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October 1916
Secret 89th Infantry Brigade Operation Order No. 59
by Brigadier general the Hon. F. C. Stanley D.S.O. Headquarters
11.X.1916. Reference attached plan 1/10,000
1. The Fourth British and Sixth French Armies will
continue the attack to-morrow, 12th October, at an hour zero to
be notified later. the whole XV. Corps is attacking. The 30th Division
will have on its Right 12th Division, on its Left the 9th Division
of the III Corps. Boundaries are shewn on the attached plan. The
troops believed to be opposite us are 6th Bavarian Reserve Division
and the 6th Active (Brandenberg) Division. 2. The 30th Division
will capture and consolidate the objective indicated by the BROWN
line on the attached plan. The operation is to be conducted in three
stages: - (i) At Zero the Artillery barrage will begin and the Infantry
will advance to the attack and establish itself on the GREEN line.
(ii) At Zero + 20 the Infantry will advance to the BROWN line which
will be consolidated. (iii) After the capture of the BROWN line,
every effort will be made to establish posts on the approximate
line marked in red, so as to obtain observation to the North. It
is intended later to join up these posts so as to form a trench
of departure for subsequent operations. 3. The 89th Infantry Brigade
will be on the Left of the 30th Division attack, with boundaries
as shown on the attached plan. The attack will be carried out with
two Battalions in the front line, one in support, and one in reserve.
The 2nd Battn Bedfordshire Regt. will be on the Right. The 17th
Battalion K. L. R. will be on the Left. The 20th Battalion K.L.R.
will be in Support. The 19th Battalion K.L.R. will be in Reserve.
The dividing line between the objective of 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire
Regiment and 17th Battalion K.L.R. will be a line (Shown in YELLOW
on the Plan) drawn from their present point of junction to M.18.c.6/2.
thence to M.18.c.8/8 to M.18.b.0/4. Consolidation 4. The first objective
will be consolidated by the R.E. by a series of strong points, approximate
position shown on attached plan. The second objective will be consolidated
by the Infantry in the first instance, by the conversion of the
Northern portion of GIRD SUPPORT and LIME TRENCH and the construction
of a series of posts across the interval between. Exploiting a success.
5. Every effort is to be made to establish posts on the RED line
to which detachments of Infantry and Lewis Guns will be pushed out.
Approximate positions to be occupied: - M.18.a.8/3 (to command trough
running through M.12.c.) M.18.b.8/5 (observation over S. edge of
LE BARQUE) Method of Attack 6. Battalions will be assembled by Dawn
October 12th 1916. Battalions will attack in four waves, the third
wave of each Battalion being detailed to act as Nettoyeurs. The
17th Battalion K.L.R. will detail a special detachment for the purpose
of ensuring that contact is maintained with the right of III Corps.
The frontage of this Battalion has been lessened in order to ensure
that touch is not lost. On reaching the first objective the 2nd
Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment will capture as much of BITE TRENCH
as the Barrage permits. The Assault will take place under cover
of: - (a) machine Guns firing overhead fire from sites selected
by the Officer Commanding 89th machine Gun Company. (b) Lewis Guns
pushed forward into shell holes of wherever covering fire can be
obtained (c) Artillery bombardment. Lift arrangements are as follows:
- (i) the Barrage will commence without previous warning at Zero
and will be on, and some distance in front of, the enemy first line
trench. the Infantry must get in as close as possible to it. (ii)
From 0.2 it will gradually creep back until it is on the enemy front
line trench only (between 0.4 and 0.6) (iii) At 0.6 it will lift
off GREEN line altogether to a general line about 150 to 200 yards
North of it. (iv) At 0.20 it will again begin to creep back at the
rate of 50 yards a minute until it reaches the final Barrage beyond
the BROWN line. Garrison of Front Line Trench 7. On the departure
of the four waves of the attacking Battalions, the front wave of
the 20th Battalion K.L.R. will Garrison the front line trench vacated
by the 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment and 17th Battalion K.L.R.
but will move forward if necessary. Brigade Machine Gun Company.
