alistair_m Posted 26 March , 2020 Share Posted 26 March , 2020 Hi All With plenty of time on my hands just now, I thought I'd dig through some more of my grandfather's paperwork from his time in RFA. I've just come across 12 foolscap pages of handwritten notes, which I think he wrote during a course entitled "The Command of a Battery on Active Service, with reference to European War 1914-15", by Major Newcome OC 47th Battery, 44th Brigade. Im going to have a go at transcribing them and will post the finished article on here - it looks absolutely fascinating..albeit rather difficult to read. If anyone has an interest in the content..or would like help out, let me know and I can scan the pages. Attached is the opening few lines... Regards Alistair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Open Bolt Posted 26 March , 2020 Share Posted 26 March , 2020 An excellent project. I'd have half a go - not being strong on context! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alistair_m Posted 26 March , 2020 Author Share Posted 26 March , 2020 Pages 1 - 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rflory Posted 27 March , 2020 Share Posted 27 March , 2020 I would be very happy to help with the manuscript as I commanded a field artillery battery in the US Army in Germany back in the 1960s and have carried out extensive research on the Royal Artillery. Major Newcome is Major Henry William Newcombe who was wounded in action on 26 Oct 1914; after commanding 47 Battery, 44 Brigade RFA, he was Staff Officer to the Major General, Royal Artillery, 1st British Army, BEF, and by the end war was a Brigadier General, CMG, DSO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alistair_m Posted 27 March , 2020 Author Share Posted 27 March , 2020 Pages 4 - 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alistair_m Posted 27 March , 2020 Author Share Posted 27 March , 2020 Pages 7 - 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alistair_m Posted 27 March , 2020 Author Share Posted 27 March , 2020 Pages 10 -12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Open Bolt Posted 27 March , 2020 Share Posted 27 March , 2020 Here's a start on page 1 (rflory's help appreciated!): Notes on the command of a battery on Active Service with reference to European War 1914-5 by Major Newcom(b)e OC 47th Battery 44th Brigade RFA Embarkation. Remove harness if possible Journeys. French trucks hold 8 light draught horses, form at each end, facing inwards, tied to ropes across truck. Harness, nose bags, oats in centre. Water buckets should be handy for watering at odd times (loaded at by ) which must be fixed against the truck. Cover surface with straw. Nose bags may be filled from cornstacks on journey. When detraining no horses should be hooked in till all are detrained On the March. Keep to the right. Battery staff to be divided so that one NCO with each vehicle responsible for watering, which is done under?way ? keeps intervals. Water when possible. Feed by order of OC only. Water and feed before standing in warm weather. Any vehicle which has to stop must be pulled well off the road. At night if vehicle is checked, report to head of column and give orders for rest of column to go on. Position. Concealment the essential point. ? from front and flanks and from aeroplanes. Concealment method varies with nature of country e.g. right up into hedges, under trees or orchard, in marshy land, into line of willows, then build up cover of trees, branches etc Cover should be continuous, separate blobs must be avoided and guns placed irregularly and at greater intervals than F.A.T. Cover up tracks leading to position and drive teams across to obliterate tracks. Concealed ? for officers and detachments necessary. A house is a great convenience for Battery HQ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alistair_m Posted 27 March , 2020 Author Share Posted 27 March , 2020 Wow!! Nicely done.... I'll maybe make a start from the back to save duplication of effort!! I hope you're finding it interesting? Many thanks guys A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Open Bolt Posted 27 March , 2020 Share Posted 27 March , 2020 Page 2, there will now be an interruption (weekend) so feel free to correct and continue from 3! Wagon line. Concealment from aeroplanes in rear of a thick wood or close under a hedge, usually at a good distance from battery. If ever under fire, avoid unnecessary grouping of horses. If tactical situation permits, horses may be sent into billets and ammunition carried by hand. ? times better to have no wagons at guns and ammunition in pits at guns. Communication. Close touch essential with infantry, and observation station should be near to OC Infantry. Telephone is the only possible means of communication and lines from observation station to Battery should be duplicated and sent by different routes. Lines