World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives, Canadian
(e) N.C.O.'s after posting sentries will report "All correct" or
otherwise to the officer on duty.
(f) The officer on duty will be responsible for sending in the reports
required by battalion headquarters, unless there is anything unusual to
report, when this duty will be performed by the company commander.
(g) Men will be warned for duty by the platoon N.C.O. on duty. This
will be done at evening "stand to."
(h) On being detailed for duty, a man will be informed at which hours
he will come on duty.
(i) When possible to do so, notice boards will be placed in each
platoon's trench, on which will be pinned, daily, all orders regarding
working parties, and a list of the men in the platoon, giving the time
at which they will come on sentry and other duty.
(j) Except under special circumstances, such, for instance, as a sentry
being killed or wounded, no sentry will be relieved by another man
unless the relief is properly carried out in the presence of a N.C.O.
2. Sentries--_By Night_--(a) Sentries will be posted every 2 hours,
except under bad weather conditions, when the length of the tour of
sentry may be reduced.
(b) From evening "stand to" till morning "stand to" one sentry to every
three or four bays in the fire trench will be posted. If wiring or
digging parties are out in front, or listening posts are numerous, this
number may be reduced.
(c) The next relief will remain within reach of the sentry.
(d) Every sentry is to be regularly posted by a N.C.O., who will
explain to him his duties and the front to be watched, and ascertain
that the sentry and his relief are aware of the position of the section
and platoon commanders, the sentries on either side, and whether there
are any patrols or working parties out in front. Should there be
salients in the line, the sentry will be carefully instructed, so as to
avoid any possibility of him firing toward his own trenches.
(e) By night or in places which have the reputation of being
_dangerous_, _i.e_., where enemy are suspected of mining, advanced
posts, etc., no man should ever be posted alone. There should be either
a double sentry post, or the next relief should rest within kicking
distance of the sentry.
_By Day_--(f) The number of sentries required depends on the proximity
of the enemy's trench line and whether a good view to the front can be
obtained, _normally one to every four bays is sufficient_.
(g) Every sentry will be provided with a periscope.
(h) Well protected "look out" posts for sentries will be built along
the front trench line.
(i) Sending Out of Patrols--Patrols will never be sent out without
definite orders as to what is required of them. Patrols will go via a
listening post (if such exist). All listening posts will be warned of
the strength of the patrol and the approximate hour of departure and
return. Word will be passed quietly along the line of sentries that a
patrol is out in front.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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