CONFIDENTIAL.

SPECIAL BRIGADE

NOTES FOR SECTION COMMANDERS

1. Make sure that the Infantry Brigade to whom you are attached, and also your Company Commander, know the position of your Section billets; and mark your Headquarters so that orderlies can find them easily.

• Thoroughly reconnoitre your line, and carefully site each emplacement, having regard to the general instructions issued to you by your Company Commander.  Take your Section serjeants with you.  Satisfy yourself that each emplacement conforms to the following requirements:-
• That, within the limits of wind direction for which the attack is planned, gas can be discharged without danger to other parts of the line;
• That the utmost possible use is made of saps, craters, etc;
• That emplacements are not sited too close to our own mine-shafts.

• Send in to your Company Commander a plan, on a scale of 1/2,500, showing the exact position of each emplacement.

• Report invariably to Brigade Headquarters on your way into the line.
• Take the earliest opportunity to train the men who will act as guides to carrying parties to find their way both by day and night.

• See that your men are told off into emplacement crews.

• See that each crew has its own set of pipes, spanners, etc., and that these are all tested beforehand; make each crew responsible for its own set. 

Each crew should also have a small supply of sand-bags.

• See that your men are all in possession of the allotted number of “Box” respirators or smoke helmets, and that these are thoroughly inspected before going into action.

• See that:-
• Cylinders are properly protected;
• Adequate precautions are taken to prevent noise both in carrying up pipes and in placing cylinders in position;
• Reserves of men are in position and under cover;
• Section serjeants are in the best positions for supervision;
• A written programme of the nature and time of discharge is prominent at each group. 

Ensure that your Senior Serjeant will take over command of the Section in the event of your becoming a casualty, and that he will write the necessary reports.

1. See that each emplacement has its own allotted number of smoke candles, and that all arrangements for lighting and discharging them are made and thoroughly understood by your men.

1. Arrange your work at all times so as to interfere as little as possible with the movements of infantry in the trenches.

1. Select your own position, which should be near a telephone, and see that all your men know it.

 Ascertain position of Infantry Company Commanders. 

See that arrangements are made for the distribution of zero time from the telephone dug-out to each of your emplacements.

1. See that the watches are evenly distributed along your front, and that they all show the correct official time.  (Note: Infantry time is frequently unreliable.  Corps time should be obtained beforehand through your O.C., Company.)

1. Report direct to the officer conducting the gas operation – the O.C., Special Brigade, if more than one Battalion is engaged – the velocity (in words, not figures) and direction of wind during the time preceding the attack, according to orders which will be issued to you; also any unusual circumstances affecting your work, very briefly.  When everything is in position and ready, report direct to the Officer referred to above – “ALL READY”. 

These reports should be written and handed to the operator at the nearest telephone.  They are to be signed you’re your name and rank. 

The Division in whose front you are working, and the time of dispatch of the telegram, should also be given.  Messages are to be marked “Priority”.

Separate “All ready” reports are to be sent to your Battalion Commander direct.

Specimens of such reports are given below:-

• To Colonel FOULKES         (ii) To Captain KENT

Advanced First Army           3^rd Division

All ready                                 S.W. four

From 2/Lt SMITH                  From 2/Lt JONES

21^st Division                          3^rd Division

2-0 a.m.                                  4-0 a.m.

1. Gas is not to be discharged from any emplacement where, owing to the direction of the wind at the time of discharge, it is clear that our own infantry will suffer.  Section Officers should be prepared to take the responsibility on their own shoulders in this matter, but if there is time they should report the action they propose taking to higher authority.  It should be remembered that at one period of the attack a discharge from certain emplacements may not be possible, but that it may become possible later on.  This can easily be ascertained from the course followed by the smoke.  (See also para.18).

1. Ascertain to the best of your ability the effect of the gas attack from the statements of our own wounded and of prisoners, and also from your own observations, if these can be made without undue risk.  This is of the greatest importance, as the procedure followed in subsequent discharges may have to be modified as the result of the information gained.

1. The greatest care is to be taken with printed Time Tables and written programmes, and they must all be destroyed immediately after the discharge of gas is finished.

1. The Time Table is to be adhered to as far as circumstances permit, but it is important that all the gas should be discharged if possible.  This may involve letting off a larger quantity at the same time towards the close of the operations  to make up for lost time.

All gas must be turned off punctually at scheduled time.

1. See that all valves are shut after discharge is finished, and that nuts, caps, etc., are replaced on cylinders.

• As soon after the battle as possible, send in to the Officer directing the gas operation a very brief report of a general nature on the main features of the attack.  Example:- “Gas discharge very satisfactory.  Ninety per cent emptied.  Infantry took trenches practically no opposition.”  At the earliest opportunity send in a more detailed account of the battle, in which the following points will be dealt with:-
• Front.  Give Division, Brigade and Regiment.
• Name of Officer.
• Wind; direction and velocity.
• Number of cylinders discharged, as well as the total number of

cylinders in your Section front.

