Wednesday 1^st.

            Went to SAULTY with 8 men to set up some water troughs and connect them with a steam pump.  Came back to Beaumetz at night & dined with Col Fairclough 1/4 S. Lancs Pioneer Batt.

Thursday 2^nd.

            Went to Saulty again and finished the troughs leaving the men there at night.  Called at C.R.E.’s office and was ordered to get more men and take them to cut logs in Barly Wood.  Sent Corpl & 12 men over at night to Saulty.

Friday 3^rd.

            Cutting logs Barly Wood.  Rode to BARLY.  Went to Saulty calling on C.R.E. on route and received instructions to take all my Section (except the tradesmen working in the shops at Beaumetz) to Saulty.  Sent word to Sergt M^cDonagh who brought over the carts and men arriving at Saulty at 11 p.m.

I stayed at Saulty all night in Priest’s house.

Saturday 4^th.

            Snowing hard all day.  The men were busy sharpening tools and fixing up billets.  I moved from Priest’s house to a warmer place but I am still feeding with the Mobile Vet.  Section Officers.  Letter from Maud.

Sunday 5^th.

            Worked one party on Water Supply at Solernau Chateau this morning another party in Barly Wood cutting timber.  I rode to Avesnes Le Comte this afternoon & got a log devil from the Sawmiller there then went back with it to Barly Wood.  Letter from Frank.

Monday 6^th.

            Went over to Solernau this morning and this afternoon.  I rode via Barly to Gouy to see C.R.E. about the timber.  The logs are hard to get out of the wood as the ground is like porridge.  Snowstorm today.  There was a very good concert at Saulty tonight & I found it a pleasant change.

Tuesday 7^th.

            Went to Solernau this morning & fixed up the pumping plant.  The interpreter made pancakes for lunch.  This afternoon I went to the wood to shew the men how to get out the timber.  3 horses sick today so borrowed two from the Mobile Vet Section.

Very cold at night with some snow.

Wednesday 8^th.

            This morning I paid the men 10 fr.  Walked round to Larbret & Lakerhire getting out distribution returns for C.R.E.  A beautiful day though rather cold.  Indoors most of afternoon getting out returns.

Wrote to Rose to thank her for socks she sent.

Thursday 9^th.

.           Working on shed for Mobile Vet Sect and went to Barly Wood morning & afternoon.  Had a row with French at Sawmill who objected to us taking logs into the yard but we got there.  Sent Taylor over to H.Q. for pay etc.  Cold N. wind all day & more snow at night.  Wrote to Jack.  Letters from Home.

Friday 10^th.

            Wrote to Uncle Robert.

Cold day with more snow.  Worked on shed at Mobile Sect & in Barly Wood.  Got a new pair of horses on trial from Mobile Vet Sect to replace chestnuts evacuated.

Saturday 11^th.

            Rode to Couturelle, Coullemont & Humbercourt this morning & to Sombrin & Barly this afternoon to get information re machinery & stores.  The men were working on Shed for Mobile Vet and in Barly Wood got out poles and ash logs.

Sunday 12^th.

            Rode to Fosseux and Gouy this morning.  Saw C.R.E.   Rode to Avesnes le Comte this afternoon with Allan & La Rouge.

Monday 13^th.

            D.A.D.O.S called for me in a car at 8.30 and took me to Mondicourt to get stores then to Humbercourt to build a dam and a laundry shed which Q.M.G. wants in operation by Thursday.  Sent for Sergt & 8 men and started on the dam finishing the wood work of it and the frame of the Shed.  Beautiful day.

Tuesday 14^th.

            Finished Shed & dam today and also went to Sombrin to start setting up a pump.

Beautiful day.

Wednesday 15^th.

            Socks from Home.  Tobacco from Charlie.

Went early to Humbercourt to set up the water heating plant back to Saulty for lunch then to Sombrin and Humbercourt this afternoon.  It is splendid riding about now the roads are dry and the sun is shining.  Lot of airplanes over, both British and enemy.

Thursday 16^th.

            Rode to Gouy this morning & on to Beaumetz to get the missing parts of Sombrin pump.  This afternoon I rode to Barly Wood.  There was a lot of shooting at airplanes to-day.  Sent Major Brown the Lodging fuel & light allowances claims for Jan, Feb & March.  Mine amounting to £14-1-11.

Friday 17^th.

            Went to Barly Wood this morning and to Sombrin this afternoon, another beautiful day rode two different horses from Mobile Section.  Phone C.R.E. about Bastier pump parts.  Went to bed early.

Saturday 18^th.

            Letter from Charles & from Home.

Hydraulic tables from Gerald.