should be kept off the ground especially across roads and should be under cover so that they can be repaired under fire. Telephones must be kept dry. It is absolutely essential that battery, battery observation station and infantry station be in communication at all times by day and by night. Linesman should be trained and should walk along the line frequently. By day 2 two signallers should be on duty at BOS. 2 at Battery, one at each end should always be listening and signaller at BOS should call up at regular and frequent intervals. If communication fails, linesman should be sent along line from each end to find break and repair it. By night signaller should stay with infantry and call up battery at regular arranged intervals. The signaller at battery will receive the calls and if communication fails linesman must be sent out at once. Spare telephones should be kept ready. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 27 March , 2020 Share Posted 27 March , 2020 (edited) Very Interesting. Thank you for sharing Can I suggest slight correction to Open Bolt's transcription although I'm still uncertain on ?? items: Page 1 RAILWAY Journeys. French trucks hold 8 light draught horses, form FOUR at each end, facing inwards, tied to ropes across truck. Harness, nose bags, oats in centre. Water buckets should be handy for watering at odd times (loaded ?? ?? Hours? ) which must be fixed against the truck. Cover surface with straw. Nose bags may be filled from cornstacks on journey. When detraining no horses should be hooked in till all are detrained On the March. Keep to the right. Battery staff to be divided so that one NCO with each vehicle responsible for watering, which is done under?way ? INDEPENDANTLY keeps intervals. Water when possible. Feed by order of OC only. Water and feed before standing STARTING in warm weather. Any vehicle which has to stop must be pulled well off the road. At night if vehicle is checked, report to head of column and give orders for rest REAR of column to go on. Position. Concealment the essential point. ? BOTH from front and flanks and from aeroplanes. Concealment method varies with nature of country e.g. right up into hedges, under trees or OF orchard, in marshy land, into line of willows, then build up cover of trees, branches etc Cover should be continuous, separate blobs must be avoided and guns placed irregularly and at greater intervals than F.A.T. Cover up tracks leading to position and drive teams across to obliterate tracks. Concealed ? PITS for officers and detachments necessary. A house is a great convenience for Battery HQ. Page 2 Wagon line. Concealment CONCEAL WELL from aeroplanes in rear of a thick wood or close under a hedge, usually at a good distance from battery. If ever under fire, avoid unnecessary grouping of horses. If tactical situation permits, horses may be sent into billets and ammunition carried by hand. ? SOMEtimes better to have no wagons at guns and ammunition in pits at guns. Communication. Close touch essential with infantry, and observation station should be near to OC Infantry. Telephone is the only possible means of communication and lines from observation station to Battery should be duplicated and sent by different routes. Lines should be kept off the ground especially across roads and should be under cover so that they can be repaired under fire. Telephones must be kept dry. It is absolutely essential that battery, battery observation station and infantry station SHOULD be in communication at all times by day and by night. Linesman should be trained and should walk along the line frequently. By day 2 two signallers should be on duty at BOS.AND 2 at Battery, one at each end should always be listening and signaller at BOS should call up at regular and frequent intervals. If communication fails, linesman should be sent along line from each end to find break and repair it. By night signaller should stay with infantry and call up battery at regular arranged intervals. The signaller at battery will receive the calls and if communication fails linesman must be sent out at once. Spare telephones should be kept ready. Charlie Edited 27 March , 2020 by charlie962 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alistair_m Posted 27 March , 2020 Author Share Posted 27 March , 2020 Pg 5 Cooperation with Aeroplanes. In close country when on the move, ranges to invisible targets may be obtained by the help of aeroplanes. The aeroplane will fly at a prearranged height & when over the target will fire a smoke ball. Immediately the smoke ball is fired, the range to the aeroplane is taken with the oneman range finder & the range to the target can then be obtained by the plotter or otherwise. The angle of elevation of the aeroplane can be taken also, if there is no rangefinder or the height of the aeroplane is unknown. This latter method seems rather inaccurate