APPENDIX “B”
BOMBARDMENT TO SUPPORT ASSAULT.
(1) PHASES.
The bombardment to support the assault will be divided into distinctive phases, as under.
Phase I. From 65 minutes previous to zero time up to zero time. Intense final bombardment preparatory to assault.
Phase II. From 0.00 to 0.04 minutes. Bombardment of line “B” for 4 minutes.
Phase III. From 0.04 to 0.09 minutes. Bombardment of line “C” for 5 minutes.
Phase IV. From 0.09 to 0.19 minutes. Bombardment of line “D” for 10 minutes.
Phase V. From 0.19 to 0.58 minutes. Bombardment of line “E” by Left Group and one battery of Centre Group.
LOOP TRENCH, BLIND ALLEY by Centre Group.
Concentration on MONTAUBAN, THE TWINS, THE MILL and communication trenches by Right Group.
Phase VI. From 0.58 to 2.00 minutes. Two minute test barrage on line “H”. Concentration of Right Group batteries and forward batteries on MONTAUBAN.
Shelling of BEETLE ALLEY, MONTAUBAN ALLEY, THE TWINS, BLIND ALLEY, THE LOOP etc.
Phase VII. 2.00 to 2.30 minutes. Shrapnel barrage starting from ”F” line and moving in front of infantry by increments of range, until final barrage is established on line ”H”.
Phase VIII. 2.30 onwards protection of infantry during consolidation of position gained.
- TIME TABLE.
Time Table of bombardment with actual tasks allotted to each battery in the various phases is attached.
- CHART.
The attached chart indicates trenches to be engaged by each of the 5 wire cutting batteries per group during the advance.
The lines have been lettered in accordance with preliminary instructions already issued.
- 5” Howitzer BATTERIES.
When not engaged in Counter Battery work with gas shell these batteries will engage trenches somewhat in rear of front barrage in accordance with time table, and on special points to be selected by Group Commanders.
- FORWARD BATTERIES.
These will be employed for dealing with any unforeseen contingencies, and will be allotted certain tasks for which they are well suited owing to their close range.
- SHRAPNEL & H.E.
During the bombardment 18-pr batteries will fire shrapnel with a mixture of 20% H.E.
As an indication to the infantry that a lift is about to occur, all 18-pr batteries will fire exclusively H.E. ammunition for 30 seconds at an increased pace previous to each lift, namely about 5 rounds per gun.
All concentrations on MONTAUBAN should consist mostly of H.E. ammunition, a proportion of this class of ammunition should be consequently reserved for these tasks.
- FLANK BARRAGES
Throughout the advance Group Commanders will hold themselves in readiness for the possibility of having to establish a flank barrage to protect a salient that may be formed found owing to some portion of the advance being temporarily checked.
PHASE I.
65 minutes previous to zero time up to zero time.
BATTERY OBJECTIVE REMARKS
15 wire cutting Line “A” Intense fire.
batteries
D/82, D/83,D/84 Communication trenches Under instructions to be
& trench junctions on issued by Group Commanders
respective fronts, up to Counter battery work under
5 minutes before zero. XIII Corps H.A. for 5
Minutes previous to zero time
Forward
Batteries:- Remain silent.
A/51 Wire in front of
B/51 POMMIERS REDOUBT. During last 15 minutes.
A.15.d.7.9. Enfilade BAY TRENCH. During last 15 minutes
C/51 F.17.b.2.2. Enfilade BLACK ALLEY. During last 15 minutes
F.12.c.7.3. Enfilade MONTAUBAN. During last 15 minutes
D/51 BUND TRENCH from BAY During last 15 minutes
LANE to TRIANGLE
2” T.M. Front & Support trench
Heavy T.M.s Trench junction in rear
of CRATERS.
PHASE II 0.00 to 0.04
BATTERY OBJECTIVE REMARKS
15 wire cutting Line “B” Intense fire.
Batteries
D/82, D/83, D.84. Counter battery work Under orders of XIII Corps H.A. with gas shell.
Forward
Batteries:-
A/51 Enfilade MINE ALLEY & BRESLAU ALLEY
B/51 Same as Phase I.
A.15.d. Enfilade BUND TRENCH.
C/51 F.17.b. Enfilade BLACK ALLEY.
F.12.c. Same as Phase I.
D/51 POMMIERS TRENCH 100 yards either side of junction with POMMIERS LANE.
PHASE III 0.04 to 0.09.
BATTERY OBJECTIVE REMARKS
15 wire cutting Line “C”
Batteries
D/82, D/83, D.84. Same as Phase II.
Forward
Batteries:-
A/51 Same as Phase II.
B/51 Same as Phase II.
A.15.d. Enfilade BUND SUPPORT.
C/51 F.17.b. Enfilade BLACK ALLEY. Only North of Line “C”
F.12.c. Same as Phase I.
D/51 Same as Phase II.
PHASE IV 0.09 to 0.19.
BATTERY OBJECTIVE REMARKS
15 wire cutting Line “D”
Batteries
D/82, D/83, D.84. BEETLE ALLEY & On their respective Group MONTAUBAN ALLEY. fronts, as soon as Counter
Battery Work is finished.
Forward
Batteries:-
A/51 Same as Phase II.
B/51 Enfilade LOOP Trench.
A.15.d. Enfilade POMMIERS LANE
C/51 F.17.b. Enfilade BLACK ALLEY . Only North of Line “D”
F.12.c. Remain silent.
D/51 POMMIERS Redoubt.
PHASE V 0.19 to 0.58.
