K2/11

18^th Div Art

Lt. Col Brooke R.F.A. of 50^th Bde R.F.A. has consented to watch this group front on Z day from our group O.P. near  A.14.d.6.2.  He will be connected by a direct wire to Group H.Q. and will send any information he can obtain as to the situation.

25/6/16

***** Lt. Col

Cmdg R^t Group

SECRET

SECRET

Copy No.

XIII Corps

132/27 (G)

ACTION OF ARTILLERY DURING THE FIRST AND SECOND PHASES.

Reference Plan of Operations Part I, para 4 the following is a summary of the action which it is intended shall be taken by the Artillery during the First and Second Phases.

1. the batteries mentioned below, in prepared positions North of the PERONNE Road, will not open fire until:-

18^th Divisional Arty.               30^th Divisional Arty.

A/51}                                      A/52}  0 -65 29^th June

C/53} 0 -15                             B/52}   If possible, will do

C/51} 29^th June                      A/53}   a little registration

D/51}                                      B/53}   on the afternoon of

B/51}   28^th June.

1. As soon as circumstances permit, if possible immediately the green line has been captured, and at least during the night following the capture of that line, the following batteries will be moved forward North of the PERONNE Road:-

18^th Divisional Arty.               30^th Divisional Arty.

(B/82                                      A/150)   After capture of

Left Group   (A/85                                      C/150)

C/52)   GLATZ REDOUBT

In addition, 151^st F.A. Bde

will be in readiness for forward support if

(A/83                                                required.

Centre Group (B/85

(B/84

Right Group   (C/84

In addition, 50^th F.A.  Bde will be in readiness to reinforce 18^th Divisional Artillery.

The tasks of the batteries mentioned in paras 1 and 2 above are as follows:-

• The defence of the green line.
• To assist with their fire the advance of the XV Corps to the brown line by bringing fire to bear on the German second line and on ground between it and the CATERPILLAR WOOD Stream (Plan of Operations, Part I, para 4 (d))

1. The following artillery will be moved up in close support of our front line as soon as possible after the capture of the green line; the function of these guns is the close defence of our new line especially of the MONTAUBAN salient.

18^th Divisional Arty.                                  30^th Divisional Arty.

2-18pdr} atF.17.b.2.2.                       C/148} Enfilade Eastern

guns of } and at                                 B/148} of MONTAUBAN

C/51     }  F.12.c.7.3

to move to position in                         A/52}  Enfilade Western edge

vicinity of A.2.c. to                            B/52}  of BERNAFAY WOOD

enfilade N.W. face of                                     A/53}  and barrage South edge

MONTAUBAN. These                                Wood.

Guns will advance after

POMMIERS REDOUBT

has been taken.

These guns will not open fire except in case of actual attack or at an exceptionally favourable target, such as limbered up hostile artillery attempting to escape, (Plan of Operations Part I para 4.(c).)

1. The 30^th Division will make arrangements to enfilade with artillery fire the Eastern face of MONTAUBAN and barrage the Southern edge of BERNAFAY WOOD; the 18^th Division to enfilade the N.W. face of MONTAUBAN.

Both Divisions will aim at bringing as effective a fire as possible to bear on the BERNAFAY WOOD – CRATER – PILLAR WOOD Valley.

These tasks will not necessarily be carried out by the guns advanced as in 3 above, but in whatever way Divisional Commanders consider most effective.

1. The following batteries of the Corps Artillery will be moved forward as stated below as soon as circumstances permit after the capture of the green line (Plan of Operations, Part I, para. 4. (e).)

• Counter Battery Batteries.

31^st Heavy Battery 60 prs to A.26.a.4.5.) probably

124^th Heavy Battery to 60A.26.a.9.7.)      night of

29/30

D/50 4.5” Howitzers to A.9.c.2.5.)               probably

12^th Heavy Battery 60 prs to A.14.d.85.90.)  night of

115^th Heavy Battery 60 prs to A.14.b.60.)     30/1

• Siege Batteries.

