Friday 15 June 2018

The Cure for Shelling



Saturday 15th June 1918

The 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, in the support line near Steenbecque, has, for the third day endured heavy enemy shelling; if anything today's dose was heavier than yesterday's. One other rank was killed and five wounded. Eventually the Commanding Officer's request for retaliation by our artillery was approved and a short but intense barrage on the enemy's guns silenced them(1).

Source: X550/2/5

(1) By this stage of the war the Royal Artillery's sound-ranging techniques were much improved and it was possible to judge an enemy battery's position by the noise of the incoming shells. This made counter-battery fire more accurate and more effective.


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