Y.M.C.A

POSTCARD

Addressee T. Smith Esq., 24, Palmerstone Rd., Bowes Park. London. N.

No 27521

Pte. A.A. Smith

12^th Batt. Essex Regt ‘C’ Coy

Address reply to Dovercourt

Undated.  Postmark Harwich 7 June 16

Dear Father

Many thanks for the letter.  I have great hopes of getting home this week so do not send a parcel.  I believe Albert has written to you.  Will let you know as soon as I know for certain.  Please excuse more news now.  Alf

APPENDIX OO/7/1

SECRET.

MAP REFERENCE France Sheet 62 D 1^st Edition.

—————————————————————

Officer Commanding.

—————————

1. The DIVISION AMMUNITION COLUMN will move to MILLENCOURT in accordance with Table A on reverse.

1. All BATTERY WAGON LINES will move to E.2.a & b as shewn overleaf.

1. Times will be STRICTLY ADHERED TO in all cases.

C.R. Gover Major R.A.

Bde Major 8^th Div Arty.

6.6.16

France

June 6^th 1916

My Dear Nell,

I received your last letter quite safe. Sorry have not been able to write you before.

I am not surprised you forgot the Church Service as it is over 3 yrs since you first came to the Hall. Do you remember the first Sunday?  Well I must say I have forgot the Church Service as well.  Oh sorry I never went then did I?  Still my mistake your never wrong.

You mention we might be sitting in the armchair again before long. That is quite probable as the war is not expected to last very much longer now & even if it does our division start their leaves in August or thereabouts.

Have not had any time to write Bert yet but hope to do so soon as poss. You might send him my best respects in your next letter to him.  You mustn’t let your Mother upset about Bert’s letters.  I should think Bert would know you all write even if he doesn’t receive them.

Well I am sitting in a dug out in the reserve trenches writing this. We came in on Sunday & expect to leave the end of this week.  We get it a bit warm of a night here.  Have shells & machine gun fire knocking around but have had no casualties so far.

Well Dear have no more to tell you. Please Remember me to your Mother & Father & to those round the corner.  Must close with love.

I remain

Your loving

Alf

With Green Envelope to

Miss N. Pilgrim,

161 Abbey Rd

Barking

S.X.

England.

Stamped Field Post Office 122. 8 JU 16.  Noted “Ploegstreet”

4^th Army No. 4/A.A./66/30/27

XIIIth Corps 24/4(G)

18Division No Z.74

SECRET

XIIIth Corps

1. Information has been received that lachrymatory shells will be available for 4.5” howrs. And perhaps for 60 pounders.
2. As regards quantity, you can count on receiving about 1500 and this amount may reach 2500.
3. No estimate can be given yet as to any prospect for the 60 pounders, it is hoped that a few may be available, but no figures have yet been given.

3/6/1916                                                                         sd. C.L.E. BUDWORTH, Major-General

For M.G. G.S. Fourth Army.

-2-

G.O.C. R.A.

18^th Division

30^th Division

”Q”

For information

XIIIth Corps

4^th June 1916.                                                                    sg H.E. BRAINE, Maj

For B.G. G.S.

-3-

Royal Artillery

18^th Division

For information

June 5^th 1916.                                                                    Name unreadable

Major

For Lt. Col S.G.S.O. 18^th Division.

APPENDIX OO/7

SECRET                                                                                             Copy No. 18

8^th Divisional Artillery Operation Order No. 7.

4^th June 1916

1. The 45^th Brigade R.F.A. and “Z” Battery R.H.A. less 57^th Battery (Hows) complete and 1 Section 18-pdr Batteries, will move to Billets in BEHENCOURT in relief of 152^nd Brigade R.F.A. 34^th Divisional Artillery on the night of the 5^th/6^th June 1916.

1. Lieut-Colonel A.T. BUTLER, C.M.G., R.H.A. will be in command of the above Artillery until the return of Lieut-Colonel H.W. HILL, when he will return to the Left Group Headquarters.

1. The Adjutant and staff of the 5^th Brigade R.H.A. will remain with the Left Group Headquarters.

1. The move will be in accordance with Table “A” on reverse.

1. No move will take place between 3 a.m. and 8 p.m.

1. The Left Group will remain as at present.       One Subaltern Officer being in command of each section in Action.

1. Billeting parties will be sent on in advance to report to the Adjutant 152^nd Brigade R.F.A. who will arrange the taking over of Billets.

1. All moves to be reported to this Office.

C.R Gover Major R.A.

Brigade-Major. 8^th Divisional Artillery.

4.6.16

Copies to:-

5^th Bde R.H.A.                        1

33^rd Bde R.F.A.          2

45^th Bde R.F.A.          3

IIIrd Corps R.A.         4

8^th Division.                 5

34^th Div. Arty.             6

A.D.V.S.                     7

Signal Coy.                 8

Div. Train.                   9

S.S.O.                          10

Retained                      11 to 18.

VISIBILITY TABLE BETWEEN DAWN AND SUNRISE

Hour                Time before Sunrise                objects discerned

Hrs.   Mins.

2.5                               1         44         Break of dawn.

