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BEING THE NARRATIVE OF BATTERY A OF THE 101st FIELD ARTILLERY

Page 107

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ready for the expected attack. Barbed wire entanglements were erected, grenade pits were dug behind them, and thermite grenades were issued to each section for destroying the piece at the last minute in case of capture. On the night of June 7, information obtained from prisoners indicated that the attack was coming before daybreak. The horses were harnessed and hitched and the limbers were brought up close behind Bernecourt to be ready to haul the guns out if necessary.

                The third piece was run out to the "Tank Position" so that it could fire point blank at any tank that might get through the first defenses. Corporal Bird went out near the front lines to signal back in case tanks were seen advancing. No one envied Bird his job! However, the expected attack never materialized.

                Owing to the length of the Divisional Sector, each battery of artillery had a large number of missions. The most vulnerable points of attack were defended by the Normal Barrages of the various batteries, while the intervening spaces were supported by "Eventual Barrages." A Battery was responsible for seventeen different barrages, as well as four C. P. O.'s named Sirenes, Mort Mare, Bec de Canard and General, and three concentrations. The 90's had no barrage missions. In case of attack they would concentrate against junctions of trenches and enemy batteries. In the course of our stay at Bernecourt our two 90 guns fired a total of 540 rounds while the 75's fired 5206 rounds. The 75 firing was divided as follows:

Barrages, 20 times; C. P. O.'s, 10 times; Concen­

 

 

 

 

 

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