Hand Grenades: A handbook on rifle and hand grenades — John Shaqi
Hand Grenades: A handbook on rifle and hand grenades
History
Hand Grenades: A handbook on rifle and hand grenades
Grenades
No. 1 is the method adopted in daylight attack, the advance not being
covered by gas or smoke clouds.
No. 2 is method adopted in night attack and when weather conditions or
topographical features of ground covered in the advance allow it.
Attacking squads are allotted positions in lines of infantry
immediately opposite their first objectives, and on reaching these
positions should immediately commence bombing and clearing the trenches
towards their final objectives. In the case of No. 1 the infantry
clears the main trench, but special grenade parties may be told off to
assist the infantry in this work, especially when strong points occur
in the enemy position.
It is most important that all infantry taking part in an attack should
be previously supplied with grenades and this must be considered the
first source of supply. Positions designated as infantry grenade
dumping positions should be chosen and known to the infantry at which
they dump their grenades in their advance on the enemy positions. These
positions should be close to the position to be captured and held.
In order to hold positions captured from the enemy it is imperative
that grenade storming parties hold their final objectives at all costs,
and until the positions to be permanently held have been consolidated.
TRENCH STORMING PARTIES
Trench storming parties should kill or drive back the hostile occupants
of a trench as quickly as possible, clear as much of the enemy trench
as has been ordered, and then hold the portion cleared with as small
loss as possible to themselves. It must be remembered that in trench
clearing, and especially in deep and narrow trenches, only the head of
the attacking party can directly kill, and seldom more than one man
can throw at a time. Therefore it is essential that a constant supply
of grenades reaches the thrower and that the places of casualties are
automatically filled by reinforcements. Men must be trained until they
can do this either by day or at night time.
=Advance.= Movement is rapid until contact with the enemy is obtained.
Once contact is established it must be maintained and pressed home.
A retreating enemy must be given no time to re-establish a defensive
attitude, corners must be worked carefully and bays and straight
pieces of trench rushed. The bayonet men will complete the work of
the grenades and see that the carrier and thrower will meet with no
opposition on their way to new throwing position. The effect of a
grenade bursting in a confined space like a trench is tremendous, and
though it may not kill it will stun or shock the hostile occupants, and
if the bayonet men follow up rapidly they will meet with very little
resistance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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