A Better Rifle at Halloween
- Thread starter diesal
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- britwank rifles ww1 different
Yes, if you could speed that up with mortars or something, that would really help.
Counterattack
14TH September 1914, Courtrai.
Colonel General Von Kluck, was content, he had moved up to his forward headquarters so that he could more effectively command the attack on Lille, an attack he expected to succeed and to then open the gate to Paris whilst also allowing his troops to pocket the British and French forces holding the line from Namur to Condee.
He had received the reports from General von der Marwitz of the British defence of Nieuwpoort the previous day and his plans for the attack at dawn today, he concurred with the plan and sent General von Quast orders that he was to conduct a forced march towards Nieuwpoort to bring additional support to the Cavalry.
The Belgians and the British occupying the line from Ostend to Antwerp seemed to be entirely static and his reserve forces were holding the line without significant trouble.
The attacks on Namur, the responsibility of Second Army and Hindenberg were slowly grinding down the defenders of that fortress and its fall would unravel the defences of the Meuse giving another opportunity to pocket the Entente troops, either his men would be the anvil and Hindenberg the hammer or it could be the other way round depending on whose attacks went best, if both armies broke through it would be a victory to rival Canae.
The attack on Sedan by the 4th and 5th Armies was being planned by OHL though it was being somewhat delayed by events in the East, with rumours of defeats for both the German and Austrian forces facing off against the massive power of Russia. The fortress city of Konigsburg was still holding out as far as he knew but with little prospect of relief. Von Kluck knew was that he had to capture Lille, the defeat of the French Fifth Army and the BEF would result in the fall of Paris and with it the collapse of the French, then his army could head east and smash the Russians.
As he pondered the capture of Lille a colonel came in bearing a message form, he seemed uncertain, fearful almost panicked, his hand shook slightly as he passed the heavy sheet of paper over. The message was from Generla von Emmich commander of X Corps, one of the two units that was screening the BEF, it stated baldly “BEF attacking, have taken Mont Garni and Maisieres. British forces have broken 19th division which has withdrawn towards Jurbise, 20th division at risk of outflanking currently relocating Corps headquarters to Soignies.
With that one message all of von Klucks planning came unstuck, he didn’t know if the British were attacking in great strength sufficient to cut him off or if this was just a local counterattack to improve the position at Mons by occupying the high ground overlooking the canal.
He would have to wait for more information, his attacks would continue until he knew what was happening. He sent word to the air corps for reconnaissance flights to take off and try and find out what was going on.
Colonel General Von Kluck, was content, he had moved up to his forward headquarters so that he could more effectively command the attack on Lille, an attack he expected to succeed and to then open the gate to Paris whilst also allowing his troops to pocket the British and French forces holding the line from Namur to Condee.
He had received the reports from General von der Marwitz of the British defence of Nieuwpoort the previous day and his plans for the attack at dawn today, he concurred with the plan and sent General von Quast orders that he was to conduct a forced march towards Nieuwpoort to bring additional support to the Cavalry.
The Belgians and the British occupying the line from Ostend to Antwerp seemed to be entirely static and his reserve forces were holding the line without significant trouble.
The attacks on Namur, the responsibility of Second Army and Hindenberg were slowly grinding down the defenders of that fortress and its fall would unravel the defences of the Meuse giving another opportunity to pocket the Entente troops, either his men would be the anvil and Hindenberg the hammer or it could be the other way round depending on whose attacks went best, if both armies broke through it would be a victory to rival Canae.
The attack on Sedan by the 4th and 5th Armies was being planned by OHL though it was being somewhat delayed by events in the East, with rumours of defeats for both the German and Austrian forces facing off against the massive power of Russia. The fortress city of Konigsburg was still holding out as far as he knew but with little prospect of relief. Von Kluck knew was that he had to capture Lille, the defeat of the French Fifth Army and the BEF would result in the fall of Paris and with it the collapse of the French, then his army could head east and smash the Russians.
As he pondered the capture of Lille a colonel came in bearing a message form, he seemed uncertain, fearful almost panicked, his hand shook slightly as he passed the heavy sheet of paper over. The message was from Generla von Emmich commander of X Corps, one of the two units that was screening the BEF, it stated baldly “BEF attacking, have taken Mont Garni and Maisieres. British forces have broken 19th division which has withdrawn towards Jurbise, 20th division at risk of outflanking currently relocating Corps headquarters to Soignies.
