Traverse (trench warfare)

One form of traverse is a U-shaped detour in the trench with the trench going around a protrusion formed of earth and sandbags.

The fragments or shrapnel, or shockwave from a shell landing and exploding within a trench then cannot spread horizontally past the obstacle the traverse interposes.

One function is to provide an entry into the main trench.

A second function is to provide a place for defenders to shelter and regroup should the enemy have penetrated into the main trench and be able to fire down the main trench's length.

Lastly, a flying or bridge traverse is a sandbagged covering for a stretch of trench to block shrapnel or shell fragments from entering the trench.

British aerial photograph of German trenches north of Thiepval, France taken during World War I on 10 May 1916; the crenelated appearance of the trenches is due to the presence of traverses