21st Divisional Artillery Instruction 17 June 1916

Copy of XV Corps 15/C.R. 10/41 dated 16th June 1916.

ARM BANDS FOR ARTILLERY OFFICERS.
————————————————————–

1. Green arm bands, to be worn on the right arm below the elbow, will be issued to the Divisional and Heavy Artilleries by “Q” XV Corps.
2. During operations they are to be worn by,
(a) All Battery Commanders.
(b) All Artillery Officers who are acting as F.O.O’s or who go forward to reconnoitre.
(c) All R.A. liaison officers with the Infantry.
3. The object of the above is to enable Artillery Officers to be easily recognised in case the advanced Infantry wish for assistance or information from the Artillery.
The meaning of the band should be made known to all ranks of the Infantry.
4. The issue will be made on the scale of.,
Brigade or Group Commanders – 2 Bands.
Battery – 2 Bands.

————————————————

SECRET
21 Div
G.335.

For information.

A.T. Paley
Lieut. Colonel.
General Staff.
21st Division.

17.6.16.

DISTRIBUTION. copies
62 Inf. Bde. … 5
63 “ “ … 5
64 “ “ … 5
Div. Eng. … 4
Pioneers … 1
Bde. M.G. Coys. … 1
T.M. Batts. … 2
Div. Art. … 1

XV Corps memo to 21Div 17 June 1916

21st Div. Art.

Herewith 7 copies of Appendix I to my No 15 CA/10.23 dated 12.6.16. for distribution to Groups.
J.M.R.Harrison
Major
S.O. R.A. XV Corps
17.6.16

SECRET

Each Bde

Herewith a list of strong points etc. Batteries must pay special attention to such of these points as are included in the areas allotted for special tasks.

15 CA/10/23
Appendix 1
21st DIVISIONAL AREA.
2.
(a) Front Line System.

Front and Support Trenches F.9.b.02.75. – 3.c.69.36.
(WICKED CORNER – WING CORNER)
German TAMBOUR
Salient F.3.a.44
F.3.a.60.67.
X.27.b.66.
Salients X.26.d.78 and 98.
Trenches about X.27.c.39.
Salient X.26.b.82.
X.27.a.29.
Salient X.20.d.72, both faces.
X.21.c.32.
X.21.c.64.

(b) Second System.

ROSE COTTAGE.
S.W. edge FRICOURT WOOD
F.3.b.53.41
RED COTTAGE and trenches round.
Trench F.3.a.68 – b.18.
FRICOURT FARM
FRICOURT WOOD: re-entrant on N side and E end.
Trenches due E of POODLES
LOZENGE WOOD
Trenches X.27. central
SHELTER WOOD (including dug-outs on E and NE edge).
BIRCH TREE WOOD
ROUND WOOD
THE DINGLE
ROUND WOOD ALLEY.

(c) Points and trenches further back.

Trenches and Wood round X.29 central.
Corner of valley X.29.b.56
BOTTOM WOOD
QUADRANGLE SUPPORT
X.23.d.47.

16th June 1916.

15 CA/10/23 Appendix 1.

MACHINE GUN EMPLACEMENTS

21st DIVISION AREA

F.4.c.03.98
F.3.c.70.35.
93
91
X.27.c.40.15.
X.27.b.06.73.
X.26.b.85
72
X.21.d.43

16th June 1916.

15 CA 10/23
Appendix 1

OBSERVATION POSTS REPORTED (from May 8th 1916).
*************************************************