Rode to Gouy this morning.  Drew 75 francs from Field Cashier.  Saw C.R.E. & got orders to go to Mondicourt this afternoon.  Went to Mondicourt for stores got back at 5 p.m.  Good concert at night by Div Theatre Co.  Fine morning but slight drizzle this afternoon.  Good bath tonight.

Sunday 19^th.

            Rode to Barly this morning and to Sombrin & Barly this afternoon.  Spent some time in the wood.

Monday 20^th.

            Rode to the wood this morning & this afternoon I spent some time in the Sawmill and then rode to Sombrin.

Letter from Irene.  Wrote to Irene.

Tuesday 21^st.

            This morning I rode to Solernau, Humbercourt & Coullemont, found a gravel bed at the last place.  This afternoon rode to Coullemont & Sombrin to see how pump was progressing.

Wednesday 22^nd.

            Rode to Solernau this morning and spent some time at the Sawmill.  This afternoon I went to Coullemont and Sombrin.  Capt Trenchard of 147 A S Coy came to see me about taking over water supply.

Thursday 23^rd.

            Wrote Home.  Wrote Can Paymasters.  This morning I rode to Barly to receive some horse troughs then rode on to Avesnes le Comte to buy nails got back at 12.45.  After lunch rode again to Barly to set men working at the pump.  An unexploded German bomb fell in Chateau garden & was reported to me so I went and found it was sunk too deep to be worth excavating & filled in the hole it made.

Friday 24^th.

            Snowing and blowing rode to Sombrin & Barly also to Solernau & Humbercourt, very tiring day.  Started Sappers working in Barly Sawmill and sent up a load of Beech logs to Barly.  Had tea at the Chateau.

Saturday 25^th.

            Letters from Mrs Yolland & Maud.  Wrote to F.L. Davis & Mrs Yolland.

Met Capt Trenchard at Sombrin and settled question of troughs.  Then rode with him to Humbercourt, Coullemont & Couturelle and had lunch with him.  Got home about 4 p.m.

Sunday 26^th.

            PAID MEN.  Snow.

Rode to Couturelle then to see Capt Trenchard.  This afternoon rode to Gouy & had tea with C.R.E., met Major Brown there.  Went for walk with C.R.E. to look at some wells.

Monday 27^th.

            Took men over to Gouy to set up a pump.  Got the well ready today and hauled the pump to the site.  Went to Solenau this morning.  Had tea at Barly hospital mess.  Snow storm.

Tuesday 28^th.

            Got the pump set in by noon at Gouy.  Then rode on to Barly to look up a well there and arrange for a new pump.

Heavy snow storm.

Wednesday 29^th.

            Met Interpreter at Barly at 9 a.m.  Went to overhaul steam engine and find out price then inspected Barly Sawmill and arranged for my men to take it over.  Went on to Gouy.  Stormy day.

Thursday 30^th

            Letter from Home.

Rode to Barly and then on to Gouy to build Gassing Hut.  Had lunch with C.R.E. then rode to Barly and worked at pump.

Fine day but cold wind.

Friday 31^st.

            Letter from Maud.  Parcel from Mrs. Yolland.

Rode to Gouy this morning to see Gassing Hut finished then on to Barly to work on new pump.  Went to Barly again this afternoon got the suction pipe set.  Sent my bank book off to Cox this morning.  Fine day.

1916

7^th and 8^th March 1916.  Inspection of half Battalion by Brigadier-General C.G. Prendergast, C.B., G.O.C. Jubbulpore Infantry Brigade, a company attack, supported by the Machine Gun Company Section, being carried out at Sooradavee on the second day.

19^th March 1916.  “A” and “C” Companies left Kamptee for Peshawar, North-west Frontier Province, having been relieved by the 1^st Garrison Battalion Scottish Rifles.

            Whilst at Kamptee the Battalion found the garrison (strength 2 officers and 92 other ranks) for Fort Sitabuldi, Nagpur.  This Detachment, in addition to the ordinary duties, were instructed in the artillery and machine guns which formed part of the armament of the Fort.  An attached section was formed for the Depot of the 1/5^th Buffs, to which many of that battalion returned from Mesopotamia sick and wounded after the unsuccessful attempts to relieve the troops under General Townsend, besieged in Kut.

The Detachment at Allahabad found the Detachment for the Allahabad Fort.  The companies proceeded to Shankargarh for company training and field firing.

The Detachment was inspected by both the G.O.C. Allahabad Brigade (Brigadier-General Johnson) and the G.O.C. 8^th (Lucknow) Division (Major-General May).

20^th March 1916.  “B” and “D” Companies left Allahabad for Peshawar, having been relieved by the 1^st Garrison Battalion The Manchester Regiment.