in results. Considerable practice with the oneman rangefinder is required for the work. The range taken must keep the aeroplane in view all the time & it is advisable for someone to call to him when the smokeball is fired so that he can take the range to the smokeball at that moment as it is difficult to get coincidence & it drops an unknown distance from the aeroplane. Ammunition Supply. In action it is usually advisable when firing Battery wagons are with the guns to place lumber on one side & wagon body on the other side of gun. Concealment is easier xxxxx cover is obtained. FB wagons can be kept close by but not with the guns & ammunition can be bought up by hand & kept in pits but 3 teams should be kept near bear by to drive up ammunition in case of emergency. A daily return of ammunition required is sent to the Ammunition Column & is…. Pg 6 …sent up as demanded. An orderly from the Ammunition Column is always with the Battery for this purpose. It is often more convenient for the Ammunition Column to send up directly to the FB wagons instead of to the first line wagons. Horse Management. If possible horses should be kept under cover in billets well away in rear xxx at least 3 teams & a few outriders & officers’ horses should be kept near the Battery. Clipping is not advisable & heels should not be trimmed. If horses are not clipped xxx should not be kept in billets. When guns are in Action in one position for several days the chief duty of the supervision of horses practically devolves on the BQMS and the Farrier. Horses should be groomed daily – owing to long coats there is no danger of over grooming. Dandy brushes are useful. When in the open, natural cover such as walls, hedges, should be utilised. Moveable screens of straw are also useful. Horses should not be tied to trees as trees are invariably barked. Lines should be beast-high, stretched between the wheels of vehicles. The ropes should be tied to the top of the wheels, brakes put on tight & small trenches dug for wheels to rest in, carriages being cross lifted for this purpose. Pull of ropes must be at right angles to line of carriages ie in continuation of axle. Kickers should be picketed separately. Horses should be exercised for not less than two hours a day – along side roads so as to not interfere with traffic. Pg 7 If they are likely to be shelled, exercise must be taken in the early morning, before daylight. A days corn should be carried on foodxxx xx, carriages & nosebags should be kept filled. Billets. Mens billets and horselines should be frequently inspected Latrines and refuse pits must be dug and properly looked after. Refuse must not be thrown on straw in courtyard. Cleanliness is essential to health. Discipline. Strict discipline must be maintained & men must be warned that drunkenness and all other offences will be severely punished on service. Interim(?) Economy. Battery messing is impracticable & too cumbersome. Subsection cooking has been found to be the best method. The men in each subsection have then an interest in looking after their own camp kettles etc and in the preparation of their food. They can get their food cooked, tea made etc during halts on the road whenever they please themselves & expect – enough time. Pg 8 Management of a Battery in the Field. Pay xx. Money for Pay and certain authorised Battery Expenses is drawn from the Field Cashier of the Division by means of an Impressed Account. Each unit entitled to draw in this way is given a number. Each man on active service is provided with a soldiers Pay Book in which is entered his name – no – unit etc, his rate of pay and any promotions or reductions. Whether he has been convicted of any crime – dates and amounts of money drawn & a short form of will. This book is kept by the soldier and its possession is a means of identification in the case of loss of identity disc. The pay officer enters the amount paid on the SPB and signs it. The soldier sees that the correct amount is entered in the Acquittance Roll and signs his name. The Acquittance Roll is kept in duplicate, one copy being sent to the Paymaster xx Clearing House – Base - the other retained. Other payments are made through the xxxx in purchase of articles authorised by GHQ – messing allowance etc. Crimes. Crimes & Offences are punished after the culprit has been tried as laid down in the Kings Regulations. Punishments may be awarded by Officers of different ranks up to certain limits. The offence, punishment &…….. Pg 9 ….officer awarding punishment are entered on a Crime & Offence Report (& if necessary in Soldiers paybook) which is sent to the Officer in charge RA – Base. The same details are entered on a Conduct Sheet & the collection of Conduct sheets forms the Company defaulters Book. These sheets are sent along with any men transferred to a new unit and are received from the old unit in the case of a new