BATTERY OBJECTIVE REMARKS
Left Group Wire
Cutting Batteries Line “E” Normal rate of fire intense fire at last and B/83 10 minutes.
Centre Group LOOP TRENCH,. Normal rate of fire intense fire at last
Wire Cutting BLIND ALLEY, 10 minutes.
Batteries ETC
Right Group Wire Concentration on Western. Normal rate of fire, bursts Cutting Batteries extremity of MONTAUBAN of intense fire, mostly H.E.
D/82 POMMIERS REDOUBT Steady rate of fire.
D/83 THE TWINS. Steady rate of fire.
D/84 MONTAUBAN MILL. Steady rate of fire.
Forward
Batteries:-
A/51 Same as Phase II. Only North of Line “D”
B/51 Western extremity of
MONTAUBAN.
A.15.d. Bursts of fire at S.20.c.2.8. On tracks at junction of
C/51 F.17.b. Bursts of fire at S.20.c.2.8. . valleys
F.12.c. Same as Phase I.
D/51 POMMIERS REDOUBT.
PHASE VI 0.58 to 2.00
BATTERY OBJECTIVE REMARKS
15 Wire Cutting 2 minutes test barrage” From 1.00 to 1.02. Intense fire. .
Batteries. on Line “H Barrage will be observed by aeroplane and corrections dropped by message at Divnl. Arty. H.Q. and passed to Groups.
Left Group wire BEETLE TRENCH Steady rate of fire.
Cutting batteries
Centre Group MONTAUBAN ALLEY,
wire cutting BLIND ALLEY & Steady rate of fire.
Batteries. LOOP TRENCH
Right Group Concentration on
Wire cutting Western portion of Bursts of fire.
Batteries. MONTAUBAN.
D/82 MONTAUBAN. Bursts of fire
D/83 MONTAUBAN. Bursts of fire
D/84 THE TWINS. Bursts of fire
Forward Batteries:-
A/51 Same as Phase II. Steady rate of fire.
B/51 Western extremity of Bursts of fire.
MONTAUBAN.
A.15.d. Same as Phase V.
C/51 F.17.b. MONTAUBAN. Steady rate of fire.
F.12.c. MONTAUBAN. Steady rate of fire.
D/51 MONTAUBAN. Steady rate of fire.
PHASE VII 200 to 2.30.
BATTERY OBJECTIVE REMARKS
15 wire cutting Barrage to be on line The distance from line “F” to batteries. “F” for 5 minutes previous line “H” is approximately
to 2.00. At 2.00 the 1000 yards for all batteries.
barrage will lift by Batteries will consequently
increments of range open the barrage at a range
of 50 yards until line of 1000 yards short of the
“H” is reached at 2.30 the range required for
barrage “H” & will increase
their range at the rate of
50 yards every 1 ½ minutes
D/82,
D/83,
D/84. CATERPILLAR WOOD On their respective Group fronts
Forward batteries:-
A/51 CATERPILLAR WOOD On Centre Group front, sweeping.
B/51 CATERPILLAR WOOD Moderate rate of fire.
C/51 CATERPILLAR WOOD On Right Group front, Moderate rate of
fire.
D/51 CATERPILLAR WOOD On Left group front, all four guns. moderate rate of fire.
PHASE VIII 2.30 onwards.
BATTERY OBJECTIVE REMARKS
Wire cutting Barrage “H” Steady rate of fire, periodic bursts
Batteries. and ready to turn on intense bombardment if required.
Remainder. Same as Phase VII.
AMENDMENTS TO 18TH DIVNL. ARTY. OPERATION ORDER NO 1
Appendix ”B”, Phase VII & VIII should be amended as under.
PHASE VII 2.00 to 2.30.
BATTERY OBJECTIVE REMARKS
15 Wire Cutting Barrage to be on The distance from line “F” to line
Batteries. line “F” for 5 “H” is approximately 1000 yards for
minutes previous all batteries. Batteries will cones-
to 2.00. quently open the barrage at a range
At 2.00 the barrage 1000 yards short of range required
will lift by increments for barrage “H” and will increase
of range of 50 yards their range by increments of 80 yds.
until line “H” is reached The four right batteries of Right
at 2.30. Group (C/85, A/50, C/84, A/84) will increase their range at a slower rate, 50 yds every 2 ½ minutes until line “H” is reached.
D/82,D/83, Western houses of Bursts of fire up to 2.15, intense
D/84. MONTAUBAN. from 2.15 onwards. Lift off MONTAUBAN at2.25.
A/51 MARLBRO WOOD
B/51 Western corner of Orchards & houses just east of Right
MONTAUBAN. Group boundary.
C/51 CATTERPILLAR WOOD MARICOURT Section to enfilade western portion of wood
D/51 CATERPILLAR WOOD. On Centre Group front.
PHASE VIII 2.30. onwards
BATTERY OBJECTIVE REMARKS
Wire Cutting Barrage “H” Steady rate of fire, periodic bursts of fire,
Batteries and ready to turn on intense fire if necessary.
D/82, D/83, CATERPILLAR WOOD on During this phase forward observation
D/84. respective Group fronts. must be obtained as soon as possible, and barrage regulated by actual observation and reports from Liaison Officers.
A/51 -do-
B/51 -do-
C/51 -do-
D/51 MARLBRO WOOD
A.F. Brooke
Captain R.A.,
Brigade Major R.A. 18th Division
H.Q. R.A. 18/Div
27 June 1916
Copies to all concerned.
The Bay Museum & Research Facility 