SECRET.
Copy No. 8.
RIGHT GROUP.  Operation Order No. 1.
21st July, 1917.
Reference Map PLOUVAIN Sheet 1/10,000 revised to 3/7/17.

1. A raid will be carried out by the 1st Bn. Hampshire Regt. On the night of July 24th/25th.
Limits of raid I.32.a.15.05. – I.32.a.00.30. and the M.G. emplacement at I.32.a.16.25.
2. Reference hour will be 10.30 p.m.
3. Artillery Bombardment will be as per attached Tables X and Y.
4. O.C. 23rd Brigade R.F.A. will detail a liaison officer, not below the rank of Captain, for Battalion H.Q. during the operation.
5. Watches will be synchronised from this Office by Telephone at 7 p.m.
6. Zero in minutes plus or minus Reference hour will be communicated later.

ACKNOWLEDGE

Lt. for
Lt. Col. R.F.A.
Commanding RIGHT GROUP
Issued at ………..
To:-
Copies No 1 – 4 Right Group.
Copy “ 5 4th D.A.
Copy “ 6 11th Inf. Bde.
Copy “ 7 1st Bn. Hants. Rgt.
Copy “ 8 23rd Brig R.F.A.
Copy “ 9 29th Brig R.F.A.
Copy “ 10 12th Div. Arty.
Copy “ 11 4th Div. “G”.

Amendment No. 1 to RIGHT GROUP ORDER No. 1.
————————————————————————

Correction Table X.

Column 2. For “12th Div. Arty. 18 guns” read “12th Div. Arty. 16 guns.”
Barrage D. Opposite 12th Div. Arty. lines 3 and 5.
(a) For “I.32.a.20.95.” read “I.32.c.20.95.”
(b) Strike out last 3 lines commencing, 2 guns on BIT LANE.

ACKNOWLEDGE.
J.E. Lucket
2nd Lt. R.F.A. for
Lieut Colonel.
Commanding RIGHT GROUP.
Right Group.
4th Div. Arty.
11th Inf. Brigade.
1st Bn. Hants. Regt.
23rd. Brigade, R.F.A.
29th Brigade, R.F.A.
12th Div. Arty.
4th Div. “G”

Amendment No 2 to RIGHT GROUP ORDER No. 1.
dated 21/7/17.
————————————————————————
Table X
Remarks Column.
Opposite 134th Battery add “at Zero plus 5.”
“The right gun of this Battery will jump to I.15.c.0.0.”
Opposite 29th Brigade insert “at Zero plus 5.”
“The right gun of this Battery will jump to I.31.b.95.95.”

ACKNOWLEDGE.
J.E. Lucket
2ND Lt. R.F.A. for
Lieut Colonel.
Commanding RIGHT GROUP.
Right Group.
4th Div. Arty.
11th Inf. Brigade.
1st Btn. Hants. Regt.
23rd. Brigade, R.F.A.
29th Brigade, R.F.A.
12th Div. Arty.
4th Div. “G”
SECRET.
Amendment No 3 to RIGHT GROUP ORDER No. 1.
dated 21/7/17.
————————————————————————
Correction Table X.
Opposite 23rd Brigade R.F.A..
Barrage A. For “I.32.c.00.90.” read “I.32.c.00.80.”
Barrage B. For “I.32.a.15.00.” read “I.32.c.20.90.”
Barrage C. For “I.32.a.50.30.” read “I.32.a.55.25.”
Opposite 12th D.A.
Barrage D. Erase and substitute –
4 guns on DEVILS Trench I.32.c.20.90. – I.32.c.20.60.
4 guns on line I.32.c.20.90. – I.32.a.55.25..

ACKNOWLEDGE.
J.E. Lucket
2ND Lt. R.F.A. for
Lieut Colonel.
Commanding RIGHT GROUP.
Right Group.
4th Div. Arty.
12th Div. Arty.
11th Inf. Brigade.
1st Bt. Hants. Regt.
23rd. Brigade, R.F.A.
29th Brigade, R.F.A.
4th Div. “G”

Headquarters 23 A.A. Brigade stamp.

