APPENDIX “A”
PROGRAMME OF PRELIMINARY BOMBARDMENT.
(1). The attached programme is worked out with a view to conforming with the instructions issued as regards sequence of the bombardment, and to minimise the difficulties of observation caused by smoke and dust of one battery interfering with another.
(2). SPECIAL HOURS ALLOTTED TO BATTERIES.
Special hours have been allotted to the various batteries concerned for engaging the front system of trenches, this does not preclude other batteries from engaging trenches further to the rear at these times provided the targets engaged are not obscured by the guns firing on trenches in advance.
(3). WIRE CUTTING.
Wire cutting will be carried out in accordance with previous instructions issued. Group Commanders will issue necessary instructions within their Group to prevent the wire cutting batteries interfering with each other.
(4). PREVENTING REPAIR OF WIRE & TRENCHES.
Each 18-pr battery will be responsible for the front allotted to it for wire cutting, as regards prevention of repairs at night. Table ‘C’ indicates approximate allowance of ammunition for this task, this ammunition should be expended in irregular bursts of fire throughout the night under instructions to be issued by Group Commanders.
(5). SHELLING OF APPROACHES & COMMUNICATIONS.
The shelling of approaches and communications will be allotted to Groups as under:-
{18- prs. Western exits of MONTAUBAN. Tracks from CATERPILLAR WOOD to MONTAUBAN.
Right Group {4.5” How. Communication trenches & Trench junctions in A.3.a.
{18-prs. CATERPILLAR WOOD Valley, and MONTAUBAN-MAMETZ Road.
Centre Group
{4.5” How. LOOP TRENCH, MINE ALLEY & POPOFF LANE.
{18-prs. Junction of valleys and trenches in S.20.c.
Left Group
{4.5” How: BLACK ALLEY and MONTAUBAN ALLEY.
Group Commanders will detail at least two 18-pr batteries and one 4.5” howitzer per night for the shelling of approaches. These batteries will have to carry out this task in addition to preventing repair of wire on the portion of front allotted to them.
The shelling of approaches by 18-prs will consist of approximately 12 salvoes per hour fired at irregular intervals and changed localities throughout the night.
The night should be considered as lasting from 8 P.M. to 5 A.M.
4.5” Hows will fire approximately 6 rounds per hour at the communication trenches.
The shelling of Communications and Approaches in rear will be carried out at irregular intervals throughout the day.
(6). TEST CONCENTRATION OF FIRE.
Tests of concentration of fire will be carried out by Groups in accordance with attached Programme. These concentrations will consist of a test carried out by Groups on various portions of the front.
Batteries will fire consecutively at 10 minutes interval, and effect of fire will be observed.
Forward batteries will remain silent during these concentrations.
(7). SHRAPNEL BARRAGE IN SUPPORT OF DISCHARGE OF GAS.
Should the wind be favourable it is intended on one of the nights previous to assault to discharge a gas cloud with a view to inflicting loss on the enemy by taking them by surprise.
Notification of such a discharge will be forwarded to Groups previously. –the five wire cutting batteries per Group will support the discharge of gas by establishing a heavy shrapnel barrage, at the rate of 3 rounds per 18-pr per minute for two periods of 8 minutes.
This barrage will be carried out with the following lifts:-
Gas discharge begins:- 0.00 time
Barrage front trench:- 0.30 to 0.32 and 1.15 to 1.20.
Lift to second line:- 0.32 to 0.37 and 1.20 to 1.23.
Return to front line:- 0.37 to 0.40 and 1.23 to 1.25.
(8). TIMES RESERVED FOR CORPS ARTILLERY.
Certain periods daily have been reserved for Corps Artillery for bombardment of front trenches, this is to ensure the Divisional Artillery and Corps Artillery not interfering with each others’ tasks.
Copies of diagram indication wire to be engaged daily by 18-prs have been forwarded to XIII Corps H.A. who will refrain from firing on these trenches at the hours detailed for 18-pr wire cutting.
(9). TRENCH MORTARS.
Special hours have been allotted to Medium Trench Mortar batteries for wire cutting. These batteries will refrain from firing at the front trench during the other hours of the day.
(10). DESTRUCTION OF OBSERVATION STATIONS, MACHINE GUNS, COMMUNICATION TRENCHES, ETC., BY 4.5” HOWS.
Special hours have not been allotted for 4.5” How: firing on front trenches – Group Commanders will allot tasks to their 4.5” How batteries within their own fronts, and regulate their fire so as not to interfere with wire cutting operations.
(11). GAS SHELLS.
The use of the Divisional 4.5” How: batteries will be required by XIII Corps H.A. for 65 minutes previous to zero hour for counter battering work with gas shells – It is not certain yet how long these guns will be required for this task.
(12). FORWARD BATTERIES.
The forward batteries (51st Brigade R.F.A.) in the CARNOY valley will not take part in the preliminary bombardment, and will be kept as silent as possible.
Group Commanders should however endeavour to carry out any possible registration of these batteries which they consider could be done without disclosing their positions.
The objectives requiring special registration may be obtained from the tasks allotted to these batteries in Appendix ”B”.
(13). TESTS OF FORWARD BARRAGE NEAR CATERPILLAR WOOD.
It is hoped to carry out two tests during the preliminary bombardment of the final barrage required after the assault.
This test will be carried out by all 15 wire cutting batteries firing salvoes at 4 minutes interval commencing with the most easterly barrage battery of the Right Group. full particulars of the test will be forwarded to Group Commanders and to O.C. 9th Squadron R.F.C.
(14). DISCHARGE OF SMOKE.
In order to lead the enemy to believe that an assault is about to be made, and induce him to man his front trenches, smoke will be discharged for the last 5 to 10 minutes of the times laid down for concentrated bombardments on “W”, “X” and “Y” days.
