Raiders

[BullerTurner]

I'm sure pretty much all of us are familiar with Hesketh Prichard's School of Sniping.  There were also other Army and Corps Schools which trained specialist in, e.g. chemical warfare.  Was there one which dealt with the tactics and execution of trench raids?  We're their specialist racing parties, who perhaps stepped in when a infantry battalion might not have been up to the job?

 

i am very aware that patrolling your section of no-man's land was part of a line manning battalion's routine.  I have also read dozens of accounts, like Sassoon or Richards, of raids staged by ordinary units (apologies to the RWF, an extraordinary one).  I just wonder if an elite raiding capability was developed.

[MikeMeech]

1 hour ago, BullerTurner said:

I'm sure pretty much all of us are familiar with Hesketh Prichard's School of Sniping.  There were also other Army and Corps Schools which trained specialist in, e.g. chemical warfare.  Was there one which dealt with the tactics and execution of trench raids?  We're their specialist racing parties, who perhaps stepped in when a infantry battalion might not have been up to the job?

 

i am very aware that patrolling your section of no-man's land was part of a line manning battalion's routine.  I have also read dozens of accounts, like Sassoon or Richards, of raids staged by ordinary units (apologies to the RWF, an extraordinary one).  I just wonder if an elite raiding capability was developed.

Hi

A good source on 'raiding' is 'Raiding on the Western Front' by Anthony Saunders.  'Raiding' was a task for units that were in the line and of course varied in size.  I don't think there were 'elite' raiding units (presumably you are thinking 'commando' type units?), Canadians and Australians are usually stated as being 'better' at the task than some others but they had their successes and failures like everyone else.  After initial experience undertaking raids early in the war  the document SS 107 'Notes on Minor Operations' was issued in March 1916 by GHQ.  This states that "No definite rules for the conduct of such operations can be laid down, but the suggestions contained in these notes may be useful as a guide in future enterprises."  However, 'raids' could be small scale affairs with a few men, who had volunteered, or rather larger in size, who had been detailed for the task, with artillery support.  Raids were also used to try out small unit tactics and junior officer command practice.  I don't think there was a 'school' as such that dealt just with 'raiding'.

 

Mike

[charlesmessenger]

The bayonet fighting part of the Third Army School at Flixecourt taught the essentials of trench raiding.

 

Charles M

[Guest]

I recall reading in some War Diaries that the Canadians were considered to be expert in trench raiding. British troops were taught by the Canadians at one stage for sure. I will see if I can dig up the reference. MG

[Guest]

The 2nd Black Watch raided the German trenches on the night of the 9th November, 1914, long before the Canadians got there.

 

Mike

[BullerTurner]

The bayonet fighting skills as taught by Major "Ronnie" Campbell were an interesting departure.  The Spirit of the Bayonet was imbued through a lecture/demonstration followed by coached practices...terribly un-British!  Most will have seen Sassoon's comments on this lecture.

 

 

one wonders how Major Campbell could deliver it so often, with such bile?

 

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=95NADwAAQBAJ&pg=PT125&lpg=PT125&dq=ronnie+campbell+the+spirit+of+the+bayonet&source=bl&ots=UvgLfvOhul&sig=dab9hM4AxahcZmDrIZP6o5XrW54&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjW7uvzk5bYAhWIIMAKHW-MCl4Q6AEIVzAN#v=onepage&q=ronnie campbell the spirit of the bayonet&f=false

[MikeMeech]

15 hours ago, Skipman said:

The 2nd Black Watch raided the German trenches on the night of the 9th November, 1914, long before the Canadians got there.

 

Mike

Hi

 

Yes, as did the 39th Garhwal Rifles and others.

 

MikeMeech

[Guest]

Mate,

 

From what I read Aussie units tended to use only the Scout/Intell Section as some type of Elite unit within the Bn. Most of there officers and NCO's and men were on the whole well decorated in most units during the war for there patrols and raids and snatch and grabs.

 

But as with most raids they were a mix of who ever was tasked for the operation with in the Bn's, while the scout Intell section was some time attached or used after the raid to see what realy happened.

 

S.B