SECRET. Sa/40.

O.C. Battery.

(1) Reference RIGHT GROUP Operation Order No. 1 & my Sa/37, the raid will be postponed 24 hours on account of the feared loss of 3 prisoners last night.

(2) A DUMMY raid will however take place at 10.30 p.m. on the same portion of DEVILS TRENCH, the BARRAGES being those laid down in Sa/37 (with alterations according to Sa/39).

(3) Only the portion of the Bombardment from Zero to Zero +5 will be carried out & the guns detailed for BARRAGE A will be put down at Zero on BARRAGE B covering the whole Zone of BARRAGE B.

(4) RATE of FIRE.
18 pds……. 3 rounds per gun per minute.
4.5 Hows …2 “ “ “ “ “

(5) Watches will be set by phone at 8 p.m.

(6) ACKNOWLEDGE.

V.C. Ritchie, Lt. R.F.A.
ADJUTANT 23rd A. Bde. R.F.A.

ROUTINE ORDERS by Lieutenant-General Sir A.J. GODLEY, K.C.B., K.C.M.G.,
Commanding XXII Corps.

Headquarters
20 July 1918.
GENERAL STAFF.

NIL.

ADJUTANT & QUARTERMASTER GENERAL’S BRANCH.

1696. Military Medal.
Reference Corps Routine Order dated 2/6/18:-
For: – Royal Field Arty. No. 3167 Gnr. (A/L/Bdr) Murray, G.
-do- “ 135204 Sgt. Bands R.

Read: – Royal Field Arty. No 3167 Gnr (A/L/Bdr) Murray, T.
-do- “ 11804 Sgt. Hands R.

1697. RATIONS.
The following instructions have been receives from Fifth French Army:-
Large units, i.e. Divisions, transported in busses from one Army to another will invariably carry with them two days’ debussing rations. This measure is rendered necessary owing to the difficulty in rationing big units.

1698. BILLETING CERTIFICATES.
The instructions on A.B. 397 should be altered to read:-
“Duplicate Billeting Certificates, accompanied by Distribution Lists, to be forwarded to Central Requisition Office, British Army in the Field”.
1699. HEADLIGHTS.
Headlights on motor vehicles are forbidden north of the road MONTMIRAL –CHAMPAUHERT – HERGERES LES VERTUS.

AM*
D.A. & Q.M.G.
XXII Corps.
NOTICES.
LOST:-
Bolted from vicinity of camp of H.Q. XXII Corps Mounted Troops, BROWN GELDING, No. 103, aged, 15.2, star, black points, branded (Z) on off hindquarters.
Information to O.C. XXII Corps Mounted Troops.

On the afternoon of 10th inst. at XXII Corps Race Meeting the property of Lieut. Brettal, 3rd Dragoon Guards:-
HOLT & Co. CHEQUE BOOK containing 2 cheques made payable to self but not backed, also a case containing photographs.
Information to A.P.M., 3rd Cavalry Division.

SECRET. Copy No. 18.

XXII CORPS OPERATION ORDER NO. 8.
——————————-
19th July, 1918.

1. (a). All tactical reports, messages etc., will be forwarded to HAUTEVILLERS (Advanced Corps Headquarters) from 12 midnight tonight (19th/20th July) onwards until further orders.
(b). Corps Headquarters (Rear) will close at VERTUS at 10 8 a.m. tomorrow July 20th and will reopen at AY at the same hour.

2. XXII Corps Mounted Troops (less troops attached to Divisions) will be assembled immediately West of AY by 8 a.m. tomorrow July 20th.

3. The following arrangements will be made for co-operation with the R.A.F.:-
The 82nd Squadron R.A.F. will send a Contact Patrol over the line at Zero Hour and afterwards at two hour intervals.
Troops will signal their location by waving their helmets.

