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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