Enemy trenches might be a kilometer apart, or just 30m. The area in between was strung with barbed wire, and laid with land mines, and was called ‘No-Man’s Land’. Snipers (expert rifle marksmen) lay on the ground waiting to shoot at anyone who emerged over the trench side.
‘Going over the top’ was a term used for an attack – when soldiers used ladders to climb out of their trenches (going over the top of the trench) and then ran full pelt towards an enemy who were defending themselves with machine guns, mines and shells.