12^th Siege Battery 9.2” 1 Secn to A.19.d.1.1.)  probably

15^th Siege Battery 6” 1Battery to A.25.b.20.45) night

66^th Siege Battery 9.2” 1 Secn to A.21.b.60.58.)  of

6^th Siege Battery 6” 1 Battery to A.21.b.95.76.)   29/30

Sd W.H. Greenly

B.G., G.S.

XIII Corps

25^th June 1916

Copies to:-

No 1 French XX Corps

2 XV Corps

3) G.O.C., R.A.

4)

5 9^th Division

6 18^th Division

7 30^th Division

8 No 9 Squadron R.F.C.

9 Corps Commander

10 B.G., G.S.

11) ”G”

12)

13”Q”

To,                                                                                                                   AB240/30

48^th Siege Battery R.G.A.

XIII Corps H.A. (for information)

With reference to XIII Corps H.A. Operation Order No 3 dated 21/6/16 and amendment:-

(1) From 1.00 on zero day the section of 49^th Siege Battery (under orders of 18^th Divisional Artillery) will be allotted the following tasks.

(2) From 1.00 to 2.00.

Junction of trenches at S.26.c.4.4., and new german trench running through S.26.c. and S.25.a..

Steady rate of fire.

(3) From 2.00 to 2.30 25. Western houses of MONTAUBAN in S.27.c..

Steady rate of fire.

(4) From  2.30 25 MARLBRO WOOD and trench from this wood to CATTERPILLAR WOOD.

Bursts of fire at irregular intervals.

• Whilst employed on the above tasks the section should hold itself in readiness to be turned on any special objective which circumstances may require.

• The targets indicated above should be registered by ”Z” day.

• From zero time of ”Z” day the 49^th Siege Battery will provide an orderly to remain at 18^th Divisional Artillery Headquarters until further notice.

Unreadable signature

Lt. R.A.

Captain R.A.

Brigade Major. R.A. 18^th Division.

H.Q. R.A., 18/Div.

25^th June 1916

No B.M/148/1

8^th DIVISIONAL ARTILLERY

INSTRUCTIONS No 4

—————————————–

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ARTILLERY OFFICERS

ACTING IN “LIAISON” WITH INFANTRY.

——————————————————————–

1. Officers detailed, whether to Infantry Brigades or battalions, will remain in close touch with such Headquarters throughout operations.

They must never leave Headquarters (but will move with them) without giving       clear information as to where they can be found.

1. Their role is: –

1. To keep their group constantly informed of the progress of events.
3. To alter the rate or direction of fire, if considered necessary.
5. To give information concerning the effective, (or otherwise), shooting of the guns.
7. To give the earliest possible information obtainable concerning position of our Infantry, counter attacks or other matters of importance.
9. To ensure their communications to group Headquarters is kept up.            NOTE (i). It must be borne in mind that on ”Z” day, operations start with a                             carefully prepared programme which it is intended shall go through                     and the ammunition allotted is considered suitable. Liaison                                      officers, when asking for alterations in rates of fire, must clearly                              understand the difficulties that may arise in ammunition supply.            NOTE (ii). All information sent to group Headquarters must be at once                                    forwarded to Headquarters R.A.

1. It is of the greatest importance that the time be inserted on each message. This must be done by the Liaison Officer, who is held responsible.

C.R. Gover Major R.A.

Brigade Major 8^th Divnl.  Artillery

25-6-16

Copies to :- 5/33/45/86/89 Bdes.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR OFFICERS IN OBSERVATION STATIONS DURING BOMBARDMENT TO SUPPORT ASSAULT.

• During the bombardment to support the assault a copy of the Time Table of Phases should be available both at the Observation Station and at the Battery, in as fer as it concerns the battery itself and the neighbouring batteries.
• Spare diagrams of the Phase chart are forwarded herewith for this purpose. These charts are amended to show new trenches near CATERPILLAR WOOD.
• The duties of the officers posted on Observation Stations up to 2.30 after zero time will mainly consist in supervising the bombardment, and in furnishing all available information as to progress of the battle.
• These officers should not interfere or alter the timings or tasks of the bombardment except in special and urgent circumstances.
• In the event of a counter attack being clearly visible, or it being obvious that the fire of their own battery is being misdirected or causing casualties to our own troops, it may be admissible for officers in observation stations to issue orders departing from the prepared programme.
• Reports as to progress of the battle should be continually transmitted from observation station to Group Headquarters, where the information will be consolidated and forwarded to Divisional Artillery Headquarters without delay.
• The following information will be urgently required throughout the operation:-

