Part 3

(_h_) An officer will always be present when an issue of rum takes place.

(_i_) Equipment will never be taken off in the front-line trenches except in the case of working parties, when equipment may be removed by order of the company commanders. In support trenches equipment may be removed at the discretion of battalion commanders.

(_j_) Sentries will remain standing at all times unless the height of the parapet renders this impossible.

(_k_) All parties, with the exception of stretcher bearers, moving in the trench area will wear their arms and equipment. Orderlies may be excused wearing their equipment at the discretion of commanding officers.

(_l_) The wearing of cotton bandoliers by working parties and orderlies is forbidden, nor are these bandoliers to be hung up in the trenches.

(_m_) Ammunition must be kept in a thoroughly clean state. If the ammunition is not clean jambs will occur. Ammunition will be frequently inspected.

(_n_) The "undercutting" of trenches is strictly forbidden. Drains will always be cut down the center of a trench and not at the sides.

(_o_) When mining is in progress in any of the trenches occupied by the brigade the sandbags filled with earth from the mine will on no account be used in the front trenches or other points which are visible to the enemy.

=14. RECONNAISSANCE AND PATROLLING.=--The best security against attack is active patrolling and constant observation of the enemy's lines, so that he can not undertake any new work without steps being taken to prevent its continuance.

The enemy's wire will be constantly patrolled to insure that he has cut no gaps in it with a view to launching an attack.

Patrols will also frequently visit our wire to insure that it is efficient.

The front of our own fire parapet should be examined nightly.

=15. INFORMATION.=--Every effort will be made by means of patrols, field glasses, etc., to ascertain information about the enemy, his trenches and wire. Any alterations in the enemy's lines must be reported, and if any of the enemy are seen a report will be sent in stating what dress they were wearing. The importance of forwarding all such information will be impressed on all ranks.

=16. SNIPING.=--In every battalion a sniping section will be formed, consisting of 1 officer and 25 N. C. O.'s and men. The officer will carry out the duties of intelligence officer to his battalion. He will render a daily report to his commanding officer containing the following information:

Number of casualties known to have been inflicted on the enemy.

Number and location of snipers' posts.

Any alterations in the enemy's trenches or wire.

Number of telescope rifles in possession.

Number and location of fixed rifles and rifle batteries in action.

Any activity by the enemy.

Battalion sniping officers will get into close touch with artillery observing officers within their sectors, and will give every assistance to them.

=17. ARTILLERY SUPPORT.=--As a general rule, a forward observing officer of an 18-pounder battery will be quartered at or near battalion H. Q.

Requests for retaliation should be made to this officer, and brigade H. Q. should be warned of the action taken.

Fire from howitzers and heavy batteries can, except in the case of the S. O. S. signal, only be obtained through brigade H. Q. If retaliatory fire is required from howitzers, it must be stated on what point it is wished that the fire should be directed.

Any trench mortaring by the enemy should be immediately reported to the officer commanding our trench mortars.

=18. "S. O. S." AND "TEST" SIGNALS.=--In the event of an infantry attack by the enemy, a mine being fired, or other emergency, the S. O. S. signal will be sent by the quickest route to the Field Artillery battery covering the trenches concerned.

_The signal will be followed by the number of the trench, e.g., "S. O. S. B4."_

The signal will be repeated to battalion H. Q., who will transmit it to brigade H. Q.

On receipt of the S. O. S. signal all batteries covering the trenches concerned will open a concentrated fire on the enemy's front line.

When necessity for fire no longer exists, a message to this effect will be sent to the artillery and to brigade H. Q.

In order to test the efficient working of the artillery lines, "test" messages will frequently be sent from the trenches to the supporting battery.

The number of the trench will always be sent, e.g., "Test A 6."

The test will consist of one round of shrapnel fired on the "night line" of the battery. No target will be given by the officer in the trenches.

The time taken from the handing in of the message until the shell bursts will be carefully noted and reported to battalion H. Q. The O. C. battalion will enter the result of all tests in his daily report. He will give the exact time at which the test was sent and will state whether it was a "direct" or an "indirect" test. A "direct" test is from trench to battery. An "indirect" test is from trench via battalion H. Q. to battery.

=19. VERMOREL SPRAYERS.=--One man will be detailed to look after each sprayer. A spare tin of solution will be kept with each sprayer. Medical officers will periodically inspect both sprayers and solution.

=20. HOSTILE ARTILLERY FIRE.=--In reporting activity by the enemy's artillery it is necessary to state:

(i) The time at which shelling began and when it ceased.

(ii) Your own position.

(iii) Whether howitzer or gun.

(iv) Direction from which shells arrive. Compass bearing should be given if possible.

(v) Whether shells burst in the air or on "graze."

