K.J. Bunting Capt.
Issued down to Divisions
(for distribution down to Battalions)
T.9
NOTES ON RECENT FIGHTING – No. 6.
MACHINE GUNS.
(Issued by the General Staff)
1. The following translation of a German document (I/a48580) indicates good dispositions and handling of our machine gun units, during the fighting in March. It emphasises again the value of the disposition of machine guns in depth – both in attack and defence. In the attack, security against counter-attack is thereby given to the flanks; in defence, provision is thereby made for resistance to the enemy’s attempt to widen any gap into which he may penetrate.
2. Fire effect is the essential. Therefore, an extensive field of fire (1,000 yards or more) is required for machine guns; direct fire must be a primary consideration; and the employment of guns singly should be avoided. Generally, forward guns should be employed in pairs, and guns in rear should be in pairs or groups of four, so as to facilitate control of a considerable volume of fire.
3. In defence, the disposition of machine guns in depth must be based on definite plans for restricting the area into which an attacker might penetrate. The enemy generally attempts to effect penetration at the weaker portions of the line and to take our more strongly prepared positions in flank and reverse. This should be anticipated and should not necessitate bringing our machine guns into action in unforeseen directions as has sometime occurred.
4. Single guns with hostile infantry may be dealt with in previously prepared defences by single 18-pdrs in advanced positions, and on all occasions by the fire of rifles and Lewis guns used boldly in front of the main position.
Ia/48580
TRANSLATION OF A GERMAN DOCUMENT.
C.G.S. of the Field Army
Ia/II Nr. 82373 op. 30-3-18.
1. During the course of our offensive, the principal resistance was offered by the machine gun nests distributed in depth. Their total destruction by the artillery bombardment prior to the assault, even when this was of considerable duration, was not achieved and cannot be expected. We must be satisfied with the neutralization of as large a number as possible of these nests by means of heavy artillery fire and bombardment with blue cross gas shell.
The engagement of those machine gun nests which remain in action will then be carried out by single guns (of light Minenwerfer), which are under the orders of the most advanced infantry, follow this infantry as close as possible and fire over open sights at close range (1,1000 yards). It is advisable that batteries allotted to individual battalions should always be the same. Under the protection of the fire of these guns (or Minenwerfer), the infantry will advance by bounds with quite weak groups, the light machine guns forming part of these groups.

The heavy machine guns should generally be employed to keep down the occupants of the objective of the attack during the infantry attack, and to follow the latter up by large bounds. They also afford security against the enemy’s counter-thrusts.

The method outlined above has apparently not been employed universally, but where it has, it has been successful and casualties have been light. I request that steps be taken to ensure that this method is brought to the knowledge of all units as early as possible. The idea of compelling success by the employment of masses of troops must be absolutely eradicated. This merely leads to unnecessary losses. It is fire effect which is decisive, and not numbers.

2. The extraordinary moral and explosive effect of the medium and heavy Minenwerfer has been once more proved during the attack on the 21st March. The selection of the position of the Minenwerfer companies during the advance must be based on the consideration that they must be able to bring their medium Minenwerfer into action as soon as the attack comes to a standstill, especially against defended villages, farm buildings etc. There is no question of employing heavy Minenwerfer and Flugelminenwerfer in open warfare; there is therefore all the more reason to make use of them in trench warfare. Apart from the preparatory bombardment prior to the actual attack, their principal task will always be to annihilate the enemy’s infantry. Villages which lie within range form, on account of their strong garrisons, particularly suitable targets.

(Signed) LUDENDORFF.
GENERAL STAFF,
GENERSAL HEADQUARTERS,
19th April, 1918.

Printed in France by Army Printing and Stationary Services. PRESS A-4/18.

George Ryan’s letter home dated 15 April 1915

1945. ‘D’ Co

9^th Middx

Barrackpore

Bengal

India.

15 April 1915

Dear M & F,

Your letter of March 18^th received.  Glad to hear Dad has been a bit busy but I suppose it won’t last long.  Hope his feet are better.

