COMPOSITION OF A GRENADE SQUAD

In Line

In Single File

Duties of Above. Nos. 1 and 2 Bayonet Man.

1. Clearing of a Trench to a Flank. They are the bodyguard for the thrower and carrier and must always protect them under any conditions and at all costs.

Note. The latter are not armed against attack at close quarters. The bayonet men work in advance of the thrower and carrier of their squads. They act as trench scouts; that is, they instruct their thrower and carrier how the trench runs and where the dug-outs and side trenches will be met. They will carry their rifles with bayonets fixed, loaded, magazine full. No. 3 and 6 bomb and clear all dug-outs on the way down the trench. The first man throws the bomb, the bayonet man enters the dug-out and completes its work. At the junctions of communication trenches and side trenches they act as trench sentries and observers until relieved by the squads in rear. If necessity arises they assist the thrower by throwing bombs.

2. Frontal Attack against Enemy Positions. They will be in line with, not in advance of the thrower and carrier and will protect them while throwing by snap shooting, or with their bayonets against assault, or a sudden rush by the enemy when at close quarters.

Clearing a Trench from a Flank.

3. Street Fighting and Village Cleaning. They will keep down enemy rifle fire by snap shooting, so as to enable the thrower to work close enough to his objective to throw grenades, and when these have burst, will go forward and complete their work.

No. 3. First Thrower. He throws grenades according to the directions given him by his leader or by his bayonet men. He is a picked man, steady under fire and chosen for his accuracy and length in throwing.

No. 4. The Carrier. He follows close enough in rear of the throwers to keep them supplied with grenades, but must be careful not to crowd them or impede the throwing. He will be prepared to instantly take up the duties of the thrower should he become a casualty.

No. 5. N.C.O. or Leader. He is responsible for his squad and the proper carrying out of the duties given to the squad. He will inspect each man before an attack and see that he has his complete equipment and that he knows the general idea and direction of the attack and the final objective of his squad. He will be responsible for the maintenance of supplies of grenades through his squad to the thrower, and will supervise the automatic filling up of casualties in his squad by men from the squads in the rear. He will indicate the position and progress of his squad in the attack to supporting troops, etc., by means of flags or other signals by day and by colored flares by night.

Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 9. Their duties are the same as Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4, and are to be considered primarily as carriers until otherwise employed.

No. 10. Spare Man. He will act, if necessity arises, as leader of his section, to clear side trenches, etc., and will instantly take over the duties of No. 5 should he become a casualty.

No. 11. Sniper. He will act as a sniper by day and a connecting file by night, between his own squad and the squad of troops in rear.

Note. Every man in the grenade squad should be trained to fill the position of any other in the squad.

Explanation of Chart No. A2. The position occupied by grenadiers in an attacking squad has this main point in consideration.

The safety and local protection of each individual in the squad; care should be taken that as far as possible each man has a solid corner of the trench close to him, which he can use as a protection against the bursting effect of enemy grenades, by quickly advancing or retiring around the corner.

The bayonet men are in advance of the thrower, close enough to protect him, and not too far in front as to be in danger of being bombed by him.

The thrower—the actual means of attack—is protected in front by the traverse and in the rear by the corner of the parados. The carrier is close behind the thrower and is protected by two corners. The N.C.O. or leader is where he can best watch the flight of the grenades thrown by the throwers, and is also equally well protected.

Method of Advance. It is usually the endeavor to bomb and clear three bays at a time in advance of the bayonet men. The N.C.O. reports the throwing by the word “Mark,” to indicate a burst in the required bay. On the third mark having been registered, the N.C.O. gives the order, “Bayonet men report.” They immediately advance up the trench to the last bay cleared and report back after examination either “All clear” or “Enemy holding,” whereupon the N.C.O. gives the order “Advance,” or directs the thrower to bomb the last bay again. This means of advance is continued until the objective is gained.

Island Traverse. The two methods of attack are employed as shown on the chart. It is imperative that the attack must not be allowed to be held up, and should it be found impossible to advance down the trench itself, owing to enfilade fire, the attack must be immediately launched outside the trench, so as to attack the traverse from the rear, in the case of a daylight attack.

Precautions. Care must be taken, especially by the bayonet men in their advance through the trench, that enemy concealed trenches, dug-outs, etc., are not left undiscovered. The sides of trenches and the walls and floors of dug-outs should be carefully examined for concealed entrances or exits.