XV Corps Heavy Artillery Instruction 21 June 1916

B.G.R.A. 21st Division.

To
M. le Comdt. Le 6e Groupe de 75.
XV Corps H.A.
Operation Order No 7.

1. The XVth Corps are taking part in an offensive operation which is being carried out by the 4th Army in conjunction with other Armies.

2. The objectives of the Corps are as follows:-
(1) A line running along the spur in S.25.b., X.30.a., and the line of the spur running South from CONTALMAISON to BOTTOM WOOD.
(2) BAZENTIN LE GRAND and the defences between that village and MONTAUBAN.
(3) GINCHY, LONGUEVAL and DELVILLE WOOD.

3. The assault of the enemy positions will be preceded by a bombardment lasting four days designated V. W. X. & Y. days, the day of attack being Z day.

4. The time of assault on Z day will be zero hour, which will be notified; this will be preceded by an intense bombardment lasting 65 minutes.

5. The Corps Artillery under the orders of the Heavy Artillery Commander during the period of bombardment, and at the commencement of the further operations, will consist of:-
2 12” Howitzers.
4 9.2” How. Batteries.
4 8” How. Batteries.
2 6” How. Batteries. 30 cwt.
2 6” How. Batteries. 26 cwt.
4 6” Mk. VII Guns.
5 60 Pdr. Batteries.
3 4.7” Batteries.
1 4.5” Battery.
assisted by 3 75 mm Batteries of the French Army.
Time tables in which definite tasks have been allotted to every battery have been issued as follows:-
x x x
Special Schedule for 75 mm Battery Group.

6. It is of the utmost importance that the counter battery work should be carried on during the preliminary bombardment and also particularly during the assault.
It is of little avail destroying the enemy trenches and defences if he is still able to put up such a heavy barrage on our front line, that our troops cannot advance.

7. Certain batteries are therefore told off to keep all known battery positions under constant fire during the whole of this period, and the Group of French Batteries has been detailed to assist in this.

8. Other batteries are available and at the disposal of the Aeroplanes to engage any new battery positions that may be disclosed.

9. A map of all known battery positions has been issued.

10. In addition to the day work on the hostile battery positions on V, W, & X days, the French Group will please assist with bursts of fire at night at varying intervals on MAMETZ and FRICOURT, but the front trenches at FRICOURT must be avoided on account of observation parties going out at night.
Occasional bursts of fire will also be directed against the battery positions to prevent the hostile guns being moved.

11. On Z day gas shell will be used by the French Batteries during the period of the preliminary bombardment and afterwards, but no gas shell must at any time be directed W. of a N. & S. line passing between Squares X.22.28 and Squares X.23.29., and after 30 mins. before zero none must be directed on this side of the green line on the map.

On this day care must be exercised that no fire of any kind is directed outside the area comprised between the yellow lines on the map.

12. On Z day during the advance, flares will be lit by the infantry at specified hours as follows:-
9 a.m. 1 p.m. 5 p.m. 9 p.m.
They will also be lit when they reach the 1st objective.

13. Ammunition can only be replenished at night and the route to be followed by the lorries will be notified.

14. Reports will be forwarded frequently to H.A. Hd. Qrs.
15. Headquarters of the Heavy Artillery will remain at their present position until further orders.

William Napier
Brig. General, R.A.
Comdg. H.A. XV Corps.
21.6.16

Copies to S.O.R.A. XV Corps – 1
B.G.R.A. 7th Div – 1
“ 21st “ 1
“ 17th “ 1
No 3 Squadron R.F.C. 1
File – 1

21st Divisional Artillery Instruction 21 June 1916

21 Div
G.474.
Divl. Comdr.
G.S.O. (1)
G.S.O. (2)
G.S.O. (3)
Div Art.
Div. Eng.
Sigs.
A.A. & Q.M.G.
D.A.A. & Q.M.G.
D.A.Q,M.G.
A.D.C.
C. Comdt.
A.D.M.S.
D.A.D.M.S.
A.D.V.S.
A.P.M.
—————–

On U day, the following telephone lines will be disconnected from the Divisional Exchanges:-
French Mission (RIBEMONT)
C.R.A’s Mess.

During operations “G” and Artillery calls will be treated as priority calls. Exchange operators will be instructed to cut off any other connection, if necessary, to put through a “priority” connection, on speaking the word “priority”

A.T. Paley
Lieut-Colonel,
General Staff,
21st Division.
21/6/16

21st Divisional Artillery Instruction 21 June 1916

Copy of XV Corps No 38/3 dated 20.6.16. SECRET.

Reference XV Corps letter No. 38/3 of the 25th May, 1916.
The following points are brought to
(1)
1. The value of new identifications or of any other intelligence received during active operations depends almost entirely on the speed with which the news is transmitted.