• Smoke arrangements and their working.
• Time Table: zero (difficulty in getting, etc.).
• Enemy’s fire experienced, and its effects.
• Effects of gas –
• On our own men.
• On enemy’s fire and resistance.
• Reports of prisoners, wounded etc.
• Personnel: Behaviour; Casualties.
• Apparatus: Removal of; Defects in.

These reports should be sent in through your Company Commander.

• Prepare, as soon as possible, a nominal roll of casualties, and hand it to your Company Commander; also, in a separate report, any recommendations you wish to make.

• See that your men have instructions as to returning to Company billets after the attack, and as to what material they are to bring with them.

• Do not, in conversation with officers and men of other units, refer to any matter connected with the work, organization or stores of the Special Brigade, or to any details regarding preparations for the attack.

• Impress on your men the importance of secrecy at all times: also that if they are taken prisoner they are bound to divulge their rank and name only, and it should be a point of honour with them to give no further information of any kind.

C.W Foulkes

Colonel

O.C., Special Brigade.

April 20, 1916

Headquarters,

Northern Command,

York.

18^th April, 1916.

My dear General,

I cannot congratulate you too heartily on what I may say your long deferred promotion.  May you be a Major General soon.

I think you will be interested to see the enclosed cutting, which will give you some idea as to how we are “pushing” along.  The organisation that I told you about is now beginning to work, and this is one of the results.

Good luck

Yours ever

L.G.J. Scovell

Brigadier General

R.K. Kentish D.S.O.

c/o Headquarters,

General Staff. 3^rd Army.  France.

Same Place

Dear Alan,

In my last letter I think I led you to believe I should be coming home next week.  I was mistaken!

I got my warrant last night about 7 p.m. for Saturday – I was feeling very bucked with the world in general until at 7.30 p.m. along came the inevitable ‘Army Order’ cancelling all leave for an indefinite period.  It is damned rotten – this is the second occasion on which my leave has been snatched away from me at the last moment.

Of course I shall put in an application for a “special” but fear it will not meet with much success for – well it’s getting late in the year and perhaps you can guess the reasons.  I expect I shall have to visit Fritz once more before I see Blighty again.  Damn the war!  Still I got very tight last night which was some consolation though only of a temporary nature.

Very busy getting out a menu for dinner tomorrow.  Must shut up.  Will write later

            Yours

                        Dick.

No envelope with this letter.

On YMCA headed notepaper

Pte J.W. Brotherhood No 4564 5^th Leicesters No 6 Base Depot B.E.F.  France

Apl 14^th 016

Dear Rev Walters

            No doubt you are now waiting to hear from me, & perhaps you are also wondering what has become of me since I last wrote you.

            Today, as you see, finds me in “Sunny France”.  To me, it seems a most wonderful country, its villages & towns are most picturesque, & the people seem to be a most wonderful conglomeration of humanity.

            They vary so in manner & dress & speech, that one hardly seems to realise that the many specimens of France’s people belong to one nation.

            Everywhere one meets with an enthusiasm that must be admired.  As with us, so with the people here: – They are out to win & if enthusiasm plays any part whatever in Victory then we are bound to win.

            Well Sir I must not say much about these things, as our letters of necessity must be short & besides, I am not in England now.  We have the Censor here & this one cannot always write as we would, nor would it be wise if one could.  So far I am very well indeed, & I am very much enjoying my life here.  We get plenty of work here, & we have a stern discipline: but it is needed, especially in a foreign country; it helps one to realise what War means, even before one may reach the seat of war

I trust that you are well, & I shall be pleased to hear from you.  I do pray for you in your work, & trust that your ministry may become more & more successful

From your Sincere Friend

J.W. Brotherhood

Pte J.W. Brotherhood 5^th Leicester

To Rev Walters

In envelope addressed to Rev T.W. Walters, Vicar of Whitwick, Whitwick, Leicester-shire.

Letter postmarked ARMY POST OFFICE S.15  18 16 16

Passed Field Censor 2595 in red hexagonal cachet.

NOTES

on the

CONSTRUCTION OF CYLINDER EMPLACEMENTS

——————————————————————————

The type of emplacement constructed must depend on the local conditions.  For example, in dry, firm soil it may be possible to omit wood linings altogether.

It may happen in emergency that there will be no time to make emplacements at all, and the cylinders may have to be placed on the fire-step, and discharged in that position.

Wherever possible, however, the greatest efforts should be made to give the cylinders adequate protection: otherwise, the contemplated use of gas may be disclosed to the enemy by the accidental destruction of a cylinder by a rifle grenade, trench mortar shell, etc., before the commencement of the battle.

The nature of emplacement adopted must be left for local decision: and it will depend on the amount of material available, the nature of the revetment, the width of the trench, the weather conditions, etc.

The accompanying drawings show types of emplacements that have been constructed for recent operations.

CW Foulkes,

Colonel,

O.C., Special Brigade.