2.35                             1         14         Read watch.

2.45                             1         4           See chalk trenches at 600 yards.

2.50                             –          59         See earth trenches at 600 yards.

3.20                             –        29         Distinguish trenches a mile off.

No aeroplane up.         See aeroplane easily flying at 3000’

(Looks black cannot see colours.)

3.15                            –         34          Distinguish men’s heads above trenches at 100 yards.

3.25                          –        24          See foresight of rifle and men at 300 yards    sufficiently easy for accurate firing.

3.40                             –         9            Perfect light to see any objects.

The morning was an average summer morning.

Sky with thin covering of clouds.

June 3^rd 1916

Fourth Army Q.S. 137

XIIIth Corps No. Q.S.73/50

18^th Div No Q.P. 13/3

SECRET

XIIIth Corps

In continuation of my Q.S.97 dated 30^th May, the Army Commander has approved of the following amounts of Grenades, Trench Mortar Ammunition and S.A. being dumped in front of Railhead:-

No of Divns.   No per Divn to be dumped.                Total to be dumped

(in excess of normal establishment.).

No 3         3                                         5,000                                                 15,000

No 5        3                             25,000                                                 75,000.

(b) TRENCH MORTAR AMMUNITION

No of Mortars.            Rounds per Mortar                  Total rounds

to be dumped.                                    to be dumped.

2” (Medium)          36                                     430 (70 already dumped                     15,480.

making 500)

3” (Stokes)             72                         200 (300 already                                14,400

dumped making 500)

240 MM (heavy)    12                         100                                                      1,200

(c) S.A.A.

No of Divns.  No of boxes per Division in front line to be dumped.  (This includes present trench reserve and all ammunition other than the 170 rounds carried on the man and the authorised establishments.)

3                                              1,750 (per Division)                            5,250 (TOTAL)

2. Table E shows the number of trucks which will be required daily. The days of arrival cannot be altered.

3. The echelons of S.A.A. will be filled prior to the commencement of operations.

4. Dumps to be made in the trenches will be formed as late as possible and not until the Brigade and Divisional Dumps are completed.

Sd. H.E. SUTTON, Major General

D.A. & Q.M.G., Fourth Army.

Headquarters.

Fourth Army

2^nd June 1916

Fourth Army Q.S. 137

XIIIth Corps No. Q.S.73/50

18^th Div No Q.P. 13/3

SECRET

XIIIth Corps

In continuation of my Q.S.97 dated 30^th May, the Army Commander has approved of the following amounts of Grenades, Trench Mortar Ammunition and S.A. being dumped in front of Railhead:-

No of Divns.   No per Divn to be dumped.                Total to be dumped

(in excess of normal establishment.).

No 3         3                                         5,000                                                 15,000

No 5        3                             25,000                                                 75,000.

(b) TRENCH MORTAR AMMUNITION

No of Mortars.            Rounds per Mortar                  Total rounds

to be dumped.                                    to be dumped.

2” (Medium)          36                                     430 (70 already dumped                     15,480.

making 500)

3” (Stokes)             72                         200 (300 already                                14,400

dumped making 500)

240 MM (heavy)    12                         100                                                      1,200

(c) S.A.A.

No of Divns.  No of boxes per Division in front line to be dumped.  (This includes present trench reserve and all ammunition other than the 170 rounds carried on the man and the authorised establishments.)

3                                              1,750 (per Division)                            5,250 (TOTAL)

2. Table E shows the number of trucks which will be required daily. The days of arrival cannot be altered.

3. The echelons of S.A.A. will be filled prior to the commencement of operations.

4. Dumps to be made in the trenches will be formed as late as possible and not until the Brigade and Divisional Dumps are completed.

Sd. H.E. SUTTON, Major General

D.A. & Q.M.G., Fourth Army.

Headquarters.

Fourth Army

2^nd June 1916

VISIBILITY TABLE BETWEEN DAWN AND SUNRISE

HOUR                        TIME BEFORE SUNRISE               OBJECTS DISCERNED

Hrs.   Mins.

2.20                             1         30         Break of dawn.

2.40                             1         10         Read watch.

2.55                             –         55         See chalk trenches at 600 yards.

3.5                               –          45         See earth trenches at 600 yards.

3.25                             –         25         Distinguish trenches a mile off.

No aeroplane up.         See aeroplane easily flying at 3000’

(Looks black cannot see colours.)

3.20                          –         30        Distinguish men’s heads above trenches at 100 yards.

3-30                              –         20        See foresight of rifle and men at 300 yards    sufficiently easy for accurate firing.

The morning was too dull to give perfect light to see any objects

a time for this.

The morning was a grey summer morning.

Cloudy sky.

2^nd June 1916

WAR DIARY Of Headquarters 55^th W. Lancs Divisional Artillery

From 1^st April 1916 to 30^th April 1916

April 1^st 8.30 a.m.   8^th Lancs How Bty fired on active hostile battery X.10.c.60.24 getting direct hits on 3 emplacements – 2 explosions – aeroplane observation.  10^th & 11^th Lancs Batteries Kept fired salvoes of shrapnel during the night to prevent removal of guns.