man being transferred to the Company. This if kept up to date the CD Book forms a roll of the Company. If a casualty occurs the records concerned are sent to the base – thence to the Officer for Records Woolwich. Records. The BSM is in charge of a box containing King’s Regulations, Military Law and all Regimental form HQ. Also Records of Conduct, Pay etc and copies of all returns which have to be sent in from the Battery. Promotions. Promotion up to rank of Corporal may be made by the Battery Commander to Sergeant by Brigade Commander to Staff Sergeant by GOC or Brigadier CA Division to Warrant Officer (acting) by GOC – confirmed by Record Office Woolwich. Pg 10 Returns. The following returns have to be rendered by a Battery Daily to Bgd HQ Casualty List. (killed, wounded, sick, transferred, missing, accidentally hurt, Ammunition Expended Targets Engaged Diary Ammunition Required to Ammunition Col Ammunition Required Twice Weekly. Refitment Return. Div HQ(Div HQ includes all arms) 4 times per month ------do------------- RH Div HQ Weekly Returns to Brigade HQ RA. Thurs Casualties to ASC Division Wastage by Sickness Feeding Strength (Dup copy to O.C. Supplies) Fri Clothing & Equipment demanded during week. Roll of Officers. Burial Return Drafts of men from Base Inoculated return (List of not innoc men to med. Officer) Sat ? Vehicles, Horses & Harness bought etc. Iron Rations (Emergency – corned beef, Bully, xxx, etc) Sunday Turns out required for 1st line transport Surplus Transport Ammunition in Hand (Shortage Explained) Indent for Horseshoes (Ord of at Refil Pt) Funeral Services (xxxx Chaplain at Base Monthly Strength (no of men,? Percent of men inoculated Roll of Officers War Diary Clothing & Equipment Roll of men missing to Provost Marshall Lodging, Fuel & Light (Officers) claim Field Allowance (Officers) O. Mess Allowanace & Contingent Allowance for unit O. Mess Fuel & Light Allowance Pg 11 …on AF B231 Field State – a weekly return of Fighting Strength and Ration Strength, also Rations in hand per man and per animal – also reinforcements per week – No of Captured German Rifles to Railhead Field Return. A more detailed statement than the “Field State” Crime & Offence Report. Pg 12 Supplies – under B.Q.M.S. Supplies are drawn from Railhead depot or from Ordnance Depot. Some by indent, some without. The general rule being that routine stores – eg food and forage which do not vary from day to day and are in fixed amounts – are not indented & that stores which a check has to be kept, renewals and replacements & special stores have to be indented for. Supplies (Ration & Forage) are transported from Railhead to Refilling Pont by T & S. Thence to Battery by Battery Supply Wagons. On the move the supply wagons travel empty with the Divisional Train, along with a Hay wagon and & a Baggage wagon. Xxxxx Daily Ration. Bread. 1 ¼ lb or Biscuit 1 lb or Flour 1 3/5 lb. Meat 1 ¼ lbs fresh and frozen or 1lb pressed in salt. Vegetables 2 oz per day. Tea 1/25 lb. Sugar 1/3 lb. Butter 2 oz. Jam 4oz. Cheese 1/3 lb. Salt ½ oz. Pepper ½ oz. Mustard 1/22 lb. Bacon 4 oz. Rum twice a week 1/64 gal. Forage – per horse Corn 12 lbs. Hay 10lb. Bran ? Beetroot 2lb if available. Linseed – occasionally. Stores – per man 1 blanket – one waterproof sheet. One British Warm – One Macintosh Horses Draught – 1 saddle Blanket, 1 Rug Riding – I saddle Blt 1 g.s Blt 10% establishment to have field boots. Indent for stores g994. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alistair_m Posted 27 March , 2020 Author Share Posted 27 March , 2020 (edited) Heading out for my hour of exercise! Thanks Open Bolt Thanks Charlie962 for the comments - I think you'll have a field day with my transcriptions above! Really handy having more than one pair of eyes looking at this - although it gets easier as you get used to the writer's style... Dick...I thought this might be of interest to you! Just pages 4 & 5 (and alterations) left. Regards Alistair Edited 27 March , 2020 by alistair_m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rflory Posted 27 March , 2020 Share Posted 27 March , 2020 [page 3] Laying out Lines of Fire - In the first instance this is usually obtained by No? 3 disection with map and compass but a traced zero line must be verified on the ground by firing at some conspicuous and well-defined object marked on the map. A map showing new line shoud then be prepared in duplicated with [intervals] of 5 degrees marked on it in each direction from the zero line. Circles are drawn at 500-yard intervals with the centre at position of battery. One copy should be kept at battery and one at observing station. All switches are to be given from the zero line which can be marked at each gun by aiming posts. Firing overhead of our own infantry - As frequently the enemy's infantry is extremely close to our own, the greatest care in ranging must be observed. The