15-6-16 X.15.b.80.00.
26-5-16 X.8.c.03.82. Telescope seen being used.
26-5-16 X.8.c.35.85.
10-5-16 X.14.c.50.75 & 75.60. Photo. 3.c9 shows dug-outs
12-6-16 X.14.d.85.98. Slot in bank, either M.G. or O.P.
9-6-16 X.16.b.85.20. (CONTALMAISON CHATEAU) is used as an O.P., and has two apertures in tower, one above the other.
20-5-16. X.21.c.6.3. Suspected
10-6-16. X.21.c.1.4.
8-5-16 X.21.d.5.6. In daily use.
(12-5-16 82.62 Loophole (suspected O.P) Now screened
(22-5-16 83.58 with bushes & brushwood.
12-6-16 7.6.
26-5-16 X.27.a.35.90. Periscope seen.
(23-5-16 X.27.a.47.75. Telescope in use W. of WILLOW PATCH.
(10-6-16 “ -“-
(12-6-16 X.27.a.40.80. -“-
6-6-16 X.27.b.25. Smoke seen.
8-5-16 X.27.b.45.95.
17.54. In Daily use (smoke seen issuing on 6-6- 16)
3.8 Screened with bushes & brushwood.
17-5-16 F.3.c.52.72.
30-5-16. F.3.d.02.68. House in FRICOURT. Telescope seen in hole in the roof.
2-6-16 F.5.d.8.8. Suspected O.P.
8-6-16 F.6.c.90.05.
10-6-16 35.40
17-5-16 F.9.b.8.6. Officer seen observing.
88.82.
12-5-16 F.9.b.92.48. Observer seen with periscope.
25-5-16 60.30.
6-6-16 5.4. (SUNKEN ROAD TRENCH) Artillery Officer seen observing.
14-6-16 F.11.a.1.4. Sniper’s post or O.P. There is a slot 18” long and the place appears to be very strong.
8-5-16 F.3.d.9.7. O.P. suspected in FRICORT 2O left of Church. House with good roof; hole under roof.
18-5-16 S.14.d.6.5.
26-5-16 S.19.b.45.12. Men seen in tree, apparently observing with periscope.
4-6-16 S.25.b.5.3.
7-6-16 S.27.c.90.35. Telescopes used in roof of house in MONTAUBAN.
26-5-16 R.32.c.95.20.
12-6-16 A.1.d.05.50.
17-5-16 BAZENTIN LE PETIT CH Again in use.
19-5-16 FRICOURT CH TOWER
20-5-16 House immediately S of POZIERES Church.
25-5-16 CONTALMAISON Inside roof, close to Chimney
VILLA stack in S.W. end of House.

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

16th June 1916.

Gerald Benham’s notes from diaries

17 June 1918. Baby boy born 3.45

From this date till 12 July On embarkation leave. Received orders for France 10th July. Left Maz 12th at Station 6.37 train to LIVL ST. Stayed night at Alexandra YM.C.A. Hotel Victoria.

XV Corps Artillery Instruction 16 June 1916

SECRET
15/CR 10/41
7th Divisional Artillery.,
21st Divisional Artillery.,
17th Divisional Artillery.,
Heavy Artillery XV Corps.,
XV Corps.
…………………………………

ARM BANDS FOR ARTILLERY OFFICERS.
****************************************

1. Green arm bands, to be worn on the right arm below the elbow, will be issued to the Divisional and Heavy Artilleries by “Q” XV Corps.
2. During operations they are to be worn by,
(a) All Battery Commanders.
(b) All Artillery Officers who are acting as F.O.O’s or who go forward to reconnoitre.
(c) All R.A. liaison Officers with the Infantry.
3. The object of the above is to enable Artillery Officers to be easily recognised in case the advanced Infantry wish for assistance or information from the Artillery.
The meaning of the band should be made known to all ranks of the Infantry.
4. The issue will be made on the scale of.,
Brigade or Group Headquarters,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,2 Bands. Battery,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,2 Bands.

E.W. Alexander
Brigadier General., R.A. XV Corps
16th June 1916

21st Divisional Artillery message 15 June 1916

Message and Signals form

SECRET

XV CORPS R.A.

BM 104 15th CA 46

No 18 pounders can assist XIII Corps AAA Three (3) batteries 4.5 Howitzers can cover ground in rear of front line at extreme range. AAA With reference to III Corps area. AAA
(a) 12 (twelve) batteries can shoot on front line up to and including point X.21.c.07. AAA. 5 (five) batteries up to and including point X.20.b.52. AAA 2 (two) batteries up to and including point X.20.b.14. and 1½ (6 guns) up to and including X.20.a.36. AAA 10 (ten) batteries can cover Contalmaison Village. AAA 4 (four) batteries can cover Contalmaison Villa. AAA 3 (three) batteries can cover Pozieres. AAA
(b) The howitzer batteries can cover area in rear of front line east of the line Contalmaison – Contalmaison Villa.

21 Div Art.
J. Wellesley
**for BM

XV Corps H.A. Instruction 14 June 1916

Copy No 5 15/CA 10/32
SECRET

INSTRUCTIONS FOR A CONCENTRATED BOMBARDMENT, BARRAGES
AND FURTHER SPECIAL OPERATION BY THE XVTH CORPS
———————————————————————————-

1. On “Z” day:-
(a) A concentrated bombardment will be carried out starting 65 min before zero.
Zero will be the hour at which the assault commences.
(b) This will be followed by further bombardments on objectives to be taken successively until the furthest is reached.
(c) After this last has been reached there will be a bombardment on the FIRCOURT Area. The bombardment will commence at 30 min before zero, which hour will be fixed during the course of operations.
Lines for artillery barrages and times of lifts are shewn in Appendix I.
The different phases of the special bombardment and times are shewn in Appendix II.