April 10, 1916.

Illustrations held with original text.

Apl 10^th 1916.

Dear Alan,

Thanks for your letter which I have lost and cannot refer to in my reply.  I am having a great time – got right up against the second in command and enjoying the consequent warfare thoroughly.  He is a shit of the first order – one of those fearfully conscientious, T.T., non smoker individuals whom any normal man has a longing to kick from Lands End to John o’ Groats.

Hope to get a few days in Blighty next week if leave does not stop; however say nothing about it at home because I am fully expecting leave to stop any day.

Got a damned fine C.O. in the person of Capt Gorden who used to command my old company.  Of course he ought to have at battalion and would have one if he did not consistently refuse to bum-suck.  He is a Dalton-in-Furness man but seems to have spent most of his life in the wild parts of the earth.  We get on very well together – he has a fine taste in whisky.

I hope that leave of mine does come off – there is a hell of a lot I want to do this time – only one thing I am thoroughly funked of strolling about Kendal in officers-rig out.  I really think I shall have to change into civvies when I go up home.  The Mumford who was wounded was my friend from M/C, curiously enough I had just before heard from his wife, whom by the way you met in the lab that day as Miss Cliffe, a few days before it happened.  Our lab boy of these days in somewhere in this corps but I am unable to trace him having forgotten both his name and appearance.

Got a splendid company mess in these days – I have the honour of running it – it costs us about 23 bob per week per head but I feed and drink ‘em jolly well for that.  Really living is much cheaper out here than it is at home.

Nothing more to write about.

Yours

Dick

P.S.  Just heard that Oldham, Hall, Cooper and others of my Manchester pals are all out here somewhere.  I rather fancy they will be with the third army so have not much chance of running across them at present. RMB

Headquarters,

Northern Command,

York.

8^th April, 19116.

My dear Kentish,

I think you might like to see a Memoranda we have sent off to G.H.Q. on the subject of the Command School of Instruction.  Please remember the idea (and I am not ashamed to say so) have largely come out of your head, and are rather in the rough, but time and experience alone will show how long the Course must last, and what we can do in the time.  Since you left us, we have got a “move” on in another direction, and we have now formed a “Northern Cross Country & Physical Fitness Association”.  All kinds of sports, amusements and athletics are developing all along the line, so I think this weak spot in our armour is now removed.

I intend to speak to the N.C.O’s under instruction at York School on Morale etc. at the end of the current course, but on future occasions will do so at the commencement.

Best of Luck

Your ever,

G.J. Scovell

P.S. I will write to you later about the pin.  We have nor been able to find it yet.  I expect it is hidden away in one of those socks!!

Lieut Colonel R.J. Kentish D.S.O.

Army School,

Headquarters,

3^rd Army, France.

On Y.M.C.A. headed notepaper.

April 7 1916

Reply to F Company 3^rd Bat Leicester Regt

Stationed at Patrington

Nr. Hull

Dear Vicar,

            You will think I have been a long time writing to you but I do not have much spare time.  I hope you are getting along well at Whitwick.  I think of you and our church on Sunday mornings about 8 o’clock, at that time we are just having breakfast, we fall in for church parade at 8.15 A.M. then our service does not interfere with the other service as we are out of church again by 9.30.  It is so different from the ordinary service as we have no choir or organ but the Batt band goes with us.  It is a splendid band.  They have their service here in the afternoon instead of the evening.  I am able to get then but the worst part of it is we cannot get back in time for tea so I have to go without.  The vicar here is a fine chap he is getting up a class for confirmation, he is amongst us nearly every night.  We have just had a church hut put up so that we can receive Holy Communion, we could not before, that service is held every Sunday morning, one week by the Vicar of Patrington and the next by the Vicar of Winestead  at 6.45, I wonder what some of the Whitwick people would say if they had to get up and clean buttons boots and shave (which we have to do every morning, in the army) and the be there for that time, I know you would not get many there.  I get the magazine sent from home so you see I can keep in touch with our old church and if I cannot be there I know what services are being held I look at it every day.  The picture of the church makes me realise how far I am from home.  The word “home” sounds like a sacred thing to we fellows living in huts, more so when we are fetched out to sleep in a field like we were on Wednesday night thanks to the Zepps.  We had the Zepps 7 nights running.  I know that would upset you people at home.  I shall be thankful for a whole night in bed without having to get up and dress about 10.30.  I see they keep sending men to France from here, they have sent three or four hundred while I have been here.  I expect they are thinning the men out at Whitwick now and more will have to go yet I am sorry to say.  I expect I shall be ready for France just after Whitsuntide, but I shall see you before I go there.  Well I will wish you Good Night, hoping you you’re your family are all well.  I am first class.  I am

Yours faithfully

No 25739       J.W. Weston

In envelope addressed to Rev. T.W. Walters, Vicarage, Whitwick, Nr Leicester.  England.

Letter postmarked PATRINGTON HULL 8 AP 16.