All Change

Sunday 16th January 1916: The adjutant of the 2nd Battalion, in the front line near Maricourt on the Somme mentioned to us this morning that there was a reshuffle of positions last night with A Company moving from the reserve to the front line, D Company from support to front line, C Company to support and B Company to the reserve. This illustrates that most units hold the front line with two of their four companies with one in support, close behind the front line and ready to go instantly to where they are needed and one company further back in reserve in case of a determined attack or breakthrough. During a tour of the trenches companies are shuffled around so that no one has to spend all their time in the front line where they will become tired from the strain more quickly than in support or reserve.

Source: X550/3/wd