Tuesday 13th July: The adjutant of the 2nd Battalion informs us that they have been told off
by their Brigadier. On going round their trenches yesterday morning he noticed
a number of things which require immediate attention.
In some cases
Machine Gun Loopholes are so low that the long grass entirely obstructs the
view. Loopholes are small gaps in the sandbags on the parapet of a trench allowing
machine guns or rifles to be fires safely from cover. The Battalion will have
to take steps to raise the level of the gun sufficiently to clear the grass.
The Brigadier
considered that many firing steps were either too high, meaning men expose more
of their head and body as a target or too low, meaning men cannot see properly
over the parapet to shoot. He also noticed that a number of loopholes were
obstructed with earth making them useless. They should daily be inspected to
see that they are free from obstruction.
A number of waterholes
were found to be dirty. Notices should be put up at all waterholes and the
greatest care taken to keep them from being fouled as dirty water, if drunk,
leads to crippling bowel disorders such as dysentery. The Brigadier insisted
that the rule forbidding urinating in the front line trenches is strictly
observed. Latrines are provided in communication tranches.
Immediate
steps must be taken to see that Vermorel sprayers are in complete working order
and filled. These are the front line defence against attacks using poisoned gas
as they help to disperse it. The adjutant, though naturally loath to have his
Battalion seen in a bad light, thought we would be interested in this episode
as showing that occupation of trenches is about house-keeping and daily living
as much as defence and action.
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