I had a letter from Bert this week; he must be having a jolly rough time. He doesn’t seem to think the war will be over just yet, not before next Christmas, he says.  I suppose they discuss it every other day in the trenches the same as we do here.  I think I’ve told you before that I’ve got a rupee (1^s/4^d) bet on with another fellow that it’s over by Oct 31^st.  I hope I shall win it.

Well we are going to Darjeeling at last, 19 of us from this Co. We leave here to-morrow, Wed 14. (I’m writing this Tues 13^th).  It will be a change for us.  We’ve got to put on warm clothing! & take 2 extra blankets.  The temperature up there is about 45^o whereas it was over 100^o here yesterday.  So I expect we shall feel pretty cold the first few days.

I’m sending some photographs by this mail. They are only groups taken at Dinapore & as I don’t want to cart them up to Darjeeling I’m sending them home.  I would have sent them long ago only I’ve been going to have some done of myself alone but have not done so yet.  I was going to send them all to-gether.  I will tell you what the groups are next week & whether there’s anybody else you know in them.  They are at the bottom of my box at present.

Hope you are all well.

Yr loving son

George

Thank May for her letter of 18 Mar. Will answer it next week.

They are ¼^d stamps on the envelope.  P.C.s go for ¼^d out here, letters ½^d (Inland)

P.T.O.

Just turned out photographs. They are not up to much, not worth sending in fact but as I’ve paid for them I might as well send them.  The big one & the P.C.s is No 1 Section, (my section) & the other is just an odd group.  I enclose the P.C.s.  C.A.S. is in both of them.  The chap sitting on the form on the extreme left of the Section photo was the one that was billeted with me in Sittingbourne.  G.W.R.

George Ryan’s letter home dated 8 Apr 1915

Barrackpore

Bengal

India.

8 April 1915

Dear M & F,

Your letter of March 12^th received.  I sent my insurance card to the Society about the 2^nd or 3^rd week we were here so they must have got it soon after sending that notice.

I have not come across any place where I could get a parrot; but you need not reckon on me bringing one of those things home. I don’t suppose we could if we wanted too.  We shall have quite enough to manage as it is.  As our Colour Serg^t says this is not a tea-party, we are out here as soldiers.

We are at Ishapore again this week on guard. There’s no upper floor to the guard-room so we find it very hot.  It is a job to get any sleep at night time.  We generally have a couple of hours sleep in the afternoon, that is if we are not on duty.  It’s too hot to do anything else.  It’s very nice this morning as I write this, on the bank of the river Hooghly; the one place where it’s a bit cool here.  There’s a nice breeze blowing.

I went to Calcutta again last Sat.  It’s a treat to see a little of town life now & again.  We had a ride round in a 1^st class garrey as far as St Paul’s Cathedral.  We had a look in there; it’s a fine building but very small for a Cathedral.  We came across an English watch maker so I’ve left my watch with him to be mended.  It’s going to cost me 5 or 6 “chips” (7/- or 8/-).

I think we shall go to Darjeeling next week I hope so at any rate.

I had some more papers from Holt this week.

Hoping you are all well.

Your affec son

George

George Ryan’s letter home dated 6 April 1917

Scouts Section,

1/9^th Middlesex Reg^t

Ambala,

India.

6 Apl 1917

Dear Ma,

I have written to Mr Walker this week (about time too, I expect you’ll think) & asked him to send you what remains to my credit at the office, so that the monthly amounts will dis-continue. Please invest it in War Loan – you will know best which Stock – & let me know the particulars.

To-day, being Good Friday, we should have had a Church Parade but we’ve got a holiday instead, owing to the outbreak of measles.

Hoping you are all well &with best love & kisses from

Your loving son

George

V – W – X – Y – Z

SECRET

42^nd Inf. Bde.

S6/117 B.M.

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

5^th Oxf & Bucks L.I.

5^th Shrops L.I.

9^th K.R.Rif.C.

9^th Rif Brig.

42^nd Machine Gun Company.

42^nd Trench Mortar Battery.

No. V Group R.F.A.

