Tuesday 15 September 2015

Reports from Patrols



Wednesday 15th September 1915: Captain Meautys, adjutant of the 7th Bedfords, has told us about patrols sent out by his Battalion into no-man’s-land after dark last night. This was after the Germans had levelled thirty yards of our front line and forty yards of communication trench by a sharp bombardment. Two shells fired during the bombardment gave out a very pungent smoke like phosphorus but had no evil effect as men passed through the fumes. Repairs were carried out under cover of darkness.

One of the Battalion’s patrols got right up to the enemy's trip wire and voices were heard. This patrol reported that rifles are fired at regular intervals, and are of an opinion that all rifles are fixed at regular intervals down the trench and are fired by anyone passing.

Other patrols sent out during the night passed along enemy's front at a distance of about 60 yards away and reported hearing nothing. They are of opinion that the line is very lightly held and bear out the opinion of the first patrol about the enemy's rifle fire, which would be a ruse to make the trench seem more strongly held.

Source: X550/8/1

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