Wastage

British 6 inch howitzer at IWM Duxford

Saturday 30th October 1915: Captain P R Meautys of the 7th Bedfords reports that yesterday morning a mine was exploded close to their lines. This was accompanied by grenades and mortar bombs from the enemy which resulted in retaliation by British artillery. This sort of sporadic activity is what causes so many men to be killed from stray explosions of bombs, grenades and shells in trenches which are very close to one another at this point, meaning that the shell that lands in a trench is almost as likely to be from one’s own side as from the enemy.

Source: X550/8/1

The Other Set of Trenches

Friday 29th October 1915: One can determine much about the enemy from observing them closely, mused 7th Battalion adjutant Captain Meautys when we spoke to him today. Observing the enemy trenches he watched the effect of a salvo of shells into their front line about 9 o’clock last night. As soon as the sound of the explosions died away he distinctly heard the sound of a gong being struck. He deduces from this that the Germans think poisoned gas shells are being used against them.

He also commented that different troops, less highly trained are believed to be in front as the rifle fire is exceedingly scarce. The notes that the enemy only fire with mortars and rifle grenade, not with rifles.

Source: X550/8/1

Animal Life in No Man’s Land

Tuesday 26th October 1915: Cats and dogs are not habitual friends. Nevertheless, a curious incident was observed by a sentry in the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment yesterday. Captain Meautys, the adjutant, related to us, with some amusement that a canine and a feline were observed to leave the German front line. They walked amiably through No Man’s Land to a shattered wood and disappeared. Had they been rats one might have thought they were leaving a sinking ship, but one can hope.

Source: X550/8/1

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

Fashionable Wear for Snipers

 Sniper camouflage at the Imperial War Museum

Wednesday 13th October 1915: The adjutant of the 7th Battalion reports that they shot another sniper yesterday. Captain Meautys told us: “he was wearing a kind of brown canvas helmet with eye holes”. In this war snipers take whatever precautions they can in order not to be seen. We have even heard reports of fake tree stumps being made and snipers secreting themselves inside them!

Source: X550/8/1

Different Shifts

Sunday 19th September 1915: The adjutant of the 7th Bedfords, Captain Meautys, has sent us another tactical report. Just before dusk yesterday there was the usual desultory artillery fire. Rapid rifle fire opened on at 6.45pm and at about same time the enemy fired four small rifle grenades from a trench in front of Fricourt. No damage was done and we replied with rifle fire(1).

It seems that the enemy work in two reliefs, or shifts, one of which snipe more and are more active than the other. A red flash occurred away on the Battalion’s left just after midnight – cause unknown.

Source: X550/8/1

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(1) Both sides tended to shoot at one another at dawn and dusk. These were known as the morning and evening “hates” and seem to have been done to remind the men they were at war rather than letting them settle into too comfortable routine.

More Reports from Patrols

Thursday 16th September 1915: Captain Meautys, adjutant of the 7th Bedfords, tells us in his morning tactical report that two shells were fired into a nearby redoubt yesterday. These shells were amalgamated with phosphorous and a sample was forwarded to headquarters for analysis in case some new devilry is being planned.

A red rocket was sent up from Fricourt at 9.15 pm and a cart was seen over to be ablaze behind the enemy's lines, it is amusing to think that this was was probably due to the flare. At 10.30pm a mine was exploded, this was followed by a little rapid fire from the enemy. Our guns replied with a salvo of shrapnel & High Explosive.

A patrol returned at 1.30 and reported they had got right up to the German lines and heard voices and sound of rifles being loaded. They are of opinion that the trench in front of Fricourt is strongly held, a contrast to other areas of the front line. On the right of the Bedfords’ line the men report an unusual quietness in the enemy and report that line to be very lightly held. There is no sniping from this part of line and only occasional machine-gun fire.

Sources: X550/3/wd

Reports from Patrols

Wednesday 15th September 1915: Captain Meautys, adjutant of the 7th Bedfords, has told us about patrols sent out by his Battalion into no-man’s-land after dark last night. This was after the Germans had levelled thirty yards of our front line and forty yards of communication trench by a sharp bombardment. Two shells fired during the bombardment gave out a very pungent smoke like phosphorus but had no evil effect as men passed through the fumes. Repairs were carried out under cover of darkness.

One of the Battalion’s patrols got right up to the enemy's trip wire and voices were heard. This patrol reported that rifles are fired at regular intervals, and are of an opinion that all rifles are fixed at regular intervals down the trench and are fired by anyone passing.

Other patrols sent out during the night passed along enemy's front at a distance of about 60 yards away and reported hearing nothing. They are of opinion that the line is very lightly held and bear out the opinion of the first patrol about the enemy's rifle fire, which would be a ruse to make the trench seem more strongly held.

Source: X550/8/1

A Third Snapshot of Trench Life

Sunday 12th September 1915: Captain Meautys of the 7th Battalion has just given us his morning tactical report. At 9.45 last night the sound of heavy German transport was heard on the road from Contalmaison to Fricourt. Our guns were informed.

At around the same time the sound of a train was heard, as usual, behind Fricourt. Patrols were sent out in front of the Battalion’s trenches and on right and left but returned having nothing to report. Under cover of darkness the Battalion mended the wire in front of its trenches.

A patrol at 6.45 this morning has just reported new posts of the enemy being made at the junction of two roads behind their front line. This was successfully bombed with rifle grenades much to the annoyance of the enemy who opened a hot fire without doing any damage. On our right enemy considerably quieter. This change suggests new regiment. Large explosion heard some distance on our right front between 3 & 3.30pm. Several rounds by big guns fired in same direction.

Source: X550/8/1

More News from the 7th Bedfords

Wednesday 8th September 1915: The adjutant of the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment is Captain Paul Raymond Meautys(1). He updated us this morning about what happened to his unit yesterday as it mans the front line near the village of Fricourt north of the River Somme and suggested that we might like to print some of these snapshots or daily life in the trenches, to which we have agreed(2).

Yesterday morning the weather was fine and warm, about 11 am the Germans fired two rounds High Explosive which fell near a redoubt close by. Our guns replied with three rounds of shell. Three men reported wounded.

At 10pm the 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers blew up a mine. This was followed by rapid rifle fire and by machine gun fire. The Royal Fusiliers occupied the lip of the crater they had created(3). The Bedfords suffered one killed and one wounded.

Source: X550/8/1

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(1) Sadly he would be killed on 16th June 1917 when serving with 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment; he was 26 years old and lies buried in London Cemetery, Neuville-Vitasse near Arras.

(2) Robert Graves gives a vivid description of front line life in precisely this spot in his book Goodbye to All That. He was an officer in 1st Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers in 7th Division (the same division as 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment)

(3) The Somme was chalk downland which was easy to mine.

7th Bedfords in the Trenches

Wednesday 25^th August: The adjutant of the 7th Bedfords, Captain P R Meautys, tells us that he is currently in the front line trenches with other officers as they reconnoitre the front line near the River Somme. The rest of the Battalion is at the village of Ribemont but will soon move forward for its first spell in the line near the village of Bécordel. All last night enemy shelled his trenches but inflicted little damage.

Source: X550/8/1