WAR DIARIES - NATIONAL ARCHIVES
WO-95-1646-2_1
20th - 22nd JUNE ORDER PAPERS

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SECRET
Copy No. 5
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FORTHCOMING OPERATIONS No. 5
_______________________________ 20-6-16

I. SIGNAL COMMUNICATIONS
Contact Aeroplanes and Kite Balloons
Brigade and Battalion Headquarters only, will communicate with these. Urgent messages which cannot be sent by any other method should be sent through the nearest of these Headquarters, in preference by Brigade.

II. MEDICAL
The two Advanced Dressing Stations are situated at MINDEN POST, and the CITADEL, and the Divisional Collecting Station is on the BRAY - ALBERT Road, South of ORCHARD CAMP.

Routes from advanced dressing stations to collecting stations are:-

From MINDEN POINT: by wheeled stretcher down NORFOLK AVENUE to VAUXHALL thence by Motor Ambulance.

From CITADEL: By trench tramway via ORCHARD CAMP.

The Main Dressing Station will be at MORLANCOURT.

III. Map references in connection with forthcoming operations are to the following:-
1/20,000 - Sheets :
57. D. S.E
57. C. S.W.
62. D. N.E.
62. C. N.W.
1/100,000 - Sheets :
11 and 17

IV. TOOLS
'A' and 'B' Companies will make arrangements with the O.C., R.E. Company to which they are attached as to the tools to be carried.

'C' and 'D' Companies will take all their picks and shovels and arrange a method of slinging them on men's backs; men not carrying picks and shovels should take crowbars.

V. BOMBS
On parties arriving at their positions for work, bombs should be collected in sandbags and stacked, at any points they are likely to be wanted, in charge of Grenadiers.

During work Bombing sentries should be posted in any position not covered by Infantry where there is a danger of attack by hostile bombing parties. It must be borne in mind that there is always danger of attack from parties of the enemy behind our new lines, who may have escaped our Infantry by hiding in dug-outs and cellars.

Copy No:
1. O.C. 'A' Coy.
2. O.C. 'B' Coy.
3. O.C. 'C' Coy.
4. O.C. 'D' Coy.
5. War Diary
6. War Diary

G.B.DEMPSEY. Lieut. and Adjutant

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SECRET
Copy No. 5
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FORTHCOMING OPERATIONS No. 4.
__________________________ June 19th 1916

I. COMMUNICATION
(a) In addition to telegraph and telephone communication, by visual signalling, by signalling to contact aeroplanes and Kite balloons, by pigeons and by wireless will be established.

(b) VISUAL SIGNALLING
Stations will be established as far as posssible as shown below:

(c) CONTACT AEROPLANES AND KITE BALLOONS
Instructions issued later.

(d) PIGEONS
Instructions issued later.

(e) WIRELESS
It is hoped to establish a Trench Wireless set at the South-Western corner of MAMETZ. The position will be marked by a blue and white flag.

II. ADMINISTRATIVE SIGNAL SERVICE
(a) Telegrams may be handed in at the following office for transmission :-
Divisional Headquarters
All Infantry Brigade Headquarters
35th Brigade R.F.A. Headquarters (Trench 12 Intermediate Line)
A.D.M.S's. Office, MORLANCOURT
17th Divisional Headquarters TREUX

(b) EMPLOYMENT OF TELEPHONES
(1) Converstaion will be between Officers only.
(2) Conversation will be on official matters only and will be as brief as possible.
(3) No telegraph messages will be sent through on the telephone lines. Arrangements must be made to hand in all telegrams to the nearest telegraph office.

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Sheet 2

III. CAPTURED GUNS
(a) Three teams will be kept in readiness at GIBRALTAR for the removal of captured guns if required. Application for their services will be made to Divisional Headquarters.

(b) Captured guns should be at once rendered useless. The best methods of doing this are either to punch a hole in the buffer case which is underneath the gun itself and which can be pierced by a bullet or entrenching tool, or by burring the breach screw with a bullet, heavy stone, or other implement.

IV. HEADQUARTERS
Headquarters will be established at the following points on 'Y' day :-

Divisional Headquarters at GROVETOWN at L. 1. d. 80.35.

20th Infantry Brigade at F. 16. d. 1.9., Junction of ESSEX AVENUE and WELLINGTON AVENUE.

22nd Infantry Brigade, F. 8. d. 1.3., in MILES AVENUE near BENTE REDOUBT.

91st Infantry Brigade, F. 23. b. 8.9., DURHAM TRENCH 50 yards East of its junction with NORFOLK AVENUE.

Divisional Headquarters will be established at 4pm.

V. The Commanding Officer delegates the power of ordering the consumption of the emergency ration to O.C. Companies should they be detached from Battalion Headquarters and unable to communicate with it, should it be necessary to do so. It must be borne in mind that an emergency ration is only to be used as a last resort and when men are actually on the point of starvation. Only one tin of beef should be opened for every four men at a time. Divisional and Battalion Headquarters should be informed as soon as communication can be established as to how many rations have been used.

