Appendix.
A Division Front in
Trench Warfare.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE I.
The following may be considered a standard scheme of distribution of troops, for trench warfare, in a fully developed trench system.
An infantry division is composed of two brigades, each brigade of two regiments, each regiment of three battalions. Each brigade thus has six battalions, each battalion numbering 1026 officers and men, normally divided into four companies.
One battalion occupies about 1000 yards in ordinary trench warfare. As reliefs must be frequent, three battalions of each brigade will be on duty, while the other three are in rest-billets, at least two miles back of the trenches.
Two of the battalions on duty occupy the trenches, the third is stationed about a mile back, in reserve.
A brigade can therefore hold about 2000 yards of trenches: two battalions in front line trenches, one battalion in reserve, and three battalions in rest billets.
Hence a division (two brigades) will hold a front of about 4000 yards.