Duckboard used in the trenches during WW1

[madboutcats]

I was asked this question ages ago, who invented the duckboards that were used in the trenches, i never did find the answer, even after going round the most amazing museum in albert, france last year, dedicated to the two wars. So while reading other posts on WW1 i thought id try you brainy ABers to see if anyone knows, many thanks.

[Scylax]

At first, soldiers would stand on broken-up wooden
packing cases to avoid the dreaded 'trench-foot' due to
standing in liquid mud. Duckboards were a mere and
obvious adaptation of this.

Boards with wooden slats nailed to them had been in use
for many years before WW1, by eg. archaeologists,
working in muddy 'digs, and by builders on muddy sites.
They were also cobbled together by roofiers as
walkways across and between roofs The idea would
occur to anyone who needed them. Necessity is the
mother of invention.

[MarzipanQ]

Duckboards were used in laundries in the 19th century in an attempt to keep workers feet from the water.

[anotheoldgit]

Duckboards where and still are used in most factories, where machine operators stand in one spot for many hours.

Apparently it stops the concrete floor from 'drawing' the operators feet, in other words they don't ache so much.

[madboutcats]

Thank you so much for your answers, ive learnt something new. The question i was asked about who invented it was in a local quiz, and i was asked through a friend if i knew, i never found out and neither did they, now after reading your answers i wonder who ever set that quiz knew what they were really asking. Thanks again to you all.