Copy No:
1. O.C. 'A' Coy.
2. O.C. 'B' Coy.
3. O.C. 'C' Coy.
4. O.C. 'D' Coy.
5. War Diary
6. War Diary

G.B.DEMPSEY. Lieut. and Adjutant.

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SECRET
Copy No. 5
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment

OPERATION ORDER No. 15
__________________________

Reference: -
1/20,000 MONTAUBAN, 57D N.E., 57D S.E., 57D S.E., 57C. N.W., 57C S.W.
1/100,000 AMIENS and LENS Sheets

NO ORDERS OF MAPS LIKELY TO BE OF USE TO THE ENEMY WILL BE TAKEN INTO THE FIELD

22nd June 1916

I. INFORMATION
(a) The Enemy
The enemy's defences on our front consist of two well defined systems of trenches, and a third partially completed.
The front system from a point 600 yards south-east of MAMETZ runs in a westerly direction towards FRICOURT in the form of a salient into our line, and the ground in rear is covered by cross fire from our Artillery.
The second system runs from LONGUEVAL between the BAZENTIN and MAMETZ WOODS and passes East of POZIERES .
The third system from south and south-west of FLERS runs to LE SARS.
The 12th Division, with VIth Corps, is holding the trenches from the SOMME to the south of FRICOURT, with the 23rd Regiment immediately in our front, the 62nd and 63rd Regiments between it and the SOMME in the order named.
To the north of the 12th Division the 28th Reserve Division, XIVth Reserve Corps were in position with the 111th Regiment occupying FRICOURT until lately, but it is believed that a relief has taken place. It is possible that the 12th Division may also be shortly relieved.

(b) Our Own Troops
The 18th Division, XIIIth Corps, is on our right. On our left is the 21st Division of our own Corps; the 17th Division is in Corps Reserve.
One Infantry Brigade, 17th division, is attached to and will be on the right flank of the 21st Division.

II. INTENTION (vide I.F.O. No. 1 Section 1)
The following additional information is published:-
(a) The Third, First and Second Armies are undertaking offensive operations in conformity with the attack of the Fourth Army.

(b) After the capture and consolidation of the objectives for which orders have already been issued preparations will be immediately undertaken to take part in a further advance to capture BAZENTIN-le-GRAND and the enemy's defences between that village and MONTAUBAN. This operation will be undertaken by the XVth Corps connecting with the XIIIth Corps at MONTAUBAN and the IIIrd Corps who will capture BAZENTIN-le-PETIT.

It is impressed on all Commanders that the success of the operations as a whole depend largely on the consolidation of the definite objectives allotted.

No serious advance is to be made beyond those objectives until preparations have been completed for entering on the next phase of the operations.

The additional sections of this Operation Order have already been issued as follows:-

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Sheet 2

Copy No:
1. O.C. 'A' Coy.
2. O.C. 'B' Coy.
3. O.C. 'C' Coy.
4. O.C. 'D' Coy.
5. War Diary
6. War Diary

G.B.DEMPSEY. Lieut. and Adjutant
24th Battalion Manchester Regiment

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WAR DIARIES - NATIONAL ARCHIVES
WO-95-1646-2_1
22nd - 29th JUNE ORDER PAPERS

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SECRET
Copy No 5
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FORTHCOMING OPERATIONS No. 6
___________________________________ 22-6-16

I. MINES - SHALLOW GALLERIES
The mines at the head of communication galleries running from Point F. 11. d. 5.8. to BULGAR POINT and F. 11. d. 1.7. to MAMETZ TRENCH will be blown at Zero hour on 'Z' day.

II. REGULATION OF TRAFFIC IN COMMUNICATION TRENCHES
The traffic in communication tunnels will be limited to the following :-

UP TRAFFIC:
Runners (with badge)
Men carrying written messages.
Officers, N.C.Os. and men of Signal Service.
Linesmen of R.A.
Ammunition carriers.
Staff Officers.
Forward O.C., R.A.

DOWN TRAFFIC:
Runners (with badge)
Men carrying written messages.
Staff Officers.
Forward Observing Officers.

III LEWIS GUNS
The Battalion Lewis Guns will be attached to the 20th Brigade.

Copy No.
1. O.C. 'A' Coy.
2. O.C. 'B' Coy.
3. O.C. 'C' Coy.
4. O.C. 'D' Coy.
5. War Diary
6. War Diary

G.B. DEMPSEY Lieut. and Adjutant.
24th Battalion Manchester Regiment

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SECRET
Copy No. 7
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FORTHCOMING OPERATIONS No. 7
23rd June 1916

Reference to I.F.O. No. 3
PARA 1 : Areas allotted to 'B' Echelon Transport in BOIS DES TAILLES can be seen by those concerned on map in Orderly Room. This transport must be in correct position by 9pm 'Y' day.

