The parapet formed the side of the trench directly facing the enemy line.

In order to protect the heads and shoulders of men manning the fire-step (either on sentry or during pre-dawn and dusk Stand-To) the parapet was invariably lined with several feet of sandbags.

Located somewhat further in advance of the sandbags would be layers of barbed wire (of varying width and length).

While the parapet, protected as it was by its layers of sandbags, was effectively immune to the effects of rifle fire, it afforded no real protection to artillery shell fire.

The rear of the trench, conversely to the parapet, was called the parados.