21st Divisional Artillery Instruction 23 June 1916

SECRET
15/CA 10/80
7th Divisional Artillery
21st do do
XV Corps Heavy Artillery
…………………………..
7th Division )
17th do ) for information.
21st do )
XV Corps )
——————-

Attention is drawn to attached copy of Instructions from FOURTH ARMY.

The principal parts of Paras 1 and 3 have been attended to already, but possibly have not been communicated to all the Officers concerned; this should be done now if necessary.

Para 2 should be carefully adhered to.

E.W. Alexander
Brigadier General., R.A. XV Corps.
23rd June 1916

21st Divisional Artillery Instruction 23 June 1916

2/380.X.
4/AA/307/4.
SECRET.
XVth Corps.
…………….

In connection with the impending operation, the Army Commander desires that special attention be paid to the following:-
1. The Command of the Artillery, of its groups and sub-groups together with their respective tasks and spheres of action must be clearly defined at all periods of the operations.
Changes in command and redistribution of Units sometimes lead to confusion, changes should not be made therefore without due forethought.

2. The number of guns and howitzers on each Corps Front avoids the necessity for prolonged intensive fire and allows of brief pauses for the equipment to cool.
The bombardment should be characterised by steady and well directed fire. Whilst such ammunition as circumstances demand is to be expended the importance of obtaining the best value for every round fired and the wisdom of economy in expenditure is to be impressed on all ranks.

3. An early advance not only of the Divisional but also of the Heavy Artillery is to be anticipated.
Such Heavy Artillery as is required will be moved forward with a view to effective country-battery work and to the early commencement of the second and third phases of the operations.
The proposed moves of both Divisional and Heavy Artillery should be worked out in as much detail as possible, and any instructions issued on the subject forwarded to Fourth Army.

(sd) G.L. Budworth
Major General
for M.G., G.S., Fourth Army
23/6/16

21st Divisional Artillery Instruction 23 June 1916

APPENDIX F/3.
21 Div
G.571.

XV Corps 1
62 Inf. Bde. 5
63 : : 5
64 : : 5
Div. Art. 2
Div. Eng. 4
Pioneers 1
Signals 1
178 Tun Co. R.E. 1
“Q” 3
A.D.M.S. 1
50th Bde 1
F. Coy. R.E. 1

Reference 21 Div O.O. 55 dated 17/6/16.
On the night when the gas attack is ordered to proceed:-

1. Our front line trenches will be held as lightly as the circumstances permit.
2. All men in the front line trenches will wear their gas helmets.
3. All speaking and movement will be restricted to the necessary minimum, especially in the case of a cylinder bursting or gas coming into our trenches from any other cause. Shouting and running about must be avoided.
4. men wearing gas helmets must be careful not to show their heads over the parapets prior to the discharge of gas.
5. the TAMBOUR will be evacuated half an hour before discharge of gas, and will not be re-occupied until reported free from gas by an Officer of F Coy. R.E.

Please acknowledge.

A. Hollingworth Capt.
For Lieut-Colonel
General Staff,
21st Division
23/6/16

21st Divisional Artillery Instruction 23 June 1916

SECRET
15/CA 6/31.
2/33 GX.

7th Divn’l Artillery
21st do do
XV Corps Heavy Art’y
…………………………..
7th Division )
17th do ) for information.
21st do )
XV Corps )
——————————————————

Estimate of Ammunition required for Operations.
U to Z days, both inclusive.
———————————————————–

18-pdr. 6 days at 200 rounds per gun per day. 1200.

4.5” Hows 2 days at 60 ————–do————)
4 days at 180 ————–do————) 840

4.7” gun 2 days at 90 ————–do————)
60-pdr. 4 days at 150. ————–do————) 820

6” How 2 days at 60 ————–do————)
–do– 4 days at 170 ————–do————) 800

8” How) 2 days at 40 ————–do————)
9.2” do) 4 days at 120 ————–do————) 560

6” gun 2 days at 20 ————–do————)
— do– 4 days at 120 ————–do————) 520

12” How 2 days at 20 ————–do————)
–do– 4 days at 70 ————–do————) 320

15” How. 2 days at 15 ————–do————)
–do– 4 days at 50 ————–do————) 230

Attention is called to the above estimate of Ammunition Expenditure which has been received from the FOURTH ARMY.

Efforts should be made not to exceed the averages given, though it may be necessary to fire more from some guns and less from others of the same nature.

