Entrenching battalions

Entrenching battalions were temporary units formed in the armies of the British Empire during the First World War.

Entrenching Battalions were trained as infantry, but were primarily utilized for manual labour duties such as trench repair, wire laying, road making and assisting tunnellers, pioneers, engineers and signals.

The practice ceased on the Western Front by autumn 1917, due to manpower shortages, but saw a revival at the start of 1918.

These battalions were put to use in improving the existing defences in anticipation of a German offensive, and could be used as a reserve force if needed.

It consisted of three entrenching battalions with the manpower drawn from men of the disbanded 4th New Zealand Infantry Brigade.