2. The general principles to be followed in arranging the barrages are:-
(a) To bring a very heavy fire to bear on the part to be attacked immediately.
(b) To bring a lighter, but fairly heavy fire on the next objective.
(c) To keep the remaining objectives under a still lighter fire.
(d) To prevent the enemy bringing up reinforcements from the rear or attacking our exposed flanks.
(e) To keep down the fire of hostile batteries.
(f) To keep the ground not immediately to be attacked under fire, i.e. the FRICOURT Area.
The whole of the guns and howitzers of the Corps and Divisional Artilleries (including trench mortars) will be employed for the above purposes.

3. The fire will be as heavy as the amount of ammunition and consideration for the detachments allows.
Care must be taken to ensure that a sufficient amount remains in hand for further operations during the day.
The G.Os.C. R.A. of Divisions and G.O.C. H.A. will fix the amount required for each task.

4. When lifting, 18 prs. should search back by increasing their range, but Howitzers and Heavy Guns must lift directly on to their next objectives.

5. When barraging open ground fire should be in bursts, searching back as far as necessary, and not a continuous rate.
Wood and hollows beyond the actual line laid down for the barrage should be searched periodically.

6. G.Os.C. R.A. of Divisions will allot the tasks for their own batteries, but they will arrange to carry out the special bombardments laid down for the 4.5” Howitzers in the tracings.
They must arrange to keep sufficient guns ready to join in the special operation (attack on FRICOURT).

7. The G.O.C. H.A. will arrange to carry out the tasks for the Heavy Artillery which are shewn on attached tracings.
They consist of:-
Concentrated bombardment:- Tracing E.
Barrages:- Tracings M to Q.
Special Operation:- Tracings R to T.

8. When and after the final barrage is established the G.O.C. H.A. will arrange for some of his batteries to search more distant routes, billets and likely places of hostile concentration for a counter-attack.

9. Arrangements must be made for a night barrage and by the use of frequent bursts of fire on known positions to prevent the enemy removing his guns.
The G.O.C. H.A. will arrange to deal with the more distant points.

10. If a re-bombardment of any point is ordered, a time for starting will be fixed and the bombardment will always last for half an hour from that time.
The last five minutes should be intense so that the Infantry may have warning.
This would also apply to small places beyond the present objective which it might be considered advisable to take.
If a battery should receive its orders too late to fire for the full 30 min it should commence as soon as possible but it must only fire for the shortened period ending 30 minutes after zero.
Fire during last five minutes to be intensive.

11. Watches must be carefully set to Signal time and the times laid down for the lifts strictly adhered to.

12. One Siege Artillery Group and one Heavy Artillery Group H.Qs will be in direct telephonic communication with the 7th and 21st Divisional Artillery H.Qs.
This is to enable Divisions to obtain the assistance of H.A. quickly if necessity arises and to prevent the necessity of applying to the B.G.H.A. when the fire of one or two batteries only is required.

13. The pre-arranged table of lifts must however be strictly adhered to up to the hour fixed for reaching the second objective (first day’s operations), without reference to Corps H.Q. During this period (0.00 to 3 hr 05) the Heavy Artillery must not be diverted from the targets allotted to them. Batteries which are not firing can, however, be utilised for special purposes during this period if required so to do.

14. The Scheme for the Divisional Artilleries and Heavy Artillery will be sent in by 9 a.m. on the 19th instant.

15. In order that fire may be continued without interruption in case of a break down in the Signal communications, a programme and time table of the tasks allotted to each battery will be kept at the battery and in each O.P. allotted to the battery.
The programmes and time tables will not be taken forward beyond the O.P’s.

E.W. Alexander
Brigadier-General, R.A.,
XV Corps H.Q.
14/6/1916

Distribution:-
7th Division 2
17th Division 1
21st Division 2 Copies 4 & 5.
Corps H.A. 1
“G” XV Corps 1
War Diary 1
File 4

XV Corps Instruction 13 June 1916

SECRET
1/12 GX
7th Division
17th Division
21st Division
……………..

SUPPORTING POINTS
and
CONSOLIDATING OF TRENCHES
—————————————————

1. The attached diagram No 1 shews a pattern of STRONG POINTS suitable for occupation by one Platoon and 2 Machine Guns. It develops a large volume of fire in any direction without affording as marked a target for artillery fire and aerial observation as does a closed work. This work can be very rapidly laid out and constructed.
2. The second diagram shews how a series of such works afford each other mutual support; and how communication trenches up to and in advance of them should be traced, so as not to ‘blanket’ the fire of the works.
3. If the Supporting Works are constructed in the course of entrenching a captured position, they should lie in rear of the chain of small “posts” which mark the commencement of the new front line.
4. These “posts” are constructed at first to hold a few men and one or more machine guns rapidly dug in. They form ultimately, the pivots of a Continuous Trench Line as shewn in diagram No. 2. the same system applies to the consolidation of a Captured Trench Line, i.e. short lengths of enemy trench should be reversed for occupation by Machine Guns and a few rifles as “posts” joined up as opportunity offers.

