Hill 60

At Hill 60, underground warfare reached a tension which was not surpassed anywhere on the British front. Tunneling at Hill 60 began in August 1915. In November 1916, the Australian Tunneling Company took over, tasked with keeping the main tunnels and explosive intact, ready to be blown at the start of a major battle.

Both sides attempted to locate opposing tunnels. They set up listening posts in the shallows about 3 meters below the surface -- a nerve-wracking job, as shelling could collapse the post and bury men alive. When enemy tunnels were located, tunnelers would dig toward them and set off explosive charges.

In April 1917, the Germans raided the British trenches, but failed to locate the tunnel entrances. Meanwhile, the Australians tunneled deeper, to get under the German tunnels. Germans were detected digging toward one of the main tunnels, but before they could reach it, the British mines were detonated, signaling the start of the Battle of the Messines.

Beneath Hill 60, a 2010 film based on the diary of tunneler Oliver Woodward, has shed new light on this important battle area.