As I am but an humble American citizen and cannot legally access the latest season of Downton Abbey, what I can say about the happenings and history of series two will derive from what spoilers I glean from articles and stray tweets. So Edwardian Promenade and I are forced to march out of step with my fellow British Downtonites until it airs on PBS in January. However, never fear, I have many Edwardian & WWI tricks to pull my from hat!
For now, I direct you to Trench Warfare: A Manual for Officers and Men (1917) by J. S. Smith.
Click on the page to open the book:
I’m slightly astonished that a second lieutenant was experienced enough to write a book on the subject. Perhaps he came up through the ranks?
According to a note in the book, Smith was an American who enlisted in in the British Army in 1914, so I assume he wrote this for the benefit of newly-arrived American troops.