J.M.R. Harrison Major
for Brigadier General., R.A., XV Corps
23rd June 1916

21st Divisional Artillery Operation Order No 1. 22 June 1916

15 CA 10/71
Copy No 7

XV CORPS ARTILLERY OPERATION ORDER NO 1
**********************************************

June 22nd 1916
——————

1. Reference Instructions for a Preliminary Bombardment forwarded under my No 15/CA 10/23 dated 12th June 1916 and Amendments thereto under my No 15/CA 10/23/1 dated 21st June 1916, the preliminary bombardment will commence on the morning of the 24th instant and will be carried out daily, in accordance with the above quoted instructions.

J.M.R. Harrison Major.
Staff Officer to B.G.R.A., XV Corps

Copy No 1 to XV Corps.
do 2 to XV Corps H.A.
do 3 to 7th Division.
do 4 to 7th Divisional Artillery.
do 5 to 17th Division.
do 6 to 21st Division.
do 7 to 21st Divisional Artillery.
do 8 to FOURTH ARMY
do 9 to WAR DIARY
do 10 to File
do 11to 14. Spare

Nothing new.

21st Divisional Artillery Instruction 22 June 1916

15 CA 10/66
SECRET
7th Divisional Artillery.
21st Divisional Artillery.
17th Divisional Artillery. (for information).
XV Corps Heavy Artillery.
8th Anti-Aircraft Battery.
——————————–

Please send in to this Office by 6 p.m. each evening, from “U” day inclusive, a short report on the telephone, giving:-
(a). General Situation.
(b). Results of Shooting.
(c). Casualties to Officers, or particularly heavy casualties in any Unit.
(d). Behaviour of ammunition.
(e). Casualties to Equipment, etc.

In addition, please telephone from time to time, as opportunity offers, any items of interest or information.

J.M.R. Harrison
Staff Officer to B.G.R.A.,
XV Corps.
22nd June 1916.

1. Return of ammunition expended during periods 8 p.m. to 12 noon and 12 noon to 8 p.m. daily to be wired as soon as possible after 12 noon & 8 p.m. daily from “U” day inclusive.
2. Casualty return for 24 hours ending 4 p.m. daily from “U” day inclusive – The cause of the casualty need not be stated but the names of officers must be given.

21st Divisional Artillery Instruction 22 June 1916

SECRET
N 210

21 Div Art.

H.Q. 97th Brigade will move to advance position at F.7.a.05.05 at 5 p.m. today.
A cycle orderly will be detailed to remain at H.Q. 95th Brigade R.F.A. MEAULTE.

Edward Palling Lt. Col. R.F.A.

22.6.16
Comdg 97th Bde R.F.A.

21st Divisional Artillery Instruction 22 June 1916

SECRET
15/CA 10/42/1

INSTRUCTIONS RE USE
OF
LACHRYMATORY AND GAS SHELLS
**********************************

With reference to 15/CA 10/42 dated 17th June 1916:-
1. No Gas Shells are to be used before “Z” Day by either 4.5” Howitzers or 75 mm French Guns.
2. On “Z” Day
(a) Lachrymatory Shells from 4.5” Howitzers are to be fired as laid down in the above quoted instructions.
(b) The Gas Shells from the 75 mm, are to be fired as follows:-
(If the Wind is away from our lines; )
(FRICOURT VILLAGE. )
( )
(In any Wind. ) Or any places
(MAMETZ VILLAGE ) in the Corps
(FRICOURT WOOD ) Area the same
Up to -30’ (ROUND WOOD ) distance or
(SHELTER WOOD. ) further from
(LOZENGE WOOD ) the front line.
(FRICOURT FARM )
)
Up to Zero (BOTTOM WOOD )
(QUADRANGLE TRENCH )
)
After Zero (Beyond the lines of the final Barrage.)

3. As the Infantry advance close to their final Objective, the distance beyond must be increased; this will vary in accordance with the direction of the wind.

J.M.R. Harrison Major
For Brigadier General, R.A., XV Corps
22nd June 1916

It does not seem necessary to issue this.

21st Divisional Artillery Instruction 22 June 1916
SECRET

15/CA 10/73.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CO-OPERATION BETWEEN DIVISIONAL ARTILLERIES AND KITE BALLOONS

********************************

The following arrangements have been made for 18-Pdr Batteries to co-operate with the kite balloon on the day of the assault; one forward Battery in each Division will be in telephonic communication with the kite balloon and will answer any call from it after 3 hours after Zero; up to this time the batteries all have fixed tasks.

J.M.R. Harrison Major
for Brigadier General., R.A., XV Corps.
22nd June 1916

21st DIVISIONAL ARTILLERY for Information

A 97 has already been detailed.