Tuesday 31st
October 1916 From our Correspondent in
the Field
The 1st
Battalion is near the old 1915 battleground at Festubert. Plans have been made
for a group of eighty men under Captain C A S Morris to enter the enemy's
trenches, bomb his dug-outs, kill as many Germans and do as much damage as
possible. The plan is as described below
They will enter
at points shown on the map above as silently as possible with four parties. A
Bangalore torpedo detachment will accompany each party, in the event of the
wire proving too thick. On entering the trench a stop will be formed (to
prevent enemy reinforcements reaching the attackers) and the remainder of the
party will attack inwards, using the bayonet and bombing their way, if strongly
opposed. The rear parties following on the same line and close on the heels of
the leading party will continue along the line of the ditch until reaching
support trench at the points shown. On reaching these points they will form a
block and attack inwards.
Each party
will consist of an officer and four groups of one NCO and four men each. No.1
group will consist of bombers and wire cutters; No.2 group will be a Lewis gun
detachment. Nos.3 and 4 groups will be bayonet men and bombers. The leader of
each group will carry a torch. Faces will be blacked. Bayonets will be dulled
with soot and oil. Each man will carry two bombs in each pocket and there will
be a wire-cutter to every two men. To avoid rattling, oil bottles will not be
carried in the rifles. Equipment will not be worn. One bandolier of ammunition
will be carried. The men have been reminded that they should not give any
information if captured, beyond that of their number, name and regiment. No
letters or diaries will be carried by anyone.
At the end of
this month, 8th Bedfords, who suffered so greatly in September, have recovered
their strength. They currently have 30 officers and 780 other ranks. This month
they have lost 2 officers and 46 other ranks killed, one officer and 65 other
ranks wounded. 135 men have gone to hospital sick and 58 have returned.
Sources: X550/2/5;
X550/9/1