In reporting results of our own fire, state:

(i) Your own position.

(ii) Estimate distances short, over, right, or left, in yards. Avoid vague statements.

(iii) Whether gun or howitzer.

(iv) Whether shrapnel or high explosive.

If shrapnel bursts in the air, judge whether range is correct by the splash of the bullets on the ground and not by the burst.

=21. AIRCRAFT.=--On the approach of any of the enemy's aircraft three blasts will be blown on a whistle. This will be the signal for all ranks to keep perfectly still.

One blast on a whistle will indicate that the aircraft has moved away.

All aircraft belonging to the enemy will be heavily fired on by machine guns and rifles as long as they are within range, but no firing will take place without the order of an officer, who will first satisfy himself that the aircraft is hostile. Directions should be given to the men as to how many lengths in front of the aeroplane aim should be taken. If a "Zeppelin" is sighted, a "priority" message will be sent to brigade H. Q. reporting the fact and stating approximately where the "Zeppelin" was seen and in what direction it was proceeding.

=22. MAPS.=--Maps with our own trenches marked on them will not be taken into the front-line trenches.

=23. TELEPHONE MESSAGES.=--No messages regarding the action of our own Artillery or other matters of an important nature will be sent by telephone to the fire trenches. Such messages will be sent by orderly. This is necessary because it has been found that the enemy has, at times, read our messages by induction.

=24. SIGNALERS.=--The brigade signaling section is responsible for the maintenance of communication between brigade H. Q. and battalions.

Battalion signalers are responsible for communications within the battalion.

All wires must be pinned in to the sides of trenches. Infantry wires on the S. and E. sides and Artillery wires on the N. and W. sides.

Pins for this purpose can be obtained from brigade headquarters.

All wires will be labeled with the name of the battalion at least every 50 yards.

Officers in charge of battalion signalers are responsible that all disused or unlabeled wires within their areas are reeled up.

All wires will be patroled at least once every 24 hours.

=25. MEDICAL OFFICERS.=--Medical officers attached to battalions will, in addition to looking after the sick and wounded, be responsible for the sanitation of the trenches generally, paying particular attention to the water supply and latrines. Battalion sanitary sections will work under the orders of the medical officer.

The medical officer will accompany the commanding officer periodically on his visits round the trenches.

Stretcher bearers are responsible that the rifles and equipment (including field glasses, wire cutters, etc.), of all men who are wounded are taken with them to the dressing station. The medical officer will instruct the N. C. O. i/c stretcher bearers to see that this order is carried out.

The arms and equipment of wounded men will be sent to the field ambulance with them, the ammunition having first been removed from pouches and magazines. Field glasses, wire cutters, etc., will not be sent to the field ambulance but will be sent to battalion headquarters.

The arms and equipment of men who are killed will be collected at battalion headquarters and handed over to the quartermaster for return to the base.

=26. RATION PARTIES.=--Parties to carry rations, water, and material to the companies in the front line will be detailed from the companies in reserve.

=27. EMPTY CARTRIDGE CASES AND RUBBISH.=--At intervals throughout the trenches sandbags will be hung up as receptacles for empty cartridge cases and chargers. Others will be hung up for the collection of rubbish. Sandbags to be labeled accordingly. All empty cases and chargers thus collected will be sent each evening to battalion H. Q. for transmission to the base.

=28. DRESS, ETC.=--Men must be properly dressed at all times and as smart and clean as circumstances will allow.

All men must shave daily.

Discipline as regards saluting, standing to attention, etc., will receive as much attention in the trenches as in billets.

=29. PRISONERS.=--Should any prisoners be captured they will be immediately searched, and all documents found on them will be forwarded to brigade H. Q. without delay. Germans usually carry all documents in the skirt pockets of their tunics. A telephone message will be dispatched to brigade H. Q. stating to what regiment the prisoners belong.

All ranks will be warned that should they find themselves in the hands of the enemy it is only necessary for them to give their number, name, and regiment. No other information whatever will be given.

=30. RETURNS.=--The following returns are due at brigade H. Q. daily when in the trenches:--

At 5.15 a. m.--Situation and wind By telephone. At 11.00 a. m.--Strength and casualty return " Daily report on typed form By orderly. Artillery intelligence report " At 4.00 p. m.--Situation and wind By telephone. At 5.30 p. m.--Intelligence report By orderly or telephone. At 9.00 p. m.--Return of material required for trench construction to be sent up the following evening By telephone.

Activity by the enemy's aeroplanes will always be reported.

_______,

_Brigade Major, ______ Brigade_.

55TH (WEST LANCASHIRE) DIVISION TRENCH ORDERS.

THIS BOOK IS NOT TO BE TAKEN BEYOND THE FRONT TRENCHES.