23^rd March 1916.  “B” and “D” Companies arrived at Peshawar.  The whole battalion was accompanied in mobilisation tents (opposite the 72^nd Punjabi lines), where it remained until 6^th May.  It was attached to the 1^st (Peshawar) Infantry Brigade, under Brigadier-General L.C. Dunsterville, C.B., A.D.C.

29^th March 1916.  The Battalion was inspected by the G.O.C. 1^st (Peshawar) Infantry Brigade.

COPY.

NOTES ON THE LOCALIZATION OF HOSTILE BATTERIES.

            It having been decided that the Survey Department of each Army is to have an Artillery Observation Section, the following notes are written with a view to suggesting how information obtained by this Section can be rapidly utilised, in conjunction with information from other sources, so as to enable G.O.C. R.A. Division or Heavy Artillery Group to engage hostile batteries without delay.

It is assumed that there will be a sub-section of the observation Section, under an officer, for each frontage of approximately two Army Corps with from 4 to 8 outlook posts.

The accompanying diagram represents two Corps, each with two Divisions in the front line and the position of the sub-section officer and 6 look our posts.

Owing to many reasons the proportion of bearings from outlook stations that produce intersections are very small compared to those that are indeterminable in themselves, and yet these latter in many cases would intersect with flash bearings taken from battery O.P.s.

It would be impossible for the officer in charge of a sub-section of the Observation Section to deal with Hostile Artillery reports of two Corps, but as these reports are compiled in Divisions, information obtained by outlook posts should also be communicated to Divisions.

Referring to attached diagram, the subaltern officer cannot communicate each flash from station A to F to the R.A. of each Division even supposing he had direct lines to them, but in most if not every case, there is a Battery O.P. or a battery in action fairly close to each of these stations to which they should be linked up by telephone and by this method information could be passed on to the Divisional R.A. in the shortest space of time.

Information for the Heavy Artillery Groups would be communicated by the sub-section officer either direct or through the Corps.

2. COMPILATION OF REPORTS ON HOSTILE ARTILLERY FIRE.

            Hitherto this has been undertaken by Brigade Majors, R.A. but the writer after 3 months experience is of opinion that the other duties of Brigade Majors are so important and arduous that he has not the necessary time to thoroughly work out and dovetail together the various reports collected from many sources.

For this work the Staff of an R.A. Division should have an Intelligence Officer selected from one of the Batteries of the Division.

The sources of information at his disposal would be as follows:-

1. Reports from outlook stations.
2. Daily Battery Reports.
3. Daily Infantry Reports.
4. Reposts from R.F.C. communicated by Corps.
5. Aeroplane photographs.

All bearings to flashes or smoke spurts would be telephoned in to him; other reports should reach him by 9 a.m. and include the period from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m.

From these reports he should first make a compilation of areas shelled, the times they were shelled and the directions from which the shells came.

He would then see what intersections (if any) coincided with time and direction.

In the event of a flash bearing without any intersection, he should take the aeroplane photos and follow the direction of the ray noting down likely or possible positions and see if they coincide in any way with Battery or Infantry Reports.  If time from “flash to report” has been correctly noted, by allowing 370 yards per second as the velocity of sound he should be able to determine the position of a howitzer within 5%.

In the case of a gun the “ondu du choc” has to be considered, corrections for this vary with the different natures of guns *

* The “sound expert” might be asked to write a short note on this.

He should keep a book with the “History” of each hostile battery showing how and where its position was suspected or determined, the dates it fired and the objectives.

It is very necessary to note positions suspected even on vague information as the “History” will show on what date it was suspected and a reference to the daily log book will give full details.

Having located the battery, the next thing is to determine nature and number of guns and by degrees work out the zone of fire.

The Intelligence Officer should then mark out on a tracing – for the use of G.O.C. and Brigade Major – all hostile batteries located and the direction of their zones of fire, different coloured chalks being used for the different natures of guns.

He should copy on to his map aeroplane photos, hedges, trees, entrenchments, tramways and other detail not already shown.  The study of these photos and comparing those taken recently with older prints means several hours work, but is time well spent.

Battery Daily Reports.

            The information contained in them should be as a rule fuller and more definite; the trouble arises from most battery commanders trusting solely to F.O.O.s instead of having in addition “Look out” men.

With a battery of four officers, one of whom may be temporarily absent, the manning of an O.P. from 5 a.m. to dusk is no light work, the presence of an officer is necessary in case the battery has to fire but he ought to have look out men to relieve him of the continuous strain in watching for flashes, etc.

Both the French ad the Germans make use of Senior N.C.O.s for this purpose and must we acknowledge that our N.C.O.s are less capable?

In most batteries there are aspirants for commissions and part of their training to qualify them for officers should be the manning of O.P.s.