With that one message all of von Klucks planning came unstuck, he didn’t know if the British were attacking in great strength sufficient to cut him off or if this was just a local counterattack to improve the position at Mons by occupying the high ground overlooking the canal.
He would have to wait for more information, his attacks would continue until he knew what was happening. He sent word to the air corps for reconnaissance flights to take off and try and find out what was going on.
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Anvil into anvil is more of a 40000 tonne press. I suspect your mind changed sentence construction mid sentence: I’ve seen my own writing do that one!
Recent readers might recognise the British push as the seizing of the high ground at the canal, but Hindenberg needs some men in the air to give him the facts on the ground.
I have updated it slightly to make my intention clear. I like the press analogy though, they are just an awesome piece of gear.
I still need to find time to make more maps. Now I have 3 to do at least
I have just listened to the The Great Retreat of 1914, by Spencer Jones. It’s available for free on Audible and it is very well written iN my opinion a useful and gripping resource. I have also been reading 50 years a sailor by Percy Scott, his autobiography and another great resource, his inventiveness is astonishing, he mentioned a Commander Rice in the book who died in June 1914 trialling a airbourne radio system. He was also a big advocate of aircraft carriers in 1919 when the book was published, pointing out the speed, range and bomb load advantages of aircraft vs battleships guns, notable as he did more to improve gunnery in the prewar royal navy than anyone else.
First, kudos on an interesting story. Saw the Turtledove nomination, and decided to check it out.
Is the commander referred to, poor, unfortunate Manstein?
"At the beginning of the war, he was promoted to lieutenant and participated in the invasion of Belgium with the 2nd Guard Reserve Infantry Regiment. In August 1914, he took part in the capture of Namur, the site of a massive citadel surrounded by outlying forts.
Thanks, no it was a French misfire, I was not aware that Manstein was at Namur. Thanks for the information.
6th Army prepares to attack
14th September 1914, Lille.
The attacking infantry were advancing under a hail of rifle fire from the French defenders, they had managed to capture the outskirts of the city. However the artillery support which had been so crucial for breaking into the defences had also created a blasted cratered hellscape, mounds of rubble from the collapsed buildings blocked the roads, slowing the advance and giving numerous places for a sniper to hide.
The French defenders had dug numerous trenches and foxholes, the local male civilians had again been called up in the Levee en Mass, digging trenches and loopholing buildings. The defenders of the city were massively outnumbered and outgunned, but they had a simple task “hold the city”. The lack of super heavy artillery and the relative paucity of shells for those guns and howitzers that the German First army possessed meant that even elderly fortifications or even solidly constructed commercial buildings proved difficult to overcome and provided fairly secure bases of fire for the defending infantry.
The garrison were not completely cut off the French still held between Watttignies and Santes a narrow strip which had enabled reinforcements to come up, the reinforcements were trickling in but mainly older less mobile troops. The best men were being held back to join the new 6th Army.
French high command had moved almost 80,00o reservists up from the South of France, the only uniformed soldiers remaining on the borders with Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Andorra were the old men of the Territorial reserve. Two divisions of troops from the French Army of Africa had also been added, the 1st Moroccan and a division of men drawn from French Garrison troops.
The 6th army was to come under the command of General Michel-Joseph Maunoury, a former artilleryman, he had been called back from retirement by General Joffre to take command.
The 6th army was forming up at Lens, Maunoury was keen not to simply throw the army into the blood bath at Lille. He would move his men up to block the Germans breaking out past Lille in the event that it fell, but if the garrison was able to hold he would try to attack on a flank using Lille as a shield whilst the 6th army cut through the shoulder of the German First Army aiming for Tournai.
But for day and indeed the next few days the defenders of Lille would have to hold, like the defenders of Liege and Namur, the would-be heroes of Lille would delay and attrite II and III corps of the German First Army.
The first task for the newly formed 6th army would be to defeat the German IV corps in detail, this unit was not involved in the attack on Lille, it had advanced into the open country around Orchies, but its advance was slow as it was probing for the flank of the BEF, this flank was currently being defended by the Cavalry Corps (BEF), whose 1st and 2nd Divisions of regular cavalry were reinforced with the 3rd Mounted division which was drawn from the Yeomanry Regiments. The cavalry corps was using the woods and forests which followed the river Scarpe to delay and bloody the advancing German troops.
