Derbyshire Lads: The Sherwood Foresters: Manual: Bomb Attack on Hooge

Officer's Training Manual

Bomb Attack on Hooge July 19th: Analysis

The bombing party consisted of 8 men carrying 110 bombs, made up as follows -2 throwers, 2 carriers, 2 bayonet men, 2 parapet builders. Every man understood bombing and could replace casualties. Reserves were in dug-outs. Mills hand grenades were used in the first attack of which 1,400 had been supplied to the Brigade.

A mine was exploded at 7 p.m. and the bombers advanced with the infantry. On arriving at the enemy trenches one party advanced along trench A bombing as it went along until a point half way between H and 720 was reached and a barricade erected. The enemy counterattacked along A and owing to lack of bombs our men fell back to a point opposite Island Post where a second barricade was put up. A fresh supply of bombs having come up the enemy retired possibly owing to the shortage of bombs on their side.

A second party advanced along Trench B for about 70yds and running short of bombs retired to the edge of the crater and there held up the enemy. Later supplies of bombs which consisted of Friction Grenades No 6 & 7 which were found as serviceable as the Mill's Grenade. During the operations throws of 70yds were made with the Mill's Grenade.

When the mine exploded no detonators went off although they were in the bombs. Also one dug-out was hit by three shells and only a few of the bombs exploded and the remainder were recovered from the debris and used.

The enemy bombs fell short showing our superiority in throwing.

Deductions

A. Most careful arrangements must be made to prevent crowding near bomb reserves. A sentry should be placed on either side to prevent men getting in the way of bomb passing.
B. Wide communication trenches and plenty of them are essential. Where possible one communication trench should be used for moving up and one for moving down.
C. Several small advance reserves are necessary, placed only so far apart that a shell hitting one does not damage the others. If they are placed too far apart they are difficult to control and the supply of bombs becomes disorganised.
D. It is quite safe to insert detonators in bombs before action so releasing many men who would otherwise be engaged in putting them in.
E. A good type of grenade is essential. One which can be thrown a good distance such as Mill's or Friction grenades. For success in bombing distance and accuracy are essential. Fuse bombs are greatly inferior especially at night. The lighted fuse gives away the position of the thrower and draws fire. They also enable the enemy to watch the approach of the bomb and dodge it.

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© A.D. Hesketh. Copyright notes. The original notebook has been donated to the museum of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, The Castle, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 2AY. Before this was done the notebook was loaned to me, and I am grateful to Catherine Crossley, a relative of 2nd Lt. Roberts for permission to copy it.. Consequently the material and images in this section should not be reproduced without the written consent of myself or the RWF museum.


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Officer's Training Manual *Bomb Attack on Hooge July 19th: Analysis* The bombing party consisted of 8 men carrying 110 bombs, made up as follows -2 throwers, 2 carriers, 2 bayonet men, 2 parapet builders. Every man understood bombing and could replace casualties. Reserves were in dug-outs. Mills hand grenades were used in the first attack of which 1,400 had been supplied to the Brigade. A mine was exploded at 7 p.m. and the bombers advanced with the infantry. On arriving at the enemy trenches one party advanced along trench A bombing as it went along until a point half way between H and 720 was reached and a barricade erected. The enemy counterattacked along A and owing to lack of bombs our men fell back to a point opposite Island Post where a second barricade was put up. A fresh supply of bombs having come up the enemy retired possibly owing to the shortage of bombs on their side. A second party advanced along Trench B for about 70yds and running short of bombs retired to the edge of the crater and there held up the enemy. Later supplies of bombs which consisted of Friction Grenades No 6 & 7 which were found as serviceable as the Mill's Grenade. During the operations throws of 70yds were made with the Mill's Grenade. When the mine exploded no detonators went off although they were in the bombs. Also one dug-out was hit by three shells and only a few of the bombs exploded and the remainder were recovered from the debris and used. The enemy bombs fell short showing our superiority in throwing. Deductions** A. Most careful arrangements must be made to prevent crowding near bomb reserves. A sentry should be placed on either side to prevent men getting in the way of bomb passing. B. Wide communication trenches and plenty of them are essential. Where possible one communication trench should be used for moving up and one for moving down. C. Several small advance reserves are necessary, placed only so far apart that a shell hitting one does not damage the others. If they are placed too far apart they are difficult to control and the supply of bombs becomes disorganised. D. It is quite safe to insert detonators in bombs before action so releasing many men who would otherwise be engaged in putting them in. E. A good type of grenade is essential. One which can be thrown a good distance such as Mill's or Friction grenades. For success in bombing distance and accuracy are essential. Fuse bombs are greatly inferior especially at night. The lighted fuse gives away the position of the thrower and draws fire. They also enable the enemy to watch the approach of the bomb and dodge it. Return to Manual © A.D. Hesketh. Copyright notes. The original notebook has been donated to the museum of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, The Castle, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 2AY. Before this was done the notebook was loaned to me, and I am grateful to Catherine Crossley, a relative of 2nd Lt. Roberts for permission to copy it.. Consequently the material and images in this section should not be reproduced without the written consent of myself or the RWF museum.