• Times of arrival of our infantry at the various trenches.
• Any signs of the assault being held up by unexpected resistance.
• Any display of flags as signals by the infantry, stating times.
• Any signs of the enemy massing for counter attacks.
• Forward hostile guns suddenly disclosed.
• General observation as to the effect or defects of our artillery fire.
  • The importance of exercising scrupulous care in stating exact times of all observations should be impressed on all officers. A message stating arrival of our infantry in a given line without stating the time, owing to delays in transmission loses nearly all its value; in fact such a message may give false information.
  • Similarly the greatest care should be exercised in sending all names of places and trenches in block letters, and in ensuring that map coordinates are given accurately. Any slight error may lead to serious consequences.
  • It should also be remembered that negative information may often be of the greatest importance.

A.F. Brooke

Captain R.A.,

Brigade Major, R.A. 18^th Division.

H.Q. R.A. 18/Div.

24^th June 1916

SECRET.

TABLE FROM -65’ TO 3.15.

‘Z’ DAY

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

TIME              Rds. per           Total.               Line                 Rds. per           Total.

gun per                                                            How per

minute.                                                                        minute.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

-65’ to -10’      ½                     27                    Front               ½                     27

-10’ to -01       3                      30                    Front               1                      10

0.00 to 0.03     3                      9                    Blue                 2                      6

0.03 to 0.05     3                      20                    Pink                 2                      4

0.05 to 0.25     1                      20                    Green              1                      20

0.25 to 0.48     1                      23                    Brown             ½                     12

0.48 to 1.17     1                      30                    Mauve             ½                     15

1.17 to 1.25     1                      8                    Orange                        1                      8

1.25 to 2.15     1                      50                    Lt. Blue           ½                     25

2.15 to 3.15     1                      60                    Crimson           ½                     30

———————–                                           ———————–

Total per gun            263                                Total per How          157

———————–                                           ————————

NOTE

• Batteries firing on ‘Crimson’ at excessive elevation, will fire H.E.
• E. only will be fired at the portions where the coloured line markings Barrage is under 200 yards from the previous barrage line.

23.6.16

C.R. Gover Major R.A.

Bde Major 8^th Div Artillery

SECRET.

TABLE OF AMMUNITION EXPENDITURE

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

DAY               TIME                                      18 pdrs                                    4.5 Hows.

V                     10.0 – 10.40 a.m.                    (20                                           0

(12                                           0

4.15 – 5.15 p.m.                      30                                          30

GAS   0.03 – 0.04                                 4                                           0

1.27 – 1.31                              16                                           0

Night firing                                         40                                           40

W                    9.00 – 10.20 a.m.                    60                                            50

Night firing                                         40                                            40

X                     4.30 to 5.50 a.m.                     60                                            50

6.30 to 7.00 p.m.                     30                                            20

7.30 to 8.10 p.m.                     40                                            20

Night firing                             40                                            40

Y                     6.00 to 7.20 a.m.                     40                                            40

4.05 to 5.15 p.m.                     30                                            20

Night firing                             40                                            40

Totals  per gun            502                  per How        390

For Raid on ‘V’ day, or as ordered.

2.00 to 2.15                             200 rds per)                             100 rds)

Battery 30% H.E.)                  per Bty.)

2.16 to 2.20                             50 rds per)                               32 rds)

Bty H.E. only on)                               per Bty)

front line)

2.21 to 2.45                 300 rds per)                                         100 rds)

Bty 30% H.E.)                                                per Bty)

2.46 to 2.55                 40 rds per)                                           20 rds)

Bty 30% H.E.)                                                per Bty)

23.6.16.

C.R. Gover Major R.A.

Brigade Major 8^th Div Artillery

SECRET                                                                                            APPENDIX ‘B’

PROGRAMME FOR THE DISCHARGE OF GAS.