ordinary method cannot be employed. Star with known line and range well over target and creep in with howitzers. Each gun should be ranged separately on the zero line and always kept near it as heavy ground and bad platforms make large switches undesirable. Orders for ranges given by observing officer should be written down by telephone operator. The ranges will be checked carefully by the officer at the battery, any extraordinary range or angle being queried - the orders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rflory Posted 27 March , 2020 Share Posted 27 March , 2020 (edited) [page 4] will be repeated back to the observing station and officer at battery will not open fire until he has received the word "correct" from the observing officer. On a new target the Battery officer will personally inspect the range and charge the first time each gun is fired. The No. 1 are responsible that correct angles and range are put on and the plungers engaged before gun is fired. Care must be taken to ram the shell home as if not rammed well home it is liable to fall short. Though a target has been carefully registered the first round each day should be fired at a greatly increased range, an increase of 200 yards is not too much for the first round. Any delay in finding range is better t han firing on our own infantry. Observing officers and others should by personal inspection and conversations with infantry officers ascertain all they can about the ground in their own zone and what way they may best support and encourage the infantry. In observing it must be remembered that in consequence of the indented nature of line of trenches our guns may often almost enfilade our infantry trenches and a small switch may be dangerous. The position of the battery with regard to the trenches must be kept in mind when observing from trenches or station immediately behind trenches. For very close shooting at one object employ only one gun. For accurate shooting platforms must be prepared of boards or bricks. Laying after resetting must be very accurate. Edited 27 March , 2020 by rflory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 27 March , 2020 Share Posted 27 March , 2020 1 hour ago, rflory said: No? 3 disection (this is page 3) No 3 Director 1 hour ago, rflory said: traced zero line fixed zero line 1 hour ago, rflory said: A map showing new line showing zero line 1 hour ago, rflory said: Star with known line Start with.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 27 March , 2020 Share Posted 27 March , 2020 page 4 (forgive some v minor items) 1 hour ago, rflory said: until he has received the word he receives the.. 1 hour ago, rflory said: The No. 1 The Nos 1 1 hour ago, rflory said: zone and what way and in what way 1 hour ago, rflory said: indented nature of line of trenches nature of the first line of trenches 1 hour ago, rflory said: Laying after resetting Laying and firesetting (??) Fascinating stuff ! Alistair, I'll happily read through your pages tonight and post any corrections tomorrow pm if nobody else has done it already. Much easier checking someone elses work ! Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alistair_m Posted 27 March , 2020 Author Share Posted 27 March , 2020 19 minutes ago, charlie962 said: (this is page 3) No 3 Director "B" Director..Battery Director ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 27 March , 2020 Share Posted 27 March , 2020 4 minutes ago, alistair_m said: "B" Director..Battery Director ? No. The No 3 Director is a specific bit of kit ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 29 March , 2020 Share Posted 29 March , 2020 Pg 5 Cooperation with Aeroplanes. In close country when on the move, ranges to invisible targets may be obtained by the help of aeroplanes. The aeroplane will fly at a prearranged height & when over the target will fire a smoke ball. Immediately the smoke ball is fired, the range to the aeroplane is taken with the oneman range finder & the range to the target can then be obtained by the plotter or otherwise. The angle of elevation of the aeroplane can be taken also, if there is no rangefinder or the height of the aeroplane is unknown. This latter method seems rather inaccurate in results. Considerable practice with the oneman rangefinder is required for the work. The range taken RANGETAKER must keep the aeroplane in view all the time & it is advisable for someone to call to him when the smokeball is fired so that he can take the range to the smokeball at that moment as it is difficult to get coincidence & it drops an unknown distance from the aeroplane. Ammunition Supply. In action it is usually advisable when firing (Capital F) Battery wagons are with the guns to place lumber LIMBER on one side & wagon body on the other side of gun. Concealment is easier xxxxx AND MORE cover is obtained. FB wagons can be kept close by but not