8. Officer Commanding 89th Machine Gun Company will detail two machine
guns to be attached to each of the following Battns: 2nd Battalion
Bedfordshire Regiment. 17th Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment
20th Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment The three machine guns
at present in the front line will remain in their positions after
the Assault. The remainder of the Machine Gun Company will be kept
in reserve. Trench Mortar Battery. 9. Orders for the 89th Trench
Mortar Battery have been issued separately. Communications. 10.
Contact Aeroplanes will be in the air from Zero until dark on 12th
and from 6.30 a.m. till 8 a.m. on 13th. Flares will be lit: - (a)
On reaching the GREEN line. (b) On reaching the BROWN line. (c)
At certain stated times on 12th inst to be notified later. (d) At
7 a.m. on 13th October. (Battalions will be notified later the number
of flares that they may draw). No.3 Kite Balloon will be prepared
to receive messages during the night 12/13. Carrying parties. 11.
The 19th Battalion K.L.R. will be prepared to supply carrying parties
at short notice on demand from Brigade Head Quarters. Intelligence
Reports. 12. two men to be detailed by Brigade Head Quarters will
be employed in collecting information from Dug-outs and enemy dead.
Technical Reports. 13. tactical Situation reports have to be rendered
by Brigade Head Quarters at the following hours: - 0.30 1 Hour 30.
2 hours 30. and every hour until further orders, independently of
special reports. Commanding Officers are relied on to assist in
complying with this order. Brigade Head Quarters. 14. Brigade Head
Quarters will remain in its present position as at present. Edward
Darville Captain. Brigade Major, 89th Infantry Brigade.
The Officer Commanding 17th 20th Battalion Liverpool
regt 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment With reference to para
7 of Operation Order No. 59 dated 11th October 1916.
The two leading Companies of the 20th Battalion Liverpool
Regiment, will move forward to support the attack should it appear
to the Officer Commanding to be necessary to do so, in order to
carry the objective. In this case he will move up his remaining
two Companies as a garrison to the front line trench where they
will remain unless ordered to move by the Brigadier General. He
will report any action taken to Brigade Head Qrs. Edward Darville
Captain, Brigade Major 89th Infantry Brigade 11.X.1916.
TO WINKLE WHELK Sender's Number BM26 Day of Month 11
You will without fail let off flares along the front
line at 7-30 AM tomorrow morning October 12th AAA 50 are being sent
up to you for this purpose AAA Particular care will be taken to
let flares off at any complicated portions of the trenches AAA acknowledge
From PRAWN Time 9-10 PM To WINKLE Sender's Number BMB642 Day of
Month 12/10 SALMON wires as follows begins aaa JEWEL say 2 hostile
machine guns 20 yards north of 2 Gun Emplacements at M.24.a.77.60
aaa and that wire in front of GIRD TRENCH is still an obstacle aaa
Can you reconnoitre tonight aaa Ends aaa WINKLE will warn WHELK
as to when patrols will go out aaa Addressed WINKLE repeated WHELK.
From PRAWN 12.15 am To O.C. WINKLE From O.C. WHELK According to
Brigade O.O.59 our Right Flank will be from 50 t o100 yards further
WEST. I shall be ready to move down at 4.30 A.M. if you will take
over from me. D.P. Cross
[Dennis Patrick CROSS, MC]. 2nd Lt. A/Adjt. for O.C. WHELK
12-10-16 2.30 A.M. Done
TO WINKLE MUSSEL WHELK COD COCKLE TURBOT Sender's Number
BM35 Day of Month 12 Reference 89th Inf Bde OO No 59 dated October
11th 1916.
(a) ZERO will be at 2-5 PM today. (b) This will not
be communicated sooner than is necessary and then only to those
whom it immediately concerns. In no case will it be communicated
by telephone. (c) Acknowledge.
