Whats is??

[watchman]

Hi

To be blunt what is a "reserve line of cruciform posts that 4 officers and 220 other ranks were working on under RE"

Thanks

Andrew

[salientguide]

At a guess a system of cross or cricifix shaped strongpoints with four arms radiating out from a centarl area or keep. The defence could then be primarily directed from which ever two arms faced or enfiladed an enemy attack??

[Robert Dunlop]

Here are some details about strong points in general, and cruciform posts in particular, taken from the official history of the New Zealand engineers:

'By the time of the Somme battle the experiences of modern warfare had firmly established the Strong Point as a definite feature of all operations in attack. It was recognised that trenches won by assault... were certain to be subjected to counterattack just as soon as the enemy could rally his forces or employ his reserves. In the time available, it was impossible to convert the whole captured trench into a position suitable to withstand attack... Nor were men likely to be available to defend the whole length of line. Hence a break through in the centre, for example, would mean divided forces taken separately, and rolled up from the flanks... To meet this type of contingency the Strong Point was evolved, a more or less circular trench system, complete in itself with firebays and sandbag parapets, capable of accommodating up to 40 or 50 men. The approximate location of these Points, with reference to the several objectives of the attacking infantry, was fixed by the CRE (Officer Commanding Royal Engineers) before the advance, both to save time and possibly to obviate the risk of a faulty choice of position due to a hasty decision on the field during the strain and stress of the engagement.

(There were) two or three hastily sandbagged emplacements for machine-gunners, sited at salient points. Properly selected on commanding positions at convenient intervals apart, these Strong Points constitute a series of minor forts very like the 'posts' and 'localities' of the established defensive lines of stationary

trench warfare, and form an exceedingly powerful nucleus for any system of defence. A further development is the use of enveloping wire entanglement, but since the wire catches the eye of the enemy aviator, who invariably passes on the good news to his artillery, the advantages accruing are questionable.

Though trenches dug in a circular pattern provide the easiest means of securing fire command in all directions, it does not follow that the lie of the country is always suitable for that class of Strong Point. Another type of construction often in use was the cruciform system, based on a central length of traversed trench cut towards the enemy with two smaller lengths, running off on either side,

approximately at right angles in the shape of a rough cross. Fire from trenches laid out in this form can be trained in any desired direction, and machine guns placed at the ends of the intersecting lengths ensure cross-fire on the attacker wherever he may be.

The cruciform system of construction was particularly well adapted to circumstances which called for the immediate provision of defensible positions capable of holding back enemy attacks for the time that had necessarily to elapse before a complete trench line could be dug. The side lengths prolonged and joined up became the main trench line, while the central stem could be extended to the rear to act as a communication sap. In a case such as this, the Strong Points, were

always maintained as such after the completion of the through trench, and the hasty work of the first few hours was gradually improved and amended with more and better machine gun positions until the post had attained full development as a centre of resistance.'

"By 8am (on the morning of the Battle of Flers-Courcelette) the Brown Line was in the hands of the 4th Rifles. General consolidation and the construction of Strong Points were immediately put in hand by the 1st Field Company. Aided by strong working parties from the battalions in reserve, they soon made an improvement in their allotted position. The machine gun emplacements were at once utilised and had a satisfactory opportunity of proving their worth during the German counter-attack in the afternoon. By the next day all Strong Points and as many other positions as possible were wired but this appeared to give away the position to the enemy. Thereafter they were subject to intense bombardment at regular intervals - fortunately with high explosive shells, which sank deep into the soft

earth and had a very local effect. Shrapnel would have been far more effective"

And from the Battle of Messines:

"In most cases it was inexpedient to start work on the Strong Points till the middle of the afternoon. By late evening four were completed and occupied by the neighbouring garrisons. The remaining four were completed on the following evening, and all those likely to avoid direct observation were wired. These works were small, to contain a platoon and two machine guns each, and were placed to give flanking fire and mutual support in case of successful counter-attack. During the progress of this consolidation work, enemy shelling was heavy and continuous."

Robert