LECTURE IV.
BOMBERS’ TRAINING—PART I.
Discipline. Soldiers do not receive any training in bombing until they have passed the recruit stage, in which special attention is given that a very high degree of discipline is attained. In bomb fighting and trench warfare a higher degree of discipline is demanded. In addition to the discipline which enables a unit to go on parade and carry out the different movements as one man, it is necessary that every man be taught in such a way that, should circumstances arise, that he should be cut off from his comrades he can carry on intelligently as a little unit by himself, doing the right thing at the right time. It is only by training that enables him to do this in the absence of commanders that the necessary degree of efficiency can be attained.
Organization. The use of bombs was adopted by the British War Office early in the summer of 1915. The organization put into effect in England was as follows: In each brigade was formed what was known as the Brigade Bombers’ Company. Men were detailed from each of the units forming the brigade for their initial training, which lasted over a period of six days. During the first of the training periods at least one subaltern per battalion should be attached to the Brigade Company for training, so that the battalion is provided with an officer qualified to superintend the training of the battalion bombers’ section. This officer and others should return to the brigade company for short periods of training from time to time as it has been found that new technical as well as tactical ideas are continually being introduced into this important branch of work.
One sergeant, two corporals and 32 rank and file are detailed from each battalion. The company is commanded by a selected officer, who will be assisted by an additional N.C.O., who acts in the capacity of C.S.M. and C.Q.M.S. The Company is kept up to strength by a system of relays, so that at the end of each three days half the men of the Company are returned to their units for duty, their place being taken by others detailed for that purpose. It will be seen that by this method in a short time the entire brigade will have received their preliminary training in this subject. It must not be considered that their training in bombing is complete at the end of six days, further periods for practices being arranged for in their weekly training syllabus. The preliminary training having been completed, there is formed what was known as a permanent Brigade Bombers’ Company.
The Battalion Bombers’ Section. The Battalion Bombers’ Section, when complete, should consist of about 40 trained men, including N.C.O.’s, but the training of all men should be proceeded with so that ultimately every man in the battalion is qualified. When trained a thrower should be able, when standing in a trench behind one traverse, to place 75 per cent. of his bombs in a bay on the farther side of a traverse 30 yards away. To be an expert bomber, one must be fit. It is therefore necessary to take a certain amount of physical exercise each day while in training and when on active service. In this respect the grenadiers are especially cared for. They are given special privileges, given the best of billets and shorter hours in the trenches, which gives them plenty of time for exercise, and their favorite games, which keeps them in good condition. Drinking is not prohibited, but if a man expects to be able to keep cool and think and act quickly it is better to be temperate. A bombers’ duties in the trenches are looked upon as most interesting and lack monotony. If he understands his work and the grenades, that is, when they are safe, he has nothing to fear, although he will find that some of his more ignorant pals may shun him when he goes about with his full complement, in fact, they will make way wherever he goes. When our First Canadian Division went into the trenches, as also have many other reinforcing battalions, without a sufficient knowledge of bombs, the result was that many accidents occurred through carelessness and ignorance and lack of training in this important branch of work.
Practice in Making and Throwing of Dummy Bombs. In order that the men may become proficient in the matter of throwing live bombs it is necessary to have dummies which represent as nearly as possible in size, shape and weight the live manufactured types which are used in active service. The men are accordingly taught to make these by hand. There are four types of these, as follows:—
(a) The Jam-Tin Dummy, which is made with an empty jam tin, three-quarters filled with clay, the top being drawn together and sewn with wire. This type contains no explosives.
(b) A jam-tin made in the same manner but in the centre of the tin is placed half a cartridge of monobel with fuse and cap. These two types of bombs are made to weigh from one to two and a quarter pounds, and may be thrown from thirty to fifty yards.
(c) Powder Puffs: A powder puff is representative of a hair brush bomb and consists of a piece of wood 1” x 5” x 17”, 7” at one end being left full size, the remainder being cut away on each edge to form a handle. On the broad part of this is placed another piece of wood 2” x 4” x 6” with a hole 1⅜” in diameter bored through the centre. This piece of 2” x 4” is attached by wire nails to the 1” x 5”; the centre space is filled with gunpowder and covered with a small piece of 1-inch board, the fuse being inserted through a ⅜-inch hole, which is bored through the 1” x 5”. The explosive used in the hair brush, which this dummy represents is a slab of wet gun-cotton, 1¾” x 3” x 6” with a 1⅜” cone-shaped hole in the centre to receive a dry gun-cotton primer which has a ⅜” hole in its centre to receive the detonator, which in turn receives the fuse. The weight of slab 15 ounces; the weight of primer 1 ounce.
Hand Grenade, No. 1, Mark 1, Dummy.
(d) A piece of 2” x 2” wood, 17” long, one end shaped for a handle, the other end made partially round, a 1¾” gas pipe union being put over the handle end and driven tightly on to the large end of the stick. A groove is cut around the stick about 8” from the handle end, to which is wired three pieces of cotton about 1½” x 24” long. These act as streamers and tend to keep the business end of the bomb forward in its flight.
Note: The idea of the explosive being used in the dummy bombs is to accustom the men to handling explosives, the lighting of fuses and gauging of the time required per inch for a service fuse to burn, at the same time not sacrificing distance and accuracy in throwing. It has been noticed that men in their eagerness to get rid of the live bomb lose sight of the main object for which they are being trained, namely, accuracy and range.
Throwing Position. The correct position for throwing is as follows:—Spread the feet slightly and brace them firmly on the ground, the shoulder opposite the throwing hand being in the direction to which you are throwing. Bring the other hand containing the bomb upwards with a straight arm and circular motion, releasing the bomb when the hand is above the head. It is impossible in a narrow trench to move from a standing position when throwing. The men in throwing practices should therefore be made to maintain a standing position.