3 p.m.        Centre Group carried out bombardment in accordance with attached – result not very satisfactory – barrier was not completely breached.                                                                                       Appendix I

2^nd       1.30 p.m.      WAILLY was heavily shelled –

3 p.m.         6 H.A.G. – 6” Hows – 8” How – 9.2” Hows 2 4.7 batteries – 1 60 pr battery-

D.A. – 5 18 pr batteries – and – 2 4.5 How Batteries retaliated on FICHEUX.

6 p.m.         18 prs again fired on FICHEUX for further shelling of WAILLY – results satisfactory –

3^rd         3 p.m.         Bombardment in accordance with Appendix II – Result most satisfactory – the 9.2” How levelled the house to the ground.  The enemy retaliated at 4 p.m. on BRETENCOURT – in reply to this 6^th H.A.G. 2 4.7 batteries 1 60 pr battery, 2 8″ Hows, 1 9.2” How with French heavy guns responded on HENDECOURT

5.45 p.m.     55 D.A. 3 4.5 How batteries – 2 18 pr batteries responded on HENDECOURT.

There was some further retaliation to which 2 4.5” How batteries made instant reply.             Appendix II

3/4^th     After dark    Relief of 68^th by A/123^rd and 88^th by D/124^th Batteries in accordance with Order No 15 as amended by Order No 18.     Appendix III.

4/5^th     After dark    Section 12^th Lancs Bty from Right to Left Group to form 6 gun bty with A/123^rd.                         Appendix IV

5^th        11 a.m.        Relief of 14^th Bde H.Q. and B.A.C. by Section 123^rd B.A.C. completed –

6^th        6 p.m.         For 4.2” How fire on F Sector. R/4 W.L. and 7^th Lancs How Bty replied on German front line opposite trenches 184 -194.

8^th         2 p.m.          BELLACOURT heavily shelled – 60 4.2” How fired into 7^th Lancs Bty position

3.15 p.m.     Chastisement on BOIRY.  3.15 p.m. with 7 4.5” Hows 8 – 4.7” guns 4 120 mm French – This concluded hostile activity

9^th       12.10 p.m.    BEAUMETZ heavily shelled – about 120 7.7, 10.5 and 15.0 cm shells.  Casualties besides 2horses and some cows killed 2 men slightly wounded.

9^th           3 p.m.       Chastisement of BOIRY as on the previous afternoon.  This concluded the day’s activity.

12^th         4 p.m.       Bombardment in accordance with Appendix 5.  Result as far as could be observed satisfactory – Raining – but 9.2 Hows obtained direct hits.                                                                                      Appendix V

13^th         9.55 p.m.   Hostile aeroplane dropped 2 bombs outside BEAUMETZ and one near BASSEUX.

17^th         4 p.m.        Wire cutting at X.3.b.5.8 ½ by Section 3^rd Lancs Bty from R.32.a.2.9 – Guns shot well but the wire was not completely cut – it was at least 30 x in depth.  On conclusion the section was withdrawn just in time to avoid retaliation of 5.9”’s at 5.15 p.m. and returned to its battery after dark.                     Appendix VI

18^th         2a.m.         18 prs centre group and Howitzers cooperated in a successful raid on enemy front line R.34.b. by 8^th L’pool (Irish).  Fire was well directed and helped to make the operation successful.

19^th         3 p.m.        Retaliation on FICHEUX for shelling WAILLY – H.A.G. fired 71 rds in 3 minutes and 5 18 pr batteries and 2 Howitzer Batteries cooperated.

19-20^th

20-21^st                      Reliefs in accordance with Operation Order No 21.                                                              Appendix VII

24^th                          5.45 hostile aeroplane dropped a bomb on 7^th Bty wagon lines near MONCHIET killing 3 horses – 10 others had to be destroyed owing to injuries – No men injured –

3 p.m.         8” How fired in accordance with G.O. 24 – getting 5 rds into the sap – 3 rds into German wire – 2 rds into our own wire (not unexpected) and 4 blinds.  The result most satisfactory – infantry much pleased.                                                                                                                                               Appendix VIII

5 p.m.         Wire cutting in accordance with Order 22.                                                                   Appendix IX

26^th       5.15 a.m.     Aircraft dropped 2 bombs near BELLACOURT H.A.G. retaliated 6 a.m.

27^th       6-73 a.m.    A & B/125^th heavily shelled by 5.9” How – no casualties to personnel – 1 gun A/125 dial sight (No 7) and shield damaged – (out of action) – Ranging by aeroplane –

3 p.m.        6” How on saps opposite F Sector.

Hostile aeroplanes very active and observation balloons watching and observing fire.

30^th         6 a.m.       166^th Inf – took over extra front in accordance with Appendix X.

Orders received for artillery to cover this line from May 6^th.

Period 24-27^th marked by hostile counter battery activity – observation balloons up in all directions and aircraft observing.  No batteries were knocked out and only one gun (mentioned above) damaged – 14^th Bty preparing a new position.

1. Bueson

Major

B.M. 55 D.A.

1^st May 1916