During a “Strafe” the F.O.O. cannot fire his battery and look out hostile batteries at the same time and yet this is the very time when most flashes might be seen.  On page 319 F.A.T. the duties of “Look out” men are clearly laid down but it has apparently been assumed in some batteries that their services are not required during Trench Warfare.  Occasionally there is firing at night when flashes are most visible but few batteries report them as there is no one observing from the O.Ps.

As the number of men qualified and available for look out duties in any one battery is limited, the best plan would appear to be for the batteries of a Brigade or Group to take over this duty in turn for 24 hour spells.

It must be distinctly borne in mind that the observation stations have not been organised to supplant battery look outs but rather to supplement them, and the more flash bearings that can be obtained from different stations, the greater the facilities for locating hostile battys.

How to locate a flash.

The difficulty of locating hostile batteries has been greatly increased by the introduction of smokeless and flameless powders.  A great deal can be done by sound bearings and, absurd as it may at first seem, a telescope is of great assistance in locating a battery by sound.  First point the telescope in the direction from which the sound is thought to come, subsequent reports may make one think it is more to the right or left, ultimately the sound is laterally bracketed and a sharp look out can then be kept on this area.

During sunlight flashes from guns are seldom seen but by careful watching one may observe a “smoke spurt” or so called “air concussion” and one is lucky a premature may be discovered.

With guns the smoke spurt rises but little and merely shows as a light bluish haze, with howitzers it appears to be projected upwards in the shape of a candle flame.  With dummy flashes by day the flash is as a rule brighter than that of a howitzer and the smoke is in the form of a roundish cloud.

At night the detection of dummy flashes is far more difficult, but as it is almost impossible without electrical apparatus to fire a dummy flash simultaneously with a gun, they can generally be detected by variations in the time from flash to report when the flashes are all on the same bearing.  All dummy flashes ought, however, be reported with a note to this effect.

When a flash is seen the best method of recording it is for the battery look out man to use a director clamped at zero on some distant object clearly recognisable on the map, and give a bearing X^o right or left of this.

(The writer has had experience of angles Right or Left of chimneys of haystacks which the observer himself has been unable to locate on the map).

When a flash is seen, a record of the time from flash to report of gun is most important, particularly in the case of howitzers. Every battery has a Government stop watch but no not one in ten ever uses it for this purpose.

Again the noting of times of flashes and fall of shell leaves much to be desired.  “Several flashes between 10 and 11 a.m.” might mean anything from 10 to 100.  Again “20 flashes at 11 a.m.” is obviously false.  It may be impossible to note the exact time of every flash but the statement that about 30 flashes were seen between 10 and 11 and 5 noted at the following times would be far more valuable and very little more trouble, or again “20 flashes commencing at 10.37 and continuing till 11 a.m.”.  Battery commanders in many cases fail to realise the importance of these returns and seem to think that they are merely required for the compilation of statistics which though of academic interest to higher authorities are of no particular value, and it should be the duty of the I.O., R.A. to inform B.C’s of each flash reported by them can be traced to a located hostile battery.  Once B.C’s begin to see tangible results and appreciate what is being done, there will be an improvement in their daily reports.

Daily Infantry Reports.

On first undertaking this work the writer found that but few of the reports contained information that was of any value, to some extent due to but little trouble being taken with them but chiefly because junior officers had very vague ideas of what was required, why it was required, and how it should be reported.

It is impossible when Divisions are in the front line to give instructions on these points but from the lectures under Lt.-Col. Koebel at Bailleul it is evident that the Infantry are anxious to learn how they can help the Artillery, and a system of lectures followed by a discussion while Divisions are in reserve appears to be most desirable.

When the forward trenches are being badly shelled and call for retaliation, the Artillery can best retaliate on the offending batteries if they know their zone of fire, and the determination of this depends greatly on daily reports sent in by the infantry.

It is realised that in the trenches, with a limited outlook through a periscope and no trench maps, the infantry officer has not the same facilities for observing or reporting as an F.O.O. in a comfortable O.P., but his report ought to be edited and amplified if possible by the Infantry Brigade Intelligence Officer, before being forwarded to the R.A.

As an example:-

“Flash seen near a farm-house between 11 and 12 bearing 73^o from “Bay 6 trench 256, shells falling near cemetery several blinds lying about” .

In this form it is of but little value for the following reasons:-

1. The time is too vague.
2. Nothing to show whether the bearing is True. Sheet Line or Magnetic, or how it was taken.
3. The R.A. do not as a rule possess maps showing trench numbers much less bays.  The map square point is required before the angle can be correctly plotted.
4. There may be 3 or 4 cemeteries near the Divisional front.
5. Although “blinds” were handy, no attempt was made to describe the nature of the gun.