4. (a). Divisions will establish a dropping ground at ST IMOGES marked XI.
Corps dropping station will be established at AY or HAUTVILLERS marked XII.

(b) Infantry Brigade Headquarters are allotted the following code letters for aeroplane co-operation:-

51st Division. 62nd Division.
152nd Infantry Brigade. – “A” 185th Inf. Bde. – “H”
153rd “ “ – “E” 186th “ “ – “K”
154th “ “ – “F” 187th “ “ – “L”
These letters (in white ground strips) will be displayed:-
(i). To indicate to passing Contact Planes, the position of Headquarters. The plane will acknowledge by sending “RD” on the Klaxon Horn.
(ii). In response to a plane sounding the respective Code Letter on the Klaxon Horn. Planes will sound the Code Letter when they require to locate a Brigade, or for the purpose of dropping messages.
(c). In the event of Brigades wishing to signal by means of the Popham Panel, above Call Letters in strips will be placed near the Panneau. All messages received from Panneau will be dropped by plane at Corps Headquarters, Addressed “To” and “From” are unnecessary.

5. Acknowledge by wire.

C.W. Gwynn
B.G., G.S.,
XXII Corps.
Issued at 6.30 p.m. to:-
Copy No 1 War Diary.
2. G.S. File
3. A.D.C
4 & 5 G.O.C., R.A.
6. “Q”
7. “A”
8. C.E.
9. A.D. Signals
10. D.D.M.S.
11. Ig.
12. A.P.M.
13. G.H.Q. South.
14. British Mission G.A.C.
15. 51st Division.
16. 62nd Division.
17 & 18. XXII Corps Mtd Troops.
18. 82nd Squadron R.A.F.
19. British Mission Fifth French Army.
20. B.G., H.A., XXII Corps.
21. A.D.O.S.
22, 23 & 24 S.M.T.O.

Copy No ….2
SECRET.
XXII CORPS OPERATION ORDER NO 7.
—————————

19th July, 1918.

1. Reference XXII Corps Operation Order No. 6, para. 4, of to-days date.

ZERO Hour will be 8 AM 20th July.

2. ACKNOWLEDGE.

P.H.Hausin
Major G.S.
B.G., G. S.,
XXII Corps
Issued at 10.40 pm
Copy to all recipients C.O.O., No. 6.

SECRET. Copy No. 13

XXII CORPS OPERATION ORDER NO. 6.
————————–

19July, 1918

1. In accordance with orders received from Fifth French Army (a copy of which has been given to Divisions concerned), the XXII Corps will attack to-morrow (20th July) on both banks of the River ADRE.

2. The attached map shows assembly position, objectives and Corps and Divisional boundaries.

3. The 62nd Division will be on the right and the 51st Division will be on the left. The River ADRE will form the dividing line between Divisions.

4. The attack will start at Zero hour, which will be notified later communicated separately

5. The attack will be covered by a creeping barrage provided by the artillery now in the line.
The Divisional Artilleries of the 51st and 62nd Divisions will support the attack beyond the limits of range of the artillery finding the barrage.

6. The rate of barrage will be 100 metres in 4 minutes. It will halt for 20 minutes 150 metres in front of the line marked in GREEN on the attached map.

7. The Corps Mounted Troops will be in Corps Reserve and each Division will hold one Battalion in reserve which will not be used without reference to Corps H.Q.

8. A joint Divisional Headquarters will be established at ST IMOGES.

9. Advanced Corps Headquarters will be established at HAUTVILLERS from 12 midnight to-night 19th July.

10. ACKNOWLEDGE by wire.
C.W. Gwynn
B.G., G.S.
XXII Corps
Issued at 3 p.m. to:-
Copy No 1 War Diary 7 C.E. 13 82nd Squad R.A.F.
2 G.S. File 8 G.H.Q. (South) 14 Brit Mission 5th Fr Army
3 A.D.C. 9 Brit Mission G.A.C. 15 A.D. Sigs
4 G.O.C., R.A. 10 51st Division 16 D.D.M.S.
5 ‘Q’ 11 62nd Division 17Ig.
6 ‘A’ 12 XXII Corps Mtd Tps. 18 A.P.M.