with the guns & ammunition can be bought BROUGHT up by hand & kept in pits but 3 teams should be kept near bear by to drive up ammunition in case of emergency. A daily return of ammunition required is sent to the Ammunition Column & is…. Pg 6 …sent up as demanded. An orderly from the Ammunition Column is always with the Battery for this purpose. It is often more convenient for the Ammunition Column to send up directly to the FB wagons instead of to the first-line wagons. Horse Management. If possible horses should be kept under cover in billets well away in rear xxx BUT at least 3 teams & a few outriders & officers’ horses should be kept near the Battery. Clipping is not advisable & heels ??? should not be trimmed. If horses are not clipped xxx RUGS should not be kept in billets. When guns are in Action in one position for several days the chief duty of the supervision of horses practically devolves on the BQMS and the Farrier. Horses should be groomed daily – owing to long coats there is no danger of over grooming. Dandy brushes are useful. When in the open, natural cover such as walls, hedges, should be utilised. Moveable screens of straw are also useful. Horses should not be tied to trees as trees are invariably barked. Lines should bebeast BREAST-high, stretched between the wheels of vehicles. The ropes should be tied to the top TOPS of the wheels, brakes put on tight & small trenches dug for wheels to rest in, carriages being cross lifted for this purpose. Pull of ropes must be at right angles to line of carriages ie in continuation of axle. Kickers should be picketed separately. Horses should be exercised for not less than two hours a day – along side roads so as to not interfere with traffic. Pg 7 If they are likely to be shelled, exercise must be taken in the early morning, before daylight. A days corn should be carried on foodxxx xx, FOOTBOARDS OF carriages & nosebags should be kept filled. Billets. Mens billets and horselines should be frequently inspected . Latrines and refuse pits must be dug and properly looked after. Refuse must not be thrown on straw in courtyard. Cleanliness is essential to health. Discipline. Strict discipline must be maintained & men must be warned that drunkenness and all other offences will be severely punished on service. IInterim(?) INTERIOR Economy. Battery messing is impracticable & too cumbersome. Subsection cooking has been found to be the best method. The men in each subsection have then an interest in looking after their own camp kettles etc and in the preparation of their food. They can get their food cooked, tea made etc during halts on the road whenever they please themselves & expect – enough ??? time. Pg 8 Management of a Battery in the Field. Pay xx ETC. Money for Pay and certain authorised Battery Expenses is drawn from the Field Cashier of the Division by means of an Impressed IMPREST Account. Each unit entitled to draw in this way is given a number. PAYMENTS ARE MADE TO THE MEN AS FOLLOWS. Each man on active service is provided with a soldiers Pay Book in which is entered his name – no – unit etc, his rate of pay and any promotions or reductions. Whether he has been convicted of any crime – dates and amounts of money drawn & a short form of will. This book is kept by the soldier and its possession is a means of identification in the case of loss of identity disc. The pay officer enters the amount paid on the SPB and signs it. The soldier sees that the correct amount is entered in the Acquittance Roll and signs his name. The Acquittance Roll is kept in duplicate, one copy being sent to the Paymaster xx I/C Clearing House – Base - the other retained. Other payments are made through the xxxx IMPREST A/C in vis purchase of articles authorised by GHQ – messing allowance etc. Crimes. Crimes & Offences are punished after the culprit has been tried as laid down in the Kings Regulations. Punishments may be awarded by Officers of different ranks up to certain limits. The offence, punishment &…….. Pg 9 ….officer awarding punishment are entered on a Crime & Offence Report (& if necessary in Soldiers paybook) which is sent to the Officer in charge RA – Base (..