The Coltman Trench

Our trench system is a reconstruction of a 100 meter section of British front line trench from the First World War. It is named after Lance Corporal William Coltman VC and serves as a memorial to him and all of the soldiers of Staffordshire who served in that war. Lance Corporal Coltman was a stretcher bearer in the 1st/6th North Staffords and was the most highly decorated soldier of the War, winning, in addition to his Victoria Cross, the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Bar and the Military Medal and Bar. Other features of the trench are named after the six additional Regimental winners of the Victoria Cross in World War One.

The Trench

The primary purpose of the Coltman Trench is as an educational facility, providing visitors with some idea of the conditions soldiers lived and fought in during the First World War. Museum visitors may tour the Trench on their own but organised parties, including schools, are encouraged to arrange special visits where uniformed tour guides are able to explain and demonstrate aspects of the Trench and Trench Warfare. During regular special events the Trench is manned by living history groups and each year our very popular ‘Carols in the Trenches’ takes place just before Christmas.

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The Trench Tour