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platoon
to demonstrate an ambush on lorry-borne infantry to the officers
of the Battalion. We get to work selecting sites, preparing
the scheme and, finally practising. Each man has his job in
a co-ordinated plan to hit hard and run like hell. A spinney
borders conveniently on to an important road and forms the
site for the first ambush. Three men under an N.C.O. are placed
ahead of the ambush with a steel wire rope 3ft. 6in. high
across the road to deal with m/c scouts. One N.C.O. starts
the "party" with a shotgun firing at point blank
range at the driver of the leading truck. Simultaneously six
bombers throw two 36 M. grenades followed by two S.I.P. incendiaries
each and get instantly off their mark through the wood, which
they know like the backs of their hands. Riflemen and L.M.G.
cover their retreat and one man sets off smoke bombs to obscure
vision. The whole thing is over in twelve seconds. Thirty
seconds later a second section across the road fire five rounds
rapid into the now confused enemy and beat a hasty retreat.
Trip wires are everywhere in the most effective places and
everything is done to hinder the enemy. A repeat performance
is given on the way back on a new site, this time using tear-gas
bombs to delay pursuit.
The biggest difficulty in preparation is the provision
of noise. It would have been far easier to do the thing
in action with .300 ball, 36 M. grenades and S.I.P's. from
our platoon operational stocks but by improvisation
with thunderflashes, and water-bags for S.I.P's., and "acquiring" .300
blanks we manage to put up a show. The demonstration is
successful and convinces us all of the slaughter which can
be effected from such a concerted and surprise attack. There
are no major incidents apart from those planned, except
that the smoke bombs get wet and fail to work, one officer
gets a blank charge in his face, and the gas cloud (due
to a contrary wind) floats through the prize Jersey herd
to the door of the church, where the congregation are trying
to catch the words of the Sunday morning sermon through
the tumult outside. We are later called upon to stage a
repeat show to officers of Sector and Zone.
More weapons are coming in, the spigot mortar,
Northover, E.Y. rifles, and new varieties of bombs. We welcome
the receipt of weapons which will kill a tank and feel happier
than with the previous method involving the somewhat hazardous
procedure of prizing off their tracks with rail, bar or
stake.
We train two detachments for the Spigot
Mortar, involving many extra parades, and find three months
later the greatest difficulty in making up one detachment
due to losses to the Services etc. Our Bombing Sergeant
takes in hand the training on new bombs 69, 68, 73, 74 and,
later, the 75, also E.Y. rifle, and we find how confusing
it all is to spare-time soldiers to remember even the vital
points in the now too numerous weapons. We continue with
basic training refreshers, receive lectures and instruction
on five types of land mines and on laying a minefield, on
(......continues.....)
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