Specimens of British Trench OrdersArmy War College (U.S.)
History
Specimens of British Trench Orders
Army War College (U.S.)
Great Britain. Army; Intrenchments; Military orders; World War, 1914-1918
(_h_) Warming braziers made from 3 and 5 gallon oil drums will be
provided, and a daily allowance of 2 lbs. coke and 1/2 lb. charcoal per
man in the trenches. An extra pea-soup, tea, and sugar ration will also
be issued.
(_i_) C. O.'s are responsible that all trench pumps on charge are kept
in good repair and made use of to the fullest extent. The drier the
trenches are the fewer will be the cases of chilled feet.
C. H. HARRINGTON,
_B. G. G. S., Canadian Corps_.
OCTOBER 21, 1915.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1: The officer should remember that he is in the same
position as is the officer on watch on board a ship.]
SPECIMEN OF BATTALION TRENCH STANDING ORDERS.
1. Trenches are usually divided up into a certain number of bays; the
number of men to defend these bays depends on the length of trench
allotted to each company. Each section is detailed to guard a certain
number of bays.
2. N. C. Os. and men must always wear their equipment by day and night;
a man found not complying with this order commits a "crime."
3. Every company will stand to arms daily half an hour before dawn, and
half an hour before dusk and will remain so till dismissed by O. C.
company.
4. The enemy's trenches are so close that it is very important for the
men to have their rifle sights always at "normal," so that there will
be no necessity to alter the sights in case of alarm.
5. By night all bayonets are to be fixed, and 50 per cent of the men
on duty in the trenches are to be sitting on the firing platform with
their rifles by their sides.
6. In case of an attack, especially at night, it should be impressed on
the men that they should fire low; for one bullet that goes too low, at
least 90 go too high. A bullet that goes too high is wasted, whereas a
bullet that goes too low is a ricochet and is often more dangerous than
any other kind of bullet.
7. Section commanders are responsible that the men under their command
have sufficient standing room for the purpose of firing over the
parapet. It is very important to insure that the men have a clear field
of fire, and are able not only to see the enemy's trenches but also
the ground in the immediate vicinity of their own trench. It is of the
greatest importance to arrange that the men can fire comfortably from
the parapet and that they can get the butt comfortably into the hollow
of the shoulder when the rifle is resting on the parapet.
8. When making new trenches it should be impressed on the men that the
parapet must be at least 5 feet thick at the top in order to be bullet
proof.
9. If any part of the parapet requires repairing or altering, the
matter should be reported at once by the section commander to his
platoon sergeant, who will in turn report the matter to superior
authority.
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