Louis Vaughan
Brigadier-General,
General Staff.
H.Q. XV Corps
13-6-1916.

For information

Please pass last named to return to this office
*** Capt
B.M. 21 DA
95 Passed *********
96 Passed 21.6.16 *****
97Returned **** Lt Col

XV Corps Instruction 12 June 1916

SECRET
1/5 G.X.
7th Division.
17th Division.
21st Division.

Embodied in orders.

1. From Z day inclusive each division will detail three teams of horses and three limbers for the purpose of bringing into our own lines any hostile guns which may be captured.
2. The teams so detailed will be earmarked for this special work and will be located where they can readily be sent to the front when asked for.

Louis Vaughan
Brigadier-General
General Staff.
H.Q. XV Corps,
12-6-16.

Appendix II to XV Corps H.A. Instructions 12 June 1916.
SECRET
APPENDIX II

Day U V W X Y Remarks
Wire Cutting. All day. All day. All day. All day. All day.
General bombardment. All day. All day. All day. All day. All day. Heavy howitzers stop on W, X and Y days for a fixed period.
Concentrated bombardments. – 4. p.m. to 5.20 p.m. 9 a.m. to 10.20 a.m. 4.30 a.m. to 5.50 a.m. & 6.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. 6 a.m. to 7.20 a.m. & 4 p.m. to 5.20 p.m.
Counter-Battery. All day. All day. All day. All day. All day. Very active
Gas and Smoke Barrages. – At night 2 hours. At night 2 hours. At night 2 hours. 7.20 a.m. to 7.50 a.m. Gas one night only, first time wind permits. Smoke if wind permits.
Night firing. All night. All night. All night. All night. All night.

XV Corps Instructions 12 June 1916
15/CA 10/23

SECRET
Copy No 7

INSTRUCTIONS FOR A PRELIMINARY BOMBARDMENT BY THE XVth CORPS.
———————————————-

1. The preliminary bombardment will be carried out on “U”, “V”, “W” “X” & “Y” days. Wire will be cut during all 5 days.
On “V”, “W”, “X” & “Y” days and during the nights “U”/”V” to “Y”/”Z” inclusive a continuous bombardment will be carried out.
On “V” & “W” days there will be one, and on “X” & “Y” days two concentrated bombardments.
Gas will be discharged on the first night that the wind is favourable, and smoke on the morning of “X” day if the direction of the wind permits.
240 mm Trench Mortars may be used as required from “V” day onwards.
2” Trench Mortars for wire-cutting on “U” day and as required afterwards.
3” Stokes Mortars as required on “V” day and onwards.
Amended

2. A. The principal tasks to be carried out are:-
Heavy and Siege Artillery.
1. Destruction of enemy’s front systems of defences.
2. Destruction of trenches and strong points further back.
3. Distant wire cutting.
4. Bombardment of villages, woods, railways and stations.
5. Interrupting communications which are beyond the reach of Field Artillery by night.
6. Bombarding distant billets by day and night.
7. Counter-battery work. This to include the destruction of distant O.P’s.
8. Preventing enemy repairing damage.
9. Dealing with balloons.
10. Destruction of water pipe lines.

B. Divisional Artilleries.
(i)18 pr Batteries
1. Wire-cutting.
2. Searching trenches, villages, woods, O.P’s and hollows by day and night.
3. Destruction of machine gun emplacements, O.P’s and dugouts within the power of the gun.
4. Interruption of communications especially by night.
5. Preventing enemy repairing damage.
(ii) 4.5” Howitzer Batteries:-
1. Assisting in destruction of fire trenches.
2. Destruction of all communication trenches.
3. Assisting in bombardment of villages and woods.
4. Complete destruction of machine gun emplacements, O.P’s and dug-outs not entirely destroyed by the Siege and Heavy Artillery.
5. Interruption of communications especially by night.
6. Preventing enemy repairing damage.

C. Trench Mortars (under Divisional G.O’s C. R.A.)
(i) Heavy and Medium:-
1. Destruction of enemy’s defences and bombardment of villages within range.
(ii) Medium:-
1. Wire cutting
2. Preventing enemy repairing work by night.
3. Night firing on front system.