& if necessary in Soldiers paybook.). The same details are entered on a Conduct Sheet & the collection of Conduct sheets forms the Company defaulters Book. These sheets are sent along with any men transferred to a new unit and are received from the old unit in the case of a new man being transferred to the Company. This THUS if kept up to date the CD Book forms a roll of the Company. If a casualty occurs the records concerned are sent to the base – thence to the Officer for Records Woolwich. Records. The BSM is in charge of a box containing King’s Regulations, Military Law and all Regimental form REGULATIONS FROM HQ. Also Records of Conduct, Pay etc and copies of all returns which have to be sent in from the Battery. Promotions. Promotion up to rank of Corporal may be made by the Battery Commander to Sergeant by Brigade Commander to Staff Sergeant by GOC or Brigadier CA Division to Warrant Officer (acting) by GOC – confirmed by Record Office Woolwich. Pg 10 Returns. The following returns have to be rendered by a Battery Daily to Bgd HQ Casualty List. (killed, wounded, sick, transferred, missing, accidentally hurt, Ammunition Expended Targets Engaged Diary Ammunition Required to Ammunition Col Ammunition Required Twice Weekly. Refitment Return. Div HQ(Div HQ includes all arms) 4 times per month ------do------------- RH Div HQ .....RA Weekly Returns to Brigade HQ RA. Thurs Casualties to ASC Division DRIVERS Wastage by Sickness Feeding Strength (Dup copy to O.C. Supplies) Fri Clothing & Equipment demanded during week. Roll of Officers. Burial Return Drafts of men from Base Inoculated INNOCULATION return (List of not innoc men MEN NOT INNOC to med. Officer) Sat ? Vehicles, Horses & Harness bought etc. Iron Rations (Emergency – corned beef, Bully, xxx OXO, etc) Sunday Turns out required for 1st line transport Surplus Transport Ammunition in Hand (Shortage Explained) Indent for Horseshoes (Ord of at Refil Pt) ...This might mean Orderly Officer or Ordnance Officer or Office ??? Funeral Services (xxxx PRINCIPAL Chaplain at Base Monthly Strength (no of men,? Percent of men inoculated INNOCULATED Roll of Officers War Diary Clothing & Equipment Roll of men missing to Provost Marshall Lodging, Fuel & Light (Officers) claim Field Allowance (Officers) O. Mess AllowanaceALLOWANCE & Contingent Allowance for unit O. Mess Fuel & Light Allowance Pg 11 …on AF B231 Field State – a weekly return of Fighting Strength and Ration Strength, also Rations in hand per man and per animal – also reinforcements per week – No of Captured German Rifles to Railhead Field Return. A more detailed statement than the “Field State” Crime & Offence Report. Pg 12 Supplies – under B.Q.M.S. Supplies are drawn from Railhead depot or from Ordnance Depot. Some by indent, some without. The general rule being that routine stores – eg food and forage which do not vary from day to day and are in fixed amounts – are not indented & that stores which a check has to be kept, renewals and replacements & special stores have to be indented for. Supplies (Ration & Forage) are transported from Railhead to Refilling Pont POINT by T & S. Thence to Battery by Battery Supply Wagons. On the move the supply wagons travel empty with the Divisional Train, along with a Hay wagon and & a Baggage wagon. Xxxxx MENS Daily Ration. Bread. 1 ¼ lb or Biscuit 1 lb or Flour 1 3/5 lb. Meat 1 ¼ lbs fresh and frozen or 1lb pressed in salt. Vegetables 2 oz per day. Tea 1/25 lb. Sugar 1/3 lb. Butter 2 oz. Jam 4oz. Cheese 1/3 lb. Salt ½ oz. Pepper ½ oz. Mustard 1/22 lb. Bacon 4 oz. Rum twice a week 1/64 gal. Forage – per horse Corn 12 lbs. Hay 10lb. Bran ? Beetroot 2lb if available. Linseed – occasionally. Stores – per man 1 blanket – one waterproof sheet. One British Warm – One Macintosh Horses Draught – 1 saddle Blanket, 1 Rug Riding – I saddle Blt 1 g.s GS Blt (Capitals) 10% establishment to have field boots. Indent for stores g994. Hope this helps. There are two lots of ???? above where I couldn't work out what it should be to make sense; Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alistair_m Posted 29 March , 2020 Author Share Posted 29 March , 2020 Perfect! Many thanks gentlemen. Your collective knowledge, never ceases to amaze me :). Digging through the notebooks, Ive come across some Gun Laying data. There are one or two Grid References and plenty of Range and Angle data for each gun. If youre looking for a little project to keep occupied, I will post these up and it shold be pssoble to work out the exact locations of the targets. They appear to be in the Festubert/Givenchy/Le Touret area, and dated around about September 1915 shortly before the start of Loos. BBM was with 47th Battery at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Open Bolt Posted 30 March , 2020 Share Posted 30 March , 2020 That is great stuff, very good to see, and thanks for the excellent corrections. Gun Laying data sounds like a good challenge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alistair_m Posted 30 March , 2020 Author Share Posted 30 March , 2020 56 minutes ago, Open Bolt said: That is great stuff, very good to see, and thanks for the excellent corrections. Gun Laying data sounds like a good challenge. OKey dokey. Ill start a new thread in the same Forum. A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alistair_m Posted 20 January , 2021 Author Share Posted 20 January , 2021 (edited) Absolutely no worries Ginge. Any more info required, please let me know. A Edited 20 January , 2021 by alistair_m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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