Wire Entanglements and Trous de Loups Construction

Posts : 3 Join date : 2022-08-25

I'm slowly building a table to wargame the Siege of Eshowe and I'd like to create authentic-looking wire entanglements and trous de loups to defend my British. I'm having trouble finding field guides on how these were created. Where can I find more information like this?

Posts : 3090 Join date : 2021-01-04

You could try Ian Knight's Osprey book 'British Fortifications in Zululand' ISBN 1 84176 829 4 or the man who made those defences at Eshowe, Capt Warren Richard Calvin Wynne RE had his diary and letters published in a superb little book calld "A Widow-Making War" edited by Howard Whitehouse ISBN 0 9521488 0 3. Its rare but well worth tracking down and buying

Kate

Hi Pearson's Column
There's a sketch showing the cross section of the Walls etc at Fort Eshowe in Wynn's book page 89 .
90th

Pearson's Column
Forgot to mention there's a double page Coloured sketch of the layout of Fort Eshowe on pages 22 & 23 in Knight's ' British
Fortifications In Zululand 1879 ' .
90th

Posts : 320 Join date : 2017-02-05 Location : Texas, U.S.A.

Here is a description of the wire entanglement and trous de loups at Eshowe by Captain Wynne, R.E. who was in charge of their construction.

From the “MEMOIR OF CAPT. W. R. C. WYNNE, R.E.”

Fort Ekowe
7th February 1879
“We are still strengthening the Fort, and I begin to have great confidence in it, both for its offensive powers as well as for its defensive and protective. There ought hardly to be a casualty from the fire from outside; and even if they come in many thousands and persevere in spite of heavy losses to the edge of the ditches, I don't think they will find it easy to get in. I am now beginning to make a variety of obstacles to check their advance should they arrive within thirty yards of the place: - Shallow little pits, with stakes at the bottom chequer-wise; entanglements of wire; and, by-and-by, explosive traps.”

Tom

Posts : 3 Join date : 2022-08-25

Sorry for the delayed response- thank you everyone, fantastic information!

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