Specimens of British Trench Orders

(c) The N. C. O. coming on duty will go round and post new sentries with the N. C. O. coming off duty.

(d) The length of each tour of duty will depend on the number of officers and N. C. O.'s available in the company. Normally each tour should be, by night 2 hours, by day 4 hours, day commencing at morning "stand to," and by night commencing at evening "stand to." In inclement weather it may be advisable to reduce the tour to 1 hour.

(e) N. C. O.'s after posting sentries will report "All correct" or otherwise to the officer on duty.

(f) The officer on duty will be responsible for sending in the reports required by battalion headquarters, unless there is anything unusual to report, when this duty will be performed by the company commander.

(g) Men will be warned for duty by the platoon N. C. O. on duty. This will be done at evening "stand to."

(h) On being detailed for duty a man will be informed at which hours he will come on duty.

(i) When possible to do so, notice boards will be placed in each section's trench, on which will be pinned daily all orders regarding working parties, and a list of the men in the section, giving the times at which they will come on sentry and other duty.

(j) Except under special circumstances, such, for instance, as a sentry being killed or wounded, no sentry will be relieved by another man unless the relief is properly carried out in the presence of a N. C. O.

=2. SENTRIES=--=By night.=--(a) Sentries will be posted every 2 hours, except under bad weather conditions, when the length of the tour of sentry duty may be reduced.

(b) From evening "stand to" till morning "stand to" one sentry to every four men will be posted. If wiring or digging parties are out in front, or listening posts are numerous, this number may be reduced.

(c) The next relief will remain within reach of the sentry.

(d) Every sentry is to be regularly posted by a N. C. O., who will explain to him his duties and the front to be watched, and ascertain that the sentry and his relief are aware of the position of the section and platoon commanders, the sentries on either side, and whether there are any patrols or working parties out in front. Should there be salients in the line, the sentry will be carefully instructed, so as to avoid any possibility of him firing toward his own trenches.

(e) By night or in places which have the reputation of being dangerous, i.e., where enemy are suspected of mining, advanced posts, etc., no man should ever be posted alone. There should either be a double sentry post or the next relief should rest within kicking distance of the sentry.

=By day.=--(f) The number of sentries required depends on the proximity of the enemy's trench line and whether a good view to the front can be obtained; normally one to every four days is sufficient.

(g) Every sentry will be provided with a periscope.

(h) Well-protected "look-out" posts for sentries will be built along the front trench line.

(i) _Sending out of patrols._--Patrols will never be sent out without definite orders as to what is required of them. Patrols will go out via a listening post (if such exist). All listening posts will be warned of the strength of the patrol and the approximate hour of departure and return. Word will be passed quietly along the line of sentries that a patrol is out in front.

(j) As little challenging as possible will be done by sentries, and then only in a low tone of voice.

=3. RIFLES, EQUIPMENT, AND AMMUNITION.=--(a) _Carrying and wearing of._--Equipment will always be worn by men in front trenches.

(b) Ration and carrying parties, orderlies, etc., will wear bandoliers and carry rifles.

(c) Parties at work between the front-line and reserve trenches may be permitted to "pile" or "ground" arms. Wiring and digging parties out in front of the fire trench will sling the rifle.

(d) _Loading of rifles._--Except when it is necessary to shoot, a round will never be kept in the chamber. Cut-offs will always be "in" and the safety catch "back."

(e) The magazine will be kept charged with five rounds.

(f) Bayonets will always be fixed in front-line trenches.

(g) _Care of rifles._--Rifles and ammunition will be inspected at morning and evening "stand to," and rapid loading will also be practiced.

(h) Covered rifle racks will be constructed in each bay where rifles will be kept. Breech covers will be kept on the rifles.

(i) In very cold weather sentries will occasionally work the bolt of the rifle to prevent the striker becoming frozen. For the same reason, in cold weather men will sleep with their rifles close to the body.

(j) All loading will be from pouch or bandolier; no ammunition must ever be placed on ground or parapet.

(k) _Disposal of rifles, equipment, and ammunition._--Wounded and men going sick will, if able to walk, wear their equipment and carry their rifles. The rifles and equipment of men unable to carry them and also those of dead men will be sent back to the dressing station. All other rifles, however badly damaged, and equipment damaged or not required will be sent back to the quartermaster. Damaged cartridges and empty cases will be collected and returned to the quartermaster under company arrangements.

(l) _Ammunition._--Every man will have 170 rounds in his possession.

(m) Platoon commanders will report at evening "stand to" whether their ammunition is correct or otherwise.

=4. "STAND TO."=--"Stand to" will take place 1 hour before daylight and 1 hour before dusk. At this parade every available man will be present. Rifles, ammunition, equipment, clothing, etc., will be inspected. Rapid loading will be practiced. The firing position of every man will be tested, to see whether he can hit the bottom edge of our wire. Gas helmets and respirators will be inspected in accordance with the orders in force. Orders will be issued and steps taken to see that the men understand them. After "stand to" in the morning and before "stand to" in the evening rifles will be thoroughly cleaned and oiled.

=5. CARE OF BOMBS AND GRENADES.=--(a) Only a small percentage of bombs will be kept in the front trenches. These will be kept in a well-protected and dry bomb receptacle.

(b) Bomb stores will be built in the end of communication trenches in the support line.

(c) Detonators and fuzes, except in the front lines, will normally be kept in tins and not in the bomb.

(d) The battalion grenadier officer will make frequent inspection of all bombs and grenades.

(e) The alarm posts for grenadiers will be close to where the bomb stores are placed.

(f) No one, other than a grenadier, will interfere with the bombs and grenades.

(g) Ammunition boxes in the trenches will be examined frequently to see if the lids work easily.

=6. MACHINE GUNS.=--(a) The concealment and protection of machine-gun emplacements is important--for this reason, except in case of emergency, machine guns will not be fired from their regular emplacements.