Copy No …..6
SECRET. XXII Corps
18th July 1918.

XXII CORPS WARNING ORDER NO. 2.
———————————————

1. The relief of the II Italian Corps by the XXII Corps is cancelled.

2. The XXII Corps will be prepared to concentrate during the night 19th/20th July in forward positions immediately behind the line now held by the II Italian Corps with a view to an advance on the morning of the 21st July.

3. The 51st Division on the left, and the 62nd Division on right will move into forward concentration areas on the night of 19th/20th July. Concealed positions of assembly will be reconnoitred to-morrow. Guides for the night march will be provided on application by the 120th and 14th French Divisions. Routes selected should be marked in addition as far as possible.

4. The general line of demarcation between Divisions will be NANTHEUIL – ST IMOGES – LA NEUVILLE all inclusive to the 51st Division.

5. The MESNIL Brigade, 51st Division, and rear units of the 62nd Division will be closed up to the line of the MARNE to-morrow morning (19th inst.) moving in small columns with a view to shortening the night march.

6. Pontoons of both Divs will be pooled and will be concentrated in the area of the PIEERY Brigade Group of the 51st Division to-morrow with a view to their being placed at the disposal of the French, if required. All pontoons to be placed under the Command of one Field Company of the 51st Division.

7. ACKNOWLEDGE.
Signature unreadable.
B.G., G.S.
XXII Corps.
Issued at 11.20 p.m. to:-
Copy No. 1 51st Division
2 62nd Division.
3 C.E.
4 G.O.C. R.A.
5 Q
6 82nd Squad R.A.F.

22nd Corps ‘G’
——————–

1. It would appear that the Corps may shortly be engaged in operations of the nature of open warfare.
2. The following scheme is submitted for approval for more efficient aerial co-operation than has formerly been possible.
3. The system does not entail the use of any apparatus beyond the Popham panneau and ground strips already provided.
4. It is anticipated that should the scheme be adopted and the units on the ground be able to carry out their part. The Squadron would have no difficulty whatever in (a) keeping Corps informed of exact positions of units down to Brigades, and dropping messages to these formations; (b) in receiving messages from formations for transmission to Corps (thence to Divisions if required).
5. The scheme is easily capable of elaboration to include units down to Battalions, but it is considered that owing to the very short notice which it will be possible to give, it would probably be inadvisable to attempt to deal with smaller formations than Brigades.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES.

1. Corps dropping station indicated in any suitable ****** – say “XII”
2. Divisional H.Q. to be indicated by Popham panneau with one of the letters W X Y or Z placed at 9 o’clock to the panneau. Divisional calls would thus simply W X Y or Z.
3. Brigade H.Q. will be indicated by popham panneau together with a call letter placed opposite one of the four corners “W X Y or Z” position. Calls of Brigades of W Division to be WW WX WY WZ and for ‘X’ Division XW XX XY XZ and so on.

PROCEDURE.
1. A unit seeing a contact ‘plane in its neighbourhood and wishing to report its position, will merely expose its popham panneau and call letter in an approximate position. Machine will acknowledge, for example “XWRT”. If the unit wishes to communicate with a machine, it will open popham panneau in the normal manner and procedure will be as usual.
2. Corps wishing to communicate with a unit will forward message to Squadron giving as far as possible approximate location. The ‘plane will fly in direction of unit required sounding call letter on klaxon. Unit will expose panneau and call letters and machine will drop message.
3. In the event of a unit losing its popham panneau, or the situation preventing its being exposed, the call letter in ground strips will be sufficient indication.
4. In extreme cases when neither panneau nor strips can be exposed, it is suggested that units should fire four Very’s lights in rapid succession as a signal that it is the unit to which the plane is calling.

ADVANTAGES OF SYSTEM.