Every officer, and every noncommissioned officer in command of any body of troops, is to be in possession of this book and to be thoroughly conversant with its contents.

J. K. COCHRANE, _Lieut. Colonel, General Staff_, _55th (West Lancashire) Division_.

JANUARY, 1917.

CONTENTS.

Section.

Duties 1

Sentries 2

Patrols 3

Alertness 4

Stand to 5

Arrangements in case of attack 6

Machine guns 7

Cooperation between artillery, etc 8

Method of dealing with crater formed by mine explosion 9

Reliefs--

(_a_) Reconnaissance 10

(_b_) Points to be noted by company commander 10

(_c_) Guides 10

(_d_) Smoking and talking 10

(_e_) Rate of march to trenches 10

(_f_) Procedure on arrival in trenches 10

Wiring 11

Organization of work on defenses 12

Log books 13

Undercutting trench sides 14

Communications 15

Ration parties from front trenches 16

Firing at aeroplanes 17

Rifles, equipment, and ammunition 18

Precautions against gas attacks 19

Action during enemy gas attack 20

Action after enemy gas attack 21

Action during gas shell bombardment 22

Discipline with regard to carrying small box respirators 23

Vermorel sprayers 24

Sanitation 25

Rations and cooking 26

Care of grenades 27

Steel helmets 28

Issue of rum 29

Chilled feet and frost bite 30

55TH (WEST LANCASHIRE) DIVISION TRENCH ORDERS.

=1. DUTIES.=--(_a_) One officer per company and one N. C. O. per platoon will always be on duty. During their tour of duty they will not be in their dugouts. They will frequently visit all trenches occupied by their units.

Every listening post will be visited, if possible, by an officer once during his tour of duty.

(_b_) The officer on duty will, when his tour of duty is finished, inform the officer relieving him and report to him the situation, work in progress, and any other information of use.

(_c_) By night the officer and N. C. O. on duty will frequently patrol the trench line, to see that the sentries are alert and to inquire whether they have any information about the enemy to report.

(_d_) The N. C. O. coming on duty will go around and post new sentries with the N. C. O. coming off duty.

(_e_) The length of each tour of duty will naturally depend on the number of officers and N. C. O.'s available in the company. Normally each tour should be, by night 2 hours, by day 4 hours, day commencing at morning "stand to" and night commencing at evening "stand to." In inclement weather the tour of duty must be reduced.

(_f_) N. C. O.'s after posting sentries will report "all correct" or otherwise to the officer on duty.

(_g_) Men will be warned for duty by the platoon sergeant on duty. This will be done at evening "stand to."

(_h_) On being detailed for duty a man will be informed at which hours he will come on duty.

(_i_) Except under special circumstances, such, for instance, as a sentry being killed or wounded, no sentry will be relieved by another man unless the relief is properly carried out in the presence of a N. C. O.

(_j_) When possible to do so, notice boards will be placed in each sections' trench, on which will be pinned daily all orders regarding working parties and a list of the men in the section giving the times at which they will come on sentry and other duties.

(_k_) The company commander will be responsible for sending in the reports required by battalion H. Q.

=2. SENTRIES.=--(_a_) The number of sentry posts required depends on the propinquity or otherwise of the enemy, the strength of obstacles, the ease with which sentry posts can be reinforced, and other local conditions. There must be sentries enough to insure that the alarm is given promptly in case of attack, and that local resistance is sufficient until support can arrive. Brigade commanders are responsible that these requirements are met.

(_b_) Sentries will be relieved every two hours, except under bad weather conditions, when the length of a tour of sentry duty will be reduced.

(_c_) The next relief will remain within arm's length of the sentry.

(_d_) Every sentry is to be regularly posted by a N. C. O., who will explain to him his duties and ascertain that the sentry and his relief are aware of the position of the section and platoon commanders, and of the sentries on either side, and whether there are any patrols or working parties out in front.

(_e_) In important places, i.e., where enemy are suspected of mining, advanced posts, etc., no man should be posted alone. There should be a double sentry.

(_f_) No man who has been on work during the day will be placed on sentry till he has had at least 4 hours for rest, unless it is unavoidable.

(_g_) When the line is held by small posts at a considerable distance apart, a visiting patrol will also be maintained. This patrol will be responsible for the passing of orders along the line of posts.

(_h_) All orders are to be passed along the line by one platoon N. C. O. on duty to the next N. C. O. on duty.

(_i_) Every sentry is to report when an officer passes his post "all correct" or otherwise.

(_j_) During daylight no more sentries should be posted than are actually necessary to insure that the whole front to be watched is kept under efficient observation.

(_k_) Every sentry by day will be provided with a periscope.

