V
The general organisation of the 1917–18 training, though, of course, on a much larger scale, was very much like that of the previous winter. New training centres had been established and old centres extended.
But perhaps a chronicle of the numbers who passed through these courses of instruction at Wailly, Le Tréport, Bermicourt and Merlimont, and of the sequence in which the different Brigades took their turns at the different areas, might prove less interesting than a brief account of what was actually taught and of the sort of way a syllabus would be carried out.
In the official “Instructions for the Training of the Tank Corps in France” these are the sort of general principles we find laid down:
“All work must be carried out at high pressure. Every exercise and movement should, if possible, be reduced to a precise drill.
“Games will be organised as a definite part of training (see S.S. 137, ‘Recreational Training’).
“Order is best cultivated by carrying out all work on a fixed plan. Order is the foundation of discipline. Small things like marching men always at attention to and from work, making them stand to attention before dismissing them, assist in cultivating steadiness and discipline. Each day should commence with a careful inspection of the billets and the men, or some similar formal parade. Strict march discipline to and from the training grounds must be insisted upon.
“It is an essential part of training for war that the men are taught to care for themselves, so as to maintain their physical fitness. To this end the necessity for taking the most scrupulous care of their clothing, equipment and accoutrements will be explained to them.”
The following is the syllabus (slightly condensed) of a Maintenance Course for Tank Commanders:
How to drive a Tank.
How to set a magneto.
When an engine is misfiring or overheating.
When an engine is knocking too badly to continue working or is not pulling.
When carburation is bad.
When a Tank is at such an angle that it is dangerous to run the engine.
The causes of engine failures and how to correct them.
How the autovac works.
The correct tension for fan belts.
When an engine bed is loose.
How much petrol, oil, grease, and water should be used during average hour’s run.
When road chain sprocket wheels or pinions should be changed.
How long it takes to change a set of sprocket wheels and pinions.
When a track or the Coventry driving chains are too slack.
When a clutch is too fierce, and how to correct it.
When a clutch is slipping, and how to adjust it.
When secondary gears are too much worn for further service, and what is the effect of their not being fully in mesh.
How long it takes to change such gears.
When tracks or secondary gears are over or under lubricated.
When brakes are operative or not.
How long it takes to prepare a Tank for a day’s run.
How long it takes thoroughly to clean and adjust a Tank after a day’s work.
How long it takes to detrain Tanks and adjust sponsons.
How the equipment of a Tank should be stowed.
The appliances which are necessary to dismantle various sections of a Tank, and how it should be done.
That it is just as necessary for a Company Commander to inspect Tanks daily as it is for a Cavalry Squadron Commander to inspect his horses.
For an interesting “Immediate Action Course,” i.e., first aid to the engine, the following directions are given to instructors:
“In order to inspire confidence at the outset, particular stress should be laid upon the fact that in a Tank there are practically only three causes of engine failure—Valves—Ignition—Petrol.
“If this is borne in mind, a very little experience in the simple operations connected with these three functions, coupled with a little training in diagnosis, will enable students to deal very easily with troubles as they occur.
“Drivers should know by the ‘feel’ of their engine whether it is firing correctly or not, and any member of a crew ought to be able to detect and report at once any irregularity in the sound of an exhaust from outside the machine.
“When the students have been through a course (using the book) of what to do when:
“1. The Engine won’t start,
“2. Engine starts and stops after a few Revs,
“3. Irregular sound of exhaust—machine will not climb,
“4. Popping back of Carburettor,
“5. Overheating and knocking,
the Instructor is to set up faults for the students to remedy.”
He is given ideas for nearly fifteen ways of producing the symptom “Engine won’t start.”
“It is suggested that the Instructor should insert a piece of paper between the platinum points in the little magneto, or fit a faulty contact breaker with a stiff rocker in the big magneto, or smear segments and outside of the distributor with a little dirty oil; if he desires to queer the plugs, he may insert one with its gap closed up or bridged with dirt or with a cracked insulation. To produce symptom No. 2, he may insert a punctured float in the Carburettor or insert a piece of rag in the passage between the float chamber and the jets, or block a cock under the Autovac. Or in order to produce an irregular sound in the exhaust and to make the machine refuse to climb, he may remove the roller and pin from one or more inlet valves; or place two faulty plugs in the engine. To make the engine overheat, he is to insert an extra link in the Radiator Fan Bolt, open the Air Slide, or start a leak in one or more of the water outlet elbows. He may make the engine tap and rattle by adjusting the valves with abnormal clearances, and so on with the number of other defects, which each student in turn is to be called upon to diagnose and remedy.”
