From the beginning of the 20th century, W. Owen of Ballarat produced the "National" series of games. While many of his games remained current for a great number of years, being updated regularly to reflect changing styles and times, others took advantage of the patriotism evident at times of national crisis, such as the First World War. Dugouts and Trenches is one of the latter, and presented the player with a graphic view of the vicissitudes of trench warfare in the comfort of the home. The State Library of South Australia does not hold a copy of the rules for this game, but it would appear to involve succeeding in placing a certain number of men in a trench to win it and the game.

• Holden, Robert Race to the finish: an exhibition of Australian children's board games from colonial times to the present day. Manly, N.S.W.: Manly Art Gallery & Museum, 1986

• BBC Schools Online World War One See: Games: Trench warfare
• South Australians at war