PARA II : 1st Line Transport returning from HALT to the BRAY-CITADEL Road in L. 3. d. will use the road via F. 4. c. 5.3. the cemetery crossroads in F. 9. a. 5.7., [letter unreadable] North and the Citadel, and not the same route as that used for going forward. Sketches showing roads already bridged to our front line are issued to those concerned.

PARA IX: Cancelled. Special orders will be issued when the supply column is to commence drawing from Railhead.

All empty wagons returning from the front must carry wounded if required to by Medical Authorities but must not divert from normal route.

Reference to I.F.O. No 6.
PARA II. REGULATION OF TRAFFIC IN COMMUNICATION TRENCHES
should read
REGULATION OF TRAFFIC IN COMMUNICATION TUNNELS.

Copy No.
1. O.C. 'A' Coy.
2. O.C. 'B' Coy.
3. O.C. 'C' Coy.
4. O.C. 'D' Coy.
5. Quartermaster
6. Transport Officer
7. War Diary
8. War Diary

G.B. DEMPSEY. Lieut. and Adjutant.
24th Battalion Manchester Regiment.

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SECRET
Copy No. 5
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FORTHCOMING OPERATIONS No. 8
24-6-16

I. ARTILLERY
A continuous bombardment will take place from U/V night to Y/Z night.

Concentrated bombardments
W day 9am to 10:20am
X day 4:30am to 5:50am
Y day 6am to 7:20am
Z day 65 minutes before Zero.

II. GAS
Gas attacks will take place on night V/W if the wind is favourable or W/X or X/Y night and on Z day 15 minutes before Zero.

III. SMOKE ATTACKS
Smoke attacks will take place on:-
W day at 10:10am
X day at 5:40am
Y day at 7:10am
Z day at Zero on front not being attacked.

IV. INFANTRY
Rapid fire will be opened just previous to gas attack, and on :
T/U night at 1:30am
U/V night at 10:15pm and 2am

Copy No:
1. O.C. 'A' Coy.
2. O.C. 'B' Coy.
3. O.C. 'C' Coy.
4. O.C. 'D' Coy.
5. M.F. [letters?] War Diary
6. War Diary

G.B.DEMPSEY. Lieut. and Adjutant.
24th Battalion Manchester Regiment

NOTE: This is only to be made known to anyone concerned, such as parties who might be working near the front line trench.

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SECRET
Copy No. 7
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment

OPERATION ORDER No. 16
_______________________________ 27th June, 1916

Reference Sheet 1/20,000

I. The Battalion will move to their assembly positions on the 27th, 28th and night of 28/29 June.

II. (a) 'A' Company will move on the 27th under Company arrangements.
(b) 'B' and 'D' Companies less two platoons, will move with 1/3rd Durham R.E. from the BOIS DES TAILLES, passing point K. 6. c. 2.0. at 12:35am 28/29th.
(c) Headquarters, 'C' Company and two platoons 'D' company, will parade on ground South of Camp Area at 11:15pm 28/29th, and move to GROVETOWN via track from the wood at K. 12. b. 2.3. to road junction L. 7. a. 3.1., thence direct to GROVETOWN.

III. Companies will move with at least 300 yards between platoons.

IV. All routes must be carefully reconnoitred.

V. Lewis Gun Sections will join Battalion Headquarters at GROVETOWN on the night 28/29th.

VI. All packs to be stacked by sentry box in Company heaps by 7am 28th.

VII. Tool carts will be packed by midday 28th.
[Note: number VIII not listed]

IX. Tents and bivouacs will be left standing.

X. Transport will move up to their position in the BOIS DES TAILLES by 5pm.

XI. 'A' Echelon Transport will parade with Battalion Headquarters and move to L. 1. d. 9.0. GROVETOWN when it will come under 22nd Brigade control.

Copy No.
1. O.C. 'A' Coy.
2. O.C. 'B' Coy.
3. O.C. 'C' Coy.
4. O.C. 'D' Coy.
5. Quartermaster
6. Transport Officer
7. War Diary
8. War Diary

G.B. DEMPSEY. Lieut. and Adjutant.
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment.

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SECRET
Copy No. 7
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment

OPERATION ORDER No. 17
__________________________________ June 29th 1916

I. June 29th will be known as Y1 day.
June 30th will be known as Y2 day.
July 1st will be known as Z day.

II. Moves and orders in Operation Order No. 16, June 28th will read June 30th, and night of 28/29th will read 30/1st July.

Copy No.
1. O.C. 'A' Coy.
2. O.C. 'B' Coy.
3. O.C. 'C' Coy.
4. O.C. 'D' Coy.
5. Quartermaster
6. Transport Officer
7. War Diary
8. War Diary

G.B. DEMPSEY. Lieut. and Adjutant.
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment.

Appendix 12

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