Troops were typically transported on a variety of vessels, including troop ships, passenger liners converted for military use, and even specially designed cross-channel steamers known as "Channel packets." These ships made regular crossings of the English Channel, often under the protection of Royal Navy escorts to defend against possible attacks by German submarines and naval forces.
The journey across the English Channel could be challenging and sometimes dangerous, especially in rough weather or during periods of intense German naval activity. Nevertheless, the British managed to transport millions of soldiers and vast amounts of supplies to France throughout the war, maintaining a continuous flow of reinforcements and equipment to the Western Front.
In addition to the cross-channel routes, some British troops also arrived in France via Belgium, marching through the country as part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) at the start of the war. However, the vast majority of British soldiers during World War I traveled to France by sea.