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Papers by Franky Bostyn

Research paper thumbnail of Een integrale waarderingsmethode voor het oorlogslandschap: pilootstudie Zonnebeke-Passendale

Relicta. Archeologie, Monumenten- en Landschapsonderzoek in Vlaanderen, Jul 7, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Passchendaele 1917. Het verhaal van de doden en Tyne Cot Cemetery

Research paper thumbnail of The First World War and the Fundamental Problem of Breaking Through the Front

J. Baev en K. Grozev (eds.), World War One (1914-1918). 40th International Congress of Military History Varna, Bulgaria (31 August – 5 September 2014), Sofia, St. Kliment Ohridski University Press, 2015, p. 765-790., 2015

The First World War is particularly associated with the bloody offensives on the Western front. O... more The First World War is particularly associated with the bloody offensives on the Western front. Only a few months after its outbreak, the war got stuck in an unprecedented stalemate. The various armies tried to break through the front with new and heavier weaponry, but systematically, offensives ended in a failure with tens of thousands of casualties. This article considers the reasons for this by analysing the various ways by which attack and defence were organized. We also look at how the Germans almost achieved a breakthrough in Spring 1918 and how it was finally to the Allies to win the war.

Research paper thumbnail of De la guerre des hommes à la guerre des machines

How military tried to break through the stalemate of trench war in WW1

Research paper thumbnail of Beecham Dugout Passchendaele 1914-1918

Research paper thumbnail of The underground war 1914–1918: the geology of the Beecham dugout, Passchendaele, Belgium

Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, 2001

The Beecham dugout is situated close to the crest of the Passchendaele Ridge to the east of the B... more The Beecham dugout is situated close to the crest of the Passchendaele Ridge to the east of the Belgian town of Ypres (Ieper). Fears over the stability of the excavation, which was discovered by accident, created an opportunity for emergency archaeological and geological investigations. This provided a unique opportunity to examine the geological constraints on dugout excavation in this region during the Great War, namely: (1) position relative to water table; (2) geotechnical properties of the soils; and (3) ground cover. The dugout is shallow (2 m deep) and excavated in a basic T-shape, with accommodation for 66 men and four officers. It is cut within silty-sand levels at the base of the Gent Formation (Paniselian of previous authors) and was ultimately wet, the sands being irregularly oxidized, possibly by the ingress of air following drawdown of water into the chamber. All other known British dugouts in the region are deeper, providing greater protection from howitzer shell fire.

Research paper thumbnail of Zero Hour: Historical Note on the British Underground War in Flanders, 1915–1917

The GeoJournal Library, 2002

This note reviews the work of the Tunnelling Companies of the British Royal Engineers in developi... more This note reviews the work of the Tunnelling Companies of the British Royal Engineers in developing mine warfare in Flanders from 1915–1917, culminating in the Battle of Messines in June 1917. Mine warfare had been carried out by both sides for some time, but the detonation of 19 mines in opening the Messines offensive is arguably the pre-eminent example of the use of mine warfare. The note examines in turn the developments leading to Messines, including: the explosives used — gun powder, gun cotton and ammonal; the construction and design of mine chambers; the importance of the closure (tamping) of these chambers; the methods of preparing detonators; the effect of the explosions themselves; and finally the form of the craters.

Research paper thumbnail of De Eerste Wereldoorlog en het fundamenteel probleem van de doorbraak van het front

The (military) stalemate of the First World War; How military tried to break throught the enemy&#... more The (military) stalemate of the First World War; How military tried to break throught the enemy's positions.

Research paper thumbnail of Een integrale waarderingsmethode voor het oorlogslandschap: pilootstudie Zonnebeke-Passendale

Relicta. Archeologie, Monumenten- en Landschapsonderzoek in Vlaanderen, Jul 7, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Passchendaele 1917. Het verhaal van de doden en Tyne Cot Cemetery

Research paper thumbnail of The First World War and the Fundamental Problem of Breaking Through the Front

J. Baev en K. Grozev (eds.), World War One (1914-1918). 40th International Congress of Military History Varna, Bulgaria (31 August – 5 September 2014), Sofia, St. Kliment Ohridski University Press, 2015, p. 765-790., 2015

The First World War is particularly associated with the bloody offensives on the Western front. O... more The First World War is particularly associated with the bloody offensives on the Western front. Only a few months after its outbreak, the war got stuck in an unprecedented stalemate. The various armies tried to break through the front with new and heavier weaponry, but systematically, offensives ended in a failure with tens of thousands of casualties. This article considers the reasons for this by analysing the various ways by which attack and defence were organized. We also look at how the Germans almost achieved a breakthrough in Spring 1918 and how it was finally to the Allies to win the war.

Research paper thumbnail of De la guerre des hommes à la guerre des machines

How military tried to break through the stalemate of trench war in WW1

Research paper thumbnail of Beecham Dugout Passchendaele 1914-1918

Research paper thumbnail of The underground war 1914–1918: the geology of the Beecham dugout, Passchendaele, Belgium

Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, 2001

The Beecham dugout is situated close to the crest of the Passchendaele Ridge to the east of the B... more The Beecham dugout is situated close to the crest of the Passchendaele Ridge to the east of the Belgian town of Ypres (Ieper). Fears over the stability of the excavation, which was discovered by accident, created an opportunity for emergency archaeological and geological investigations. This provided a unique opportunity to examine the geological constraints on dugout excavation in this region during the Great War, namely: (1) position relative to water table; (2) geotechnical properties of the soils; and (3) ground cover. The dugout is shallow (2 m deep) and excavated in a basic T-shape, with accommodation for 66 men and four officers. It is cut within silty-sand levels at the base of the Gent Formation (Paniselian of previous authors) and was ultimately wet, the sands being irregularly oxidized, possibly by the ingress of air following drawdown of water into the chamber. All other known British dugouts in the region are deeper, providing greater protection from howitzer shell fire.

Research paper thumbnail of Zero Hour: Historical Note on the British Underground War in Flanders, 1915–1917

The GeoJournal Library, 2002

This note reviews the work of the Tunnelling Companies of the British Royal Engineers in developi... more This note reviews the work of the Tunnelling Companies of the British Royal Engineers in developing mine warfare in Flanders from 1915–1917, culminating in the Battle of Messines in June 1917. Mine warfare had been carried out by both sides for some time, but the detonation of 19 mines in opening the Messines offensive is arguably the pre-eminent example of the use of mine warfare. The note examines in turn the developments leading to Messines, including: the explosives used — gun powder, gun cotton and ammonal; the construction and design of mine chambers; the importance of the closure (tamping) of these chambers; the methods of preparing detonators; the effect of the explosions themselves; and finally the form of the craters.

Research paper thumbnail of De Eerste Wereldoorlog en het fundamenteel probleem van de doorbraak van het front

The (military) stalemate of the First World War; How military tried to break throught the enemy&#... more The (military) stalemate of the First World War; How military tried to break throught the enemy's positions.

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