The attack on Gavrelle trench - source 1

SECRET

93rd INFANTRY BRIGADE OPERATION (WARNING) ORDER NO. 113

15th May 1917

Ref Map
FRANCE, Sheet 51 B N W 1/20,000
BIACHE Special Sheet, Edition 6 H 1/20,000
Sketch 1/10,000

INFORMATION	1. At the present moment it is uncertain what troops are holding GAVRELLES TRENCH. During the day no movement has been observed in this Trench but it is believed to be held by Machine Guns and a few men who keep well concealed. During the night, however, indications point to it being strongly held. During darkness the enemy is very much on the alert and sends over many lights which will necessitate great care in assembling for an attack. The enemy is evidently nervous as his artillery places a barrage near our trenches in the slightest provocation. All the latest available information regarding the enemy lines is shown on Target Map No 19, Edition F forwarded to-night to Units of this Brigade.
INTENTION	2. 93rd Infantry Brigade will attack the enemy on a date and at a time to be notified separately with a view of establishing a line sufficiently far forward to include the WINDMILL in our front line, to secure better observation also to deny observation to the enemy. As the whole success of the attack depends upon surprise; if the troops whilst assembling are discovered before ZERO, the attack will not be proceeded with.
OBJECTIVE	3. The objective to be captured and consolidated will be GAVRELLE TRENCH from C25 B 1 1/2 2 (junction of trench and ditch) to C 25 a 2 1/2 9 1/2 (junction of trench and railway), a strong point being established about 50 yards South East of C 25 b 1 1/2 2 and another strong point about 50 yards N E of C 25 a 9 1/2 9 1/2 to protect the flanks from bombing attacks. A defensive flank will be formed along the line of the DITCH from C 25 a 6 1/2 1 to C 25 b 1 1/2 2 by means of a series of Infantry and Lewis Gun posts.
TROOPS TAKING PART	4 (a) INFANTRY. Assault. The attack on the objective mentioned in para 2 will be carried out by the 18th Durham Light Inf who will be responsible for furnishing garrisons for strong points and also for garrisons of posts along the defensive flank to be formed. Holding Line. 15th West Yorks Regt and 18th West Yorks Regt will hold the present line. In Brigade Reserve. 16th West Yorks Regt will be in Brigade Reserve. (b) MACHINE GUNS. 44 Machine Guns will co-operate in the attak. Those will be formed into 3 groups called respectively - RIGHT, CENTRE and LEFT GROUPs. All these Groups will be under the control of CAPTAIN YORK who will be termed O C GROUPED MACHINE GUNS, 93 Bde and he will be directly responsible to G O C 93rd Infantry Brigade. Instructions for the action of the Grouped Machine Guns will be issued in the form of an Appendix to Operation Order. Address of O C GROUPED M G 93 Bde will be "Advanced RIB". (c) L T M B. Action of Light Trench Mortars will be given in instructions to be issued in the form of an Appendix to Operation Orders. (d) SPECIAL COMPANY R E If conditions are favourable a Special Company R E will co-operate by discharging Gas from Projectors and in any case Thermite will be shot on to objective by 4" Stokes. No precautions need be taken by our Troops in either case and in the instructions which will be issued as an Appendix the action of these aids will be described. (e) ARTILLERY The Artillery co-operation consists of - (i) Preliminary preparation spread over a period of several days; destruction of various enemy M G emplacements and bombardment of selected places being included in the programme. (ii) Support and feints during the attack. (iii) Protection during consolidation of the captured position The details of the Artillery programme from ZERO onwards, and rate at which creeping barrage will move forward will be published as an Appendix to Operation Orders.
ASSEMBLY altered to 1/2 hour	5. At ZERO - 1 hour, all troops will be in position and infantry of the Brigade will then be disposed as under Assault 18th Durham Light Infantry in position for assault along approximately in front of line C 25 a 71 to C 19 c 50. Holding Line 1/2 Battalion 18th West Yorks Regt with 8 Lewis Guns from I 1 b 27 to ditch C 25 a 71 holding front line between these points. 18th West Yorks Regt (less 1/2 Battalion) holding Support Line from H 6 a 46 to B 30 c 54. 15th West Yorks Regt holding Support Line from B 30 c 54 to B 24 c 91 In Brigade Reserve 16th West Yorks Regt in Brigade Reserve in Area about H 1 c. Troops will move into these positions in accordance with orders which will be issued later.
MOPPERS UP	6. 25% od 2nd wave in the assault will be specially detailed to act as a mopping up party. Special attention will be paid to houses and cellars of GAVRELLES-FRESNES ROAD and suspected dug-outs about C 25 a 97, just W of GAVRELLES Trench. when mopping up completed the party will reinforce GAVRELLE Trench
CARRYING PARTIES	7. Carrying Parties will be provided by 18th Durham L I, 2 platoons being employed for this purpose.
COMMUNICATION TRENCHES 'IN' AND 'OUT'	8. After ZERO hour the CIVIL-CLIVE Communication Trench has been placed at the disposal of this Brigade. As far as circumstances admit, therefore, after ZERO hour the following will be used as an 'IN' Trench only:- WIDOW The following as 'out' Trenches:- CIVIL-CLIVE FOXY TRENCH

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