Appendix to XV Corps Heavy Artillery Instruction 24 June 1916

Z DAY
SPECIAL SCHEDULE.

Battery Guns Position Rounds
Allotted Objective No of hours No of Rds Remarks
French Group 77 mm Guns F.13.c Gas shell

do

do

do

Gas or H.E.
MAMETZ VILLAGE, FRICOURT WOOD, ROUND WOOD, SHELTER WOOD, LOZENGE WOOD, FRICOURT FARM, and if the wind is away from our lines FRICOURT.

QUADRANGLE TRENCH, In Square X.23.c., WOOD TRENCH, STRIP TRENCH, BOTTOM WOOD, RAILWAY ALLEY, in Square X.29.c., and in the Valley running N & S in squares X.23.b. & d., and X.29.b.

MAMETZ WOOD in Squares X.18.c., X.24.a.&c.

MAMETZ WOOD Squares S.13.d and 19.b. FLAT IRON COPSE, & MARLBORO WOOD.

do. do. Up to -30 mins before zero

Up to zero

Zero to 1 hr

1 hr, to 2.55

2.55 on Rapid rate of fire

do

do

Quick rate of fire

Slow rate of fire

21st Divisional Artillery Instruction 24 June 1916

SECRET
15/CA 10/66/1

7th Divisional Artillery
21st Divisional Artillery
XV Corps Heavy Artillery.

From 12 noon to-day till further notice, the regular daily and weekly artillery reports will be no longer required.

A short written account of operations covering a period from 5 am to 5 am will be forwarded to this Office by 10 a.m. daily, (earlier if possible), beginning to-morrow 25th.

This is in addition to telephonic reports called for under my 15/CA 10/66 of 22nd instant.

J.M.R. Harrison
Major R.A.,
S.O. R.A. XVth Corps
24/6/16

21st Divisional Artillery Instruction 24 June 1916

SECRET
21 Div
G.615

XV Corps 1
62 Inf. Bde. 5
63 : : 5
64 : : 5
Div. Art. 2
Div. Eng. 4
Pioneers 1
Signals 1
178 Tun Co. R.E. 1
“Q” 3
A.D.M.S. 1
A.P.M. 1
C. Comdt 1
D.A.D.O.S. 1
7th Div. 1
17th Div. 1
34th Div. 1
50th Bde 1
“F” Coy R.E. 1

Reference 21 Div O.O.55 dated 17/6/16.

Appendix F/2 (Smoke Attack) together with amendments, forwarded under this office Nos G.452, G.475 and G.529 dated 20th, 21st and 22nd June respectively, are cancelled and the attached Appendix F/2 substituted.

Please acknowledge receipt.

H.E. Franklyn Captain
For Lieut-Colonel
General Staff,
21st Division.
24/6/16

XV Corps Heavy Artillery Instruction 24 June 1916

24/6

R.A. 21st Division. Herewith amendments to my operation order 7 to French Group.

F.W. Byman
Major
B.M. H.A.
XV Corps

Box stamp of XV CORPS HEAVY ARTILLERY No T116/44.

M. le Commandant,
Le 6e Groupe M 75.

Orders have been received that gas shells may be used on any day of the bombardment both by day and night. They may therefore be used on any of the objectives in the special schedule on V. W. X & Y days and nights, but must not be used nearer to our own lines than 800 yards.

For Z day an amended special schedule is attached.

Please destroy the schedule for Z day, previously issued.

Major,
Brigade Major, H.A. XV Corps.
24.6.16

21st Divisional Artillery Instruction 24 June 1916

SECRET
15/CA 10/32/1.

7th Division.
21st Division.
21st Division Artillery.
XVth Corps.
XVth Corps Heavy Artillery.
————————————-

With reference to my No 15/CA 10/32/1 dated 23rd June 1916; the following amendment should be made:-

“X.22.a.” in each case,
should read
“X.22.b.” in each case.

E.W. Alexander
Brigadier General., R.A., XV Corps
24/6/16

21st Divisional Artillery Instruction 24 June 1916

APPENDIX “N” (CONTINUED)
21 Div.
G.591

62 Inf Bde. 5 copies
63 “ “ 5 “
64 “ “ 5 “
50 “ “ 1 “
Div Art. 2 “
Signals 1 “
Reference 21 Div. O.O. 55 d/17.6.16
———————————————

CONTACT AEROPLANES.