The regular cavalry were equipped with the same SMLE rifle as the regular infantry and they and the territorials had to be able to meet the same qualification demands as the infantry. The Yeomanry were equipped with older Long Lee Enfields and Lee Enfield cavalry carbines but these were still good rifles that allowed for effective shooting at long ranges. The cavalry and Yeomanry did not try to get stuck in to the advancing German troops merely presenting them with small ambushes which melted away as the Germans moved from column of march into fighting formations, delaying them and causing a steady trickle of dead and wounded. The guns of the RHA would occasionally join the fun, their 13 pounders adding to the misery.
Maunoury was aware of the attacks currently being undertaken by the BEF on the Mons Condee canal line and he intended his attack to take advantage of any reinforcements drawn back towards Belgium by them.
The attack would commence in two days’ time, that time would be spent moving up the attacking infantry and artillery to the jumping of point at Douai. Whilst that movement was being planned and undertaken two of the reserve divisions and their attached artillery would make an obvious road march towards Lille, this force was given orders to do everything possible to inflate its size from the air. The Germans much were making every effort to undertake aerial reconnaissance and if they could be deceived to think that the bulk of the sixth army was marching directly to break the siege of Lille they might be oblivious to the threat to IV Corps from the south.
Mannoury knew that his troops lacked the heavy guns and howitzers of the German army, he had plenty of 75’s and a smattering of other heavier guns. He would have to play to the strengths of his artillery, rapid accurate fire, his gunners would have not have the shells to spend days blasting the Germans out of their positions, short accurate barrages would be the order of the day. Boldness would be required by both guns and infantry, they would have to go forward together. Movements by the bulk of his army would need to be at night so as to reduce the risk of being spotted.
The attack would aim for Orchies, with an initial objective being the capture of the high ground near Raches and Flines-lez-Raches once that ground was captured the advance would be Coutiches and then Orchies and on to Tournai
This attack would force IV corps to reorient to deal with the threat to its lines of communication back to Belgium. Lt General Allenby commander of the Cavalry Corps (promoted to Corps command after the arrival of the 2nd Cavalry Division and the 3rd Mounted Division) would be briefed on the plan so that his men could respond. Keeping up the pressure on the Germans and reducing their ability to respond promptly to the attack.
Failure would result in the destruction of his army and the loss of the only significant reserves available to France, opening the road to Paris and turning the flank of the BEF and the 5th army at Namur. Failure could not and would not be accepted, with that grim thought Maunoury began issuing his orders.
The attacking infantry were advancing under a hail of rifle fire from the French defenders, they had managed to capture the outskirts of the city. However the artillery support which had been so crucial for breaking into the defences had also created a blasted cratered hellscape, mounds of rubble from the collapsed buildings blocked the roads, slowing the advance and giving numerous places for a sniper to hide.
The French defenders had dug numerous trenches and foxholes, the local male civilians had again been called up in the Levee en Mass, digging trenches and loopholing buildings. The defenders of the city were massively outnumbered and outgunned, but they had a simple task “hold the city”. The lack of super heavy artillery and the relative paucity of shells for those guns and howitzers that the German First army possessed meant that even elderly fortifications or even solidly constructed commercial buildings proved difficult to overcome and provided fairly secure bases of fire for the defending infantry.
The garrison were not completely cut off the French still held between Watttignies and Santes a narrow strip which had enabled reinforcements to come up, the reinforcements were trickling in but mainly older less mobile troops. The best men were being held back to join the new 6th Army.
French high command had moved almost 80,00o reservists up from the South of France, the only uniformed soldiers remaining on the borders with Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Andorra were the old men of the Territorial reserve. Two divisions of troops from the French Army of Africa had also been added, the 1st Moroccan and a division of men drawn from French Garrison troops.
The 6th army was to come under the command of General Michel-Joseph Maunoury, a former artilleryman, he had been called back from retirement by General Joffre to take command.
The 6th army was forming up at Lens, Maunoury was keen not to simply throw the army into the blood bath at Lille. He would move his men up to block the Germans breaking out past Lille in the event that it fell, but if the garrison was able to hold he would try to attack on a flank using Lille as a shield whilst the 6th army cut through the shoulder of the German First Army aiming for Tournai.
But for day and indeed the next few days the defenders of Lille would have to hold, like the defenders of Liege and Namur, the would-be heroes of Lille would delay and attrite II and III corps of the German First Army.
