During WWI, Berkhamsted was used by troops to train for trench life on the continent. They would live in a nearby tented camp, stand parade on Kitchener’s Field, and trained on Berkhamsted and Northchurch Commons. These were officers from the Inns of Court Officers Training Corp., otherwise known as The Devil’s Own. These officers dug 13 miles of trenches here in training for the real thing that they would shortly face opposite enemy lines. These days there is an information board here, a memorial, and of course the trenches.

Chris

July 9, 2025

Hiking

Located within a quiet area of the golf course, lovely bit of history and located honoured to those fallen

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Details

Informations

Elevation 200 m

Weather

Today

Thursday 12 March

12°C

4°C

81 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 38.0 km/h

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Take Me There

Location: Northchurch, Dacorum, Hertfordshire, East Of England, England, United Kingdom

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Berkhamsted WWI Training Trenches

1. Ivinghoe Beacon – Red Cedar Woods Path loop from Dacorum

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3. Berkhamsted Castle Ruins – Northchurch Common Grasslands loop from Berkhamsted

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