The following contact aeroplanes may be expected in the air on Z day:-
h.m. h.m.
From 0.00 to 1.00 – One contact aeroplane.
“ 1.00 to 2.00 – Two “ “
“ 2.00 to 3.00 – One “ “

After 3 hrs.00. one aeroplane will be in the air during the greater part of the day.

Please acknowledge.

H.E. Franklyn Captain
for Lieut. Colonel
General Staff
21st Division
24.6.16

21st Divisional Artillery Instruction 23 June 1916

SECRET
15/CA 10/76.

7th Divisional Artillery
21st Divisional Artillery
XV Corps Heavy Artillery
…………………………..
XV Corps )
7th Division )
21st do ) for information.
17th do )

GAS ATTACKS.

Divisions have been ordered to be prepared to carry out the Gas Attack on the night 24/25th June. In this event 7th and 21st Divisional Artilleries and XV Corps Heavy Artillery will carry out the special bombardments arranged with reference to Appendix II and Paragraph 5(c) of 15/CA 10/23 dated 18th June 1916.

E.W. Alexander
Brigadier General., R.A., XV Corps

23rd June 1916

Orders issued.

21st Divisional Artillery Instruction 23 June 1916

APPENDIX Q/2
21 Div
G.567

XV Corps 1
62 Inf. Bde. 5
63 “ “ 5
64 “ “ 5
Div Art. 2
“Q” 3
50th Bde. 1
PATROLS.

It is considered that the Germans may possibly evacuate their front trenches altogether when our bombardment commences. Patrols, which go out to examine wire, will also try to enter the German trenches to discover if this is so. If the front line is found empty they should try to get into the close support line, but patrols must remember that the artillery will only be lifted off the portion of front which they are patrolling, for two hours at a time. They should therefore arrange to get back to “NO MAN’S LAND” at any rate, before the two hours is up. Careful arrangements should be made by means of tapes or any other suitable means for ensuring that patrols find their way back to our own lines quickly.

The Corps Commander does not wish any patrolling to be done by the 50th Brigade.

The 62nd Brigade will carry out the patrolling for the 50th Brigade on X/Y and Y/Z nights under arrangements to be made between the brigades concerned.

H.E. Franklyn Captain
For Lieut-Colonel
General Staff
21st Division
23rd June 1916.

21st Divisional Artillery Instruction 23 June 1916

SECRET

To B.M.
21st Div Art

The attached is noted, acknowledged & returned herewith.
Capt & Adjt
78th Bde R.F.A.
For O Commdg
24/6/16 10.10a.m.

Secret
78th Brigade R.F.A.

1. With reference to the attached, will you please arrange to transmit by telephone or otherwise, to the Divisional Artillery Battle Headquarters, any message which you may receive by cyclist or runner from the Divisional O.P. This means of communication will only be used if all other means of communication has been cut.
2. Please acknowledge & return.

R.Wellesley
Brig Gen R.A.
Cmdg 21st DA
23.6.16

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

21 Div
G.565.

Div Art

The Divisional Commander wishes to have as many alternate means of communication as possible from the Divisional O.P’s to report Centre.

Will you please send authority to use 78th F.A. Bde H.Q. exchange as an intermediate station in the event of emergency.

This will only be used when all other means of communication has been cut.

A. Hollingworth
Captain
G.S. 21 Div.
23.6.16

21st Divisional Artillery Instruction 23 June 1916

SECRET
15/CA 10/32/2.
See MB 14

Heavy Artillery., XV Corps.
……………………………..
21st Division )
21st Divl Artillery.) for information.
XV Corps )

Reference “Barrages” 15/CA10 /32 dated 14th June 1916, Appendix I; on “Z” Day, the Heavy Artillery Barrage opposite the front held by the 21st Division, will not be kept on the German Front Line any later than “-5 minutes”; it should however be kept on the Support Line up to “Zero”.

E.W. Alexander
Brigadier General., R.A. XV Corps
23rd June 1916 .