Reply To: Books or articles specifically about close order?

[Robert Dunlop]

MartinR wrote:

It should also be noted that the 1916 regulations for British infantry divisions specified battalion assault formations as a frontage of 200 to 350 yards with the battalion in waves 50 to 100 yards apart.

Thanks, Martin. The context of these assaults was akin to the final stage of the advancing by bounds, forming a firing line and achieving fire suppression. At this point and all going to plan, units were expected to assault the shattered enemy. In practice, of course, this approach rarely worked in meeting engagements. It proved very difficult in the face of a determined enemy that was rarely visible.

By 1916, the preparatory and assault bombardments were expected to perform the role of suppressing the enemy. This meant that more men could advance to contact, all going well as happened on the Montauban – Mametz front of the Battle of Somme on 1st July 1916. 17th Battalion King’s Liverpool Regiment, for example, advanced on a 600 yard frontage. The advance was in waves, as you noted. This first wave was two platoons of Company A on the right and two platoons of Company B on the left. Thus the battalion-size attack was spearheaded by the equivalent of a company on a 600 yard frontage.

The second wave of the remaining platoons in the two companies followed 100 yards behind.

The third wave comprised Company C. Its role was to provide the Mopper Uppers.

The fourth wave was Company D. Its role was to provide ammunition carriers and bring forward stores.

Robert