An example of a valueless report hardly creditable to an N?C?O. much less an officer, the following was actually received:-

Time of firing …        …        …         …        All day.

Nature of gun …       …        …        …        All sorts.

Direction from which hostile fire came … Everywhere

Objective if known …          …        …        All round me.

The only heading left blank being “The position of observer”.

            The chief points to which attention should be paid are:-

1. Accurately noting time and direction of every flash or smoke spurt.
2. If possible note time from flash to report of gun.  (Time from report of gun to arrival of shell is useful only when the shells fall near observer and their calibre is known)
3. Time and place of shells that fall, with if possible direction from which they came, stating how estimated, such mean line of successive shell holes, the line between a short and over-ranging rounds, shell scoops &c.
4. It is more important to know the calibre of the shell than whether it was H.E. or Shrapnel.  The former can be measured from blinds or from curves of fragments of the base.  All fuzes should be sent on for inspection and labelled for return.
5. Avoid local names and always give map squares.

The following apply equally to Artillery and Infantry Reports:-

Should fire take during the night after daily reports have been made up, send in a supplementary report either by telephone or special messenger as soon as possible the next morning.

Certain batteries have been located as firing at night, but as no reports were received of areas shelled during these hours, it has been impossible to fix their zones of fire, Compass bearings should be given only in such cases as no better method is available for recording direction for the following reasons:-

1. Every compass has an error of its own.
2. There may be iron in the neighbourhood which deflects the needle.
3. Unless carefully placed on a level rest, it is almost impossible for the average observer to get a correct reading.
4. An officer was found who believed that a “True Bearing” was the true reading of his compass, and there may be others like him.

In the event of an F.O.O. in the forward trenches becoming a casualty while observing the fire of his battery, the nearest Infantry Officer should be able to carry on till a relief is sent down, and this has been done on more than on one occasion, but only where there had been complete co-operation between the F.O.O. and the Company officers.

The above notes are written on the basis of trench warfare, but afford excellent training for field warfare when the difficulties of collecting information will be increased and the facilities for plotting angles, &c greatly lessened.

The next page in the original has the chart referred to which I cannot produce here.

Frontage of two Corps in line each Corps with two Divisions in Front Line.

ONDE DU CHOC.

The Onde du Choc is the name given to a phenomenon which occurs when a projectile is fired from a gun with an initial velocity greater than the velocity of sound in air, which is 1134 feet per second.

When a gun is fired, it is a matter of common experience that when one is in front of the gun and within a certain angle of the line of fire, a very distinct double report is heard.  There is a sharp crack of great intensity, followed at a short interval by a heavy thud.  This effect is very noticeable with guns with a high muzzle velocity, such as the six inch Mark VII.  The first crack is very loud and often distressing to the ear.  The thud which follows has a much deeper note, does not distress the ear in the same way, but seems to have a much greater volume behind it from the way it rattles the windows, shakes buildings etc.  With the six inch Mark VII an Observer about 1500 yards in front of the gun hears the two sounds at about one second interval.

With an 18 pr. gun the two sound follow so quickly that it is often hard to separate them, although they can sometimes be clearly distinguished.  If one is in a building in front of an 18 pr. battery which is firing, the report of the gun is heard a few instants before the building is felt to vibrate.  This indicates the existence of the two reports, only here they are separated by a much shorter interval of time.  The double report is often very noticeable when a German 7.7 c.m. battery is firing.

The two sounds are caused in the following way:-

The second report is in each case caused by the discharge of the gun, it is the true gun report.  It consists of a sound wave of great length and amplitude, so that it is accompanied by big pressure changes, and this explains its effect in shaking buildings, rattling windows, etc.  The first report on the other hand is caused by the shell moving through the air.  It is called by the French the “Onde du Choc” or “Wave of Concussion”.  Just as a boat, which is moving through the water, creates a bow-wave shaped like the letter V, so a shell moving through the air creates a conical bow-wave in the air.  It is this wave which is heard as the heard as the first report, it is a very short wave of great intensity, like a whip crack.  The shell only makes this bow-wave when travelling with a velocity greater than of sound.  As its velocity falls, the vertex of the cone becomes blunter, until finally the velocity of the shell drops below that of sound and it ceases to make a bow-wave or “Onde du Choc”.

Since the shell moves initially with a velocity greater than that of sound, the shell gets well ahead of the wave spreading from the gun, which represents the report of the discharge, and so the Onde du Choc is set up in the air in front of the gun report.  Both then travel together with the velocity of sound.  In this way an Observer in front of the gun hears first the “Onde du Choc” or “Shell wave”, then the report of the gun.  The Onde du Choc is always very much louder than the true gun report; in fact it is only occasionally that the actual discharge of a German gun can be distinguished at all.  What is generally taken for the gun report is in reality the “Onde du Choc”.