The discharge of smoke will be accompanied by a heavy shrapnel barrage on front line and support trenches by all wire cutting batteries and searching of communication trenches by 4.5” howitzers for 5minutes as under:-
Front trench, 2minutes.
Lift to support line, 2minutes.
Return to support line, 1minute.
“U” DAY
TIME. NATURE TASK.
OF GUN.
All day 18-prs. Wire cutting in Second Line in accordance with Wire Cutting Programme. Registration if required.
All day 4.5” Hows Complete Registration.
All day 2” T.M. Remain silent
All day 240 mm T.M. Remain silent.
U/V Night 18-prs Communications, approaches and preventing repair of wire.
U/V Night 4.5” Hows Communication trenches.
“V” DAY
6 AM to 9AM 18-prs Wire cutting on Third line in accordance with wire cutting instructions. Batteries may continue
12.30 to 3 PM firing up to 11 AM provided observation is not obscured by 2” T.Ms.
4 P.M. 18-prs Test forward barrage near CATERPILLAR WOOD with aeroplane observation.
All day 4.5” Hows O.Ps, Machine gun emplacements and communication trenches.
9 AM to 11 AM} 2” T.Ms Wire cutting front and support trenches.
5 PM to 8 PM}
11 AM to 12.30 PM} XIII Corps H.A. Reserved for Corps H.A. on front trenches.
3 PM to 5 PM}
4 PM to 4.20 PM 18-prs Concentration of Right Group wire cutting batteries on MONTAUBAN.
V/W Night 18-prs & Same as U/V Night.
4.5” Hows 18-prs ready to support gas barrage if necessary.
(4) “V” DAY
XIII Corps H.A. will not require any time reserved for front trenches, the times allotted for this purpose are consequently re-alloted as under:-
11 A.M. to 12.30 P.M. for 18-prs wire cutting.
3 P.M. to 5.00 P.M. for 2” T.M.s wire cutting.
in addition to times already allotted.
The concentration of Right Group on MONTAUBAN between 4 P.M. and 4.20 P.M. is cancelled.
“W” DAY
TIME. NATURE TASK.
OF GUN.
10 AM to 1 PM 18-prs Wire cutting on POMMIERS TRENCH line in accordance with Programme.
4 PM to 8 PM Batteries may continue from 1 to 3 PM provided observation is not obscured by 2” T.M.
3 PM 18-prs Test forward barrage near CATERPILLAR WOOD with aeroplane observation.
Irregular 18-prs & 4.5”Hows Approaches and communications.
intervals
All day 4.5” Hows Same as “V” day.
5 AM to 7 AM} 2” T.M. Wire cutting front and support trenches.
1 PM to 4 PM }
9 AM to10 AM 18-prs Concentration of Left Group wire cutting batteries on
& 4.5” Hows POMMIERS Redoubt.
7 AM to 10 AM. XIII Corps H.A. Reserved for Corps Artillery on front trenches.
W/X Night 18-prs & 4.5” Hows Same as V/W Night.
(5) “W” DAY.
18-pr wire cutting batteries from 10.30 A.M. to 1 P.M. and 4 P.M. to 8 P.M. instead of 10 A.M. to 1 P.M. etc.
Add:-
10.15 A.M. to 10.20 A.M., 18-prs intense bombardment of front and support trenches, and 4.5” howitzer batteries on communications in support of smoke discharge.
“X” DAY
10 AM to 4 PM 18-prs Wire cutting on front and supporttrenches in accordance with wire cutting instructions.
Irregular 18-prs: & } Approaches and communications.
intervals 4.5” Hows}
All day 4.5” Hows: Same as “W” day.
6 AM to 10 AM} 2” T.Ms Destruction of trenches and wire cutting.
6 PM to 8 PM}
6 PM to7 PM 18-prs & Concentration of centre Right Group wire cutting battery
4.5”Hows from each group on MONTAUBAN commencing with Right Group battery, 10 minutes interval between batteries.
9 AM to 10 AM XIII Reserved for Corps H.A. on front trenches.
4 PM to 6 PM Corps H.A.
X/Y Night 18-prs & Same as W/X night.
4.5” Hows
(6) “X”DAY
Cancel concentration detailed for 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. and substitute :-
4.30 A.M. to 5.30 A.M., 18-prs and 4.5” howitzers concentration of Right Group wire cutting batteries on MONTAUBAN.
5.45 A.M. to 5.50 A.M., 18-prs & 4.5” howitzers intense fire in support of smoke discharge, similar to “W” day.
Y DAY
TIME. NATURE TASK.
OF GUN.
11 AM to 1 PM 18-prs Wire cutting on any portion of wire left uncut. Batteries may continue from 1 PM to 3 PM provided 2” T.M. do not interfere.
4.30 PM to 8 PM Approaches and communications at irregular intervals.
All day 4.5” Hows Same as X day.
6 AM to 9 AM} 2” T.M. Destruction of trenches and wire.
1 PM to 3 PM.}
9 AM to 11 AM XIII Corps H.A. Reserved for Corps Artillery on front trenches.
3 PM to 4.20 PM
6 AM to 7.20 AM 18-prs Concentration of Centre Group batteries on the LOOP
& 4.5” Hows.
Y/Z Night 18-prs & 4.5” Hows Same as X/Y Night.
“Y” DAY.
Times for concentration of Centre Group are altered to read from 6 A.M. to 7 A.M. instead of 6.0 to 7.20 A.M.
Add:-
7.15 A.M. to 7.20 A.M., 18-prs & 4.5” howitzers, intense fire in support of smoke discharge similar to ”W” day.
“Z” DAY
In accordance with Bombardment to Support Assault Appendix ”B”.
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