2. Documents. Special men will be detailed to collect all documents found in enemy trenches, dug-outs, or company and regimental headquarters or in captured villages. Two men per Battalion would be a suitable number. These men will be supplied with maps showing as far as possible the position of all enemy headquarters. Two men per Battalion also will be told off for the collecting of documents from the dead.
These men will wear a yellow brassard so that they can be generally recognised as acting on special duty.
These men must be supplied with sandbags in which to place any papers collected. A notice stating where the papers were found will be placed at the top of each bag.
All documents must be sent as soon as possible to the Corps Cage via the Divisional Cages. The arrival of documents at Divisional Cage should be notified to the Intelligence Officers who may be there.

Attention is called to the following

3. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.

4. Identifications. Each Brigade Headquarters in front line will report by the quickest means available the first identifications made, afterwards, only new identifications made will be reported by signal.
(2)
5. Deserters. It is likely that deserters may come over to our lines during the bombardment and every encouragement should be given them to do so. It is of great importance that unwounded prisoners should be obtained previous to Z day.
(3)
6. Civilians. During the first phase of operations probably no civilians will be met with. During the later phases any civilians met with are to be evacuated to ALBERT under instructions which are being issued by the A.P.M. XV Corps. They will there be handed over to the French Authorities.

7. Prisoners. Impending arrival, and actual arrival of prisoners at Divisional Cages is to be immediately notified to Intelligence, XV Corps Headquarters.

———————————————–

SECRET.
21D
G.485
62 Inf Bde. )
63 “ “ )
64 “ “ )
50 “ “ ) for information.
Div. Art. )
Div. Eng. )
Capt. Franklin. )
Lieut Mitchell. )
———————
1) Forwarded for information and action where necessary.
2) Maps showing certain known Hqs, will be sent to you (Bdes) as soon as possible.

A. Hollingworth,
Captain,
General Staff.
21st Division
21.6.16

21st Divisional Artillery Instruction 21 June 1916

BM.32

Copy of Fourth Army No I.G. 144/16 dated 17-6-16
………………………………………………………….

A blind shell picked up recently near NAB, E. of AUTHUILLE has been examined by the chemical expert who pronounces it to be a “K” shell.

The contents are slightly lachrymatory and highly poisonous.

Our gas masks are, however, proof against it.

This shell was fired from a 15 cm Howitzer.

These shells are heavier than H.E. shells of the same calibre. It is therefore possible that the enemy may be registering with these shells with a view to their employment in the future.

The shell is painted grey with a large K in yellow on it. a careful look-out is to be kept for similar blind shells, and a report forwarded at once through A.H.Q. giving the exact locality as to where they fall.
………………………………………………………….
-2-

9th F.A. Brigade
7th -“-

For information and action.

********
Captain, R.F.A.,
Brigade-Major, 21st Divn. Artillery
21-6-16

21st Divisional Artillery Instruction 21 June 1916

SECRET
21 Div.
G.464.

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

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

Page 6.
Para 13 (a). – Erase last sentence and add:-

“Stragglers will be sent back to the 1st Line Transport of their Brigade. here they will be given a meal and then formed up in squads and put through some exercises in arm drill and drill movements in very quick time.
Each Brigade will detail at least 2 particularly smart and strict N.C.O’s for drilling stragglers.
When the above has been completed, parties will be made up and marched to QUEEN’S REDOUBT under one of the spare Officers left behind by Battalions.
On arrival at QUEEN’S REDOUBT, the party will report to Captain Franklin, Divl. Grenadier Officer.
If not required by Captain Franklin for carrying purposes, the party will march to the H.Q. of their Brigade, whence the men will be passed on to their own units.”

Appendix D (iii) add:-
Para 6. Four new dugouts which are in line with the dugout allotted to 62nd Inf. Bde. as Advanced H.Q., will be available for Trench Mortar Batteries of 50th,62nd, 63rd, 64th Bdes.
52nd T.M. Batt. will continue to use the dugout now occupied by them.
62nd Bde. will allot the dugouts referred to above, care being taken not to take possession of any of the Medical dugouts.

Please acknowledge.

A.T. Paley
Lieut-Colonel,
General Staff,
21st Division.
21/6/16

XV Corps Instruction 20 June 1916

SECRET
101.G
7th Division
17th Division
21st Division
B.G.R.A.
Corps Mounted Troops
…………………………

USE OF TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE
LINES DURING OPERATIONS.

1. Despatch of Telegram.
In order to prevent congestion of traffic and obviate delay to operation telegrams, only messages of an urgent nature will be sent by telegraph; other less urgent messages will be sent by post. Telegrams will be made as brief as possible.