1. The procedure above outlined presents no difficulty whatever from the air point of view at least and will enable higher command (a) to locate its units at any time; (b) to communicate with the unit; (c) to receive messages from the unit.
2. Code calls are reduced to one or two letters only which are all made with straight ground strips.
3. The scheme is systematic in that units belonging to the same formation have the same initial letter in their call.
4. In the event of a particular unit being undiscoverable there should be little difficulty in locating a neighbouring unit and communicating with it instead.
5. Owing to the message having no “addressed to” but only a call letter address, little information is given to the enemy should they fall into wrong hands.
Note:
“Addressed to” will not be required. Normally all messages received from the ground will be dropped at Corps. “Addressed from” not required; call letters give sufficient indication.

J.M. S***
Major,
Commanding, No 82 Squadron,
Royal Air Force.
In the Field.
17th July 1918.

SKELETON SCHEME
FOR
CO-OPERATION OF THE R.A.F. CORPS SQUADRONS
WITH OTHER ARMS DURING A MOVING
BATTLE
********************************
NARRATIVE.

1. Introductory. Whether the move is an advance or a withdrawal, the problems to be solved are much the same: the latter case however, is the more difficult operation, and is herein dealt with. The principles can be applied to an advancing battle mutatis mutandis.

2. Role of Squadron. Provided Liaison with the ground can be efficiently maintained the functions of the Corps Squadron are properly –
(1) Battle Reconnaissances.
(2) Artillery work with surprise targets.
(3) Liaison Reconnaissance to identify, and communicate to with other Arms.

Systematic bombing and shooting up of live targets is more properly the role of Army Squadrons and reinforcing Brigades.

3. General Idea. If these duties are to be carried out, it is essential that the energies of the Squadron should not be taken up by moving daily from place to place: a situation must therefore be taken up well in rear, and touch kept with other Arms by means of advanced landing grounds occupied in turns.
A Map of all feasible grounds (in rear of a large sector of the front, to legislate for possible cases of divergent lines of retirement) should be compiled by R.A.F. Brigades, kept up to date, and issued to all concerned. If this is not available, the duty of selecting suitable sites, lies with the R.A.F. Officer attached to a report centre.

4. Main Report Centre. The first essential is to establish a Main Report Centre (M.R.C.) in close proximity to Corps H.Qrs. (Advd H.Qrs): It is a sine qua non that this Centre should be on a practicable landing ground.
This M.R.C. would be in charge of the Corps Squadron B.I.O., and its position notified to all units (if necessary by message dropping). All aeroplanes of the Squadron would land in the early morning at this Centre, and function from there throughout the day, returning to the base aerodrome in the evening.
A Wireless Station, a few small spares, petrol and oil, and a Corps D.R. service, would be installed at this M.R.C.

5. Move of M.R.C. In the event of Corps H.Qrs., continuing to move backwards a new landing ground will be taken up, and if possible installed before the first ground was abandoned. (see 7 below)
As soon as a move is contemplated an arrow would be put out near the T on the landing ground, pointing in the general direction of the new site. When the forward ground is finally vacated, the T is taken up, and the arrow left out.
It is hoped by this means to ensure constant Liaison between Corps and Squadron H.Qrs.

6. Artillery Work. Fire on targets notified from the air will largely be the task of the Divisional Artillery. Owing to the withdrawal of the bulk of Siege Batteries, and to the lack of means of communication from Corps H.A., to batteries, it is likely that H.A. H.Qrs., and the C.B.S.O. will cease to operate with large formations, and that their position will approximate to Corps H.Qrs. Mobile Heavy Artillery Brigades will be attached to Divisional Artillery.
All units must remember the absolute necessity of moving the personnel and material of their Wireless Station, and of erecting same whenever possible.
Artillery Units ready for action with aeroplanes, should keep out the ground strips of their calls, except in presence of Enemy Aircraft.