The first task for the newly formed 6th army would be to defeat the German IV corps in detail, this unit was not involved in the attack on Lille, it had advanced into the open country around Orchies, but its advance was slow as it was probing for the flank of the BEF, this flank was currently being defended by the Cavalry Corps (BEF), whose 1st and 2nd Divisions of regular cavalry were reinforced with the 3rd Mounted division which was drawn from the Yeomanry Regiments. The cavalry corps was using the woods and forests which followed the river Scarpe to delay and bloody the advancing German troops.
The regular cavalry were equipped with the same SMLE rifle as the regular infantry and they and the territorials had to be able to meet the same qualification demands as the infantry. The Yeomanry were equipped with older Long Lee Enfields and Lee Enfield cavalry carbines but these were still good rifles that allowed for effective shooting at long ranges. The cavalry and Yeomanry did not try to get stuck in to the advancing German troops merely presenting them with small ambushes which melted away as the Germans moved from column of march into fighting formations, delaying them and causing a steady trickle of dead and wounded. The guns of the RHA would occasionally join the fun, their 13 pounders adding to the misery.
Maunoury was aware of the attacks currently being undertaken by the BEF on the Mons Condee canal line and he intended his attack to take advantage of any reinforcements drawn back towards Belgium by them.
The attack would commence in two days’ time, that time would be spent moving up the attacking infantry and artillery to the jumping of point at Douai. Whilst that movement was being planned and undertaken two of the reserve divisions and their attached artillery would make an obvious road march towards Lille, this force was given orders to do everything possible to inflate its size from the air. The Germans much were making every effort to undertake aerial reconnaissance and if they could be deceived to think that the bulk of the sixth army was marching directly to break the siege of Lille they might be oblivious to the threat to IV Corps from the south.
Mannoury knew that his troops lacked the heavy guns and howitzers of the German army, he had plenty of 75’s and a smattering of other heavier guns. He would have to play to the strengths of his artillery, rapid accurate fire, his gunners would have not have the shells to spend days blasting the Germans out of their positions, short accurate barrages would be the order of the day. Boldness would be required by both guns and infantry, they would have to go forward together. Movements by the bulk of his army would need to be at night so as to reduce the risk of being spotted.
The attack would aim for Orchies, with an initial objective being the capture of the high ground near Raches and Flines-lez-Raches once that ground was captured the advance would be Coutiches and then Orchies and on to Tournai
This attack would force IV corps to reorient to deal with the threat to its lines of communication back to Belgium. Lt General Allenby commander of the Cavalry Corps (promoted to Corps command after the arrival of the 2nd Cavalry Division and the 3rd Mounted Division) would be briefed on the plan so that his men could respond. Keeping up the pressure on the Germans and reducing their ability to respond promptly to the attack.
Failure would result in the destruction of his army and the loss of the only significant reserves available to France, opening the road to Paris and turning the flank of the BEF and the 5th army at Namur. Failure could not and would not be accepted, with that grim thought Maunoury began issuing his orders.
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Nice update, I wonder how those divisions marching towards Lille will inflate their size?
One error I noticed:
One error I noticed:
Error corrected thanks for the spot. As to how they will make themselves look bigger it will be marching in loose column, setting more cooking fires and creating more dust and the like.
Bloodlands
14 September 1914, Staryi Uhryniv.
The fleeing column of disorganised Austrian soldiers was retreating, they had been decisively defeated by the Russian Army in the recent battles for Galicia. The troops were demoralised, leaderless and being pursued by seemingly numberless Cossack light cavalry, food was running short. Defeat, fear and hunger had largely dissolved what discipline had existed and now they were more an armed band than any thing else. They needed food and the peasants of this village had food, they had guns and the peasants did not, so they would have food.
The looting was going well to begin with, the soldiers had overawed the peasants but when one young soldier took a shine to a young girl and her father knocked him down with a hammer, it rapidly got out of hand.
The soldiers didn’t have long to spend, the Cossacks were not that far behind, but the Tsar’s troops would get no support in Staryi Uhruniv, not with nothing left alive and all of the buildings on fire.
The fleeing column of disorganised Austrian soldiers was retreating, they had been decisively defeated by the Russian Army in the recent battles for Galicia. The troops were demoralised, leaderless and being pursued by seemingly numberless Cossack light cavalry, food was running short. Defeat, fear and hunger had largely dissolved what discipline had existed and now they were more an armed band than any thing else. They needed food and the peasants of this village had food, they had guns and the peasants did not, so they would have food.