From PRAWN 7-0 AM Operation Order No.94 by Lieut Colonel
H.S.Poyntz Comdg 2 Bedfordshire Regt. 12th October 1916
1. The 30th Division will capture and consolidate
the objective indicated by BROWN line on plan. 2. Dispositions The
17th Kings will be on our left. The 90th Brigade will be on our
right The 20th Kings will be in support The 19th Kings will be in
reserve 3. Dividing Line The dividing line between the 17th Kings
and ourselves will be a line drawn from the present point of junction
to M.18.c.6.2. thence to M.18.c.8.8. to M.18.b.0.4. 4. Consolidation
The first objective will be consolidated by the R.E. the final objective
by infantry. 5. Method of Attack The Bn will attack in four waves.
1st wave 2 Platoons D and 2 Platoons "C" Co 2nd wave 2 Platoons
D and 2 Platoons C Co. 3rd wave "B" Company (nettoyeurs) 4th wave
"A" Company. C Company will be on the right and D on the left. O.C.
Companies must ensure that there is no gap between us and 90th Bde.
The Barrage will commence without previous warning at ZERO, and
will be on, and some distance in front of the enemy front line trench.
From O.2 it will creep back until it is on enemy front line only.
At 0.6 it will lift off the front line to a general line about 150
to 200x N. of it. At 0.20 it will again begin to creep back at the
rate of 50 yards a minute to the final barrage. 6. Machine Guns
2 Vickers Guns will be attached to the Bn. Lewis Guns will endeavour
to push forward and give covering fire. 7. Communications Contact
aeroplanes will be in the air from ZERO until dark on the 12th and
from 6.30 a.m. till 8 a.m. on 13th. Flares will be lit: - (a) on
reaching the First objective (b) On reaching the 2nd objective (c)
At certain stated times on the 12th (d) At 7 a.m. on the 13th. 8.
O.C. Companies will endeavour to gain ground in advance of 2nd Objective
for observation purposes. 9. Rations & Water O.C. Companies will
send parties to Bn. H.Q. for rations & water. 10. Medical Regimental
Aid Post will be at present Bn. Headquarters Headquarters Brigade
Headquarters will remain as at present. Bn. Headquarters will stay
as at present until the 1st objective is consolidated, when H.Q.
will move up the continuation of BITE TRENCH to a central position.
17th Bn. K.L.R. As at present. On consolidation of final objective,
these H.Q. will move forward to strong point T.6. Ref.89th Inf Bde
Operation Order No.59
1. The 30th Div will capture & consolidate objective
indicated by Brown line on plan. 2. The 2nd Bedfords will be on
the Right the 17th Kings will be on the Left* * assaulting battalions.
The 20th Kings will be in Support The 19th Kings will be in Reserve
3. The 1st Objective will be consolidated by R.E. as Strong Points.
The Second Objective consolidated by Infantry. Every effort is to
be made to occupy & hold a point about M.18.a.8/3 in advance of
the Brown line. 4. Method of Attack The Battn will attack in four
waves: - 1st wave two platoons B on the Right Two platoons C on
the Left 2nd wave two platoons B on Right Two platoons C on Left.
3rd Two platoons A on the Left Two platoons D on the Right 4th Two
platoons A on the Left Two platoons D on the Right The 3rd Wave
will act as Netoyeurs. the two Left platoons of A Coy will ensure
that contact is maintained with the Right of the 9th Div. a. Machine
Guns will give overhead fire. b. Lewis Guns will push forward to
give covering fire. c. Artillery as follows: - 1/ Barrage will commence
without previous warning at o, on and in front of enemy first line
trench 2/ From O+2 it will creep back on to enemy front line trench
3/ At 0+6 it will lift off Green line to 150 yards North of it 4/
At 0+20 it will creep back at 50yds a minute to final barrage. 5.
Communications. Contact aeroplanes will be in the Air from 0 till
dark on the 12th & from 6.30 A.M. till 8.0 A.M. on 13th. FLARES
will be lit: a. on reaching the Green line. b. on reaching the Brown
line. c. At times on the 12th, to be notified later d. at 7.0 A.M.
on the 13th. Brigade Hd.Qrs. remain as at present. Battalion Hd.Qrs.
remain as at present until Brown line has been consolidated when
it will move forward to Strong Point T6, if constructed.
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