Germans Firing French Bullets

Thursday 14th October 1915: The adjutant of the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, Captain P R Meautys reports from the front line near Fricourt that they have been using large catapults to shoot bombs into the German trenches opposite. In observing the fire of British artillery on German trenches Captain Meautys told us: “One shell appeared to hit direct on emplacements, but ricocheted; this also happened in the case of two others which apparently hit the same spot. Can it be that the Germans dig a lot of loose earth round their emplacements to prevent shells from bursting?”

Curiously Captain Meautys records: “A French bullet was fired into our lines today from the enemy”. Perhaps the Germans are short of ammunition and have resorted to using captured French rifles and bullets or perhaps French made weapons are considered superior to theirs?

Source: X550/8/1