1. W day will be April 5^thY             do           7^th
2. Z             do         8^th
3. X             do          6^th
4. The Artillery bombardment will be continuous on V, W, X and Y days, except for pauses given in paras 3 and 4.
6. Pauses will take place during the bombardment on the whole Army front for the purpose of photography:-W day             10 a.m. – 10.30 a.m.             3 p.m. – 3.30 p.m.
7. X day              10.30 a.m. – 11 a.m.            3 p.m. – 3.30 p.m.
8. V day              11.30 a.m. – 12 noon          4.30 p.m. – 5 p.m.
9. During the preparatory bombardment the Brigade will send out patrols, each under an officer, at stated times during each period of 24 hours to investigate state of enemy wire and strength of enemy in his trenches. The G.O.C. Brigade will decide on the time at which these patrols will go out during each period of 24 hours, and points which they will reconnoitre.
11. All patrol reports will be sent by Special D.R. to Brigade Headquarters as soon as they have been written and seen by the Commanding Officer, who will state in a covering letter the degree of accuracy which he considers that each report possesses.
12. The work of these patrols is of great importance, more especially regarding the examination of enemy wire and the accuracy of their reports on its condition. Capt,42^nd Inf. Bde.A Patrol under 2/Lt. Anderson capture and *** Machine G un.4^th April 1917
14. NOTE.
15. Bde Major,
16. B . Taget
17. Officers in charge of patrols should be informed that the Offensives has now begun, and that all work in connection with it is of the highest importance, more especially as regards details such as preparatory patrolling.

SECRET

********

42^nd Inf Bde.

S 6/113 B.M.

5^th Oxf & Bucks L.I.

5^th Shrops L.I.

9^th K.R.Rif.C.

9^th Rif Brig.

42^nd Machine Gun Company.

42^nd Trench Mortar Battery.

8^th Inf Bde.

9^th Inf Bde.

41^st Inf Bde.

43^rd Inf Bde.

76^th Inf Bde.

14^th Division

14^th Div’l Signals.

B.T.O.

No 3 Section Signals (3 Copies).

No 8 Squadron R.F.C. (2 Copies).

14^th Divl Artillery (5 Copies)

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

1. Herewith copy (or copies) of Instructions for Communications in the 42^nd Inf Bde during forthcoming Operations.
2. Where more than one copy has been sent the additional copies are for distribution as considered suitable.
3. O.C. Battalions of 42^nd Inf Bde will ensure that their Signalling Officers are fully acquainted with these instructions. If doubt exists regarding any points, their Signalling Officer should arrange to see the Brigade Signalling Officer with regard to them.
4. Please acknowledge.

B Jagel

Capt.

Bde Major

42^nd Inf Bde.

3^rd April 1918.

COMMUNICATIONS

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

1. TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPH.

• From W Day until ZERO Battalions will be in communication with Advanced Brigade H.Q. at G.34.b.95.70 (Position Call J.P. 50) through which office communication with Covering Artillery Advanced Dressing Station and Advanced Transport Lines can be obtained.
• At ZERO telephone lines will be switched over to Brigade Command Post at M.5.b.60.90 (Station call Z.D.B.)
• The B.T.O. will detail orderlies for duty at the Signal Office in Advanced Transport Lines.
• The following are positions where telephone offices will be situated from W to Z Day inclusive:-

————————————————————————————-

Position of                   Position           Locality           Map Reference

Telephone Office        Call

————————————————————————————-

Advanced Bde HQ     J.P.50              ——-               G.34.b.95.70.

Adv Dressing Stn.      J.P.63              HUNTER        G.35.d.10.85.

STREET

Battalion H.Q.                        H.L.                 HUN L            G.35.d.50.05.

Battalion H.Q.                        J.P.3                HUNTER        G.35.d.15.90.

STREET

Battalion H.Q.                        B.A.                MIDDLESEX            M.5.b.65.60.

TRENCH

Battalion H.Q.                        B.B.                 HOG LINE     M.5.b.83.95.

Bde Command Post    B.C.P.             HOG LINE     M.5.b.60.90.

————————————————————————————-

• As soon as the situation allows, a line will be extended and an advanced Signal Office established in the Old Battery Position at M.6.d.40.30 (Call B.P.)
• Battalions will send messages, for transmission from that Office, by runner.

NOTE.  Reference para (a) Fullerphone with telephone in series will be installed in each Battalion H.Q. but the former must be used in preference to the latter whenever possible owing to their being no possibility of its being overheard by the enemy.