=3. PATROLS.=--(_a_) It is the duty of troops holding the front line to establish a command of the ground in front of their parapet up to the enemy's wire. This can only be done by active and constant patrolling by night and reconnaissance by day, so that the ground is thoroughly well known to as large a proportion as possible of officers and other ranks, and so that no enemy can move or remain in it by day or night without fear of death.

(_b_) Every patrol must have definite orders as to its mission; broadly speaking, patrols may be divided into two classes: (1) Reconnoitering patrols; (2) fighting patrols.

(_c_) The first duty of _reconnoitering patrols_ is to obtain the information for which they are sent out. They fight only in self-defense, or if an especially favorable opportunity presents itself of inflicting loss on the enemy without prejudice to their mission. They usually consist of from 2 to 6 men under an officer.

(_d_) Fighting patrols are sent out with the express purpose of causing loss or damage to the enemy by such means as engaging enemy patrols or working parties, or by raiding saps, listening posts, or trenches. For identification purposes they should always endeavor to secure at least one prisoner. Their strength depends on the nature of the resistance they are likely to meet with.

(_e_) Battalion commanders are responsible for the orders given to patrols, subject to any instructions which may be issued by higher authority. They are also responsible that all troops whom it concerns are warned when and where patrols will be out, and of the point to which they will return.

(_f_) The information gained by patrols is of little value unless transmitted quickly to those whom it concerns. Patrol reports will be made out by the commander of the patrol immediately on his return and dispatched at once by way of the battalion H. Q. to brigade H. Q., unless orders to the contrary have been given.

=4. ALERTNESS.=--Anything seen or heard in connection with the enemy, such as movements of individuals, transport wagons, troops, working parties, etc., is to be reported to the nearest officer by anyone who observes it and at any time.

=5. STAND TO.=--"Stand to" will take place one hour before sunrise and at sunset. At this parade every available man will be present. Rifles, ammunition, equipment, clothing, etc., will be inspected. Firing steps will be tested as soon as it is dusk to see that each man can fire on the foot of the nearest part of the wire entanglements immediately to his front. They are not to be tested at "stand to" in the morning. Rifles, ammunition, and equipment will be inspected after "stand down" in the morning and at "stand to" at night. Orders will be issued and steps taken to see that the men understand them. Gas helmets and other protective appliances will be inspected in accordance with the orders in force.

The time for "stand to" will be fixed weekly by brigade headquarters.

=6. ARRANGEMENTS IN CASE OF ATTACK.=--(_a_) The action to be taken in case of attack is laid down in defense schemes, divisional, brigade, and battalion, with reference to each form of attack which is considerable probable.

(_b_) In addition, minor defense schemes will be drawn up for each company front, based on battalion defense schemes, and platoon commanders also will keep up schemes based on that for the company and dealing specially with the action of their respective platoons.

(_c_) All the above schemes, divisional, brigade, battalion, company, and platoon, will be handed over at each relief to the relieving formation, unit, etc. They will be made out in consultation by the formations, units, etc., habitually occupying the defenses with which they deal.

(_d_) The object of defense schemes is to insure that every officer, N. C. O., and man knows what to do in case of attack, and does it instinctively and promptly. The minor schemes must therefore be detailed and exact, and each officer and man must have his duties thoroughly explained to him by his immediate superior. All defense schemes will be rehearsed once in each relief.

(_e_) At each relief of a battalion, company, or platoon the commander of it will report to his immediate commander that he has taken over and understands the defense schemes for the position he is occupying.

(_f_) All officers' servants, bombers, orderlies, etc., will have duties allotted to them in case of attack.

=7. MACHINE GUNS.=--(_a_) The concealment of machine-gun emplacements is important; consequently it is only in case of attack that machine guns will be fired from their defense emplacements.

(_b_) Unless emplacements are well concealed guns will not be mounted, except between evening and morning "stand to."

(_c_) The guns and their crews will be tactically under the orders of the battalion commander in whose subsector they are located, but no alteration will be made by him in their disposition or arcs of fire; he will, however, bring before his brigade commander any suggestion for improvement in the machine-gun dispositions for defense.

(_d_) Two men per gun will always be on duty with the gun.

(_e_) At dusk, but while there is still sufficient light, each gun will be laid on the center line of the zone alloted to it.

(_f_) Range cards will be prepared and kept with each gun.

(_g_) Officers will live in close proximity to their guns. They will daily inspect their guns, emplacements, and ammunition. They are responsible for the cleanliness and maintenance of the emplacements.

(_h_) The machine-gun company commander is responsible that his guns are always ready for action, that the emplacements are clear of all material except such as is required for the service of the gun, that embrasures or loopholes are kept clear of all obstructions which may interfere with fire or view, and that the ammunition is in good condition.