70
The Ypres Times.
occasions that mortars received special consideration from the higher commanders and their
staffs. The trench mortar officers in their turn received similar consideration from the
unit commanders in the line provided, they behaved themselves and did not stir up trouble
by desultory and independent action.
In the Salient especially, but throughout the entire Second Army front, the mortars
worked under great difficulties. They could not dig down on account of the water they
would not pile up cover cn account of visibility and they were driven to conceal their
whereabouts by having a number of alternative emplacements on which they rung the
changes.
During 1916 at the time of the Somme fighting I was placed in command of five
trench mortar batteries specially attached to the Xlth Corps. Two divisions (I forget
their numbers) were to make a demonstration in force on the front between Armentières
and Estaires in order to test the strength of the enem}' and relieve the pressure on the
Somme front. These batteries were collected from all along the Second Army front.
They were for the most part unacquainted with one another and in no case had more than
48 hours to prepare for the action. It was an interesting but somewhat trying experience.
The main difficulty was in the matter of ammunition supply. A large quantity of heavy
2 in. bombs had to be transported to the front in one night. A tired infantry party was
detailed for this purpose. The night was dark and the way was strange, the enemy was
somewhat persistent and control was difficult. The next morning anybody could find
his way to the forward emplacements by the trail of bombs strewn along the communication
trenches. The whole operation had to be hurried and at the last moment the zero hour
was deferred. One battery never got this order and fired its whole quota at the hour
originally fixed. They were i|in. bombs, not ven- effective, and nobody, friend or foe,
seemed to notice the mistake.
The 9.2 in. heavy mortar which we bought from the French was never a success.
I often wondered whether this was not a clever business deal because the French officers
never liked it themselves. Its main defect, and that a serious one, was its liability to short
rounds arising from ignition difficulties. It was very disconcerting to find heavy 100 lb.
bombs falling 200 yards or more short. We soon learnt never to fire without clearing all
troops in fronton one occasion we wrecked the headquarters of a company and
naturally got ourselves very much disliked.
The efficiency of trench mortars very much increased when their wire cutting properties
became known. It was the Newton fuse costing about is. that made this wire cutting
possible. It was a very sensitive fuse and the main effect of the bomb was on the surface
of the ground. For a long time this work was done with the 6o-pounder bomb a plum
pudding on a steel stem. This was not a satisfactory projectile as the 10-pound stem
had no destructive power to the enemy and was liable to be blown back among one's own
troops. I was never able however to authenticate any casualty from this cause.
At the Second Army trench mortar school at Berthen, officers and men from all
divisions were trained. It was strenuous work but interesting, and the spirit of all ranks
was exceptional. I remember we had one rather old and old-fashioned N.C.O. instructor.
He always laid great stress on smartness in appearance and drill. On one occasion some
tired and tattered troops were sent back for a course after a trying period in the trenches.
It was not without amusement yet sympathy that one heard this N.C.O. address a squad
of these warriors in these words Book here, you men, understand you must clean
yourselves and move smarter and not forget you have come here to do some real soldiering."
In spite of our troubles, and they were many, these were days of unselfish sacrifice and
good-fellowship. Man}' officers and men passed through my hands and if any of them
should read these few feeble remarks I hope they will also read in them a message of good
cheer and happy memories.