—————————————————————

12 cylinders, White Star, and 8 cylinders, Red Star, per emplacement will be installed.

Gas will be discharged as follows:-

0-0.4.       4 cylinders (White Star) simultaneously per bay.

0.4 – 1.20. 1 cylinder (Red Star) per bay every 10 minutes.

1.20 All remaining cylinders to be turned on.

2. The following Rocket Signals will be fired from OVILLERS and DONNET POSTS commencing at 1.28.

Three pairs of Red Rockets from each post at 30 secs. Interval between pairs.

The G.O’s C. 23^rd and 25^th Bdes will arrange for the firing of these rockets.

The rockets will only be fired provided the discharge of gas has taken place.

SECRET.                                                                                             8^th D.A. No 0/57.

8^th Divisional Artillery Instructions

for forthcoming Operations, dated 22^nd June.

——————————————————-

1. Para 10. add

Should a re-bombardment be required, it will in every case last for 30         minutes, the last five minutes to be intense.

1. Appendix “A” para 1.25 to 2.15.

The barrage will move back slowly from ORANGE so as to be        established on LIGHT BLUE at 2.0

On the extreme left the lift from ORANGE will be directed on to   CRIMSON, LT BLUE between the points R.34.c.9.8. to R.34.a.0.9. at 1.25.

1. Appendix “E” is amended as follows:-

1. If the wind permits, smoke will be discharged on “W”, “X”, and “Y” days.
2. It will be discharged along the lines at the following times:-

“W” day 10.10 a.m. to 10.20. a.m.

“X” day 5.40 a.m. to 5.50 a.m.

“Y” day 7.10 a.m. to 7.20 a.m.

23-6-16

C.R. Gover Major R.A.

Brigade Major 8^th Divnl. Artillery.

SECRET                     8^th Divisional Artillery Instructions No. 3                  Copy No

Instructions for Artillery during

Advance of Brigades R.H & R.F.A.

1. The 89^th Brigade R.F.A., on getting into action, will cover POZIERES, but must husband as much ammunition as possible to deal with any counter attacks which may be launched by the enemy.

1. When the 33^rd Brigade R.F.A. advances, the front of 23^rd Infantry Brigade will be supported by 86^th Brigade R.F.A., that of 25^th Infantry Brigade, by 5^th Brigade R.H.A., that of 70^th Infantry Brigade by 45^th Brigade R.F.A.

1. When the 33^rd Brigade R.F.A. is in action in its advanced position, it will again support 23^rd Infantry Brigade.

25^th Infantry Brigade will be supported by 86^th Bde R.F.A.

70^th Infantry Brigade will be supported by 5^th Brigade R.H.A. and 45^th Brigade    R.F.A.

1. When the 5^th Brigade R.H.A. advances, the 70^th Infantry Brigade will be supported by the 45^th Brigade R.F.A.

The 23^rd and 25^th Infantry Bdes. Supported as in para 3.

1. When the 45^th Brigade R.F.A. advances, the 5^th Brigade R.H.A. will support the 70^th Infantry Brigade.

The 23^rd and 25^th Infantry Bdes supported as in para. 3.

1. When the 86^th Brigade R.F.A. advances, the

23^rd Infantry Brigade will be supported by 33^rd Bde R.F.A.

25^th     “              “        “    “        “          “   5^th Bde. R.H.A.

70^th     “              “        “    “        “          “  45^th Bde. R.F.A.

1. When 86^th Brigade R.F.A. is in action, para 13, ”Instructions for forthcoming Operations” issued on 22.6.16 will be carried out.

NOTE. – During the advance of 33^rd and 45^th Brigades R.F.A., one 18 pdr Battery per         Brigade will remain in action in present position until the other two have        arrived at the new positions, and will continue to support the Infantry                         Brigades according to previous orders.

C.R. Gover Major R.A.

23.6.16.                                                                              Brigade Major 8^th Div. Arty.

Copies.            1 8^th Div.

2 C.R.A.

3 5^th Bde R.H.A.

4 33^rd Bde R.F.A.

5 45^th   “       “

6 86^th   “       “

7 89^th   “       “

8 23^rd Infy Bde.

9 25^th   “      “

10 70^th “     “