This must be considered when an Observer tries to get the range to a German gun by measuring the time between seeing its flash and hearing its report, or timing the interval between the report and shell burst.  When an Observer is directly in the line of fire of the gun the Onde du Choc precedes the shell burst by intervals which vary from ½ second for 7.7 cm. gun firing at a range 4000 yards to six seconds for a 13 cm. gun firing at a range of 8000 yards.  These corrections must be made to the time recorded before exact deductions can be made as to the distance of the gun from the Observer.

All the above remarks apply only to guns whose muzzle velocity is greater than the velocity of Sound.  They do not apply to Howitzers which have a muzzle velocity of less than 1134 feet per second.  The report heard when a howitzer fires is the discharge itself.

The Onde du Choc is only heard by an Observer in front of a Gun within a certain angle of the line of fire.  An Observer, to a flank, or behind does not hear it.  When the wave is set up it moves through the air in a direction at right angles to its wave front, and so is not propagated to a flank or behind the gun.

(Sgd) W.L. Bragg, 2/Lieut.

O.C. Sound Ranging Section.

4/3/1916

Monday 27/3/16

Dear Sir,

            I am writing these few lines to you to let you know I have got to England at last after just over twelve months in France.  Well I wrote you a long letter while I was in France and I expect you have wrote one in answer to it but I have not had it and I expect it is somewhere in France.  Well sir when I wrote to you then I never expected being in England so soon after and I think I have been very lucky to go through twelve months of fighting without a scratch as I am in Hospital with Abscess Groin and I was operated out in France before I came to England or as we term it Blighty.  Well sir it is just like being in Heaven to be in here to what it is out there.  I hope this letter finds you all in the best of health as it leaves me getting on very well and I am able to get about now as it is quite healed up where I was operated on.  This is a very fine place and before the war it was an Asylum.  There is one thing I am thankful for and that is the Church that is in the grounds and I went yesterday morning and at night as well.  We get out of bed just after six every morning and we have breakfast at 7 o’clock and dinner at twelve and tea at five and then we have supper about seven so we get plenty to eat and everyone is so nice to you and wait on you hand and foot as they say.  Well I must say I have thanked the Lord many times since I have been in this place and I never miss a night but what I thank him for bringing me back safe and I think of these poor lads who are doing there sentry go in the trenches while I am lying between nice clean sheets and I ask the Lord to look over them.  Well I cannot say how long I shall be in here as I am having my teeth seen too as well while I am here as I have got several going rotten.  Well I shall be pleased when I can come to the Church once more but I don’t think it will be for a month or more.  Well I shall have to close now as I have told you all the news this time.

I am your sinner friend

Pte. Cooke.

Pte W.H. Cooke 2559

5^th Batt Leic Regt

Ward B 6 No 2 War Hospital

Northfield

Birmingham

In envelope addressed to The Rev T.W. Walters, The Vicarage, Leicester Road, Whitwick, Leicestershire.  England.

Letter postmarked NORTHFIELD rest unreadable

“H” Company

———————–

Enclosed notes are for favour of your remarks, please.  They are intended only as a guide to your Section Officers.

I shall appreciate any suggestions that you may make and shall incorporate same in notes to be issued to all Companies.

Please return, with your notes written in the margin, by 4 p.m. on Monday.

P.H. Sanders

MAJOR R.E.

COMMANDING No 2 BATTALION

SPECIAL BRIGADE R.E.

25/3/16

NOTES TO SECTION COMMANDERS

———————————————–

Section Commanders:-

(1).  Are responsible for the proper training of every N.C.O. and man in their Sections.  Particular attention must be given to all matters affecting discipline, saluting under various conditions, addressing Officers, technical training etc.

(2) Should know each man personally and keep a complete record of each man’s qualifications and history.

(3). Should  be present the whole time that their Sections are on parade or at work, and must inform their O.C. should anything prevent them from so doing.

(4). Should establish mutual sympathy between themselves and their men, but should at all times maintain the strictest discipline.

(5). Should make every effort to be smart and energetic.  Sections reflect the shortcomings of their Commanders and will probably exaggerate them.  Special attention should be given to the training of N.C.O’s as they are primarily responsible for the individual training of men.

(6). Should give especial attention to those men who are backward, and should not hesitate to give extra drill or special work to men who are backward in any subject.

(6) (7). Are responsible that every man is properly and fully equipped.

NOTES ON TRAINING.

—————————–

1. INFANTRY TRAINING.

———————————-

Special R.E. Units are required to perform very little Infantry Drill, but this must be well done.  All movements must be performed smartly.  When this is not done, the Command “As you were” must be given and the movement repeated until satisfaction is given.