1. VISUAL.

(a). Brigade Receiving Station (Call Z.D.B.) will be established at M.5.b.60.90 equipped with Lucas Lamp, Helio, and Dietz Disc.

(b). Z.D.B. will receive from Station established in Old Battery position at M.6.d.40.30 (Call B.P.). B.P. will be manned by Signallers of the 5^th Oxf & Bucks L.I., one N.C.O. and 3 men, and will be equipped with Lucas Lamp, Helio, and Dietz Disc.  The Lucas Lamp will be employed in preference to the other instruments.  The Station will be regarded as a transmitting centre for messages from all Battalions.  Messages must be short and concise and will be sent from Battalion H.Q. by Runner to the Visual Station (B.P.)

(c). Personnel for B.P. will proceed to take up position about 15 minutes in rear of Battalion.  A series of dashed will be sent until O.K. is given by Z.D.B.

(d). The method of sending from B.P. will be as follows:-

The prefix will be sent repeatedly until answered by “G” when the prefix will be sent once more followed by code time, number of words, “address to”, text, “address from” and V.E.; Office of origin and service instructions will not be sent; after V.E. the whole message will be repeated immediately and the second V.E. given; if the message has been correctly received the answer R.D. will be sent; should R.D. not be given the message will be repeated until acknowledged by the Receiving Station. R.D. will be answered by ”T”.

1. PIGEONS.

(a). Pigeon men with birds should be detailed to accompany definite Officers. It is hoped to be able to supply two pairs of birds to each of the following:-

5^th Oxf & Bucks L.I.

5^th Shrops L.I.

9^th K.R.Rif.C.

(b). A forward dump of birds will be formed in Advanced Brigade H.Q. G.34.b.95.70.

(c). Immediately any birds have been released, a pigeon man should be sent back to the dump with the empty basket to fetch more pigeons.

(d). Battalions must ensure that they are in possession of message book, refill and spare clips.

(e). On release the birds fly to the Loft near Div’l H.Q. Average time taken is 9 minutes.  From the Loft the message is telegraphed to the addressee and diatelegrams delivered direct by Special D.R.

(f). Code names should be used in the messages: remainder may be sent in clear. Care should be taken to enter on the message the time at which it is written.  Diagrams whenever possible should accompany report.  They must however be made on the special message form.

(g). A copy of every pigeon message should be sent by the next Runner endorsed ”COPY ORIGINAL SENT BY PIGEON AT (Time)”.  Runners should not be sent specially.

1. POWER BUZZER.

(a). One Power Buzzer is allotted to this Brigade (Call – C.S.)

(b). The Amplifier will be installed in LEWEN SCHANZE (M.5.d.70.40.) and manned by Signal Service personnel. The call for this Station will be Z.D.C.  It will receive also from Power Buzzer on the 43^rd Inf Bde Front (Call C.Q.).  The  notes of the two Buzzers will be so adjusted that they can be distinguished and the adjustment will be made before the instruments are sent forward.  Base lines of all instruments will be North and South.

(c). The Power Buzzer will move forward with the 9^th K.R.Rif.C. H.Q.  For this purpose the 9^th K.R.Rif.C. will detail 4 men instructed in the use of the Power Buzzer.

(d). The 5^th Shrops L.I. will detail 4 Signallers, similarly instructed, to follow 10 minutes in rear of their Battalion H.Q. and take over the Power Buzzer from the 9^th K.R.Rif.C. and proceed to re-instal it in Battalion H.Q. at Second Objective.

(e). They in turn will hand the instrument over to personnel detailed by the relieving unit.

(f). Messages, which must be as short and concise as possible, may be sent in clear except names of units. For these, Code Names must be used.  Messages will be sent slowly three times in succession with short interval.  The whole message, less ’Office of Origin’ and ’Service Instructions’ will be sent.

(g). A copy of every message sent by Power Buzzer should be sent by next Runner endorsed ”COPY ORIGINAL SENT BY POWER BUZZER AT (Time)”.

(h). It must be remembered that the Power Buzzer can be overheard by the enemy.