2. Telephone Conversations.
The use of the telephone will be restricted as far as possible to conversations concerned with the operations. All conversations should be as short as possible so as not to block the lines.

There are only a limited number of Trunk lines between Army and Corps Exchanges. Trunk lines are also limited within the Corps area.

The capacity of the lines is not sufficient to carry the traffic if the telephone is used unnecessarily.

Additional work is thrown on the operators by callers repeating requests for connections. When a line is reported engaged, the call is booked at the exchange and no time is lost in completing the call immediately the line required is disengaged.

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

20-6-1916

Copy to:- “I”
C.E.
“A” and “Q”
D.D.M.S.
A.P.M.
A.D.A.S.

XV Corps message 19 June 1916

PLEASE INITIAL AND PASS QUICKLY.
For information.

Divl. Comdr.
G.S.O. (1) – How many does the letter in question say 4 mortars.
G.S.O. (2)
G.S.O. (3)
Div. Art.
Div. Eng.
Sigs.
A.A. & Q.M.G.
D.A.A. & Q.M.G.
D.A.Q.M.G.
A.D.C.
C. Comdt.
A.D.M.S.
D.A.D.M.S.
A.D.V.S.
A.P.M.
D.A.D.O.S.
G.S.O.
[No. 4875
[Hour 2/15 pm
[Date 19/6/16
[Initials CWL
Connected papers.
File

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS

G.391 19th

It is probable that you will receive all heavy trench mortars allotted you under fifteenth corps 8 GX of May twenty eighth. Emplacements should be completed accordingly. Addressed 7th and 21st Divisions repeated 17th Division and B.G.R.A.

15th Corps
9.40 a.m.
J.R. Wethered Maj

XV Corps Artillery Instruction 22 June 1916

SECRET
15/C.A. 10/32

7th Division
17th Division
21st Division
XV Corps.
XV Corps H.A.
……………….

Reference Appendix II, my No 15/C.A. 10/32 dated 14-6-16, – “Special Operation, clearing Fricourt Area”.
…………………………….

The time “0.15 to 0.30” should now be amended to read “0.15 to 1.45”.

E.W. Alexander
Brigadier Genl: R.A., XVth Corps
19-6-16

Amendment to Table ‘L’.

Reference Table L Attack on FRICOURT. The last phase will last from 0.15 to 1 hr 45 min from 0.15 to 1.35 instead of from 0.15 to 0.30. 18 pounders and four point howitzer batteries will keep up a slow rate of fire on the tasks allotted, say an average 1 round a battery a minute for the period 1.35 to 1.45 the portion of wood detailed will be thoroughly searched and the rate of fire considerably increased. Section fire 15 seconds. The ammunition allotted is therefore
55 High Explosive.
30 Shrapnel.

Battery commanders however must increase the rate of fire during the period 0.15 to 1.35 if there are signs of the enemy firing from the wood.

78 5 copies
79 1 copy
94 5 copies
95 1 copy
96 2 copies
97 2 copies
T.M’s 4 copies
21 Div 1 copy.

The attack on Fricourt may be delayed considerably. The Trench Mortars must fire on that portion of the from zero time onwards must take care that sufficient ammunition is available for the preparation of the Fricourt attack. At least a dozen 2” bombs should remain in hand after that operation is completed. The heavy mortars can fire their last round.

Fourth Army Instruction 18 June 1916

SECRET
Fourth Army
4/A.A./305.
XV Corps.

Attention is called to the importance of not for the present displaying increased activity in artillery fire on the Fourth Army front. There has been a marked increase of fire during the last two days in 4.5”, 8” and 9.2” Howitzer fire.

It is requested that for the present High Explosive shell should be used when feasible in preference to Shrapnel with 18 pdr. guns.

Published to brigades.
(Sd) C.E.D. Budworth, Major General,
for M.G., G.S., Fourth Army.
18/6/16.

2.
7th Division.
21st Division.
B.G.R.A.
17th Division (for information).
—————————————–

For information and necessary action.

J.R. Wethered Maj
for Brigadier-General,
General Staff.
H.Q. XV Corps,
19/6/16

21st Divisional Instruction 19 June 1916

21 Div
G.406.
62 Inf. Bde.
63 “ “
64 “ “
50th Bde.
Div. Art. )
Div. Eng. ) For information.
Sig. Co. )

Copy to all units

In forthcoming operations, N.C.O’s in charge of picquets, placed over communication trenches to regulate “Up” and “Down” traffic, should be warned that runners with the “runner” badge and Signal service personnel with Signal arm band, as well as all Staff Officers, may use all trenches in either direction.

As far as possible routes for runners will be in accordance with the authorised direction.

H.E. Franklyn
Captain,
General Staff
21st Division
19.6.16