Any N.C.O. or man who is awkward must be given extra drill until the trouble is overcome.

Special attention must be given to saluting under various conditions, addressing Officers, guard duties, etc.  The organization of a Unit is judged by the manner in which such details are carried out.

Company Drill will be carried out on the Battalion Parade Ground and every formality will be strictly observed.  N.C.O.’s will not dismiss a parade or stand a party at ease when an Officer is present, without first asking permission.  A junior Officer will act similarly in the presence of a senior Officer.  At least one Coy drill per week will be held on Battn parade ground on day allotted for the purpose.

All formations will march at attention when passing through the main streets of any town or village ***** or GHQ – also when passing sentries or other troops.

When parades are ordered for any particular hour, all ranks should be on the parade ground in sufficient time for the parade to be reported all present and correct punctually at the specified time.

• MAP READING AND SKETCHING.

————————————————-

This will include:-

• Indication of position by squares, or other means when the map is not squared.
• Setting a map and locating actual position on map.
• Compass bearings – true and magnetic.  Magnetic variation.
• Contours and visibility of one place from another.
• Conventional signs.
• Rough sketching of surrounding country, trench surveys, etc.  Distances may be roughly estimated by pacing – and care should be taken to regulate the length of a pace to either 30 inches or one yard – the latter being preferable.

• MESSAGES.

——————–

Carrying verbal messages by individuals and by relays.  Messages to be increased in length after practice.  Messages must be repeated to sender by the messenger before the latter leaves.

Practice in passing messages, about letting off gas, along line of trenches.  Systems of Orderlies from Section Commanders to men arranged as for actual discharge e.g., Two orderlies sent with message, one passing from right to left, the other from left to right.

Writing official messages with all necessary detail.

• NIGHT WORK.

———————

Night operations will be preceded by a lecture in which the exact nature of the work will be explained, and men will, as a rule, be taken over the ground in daylight.

Training will be individual and collective.

Visibility at a distance of striking a match or smoking a cigarette.

Audibility of sounds.

Marching by stars and compass.

Companies will practice carrying cylinders, making connections etc in the dark.

Company Commanders will organise complete schemes approximating to actual service operations to include:-

• Loading of cylinders into Lorry.
• Unloading and slinging at dump.
• Making ready emplacements.
• Carrying and placing cylinders.
• Making connections.
• Clearing emplacements for reception of cylinders.
• Organising guides and orderlies.
• A circuitous route should be chosen – preferably passing through another Coy’s trenches and guides detailed.

Companies may borrow all cylinders from other Companies for the purpose.

Complete operation orders should be issued and should be submitted to C.O. for perusal.

• CYLINDER WORK.

—————————

• Construction and detail of valves, stuffing box, connections etc.
• Connecting up complete apparatus with all possible variations.
• Testing connections (N.B. – When screw clamp is used, it must not near spigots)
• Changing and fixing washers.
• Examination of cylinders before taking into line.
• Placing of pipes according to distance of enemy trenches and wind
• If enemy trenches are very near, place pipes slightly across the wind so as to get a quicker distribution.
• If wind is oblique, a better direction may be obtained by placing pipes obliquely across wind.
• Treatment of Duds.  The “sticking” of the spindle may be due to two causes:-
• The top washer of the stuffing box becomes fixed and requires easing (Most frequent cause)
• The screw threads may become corroded.  This does not often occur and is due to the access of moisture to the parts.  It is not easy to overcome this fault as the spindle may break before it yields.  A little oil should be dropped into stopping stuffing box and jet.  As a rule, however, oil should not be used except as a last extremity.
• Leaky Cylinders.  Stuffing box cap should be removed with caution and top washer eased, when spindle may be able to be tightened.  If fault cannot be located and leak persists, cylinder should be buried.
• Leaky Connections.  If occurs before action takes place, connection should be carefully cleaned and remade.  If during action, try to stop by mud or clay.  Connections will be tested by a force pump which will be supplied for the purpose.  Instruction should be given in stopping leaks which may occur during action viz by use of clamps, mud, clay, or strips of cloth or sandbag soaked in solution.  Thanks.
• It is suggested that, in addition to the general training of every man in wiring on connections, 3 men per section should be specially detailed for this purpose, so that they may be always available, as experts, in emergency.

• LECTURES.

——————

Lectures should be short and frequent and may be repeated at intervals, especially those on Discipline and Routine.  The following suggestions may be useful:-

DISCIPLINE. Difference between raw recruit and well trained soldier: Esprit de corps: Smartness in dress and general bearing: Orders – careful attention to and execution: Saluting and addressing Officers: Hours for estaminets: Spirits strictly forbidden: Bad effects: Reporting on arrival.

