Bristol Scout
Wednesday
22nd September 1915: As the big push nears an interesting memo has been leaked
from I Corps Headquarters. It shows a revolutionary advance in co-operation
between assaulting infantry, supporting artillery and observation aircraft,
which we hope will give our men the edge in the forthcoming struggle.
“White linen
arrows about 15 feet long and 3 feet wide, with arrow head at one end, also
five other strips 6 feet by 1 foot 6 inches, will be carried by battalion
headquarters”.
“When
infantry are held up by hostile fire from trenches or houses, or other features
at close range, and require support from heavy howitzers, an arrow will be laid
out on the ground as near the obstacle as it can be brought, pointing towards
it, with one 6 feet strip laid across-wise for every two hundred yards that the
obstacle is estimated to be distant from the arrow”.
“The result
will be that as soon as the aeroplane notices the signal, it will, if it can
distinguish the target, call up a heavy howitzer and range it on the target,
keeping the fire up until the signal is removed”.
“Example: A
signal points at a house estimated to be 400 yards from the signal: - White
linen arrow 15 feet by 3 feet”.
“The aeroplane
on calling up a battery for this work will use a pre-arranged prefix, and the
battery will only fire when "G" is sent by aeroplane.
Immediately
the signal is removed, the aeroplane ceases sending "G" and the
firing ceases”.
“Arrows must
be picked up as soon as fire is required to cease”.
Source: X550/3/wd
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