1. WIRELESS.

• One Trench Wireless Set is allotted to this Brigade.
• One Officer and Carrying Party of 4 men trained in the erection of the set will be detailed by the 9^th Rif Brig to take charge of the Station. The operating will be done by Signal Service personnel.  The Officer in charge will keep the set packed up and in readiness in a dugout near Brigade Command Post, to go forward as soon as the Second Objective has been gained and consolidated.  The Officer will then take his party forward with the set and report to O.C. 5^th Shrops L.I.  It will be the duty of the Officer in charge of the set to keep in touch with the Brigade Staff and to find out directly the captured position is sufficiently consolidated to make it feasible to bring the Wireless Station into to
• C. 5^th Shrops L.I. will if possible, select a suitable dugout or shelter in the captured position, preferably in a Battalion H.Q. He will if necessary provide a guide to the site selected.
• The call of the Station will be Y.M.M/. and it will work to Y.U. (..–) situated at ACHICOURT which is in telephone communication with VII Corps.

The station will subsequently be handed over to personnel detailed by        the relieving Brigade.

• It must be remembered that wireless messages can be overheard by the enemy. It is necessary to send wireless messages in Playfair cipher whenever possible.  Key-word will be notified later.
• The responsibility for enciphering, encoding, deciphering and decoding of all wireless messages rests with the Commander of the unit to whom the wireless station is allotted.
• The Wireless personnel are trained to encipher, encode, decipher and decode messages and under the authority of the Commander of the unit or his representative but the entire responsibility rests with the Commander.
• No message in cipher of code is to be transmitted until it has been endorsed by the Commander or his representative that the message is to be sent ”By wireless as written”.
• For the purpose of para (g) and (h) the Officer in charge of set may be regarded as the Commander’s representative.
• Messages will be confirmed as given in para 4 Sub-pars (g).

1. RUNNERS.

• Runners will wear a RED band sewn on left sleeve below the elbow. They will carry despatches in the right left **** breast pocket, and this pocket will be kept empty of all other papers while the runner is carrying a despatch.  All ranks should be told that despatches are carried in this pocket and that if any man sees a runner killed or wounded it is his duty to search the pocket and himself to deliver the despatch found therein.  Runners should be distributed as follows:-

TWO with each Platoon Commander.

FOUR at each Company H.Q.

EIGHT at each Battalion H.Q.

FOUR from each Battalion, ONE from 42^nd Machine Gun Company, and ONE from 42^nd Trench Mortar Battery at Advanced Brigade H.Q. at G.34.b.95.70 to report at Signal Office at 3 pm. On ’Y’ Day each with one days rations.

Runners form a branch of the Signals of a unit.  Trained Signallers should not be employed as runners.

• Brigade Runners will be worked on the relay system and posts of 4 men each will be established at:-
  1. Brigade Command Post M.5.d.60.90.
  2. junction of TELEGRAPH LANE and CORDITE TRENCH.

The Battery Position at M.6.d.40.30. will be Runner Post No 3.  Runners will proceed to take up position there about 2 hours and 30 minutes after ZERO.  At this Post 8 men will be stationed, 4 working to Right Battalion H.Q. and 4 to Left Battalion H.Q.  This Post will be responsible also for delivering to the 5^th Shrops L.I. at the second objective.

1. AEROPLANE LIAISON.

• Contact Aeroplanes working with the 14^th Division will have a special marking, a broad black band under the lower starboard (right) plane, with streamer.
• Flares will be lit by the most advanced troops when the Contact Aeroplane calls for them. Flares can be seen if lit at the bottom of trenches or shell holes.  The Signal for ”LIGHT FLARES” is a series of ”A”s on a Klaxon Horn or the firing of a white light.
• Messages will be signalled to the aeroplane by means of a French Lamp or ground signal panel which should be at least 15 yards away from the ground signal sheet (the semi-circular sheet indicating the position of Battalion H.Q.) and the ground signal strips (indicating code letter of Battalion H.Q.). Messages will be signalled to aeroplanes only when all other means of communication fail.
• Q. will indicate that they have a message for the aeroplane by calling up in the usual way.

When the aeroplane is ready to receive the message it will send the Battalion call letters and ”G” by Klaxon or Lamp.

