Smoke detachment, is it what its title claims?

[T8HANTS]

On the 1st April 1917, outside Gaza, 163 Brigade formed a 'Smoke Detachment' of 1 officer, and 33 OR's, who were immediately sent to Divisional HQ for 'Smoke' training. This is part of the build up for the 2nd battle of Gaza.

Are they being trained in the use of smoke or is this cover for special gas training, if so why be so coy in a War Diary?

Is it coincidence that the brigade also received its first issue of PH hoods on the same day?

G

[centurion]

As Sigmund Freud once said 'sometimes a cigar is just a cigar' and in this case smoke could have been just smoke as used in smoke screens