The looting was going well to begin with, the soldiers had overawed the peasants but when one young soldier took a shine to a young girl and her father knocked him down with a hammer, it rapidly got out of hand.
The soldiers didn’t have long to spend, the Cossacks were not that far behind, but the Tsar’s troops would get no support in Staryi Uhruniv, not with nothing left alive and all of the buildings on fire.
Hm, I'm not so familiar with the WW1 eastern front. Is this OTL or are the Russians being more successful than they already were early on?
It’s otl ish the Russians did get there but this time there has been no tannenburg so morale will be worse for the Austrian Hungarian army with a resultant worsening of morale.
A Marine Machinegunner
14 September 1914, Nieuwpoort
The machine gunner was back at the aid post, he had been slightly wounded by a ricochet, the round had been deflected into his arm after striking the edge of the brick wall he was using for cover. The days fighting had been intense, the most successful attack had been that of the jäger battalions, they had advanced cleverly taking full advantage of the limited cover available to advance by rushes towards the British fighting lines.
The Royal Marines had been subjected to sporadic artillery fire throughout the night but for the most part it had been poorly aimed and had not achieved very much, a few men killed and wounded and one of the British artillery pieces was destroyed when it was struck on the trunnion by a German high explosive shell. The gun was unmanned but there was a quantity of ready use ammunition piled nearby that exploded when struck by shell fragments causing heavy casualties.
The Royal Marines had stood to at nautical dawn, awaiting the attack they knew must come, the machine gunner had manned his gun, his loader to his side ready to begin feeding the Vickers Machine Gun with which they were equipped. The German had commenced much heavier rates of fire than that experience during the night, that had clearly just been harassing fire intended to disrupt the sleep of the british troops and make movements more difficult, reducing the opportunity for the British to resupply, reinforce or evacuate any outlying positions.
The British cruisers offshore had not engaged in any gunfire support in the night the possibility of hitting their own forces and the complexity of issuing gunnery direction at night had precluded it. The land-based artillery had done some firing, but it had mainly been indirect fire aimed at map references and the occasional star shell. But like the infantry, the gunners ashore and the sailors at sea stood to their guns and made ready for a busy day.
The first attack had been made by the Jägers, they had used the cover of darkness to advance to within 400 yards of the British front line, they had concealed themselves in the limited cover that was available, mainly lying in the shallow ditches which crisscrossed the flat farmland, where there were crops they also used them for concealment. They lay waiting the signal for the attack, the horse artillery was going to fire a short barrage then when the shelling ceased, they would advance at the rush with fixed bayonets.
The shelling by the horse artillery was as heavy as they could manage and for 10 minutes they had fired a barrage of 10 rounds per minute, 100 rounds per gun and nearly 40 percent of the ammunition they had on hand. As dawn broke they had much better visibility of the British lines, they targeted them much more effectively. Hitting breastworks and outlying strong points which had been identified the previous day.
The Jägers advanced with a shout and with bugles playing the advance, they rose up from their concealment and advanced by rushes, the Royal Marines had kept their heads down under the artillery barrage, but as soon as the fire ceased, they returned to their positions, the breastworks had been damaged in many places but not enough to seriously impact their defence. The NCOs and Officers rapidly took charge of their men and the Germans had scarcely advanced more than 50 feet before the fire of the Royal Marines tore into them, the same musketry standard was expected of a Marine as a Soldier and the same withering rifle fire ploughed through the advancing ranks. The Jägers advanced with fire and movement tactics, pausing to shoot at the Marines, however they lacked the cover and concealment of the British Infantry, and the withering effect of Machine Gun fire was soon added to their problems. The Jäger advance stalled just short of the British line in most places but near the centre of the line where the shelling had been more effective, they managed to advance to the breastworks. The British defenders rose from behind their defences and engaged the Jägers with fixed bayonets putting the attackers to flight. With that failure and with the British artillery finally waking up to the threat and their shells finally starting to land amongst the attackers, the Jägers retreated back to their start lines.