BILLETS  Duties of N.C.O. and Man: Hygiene and sanitation: Disposal of Refuse: General cleanliness and tidiness: Reporting sick: Precautions against lice, etc.

PARADES. Punctuality, Dress, Assembling, Dismissing, Behaviour.

FIRST AID. Treatment of wounds: iodine: Stopping of bleeding – pressure points: Use of First Aid Dressings.  Lecture on care of feet.  Yes thanks

SPECIAL WORK. Systematic attention to details: Notes as to preparation of emplacements – measurements.  Carrying and placing (special care to have jet outwards.)  Work and responsibility of maintenance parties.  Points to be noticed in going into action, during action and after action.  Observations to be made during these periods.  Individual responsibility – when and how to be exercised.  Illustrations and examples from previous attacks.  Necessity for absolute secrecy.

ARMS  Care and use of.

• WET WEATHER WORK.

———————————-

Any of Lectures as per List.

Revolver Drill, snapping, etc.

Physical Drill.  No doubling before breakfast.

Helmet Drill.

Cleaning and inspection of kit, equipment and arms.

Signalling, especially Morse

Knotting and Lashing.

• COMPANY ROUTE MARCHES.

The full days route march Company Route Marches will be carried out according to the following programme:- on day allotted

• Early parade will be omitted.
• Billets will be cleared up and everything made ready for moving to new billets, except that straw or palliasses will not be removed but will be tidied up and left neatly arranged.
• One blanket and waterproof sheet will be properly folded and carried by each man with his full kit and equipment.  All winter clothing and extra blankets will be neatly folded and left in billets.
• Cookhouses will be cleared up, dixies cleaned and stored ready for removal.
• Billets will be carefully inspected by Section Commanders before Sections vacate billets.
• The Company will assemble in full marching order on the Battalion Parade Ground by 10 a.m. and will be reported all present and correct to Battalion Head Quarters.  Short marches with full marching order.  2 hrs at most.  Long marches i.e. from 10.0 to 3.0 in light marching preferable for training men & not so dangerous.  Agreed.
• Companies will march off by Sections with 100 yds interval.  This interval will be maintained as far as possible.  Connecting files will be dropped.  Company Route Marches.  Battalion Route Marches all men must halt at exactly the same time & march off again at the agreed time.  Company interval.
• Company Commanders will exercise full discretion in all details including distance marched, halts, etc.
• One billet orderly will remain in each billet, and the Company Orderly Sergeant, will be left in charge of Company area.  He will conduct the Battalion Orderly Officer round the billets during the absence of the Company.
• Companies will return to billets not earlier than 3 p.m. and arrangements will be made to draw rations on return.  One Company Route March, with practice in evacuating billets will be carried out each week.  The actual duration of the march is left entirely to the discretion of the Coy Comdr.  The exercise will be progressive.
• Route marches of one or two hours duration will be carried out 2 or 3 times a week for the benefit of new men.
• C.Q.M’s should be prepared with a statement of Rations req^d, also with a list of deficiencies (if any) in iron rations, ammunition, equipment &c.  This list should be handed in to Battn Q.M. Stores, as early as possible, on morning of march.

NOTES ON MARCH DISCIPLINE.

————————————————

• Strict march discipline will be observed throughout route marches.
• The step should be rather slow and should be kept as uniform as possible.
• Men should keep well to the right of the road, and should not straggle.  Flank men should be changed if side of road is bad.
• No smoking or drinking should be allowed whilst actually marching, but halts may be frequent.  O’sC will use their own discretion in the matter during halts.
• No smoking or drinking without consent of O.C. whether halted or marching.  Agreed.
• All ranks should be warned to take especial care of their feet, and frequent inspections should be made after route marches.
• Practice should be given, during Route Marches in putting on helmets at short notice.  At a given signal, Coys should be halted and helmets adjusted the time being checked.

24 March 1916.

Rev^d T.W. Walters

Rev^d Sir,

            Just a few lines to let you know I am still quite well and fit.  I am having a quite time here and am very busy.  I should like to ask you a favour, if it is not too much.  I am thinking of applying for a Commission, and should like a character from you, and I wonder whether you have a friend who could use his influence to give me a push.  I ask this because the Unit I wish to try for, requires a lot of getting in.

I should like a reply from you as early as possible and then I can send the papers to you.

I hope you are all in good health.  Must close with very kind regards to Mrs Walters & yourself.

Yours obediently

Albert Will.

In an envelope addressed to Rev^d T.W. Walters, The Vicarage, Whitwick, Nr Leicester, Angleterre

Letter postmarked ARMY P. O. * B . 24 MAR 16.

PASSED FIELD CENSOR 1541 in hexagonal cachet in purple.