3. A list of important points will be issued later, (Appendix 1), and each Battery Commander is to be given a list of those which are in the areas he is to bombard. In bombarding villages and woods particular attention should be paid to the defences on the outskirts but strong points road junctions communications and likely billets inside the area should also be dealt with. Woods and hollows where there are no known defences should have a few rounds fired into them at intervals during the day.

4. The two Divisions in the line and the Heavy Artillery will have the following extra batteries allotted to them for the bombardment:-
7th Division – 2 Brigades ) 24 guns – 18 prs.
) 4 howitzers – 4.5”
2” T.M. )
3 batteries) 12 guns.
240 mm Mortars)
1 battery ) 4 guns.
21st Division – 2 Brigades less ) 24 guns – 18 prs.
1 Howitzer Battery ) 4 howitzers – 4.5”
2”T.M. – 2 Batteries – 8 guns.
Heavy Artillery – 1 Battery – 4 Howitzers – 4.5”

5. G.O’s C.R.A. of Divisions will allot the tasks for their own batteries. In addition they will arrange (a), for the necessary guns to join in the concentrated bombardments ordered (b) to carry out the special tasks allotted to the 4.5” howitzers on tracings A B C and D, (c) for the gas and smoke discharges to be accompanied by a heavy shrapnel barrage on the front line trenches, searching communication trenches, and heavy bombardment of reserve billets and communications.

6. The tasks for Heavy Artillery are shewn on attached tracings.
They consist of:-
Bombardment “V” & “X” days – Tracing A.
“ “W” & “Y” days – “ B.
Concentrated bombardment “V” & “W” days)
“ “ mornings of ) Tracing C
“X” &”Y” days)
Concentrated bombardment afternoons )
“X” &”Y” days) Tracing D.
Cancelled
The whole of the fire trenches are to be thoroughly bombarded and special attention paid to places from which flanking fire can be brought to bear, machine gun emplacements, O.P’s and trench junctions.
Heavy howitzers must cease firing for a certain period on W.X and Y days to permit of photography, verification of fire and examination of equipment.
The times will be fixed later but they will not be prior to the morning concentrated bombardments.
In addition to the above tasks the G.O.C., H.A. will arrange:-
(a) to bring a heavy fire from all available guns and howitzers twice by day and once by night, and to fire a few rounds at irregular intervals on LONGUEVAL and BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND. He will also arrange to fire a few rounds on FLEURS.
(b) to bombard the railways between –
(i) TRONES WOOD and GUILLEMONT STATION;
(ii) FRICOURT and MARTINPUICH.
(c) to carry on Counter-battery work very actively beginning on “U” day.
Special batteries will be told off for this work, and if necessary heavy howitzers.
(d) to bombard heavily distant billets, villages and communications during the discharge of gas and smoke.

7. Night Firing.
For night firing areas will be allotted as follows:-
Right Division.

BLACK HEDGE(inclusive)
Valley S.25.b.59
X.29.b.04.96.
X.29. central
X.29.c.52
WILLOW AVENUE (exclusive) to Front Line.

Left Division.
WILLOW AVENUE (inclusive) from Front Line to X.29.c.52
N.E. corner of BOTTOM WOOD
Road junction X.22.a.04.
Thence to Front Line.
Heavy Artillery.
Beyond the Divisional areas.
G.O’s C.R.A. of Divisions and G.O.C. Heavy Artillery will allot the tasks for night firing.
They must endeavour –
1. to interrupt all communications by road, rail or trench.
2. to prevent any movement in enemy’s trenches or repair of defences.
3. to give the enemy no rest in trenches or billets. For this purpose the villages must be fired on at intervals with howitzers as well as field guns.

Medium Trench Mortars can be used for the above purposes, but Heavy Trench Mortars only if well concealed.
Care should be taken to allot the tasks so that the detachments get as much rest as possible.

8. Ammunition.
G.O’s C.R.A. of Divisions and G.O.C. Heavy Artillery will allot the amount of ammunition they consider necessary for each task.

9. Times.
The hours for carrying out the different tasks are shewn in Appendix II.

10. G.O’s C.R.A. of Divisions and G.O.C. Heavy Artillery will send in their schemes to Corps Artillery for approval by 10 a.m. 17th Instant noon 15th Instant.

E.W. Alexander
Brigadier General R.A., XV Corps.
Copy No 1 to XV Corps
“ “ 2 to XV Corps Heavy Artillery
“ “ 3 & 4 to 7th Divn.
“ “ 5 & 6 to 17th Divn.
“ “ 7 & 8 to 21st Divn.
“ “ 9 to 4th Army Artillery.
“ “ 10 to file.
“ “ 11 & 12 spare.

June 12th 1916