diagram.jpg
Caption: Describe the photograph and its relevance.
Australian Tunnelling Companies
Units formed in 1915
Image: Australian engineers WWI
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C213703
Caption: Describe the photograph and its relevance.
Hill 60
Strategic hill near Ypres
Image: Hill 60 battlefield crater
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E00581
Caption: Describe the photograph and its relevance.
Underground Tunnels
Networks dug beneath trenches
Image: Royal Engineers tunnelling company
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205218326
Caption: Describe the photograph and its relevance.
Listening Posts
Detect enemy digging
Image: Listening device WWI
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205221922
Caption: Describe the photograph and its relevance.
Mine Chambers
Explosives placed underground
Image: WWI mine chamber
www.vwma.org
Caption: Describe the photograph and its relevance.
Messines Offensive 1917
Massive underground explosions
Image: Messines mine crater
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/Q 79205 B
Caption: Describe the photograph and its relevance.
Life Underground
Dark, cramped tunnels
Image: Miners digging tunnel WWI
www.digventures.com
Caption: Describe the photograph and its relevance.
Dangers of Tunnelling
Collapse, gas, counter‑mines
Image: Messines crater battlefield
www.geographicalimaginations.com
Caption: Describe the photograph and its relevance.
Human Story
Australian tunnellers
Image: Australian tunnelling company portrait
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P01852.001
Caption: Describe the photograph and its relevance.
ANZAC Remembrance
Why we remember
Image: Hill 60 memorial Kurri Kurri NSW
https://www.dva.gov.au/recognition-and-commemoration/memorials
Caption: Describe the photograph and its relevance.
Podcast Activity
Listen to Hill 60 podcast
Caption: Describe the photograph and its relevance.
Episode 3
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 0
Episode 4
Discussion & Reflection
Why should tunnellers be remembered?
Image: Hill 60 battlefield today
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hill_60_Ypres_Belgium_05.jpg
Caption: Describe the photograph and its relevance.