7. C.W.S become A.R.C. When Corps H.A., H.Qrs., ceases to function tactically the Central Wireless Station (C.W.S.), will remain as an advanced report centre (A.R.C.), for work with Divisions.
It will be under the charge of one of the Squadron wireless Officers, and will be equipped in the same way and will function in the same manner as the M.R.C.
When withdrawal becomes necessary the A.R.C., will move past the M.R.C., and will take up its position near the new Corps Advd H.Qrs., where the B.I.O., will again take command, it will thus become itself the Main Report Centre, while the old M.R.C., becomes the A.R.C.
One of these two Stations is thus likely to be in action and both will have landing grounds in their vicinity.
Communication between M.R.C., and the A.R.C., will be maintained by wireless.

8. Liaison Reconnaissances. The services of the R.A.F., will be of extreme value in identifying and reporting positions of unit Headquarters: they supplement other means of communication in this respect, or at times supplant them in the absence of telephone facilities, and during periods of road congestion. An efficient Air Service should be able to keep the Corps Commander informed of the position of his units and should be able to transmit his orders to them.
A whole Flight should be detailed for this important service (This Flight could reinforce the Battle Reconnaissance or Artillery Flight in the event of the withdrawal being premeditated and leisurely).
Every H.Qrs., should be provided with ground strips to form a two or three letter code call (only those letters should be used which can be formed into straight strips) and a Popham Panel. The code calls should not be arbitrary, but should have their index letter such as to indicate to the aeroplane, the nature of the formation to which they belong.
The Observer would then know for instance, that he had located 2 out of 3 Divisions – could inform a Division of the situation of a neighbouring H.Qrs., etc. etc., by means of message bags. (See Note).
If the importance of carrying and displaying these strips is impressed on units, it should be possible for an aeroplane flying over an area and calling by means of Klaxon Horn, or Very’s Lights, to rapidly accumulate valuable information as to the positions of units throughout the day.
This form of Liaison should be infallible, whereas, Wireless inter-communication may fail owing to lack of experience, delicacy of instruments, lack of trained signallers, running down of accumulators, etc.

9. Attachment of R.A.F. Observers to Formations. In order that the possibilities of Aerial Co-operation outlined above may be taken full advantage of, it would appear essential for a proportion of the Observers of a Squadron to live, and move with units of the Corps.
It is suggested that:-
2 Liaison Officers should be attached to Corps H.Qrs.
1 Battle Reconnaissance Observer to each Divisional H.Qrs.
1 Artillery Observer to each Divisional Artillery H.Qrs.
These Observers would be informed by the unit Commander, as to what particular information is desired: they would then proceed to the nearest Report Centre, and pick up the aeroplanes detailed for the service. It must however, be pointed out, that the R.A.F. cannot provide transport for each of these Observers. The essential principle of the whole scheme proposed, is that it should be possible to carry it out with the means at the disposal of every Corps Squadron in the Field, and the transport allotted is barely sufficient for present requirements.
If units desire the services of an attached Observer, they must when occasion demands, find some means of transport, horse, bicycle, motor bicycle, etc, to enable him to reach the nearest aeroplane landing ground.
The information obtained by these special Observers, though primarily for the benefit of their own formation, will be in every case transmitted to the M.R.C.: the Pilot will be responsible that this is done when the aeroplane lands on the advanced instead of Main Report Centre.

10. To sum up the essentials of the scheme proposed are:-
(1) A rearward location of Squadron aerodrome, and Administrative H.Qrs., to avoid constant movement and road congestion.
(2) Forward tactical landing grounds.
(3) The division of the Squadron into Battle Reconnaissance, Artillery, and Liaison Flights.
(4) The utilisation by of all units of ground strips to denote their positions.
(5) The attachment of R.A.F. Observers to units for Liaison work.
(6) No extra transport or material required, beyond that now in possession of Corps Squadrons.
(Details as far as at present worked out, are attached).

J.A. C****
Lieut Colonel,
Commanding 15th Wing,
Royal Air Force.
In the Field.
11/7/18
JAC/JWC