Raid into No Man’s Land: December 1/2, 1916

The 18th Battalion entry for December 1/2  1916 records:

Place: Calonne II (Most probably opposite the German Lines astride the Lens – Bethune railway near Cite Calonne)

Date: Dec 1/Dec 1/2 8 pm

18th Canadian Battalion in front line at Calonne II sector. On the night of December 1/2 a minor operation was directed against enemy working party. 1 o.r. admitted to hospital.

An active patrolling posture was important in maintaining vigilance  and dominance of “No Man’s Land” and regular patrols were instituted in the front lines to achieve specific goals. In this case of this minor operation the orders by Major. G.F. Morrison outlines the scope of the raid:

18th CANADIAN BATTALION, OPERATION ORDER No. D-1  Secret

1-12-16

Ref: Trench Maps LENS. I 1/10000

By Major G.F. Morrison

Commanding 18th Canadian Battalion

1. A Minor Operation will be carried out by the 18th Cdn. B’n. against the enemy working parties in from of his trenches from M.10.c.1½.5 to M.10.c.4.9½.
2. The objective of this raid will be to cause the enemy casualties and to endeavor to obtain identification.
3. The patrol will consist of 25 men including a Lewis Gun and Crew.
4. The party will be divided into two groups. The advanced group will consist of one Officer and 10 men. The second group will form a covering party with the Lewis gun on a flank and consist of 11 men under an N.C.O.
5. White tape will be laid by the flank man on the advance group in order to guide the parties back to our trenches and alternate green and white flares will be fired from Very pistols as an extra precaution.

[Signed] J A McIntosh

Major.

A/Adjt. 18th Canadian Battalion

There was another raid later in the month, but unlike that raid, a report was filed and kept in the Appendix of the War Diary. Lieutenant Harry Douglas Dunnett reported:

Report on Minor raid, Night of Dec. 1/2.

18th. Canadian Battalion.

Our patrol advanced withing short distance of the enemy wire but no party were there, so we lay in wait for several hours hoping it would appear.

Information

In the shell holes were signs of occupation by enemy covering parties as foot prints and [cylindrical] sticks were found. Enemy were very nervous and put up many flares and fired twice on our patrol.

Seeing that [the] enemy would not come out and the wire was too thick to enter his trench our patrol came in.

Signed,

H.D. Dunnett Lieut.

O.C. Special Service Platoon

18th. Canadian Battalion.

Of interest is the reference to a “Special Service Platoon” which indicates that these soldiers were considered for their skill and aggression for this type of dangerous duty. If interested please read more about the Canadian style of trench raiding here.