charlesmessenger Posted 19 February , 2004 Share Posted 19 February , 2004 I have come across a reference to a BEF sudy on the effects of artillery fire which was carried out at Valenciennes, presumably immediately after the end of the war. Has anyone ever come across this or references to it? Charles M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryn_Hammond Posted 19 February , 2004 Share Posted 19 February , 2004 Charles Not a forum member as far as I know, but you could try Sanders Marble, whose doctoral thesis was on artillery in the war. You can get contact details at http://www.firstworldwar.bham.ac.uk/members/marble.htm Bryn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhill Posted 19 February , 2004 Share Posted 19 February , 2004 This is probably not what you are referring to, but there was quite a sophisticated use of artillery during the battle for Valenciennes at the beginning of November, 1918. This resulted in a more elaborate than usual report on operations by the Canadian Corps Heavy Artillery entitled "Canadian Corps Heavy Artillery - Report on - Mont Houy Operations, November 1st, 1918." As usual, you can find the report at: http://www.archives.ca/02/02015202_e.html Search on December, 1918 for the Canadian Corps Heavy Artillery. There is also a lesser report by the CRA Canadian Corps. It is probably not the the report you are after but may be interesting in its own right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Somme1916 Posted 19 February , 2004 Share Posted 19 February , 2004 Boom, Boom, Boom... Some great info, I found it very interesting. I was surprised by where the outwar link took me. Thanks, Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Somme1916 Posted 19 February , 2004 Share Posted 19 February , 2004 Ok the posting with the “outwar” link is now gone. I guess our trusty moderating team got it just after I linked to it. Thank you, it was quite strange! Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesmessenger Posted 20 February , 2004 Author Share Posted 20 February , 2004 Bryn and James Many thanks. I've looked at the Canadian HA report, which is very interesting and could be the one referred to by Brigadier N M Balchin (Nigel Balchin the novelist). He was Deputy Scientific Adviser to the Army Council in late WW2 and the reference came in a paper he wrote on Battle Morale in October 1945. He wrote: 'Even as late as 1943, the best observations on the morale effect of bombardment were still those produced at Valenciennes in 1918.' While the HA report does not appear to deal directly with the morale effect the inference is there in the statement that the Germans quickly evacuated Valenciennes. The HA report is also revealing in the confidence in artillery accuracy that existed by then. The fact that guns could engage precise targets in urban areas in confidence that there would be little risk to the civilian inhabitants speaks volumes. I will certainly try to contact Sanders Marble. Charles M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward_N_Kelly Posted 24 February , 2004 Share Posted 24 February , 2004 Charles Not a forum member as far as I know, but you could try Sanders Marble, whose doctoral thesis was on artillery in the war. You can get contact details at http://www.firstworldwar.bham.ac.uk/members/marble.htm Bryn Dr Marble's book is available on-line at Project Gutenberg E-Books. A "trial" logon is available. Edward Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesmessenger Posted 24 February , 2004 Author Share Posted 24 February , 2004 Edward Thanks for that. Charles M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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