For the conduct of a “Refresher” Battle Practice Course the following points are suggested for the guidance of instructors:
“The ammunition required for each man firing will be 20 rounds of shell, 5 rounds of case shot, and 250 rounds of S.A.A.
“Before beginning a Battle Practice, the following points must be seen to:
“That each practice or scheme is of a practical nature, i.e., that it should bring out certain lessons under as near battle conditions as possible.
“All ports, etc., in the Tanks will be closed during the practice. Targets should represent as nearly as possible those met with in action. The practice must not be hurried and the Tank must never contain more than the normal crew. Students should be allowed to ride on the top of the Tanks, in order to observe the fire effect. In this way, by observing the faults of others, they should be able to avoid committing the same errors themselves, when their turn comes to fire.
“Battle Practice exercises must be regarded by the Tank Crews as what the Field firing practices are to the Infantry.
“Vizors and Gas-Masks must frequently be worn during a Battle Practice Course.
“Before the Battle Practice begins, Crews and Gunners will form up outside the Tanks and the scheme of attack will be explained to them; also how it is intended to carry out the attack and what are their objectives. All drivers and gunners must fully understand the scheme of attack and what is expected of them; they must be told to ask their Tank Commander to explain any point that does not appear clear to them. Positions where Anti-Tank guns are expected must be pointed out to them on a map, and other information of this type may be given. This will add to the keenness and interest of the men.
“Drivers must be reminded that the goodness or badness of the shooting will probably depend upon their driving.
“The Gunnery Officer must see that the targets are sited properly; he should always go over the Course in a Tank previous to the practice to satisfy himself on these points.
“If flashes are to be used, or moving targets employed, he must see that the fatigue men know their work, and the Gunnery Officer should always give these fatigue men one rehearsal before a Battle Practice Course, as it is most important for everything to go smoothly on the day.
“N.C.O. Instructors must be told off, one to each gun in the Tank which is firing, and their duty will be to see that points taught in the elementary training are brought into play and that the necessary safety precautions are adhered to.
“There will always be a conference at the end of each Battle Practice exercise. All members of the crews, students, instructors, etc., will attend. Constructive criticism and encouragement should be the tone of the conference. Faults brought to light should be carefully explained so that all can hear, learn and correct, in the future. The Gunner is as anxious to learn and to improve his shooting as is the Instructor to have a pupil who will do him credit.”
Very excellent courses were also arranged in the Reconnaissance Schools. But almost the most interesting of the Reconnaissance Side’s activities was the series of improvised courses—outdoor schemes, indoor practices and lectures which they arranged during the weary time while the Tank Corps “stood to quarters” through January, February and early March 1918.
The events of this time we propose to chronicle in the next chapter but one.
There had by this time been many other Tank activities which we have not at present chronicled at all. The French had trained and equipped a Tank Corps. The Americans were busy with Tanks, and a Detachment of our own Corps had fought in two engagements in Palestine.
Note to Chapter XI
Stories of the early days of Wool are related in the 6th Battalion History.
When the first few consignments of Tanks were sent to the Camp at Bovington from Wool Station the most elaborate precautions were taken to secure the machines from the eyes of the profane.
The route was guarded by military policemen marshalled by A.P.M.’s. All civilian traffic was stopped, and—as if the Tanks had been so many Lady Godivas—all the blinds in the front rooms of the farms and cottages which bordered the roads had to be drawn, and all the inhabitants were relegated to the back rooms.
This ritual was observed every time a batch of Tanks arrived.
One farmer remarked that he was delighted to help keep the secret in any manner that seemed good to the authorities, but he thought they might like to know that a day or two before a Tank had broken down and that he and his horses had helped to tow it into his yard, where it had remained for forty-eight hours.