Each word or code letter of a message from the ground will be answered by the aeroplane by the general answer ”T” and the receipt of the message will be acknowledged after V.E. by the code call of the sender followed by ”R.D.” This will be answered from the ground by ”T”.

• Should ground signal strips not be available the Battalion code call will be sent continually until the aeroplane replies by sending code call followed by ”G”.
• Messages sent on the panel must be confined to code given below and co-ordinates.
• When the observer has obtained information either from the flares, ground sheet or panel, he goes to the “dropping station” at BERNEVILLE, drops the message and at once return to the Battalion for further work. The message is telegraphed from the “dropping station” to the addressee.
• Code letters allotted are as follows:-

Brigade H.Q.              Z.D.B.

5^th Oxf & Bucks L.I.   O.L.I.

5^th Shrops L.I.             K.L.I.

9^th K.R.Rif.C.             K.R.I.

9^th Rif Bde                  R.B.I.

• Signals between aeroplanes and Infantry are as follows:-

The rest of the paper is missing.

56 Division Instruction re Tanks 2 April 1917

SECRET                                                                                            56^TH Divn. No G.A. 125

56 DIVISION INSTRUCTIONS

TANKS.

1. Sixteen Tanks of “D” Battalion, 1^st Brigade, Heavy Branch M.G. Corps will work with VII Corps. Headquarters “D” Battalion will be in ARRAS about G.21.a. (CONVENT de NOTRE DAME).
2. Headquarters 1^st Brigade, Heavy Branch M.G. Corps will be at MONTENESCOURT.
3. 1 Section (4 Tanks) will be allotted to the 56^th Division.
4. Each half Section (2 Tanks) will be accompanied by 1 Section of Infantry to assist them in their advance where required. These Sections will be furnished by 169^th Infantry Brigade.
5. These two Sections of Infantry will no longer be required once the BLUE LINE has been reached.
6. The 2 Section Commanders will meet Lieut. BELL (O.C. Section of Tanks working with the Division) at Divisional Headquarters at 10.45 a.m. on April 4^th.
7. The two Infantry Sections will undergo a preliminary training with the Heavy Branch Machine Gun Company.
8. Details re attachment will be notified later.
9. The C.R.E. will detail an Officer to meet Lieut. BELL at 11 a.m. on 4^th April at Divisional Headquarters, and will be prepared to attach this Officer and 3 R.E. N.C.O.s to “D” Battalion, should their services be required.
10. A Map is attached shewing approximately the Tank objectives and direction of routes to them.Dotted GREEN lines show lines of advance to 2^nd objective.
11. Continuous GREEN Lines show lines of advance to 1^st objective.
12. After the capture of the BLUE LINE the Tanks will act in accordance with the orders issued to them direct by VII Corps.
13. If Zero is at dawn, Tanks will be able to move up during Z – 1/Z night to points as close up to our Front Line as is consistent with the safety of the Infantry.
14. Tanks will move on to the BLUE LINE following up the leading infantry and will not proceed any great distance in front of them, otherwise the Infantry will not be in a position to take advantage of the opportunities that the Tanks may create.
15. ACKNOWLEDGE.

1. Pakenham

Lieut-Colonel, General Staff.

Head Qrs. 56^th Divn. 2^nd April 1917.    P.T.O.

Copies to –

167^th Infantry  Brigade.                                                       56^th Div Train

168^th Infantry Brigade.                                                        Div. M.G. Officer.

169^th Infantry Brigade.                                                        Div. Gas Officer

VII Corps                                                                                D.A.D.O.S.

“   ”    Artillery.                                                                     4^th Aust. Div. Supply Column.

“   ”   Heavy Artillery                                                          No. 2 Ammn. Sub Park.

“   ”   M.G. Officer                                                              G.O.C.

14^th Division                                                                          A.D.C.

30^th Division.                                                                         A.D.M.S.

C.R.A.                                                                                                “Q”

C.R.E.                                                                                                War Diary.

1/5^th Cheshire Regt.                                                                        File

A.P.M.

193^rd Div. M.G. Coy.

56^th Div. Signals.

1^st Bde. H.B. M.G. Corps.

“D” Battalion

Lieut. BELL c/o “D” Battalion.