Tunnellers under German territory

The 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company arrived at Nieuport in January 1917 to construct subways as part of Operation Hush, a British plan to make amphibious landings on the Belgian coast in 1917. The first role assigned to the tunnelers was to create dugouts for senior officers but a German spoiling attack enabled the German forces to capture the coastal region North of the Yser river before the main operation could begin. It is reported that 64 men from the two infantry battalions and four from the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company swam to safety across the Yser river, having hidden in tunnels until dark.