The dismounted cavalry attacks fared even worse, they attacked in close order formations and were savaged by machine guns and rifle fire from the moment they came into effective range. The British artillery was only peripherally involved in the attacks they concentrated their fire on supressing the Horse Artillery. The Royal Navy did manage to contribute to the defence, with both 9.2” and 6” rounds being fired, their accuracy had improved with better signal links between ship and shore and the large targets presented by dismounted cavalry squadrons.
As the day wore on the German Attacks became ever more frantic, it culminated with an anachronism, at around 2pm as another attempt by the badly depleted Jäger and dismounted regiments was failing, two full regiments of cavalry formed up just out of rifle shot.
All of the surviving horse artillery units had joined the cavalry and they unlimbered as close to the British lines as they could manage. They began a stinging barrage and as they fired, the cavalry order to advance at the trot was given. The artillery attempting to shoot the cavalry onto the British lines, the cavalry in long lines was trotting forward, it was still out of range of effective rifle shot. The machine guns where also silent waiting till their fire would be most effective.
When the cavalry had advanced to within 1000m of the British line the horse artillery redoubled their fire, the machine gunners and rifle men still silent. The order to advance at the gallop was given, this was further out than is ideal with cavalry but the need to cover the beaten zone of the machine guns and rifles outweighed, the need to keep the horses fit to charge again.
The RMLI machine gunners still under fire keep their guns silent. The cavalry advanced, the shells soaring overhead getting ever closer to the charging horsemen until the battery commanders had to cease fire lest a short round or a faulty fuse strike their own men. Already they had kept shooting much closer than was pre-war practice but the bloodbath of the day had hardened them all to risk.
The artillery didn’t actually cease fire they just switched to slightly deeper targets, their ammunition supply was fast dwindling but the was the schwerpunkt, the point of decision on which the whole battle rested, nothing would be left to chance.
Within moments of the guns lifting the machine guns and rifles fired, as it had done so many times in colonial wars the combination of the Vickers Maxim and the Lee Enfield proved devastating, whole troops of cavalry were cut down in moments. The charge stalled 500 yards from the British line, confusion reigned, some units tried to dismount and use their carbines, others pressed on their numbers melting away the closer they got. At 150 yards they encountered a fairly simple barbed wire entanglement, only a few strands and wooden not steel pickets so knocked down in many places. But not everywhere and a horse with a loop of barbed wire wrapped round its hoof is chaos, the attack collapsed, those still mounted attempting to flee and those on foot seeking shelter were ever it could be found.
It was at that moment that the artillery got back into the action, the poor communications between the front line and the guns both on and offshore meant that their fire arrived too late to sway the battle but it devastated the retreating troops.
The machine gunner was back at the aid post, he had been slightly wounded by a ricochet, the round had been deflected into his arm after striking the edge of the brick wall he was using for cover. The days fighting had been intense, the most successful attack had been that of the jäger battalions, they had advanced cleverly taking full advantage of the limited cover available to advance by rushes towards the British fighting lines.
The Royal Marines had been subjected to sporadic artillery fire throughout the night but for the most part it had been poorly aimed and had not achieved very much, a few men killed and wounded and one of the British artillery pieces was destroyed when it was struck on the trunnion by a German high explosive shell. The gun was unmanned but there was a quantity of ready use ammunition piled nearby that exploded when struck by shell fragments causing heavy casualties.
The Royal Marines had stood to at nautical dawn, awaiting the attack they knew must come, the machine gunner had manned his gun, his loader to his side ready to begin feeding the Vickers Machine Gun with which they were equipped. The German had commenced much heavier rates of fire than that experience during the night, that had clearly just been harassing fire intended to disrupt the sleep of the british troops and make movements more difficult, reducing the opportunity for the British to resupply, reinforce or evacuate any outlying positions.
The British cruisers offshore had not engaged in any gunfire support in the night the possibility of hitting their own forces and the complexity of issuing gunnery direction at night had precluded it. The land-based artillery had done some firing, but it had mainly been indirect fire aimed at map references and the occasional star shell. But like the infantry, the gunners ashore and the sailors at sea stood to their guns and made ready for a busy day.
The first attack had been made by the Jägers, they had used the cover of darkness to advance to within 400 yards of the British front line, they had concealed themselves in the limited cover that was available, mainly lying in the shallow ditches which crisscrossed the flat farmland, where there were crops they also used them for concealment. They lay waiting the signal for the attack, the horse artillery was going to fire a short barrage then when the shelling ceased, they would advance at the rush with fixed bayonets.
The shelling by the horse artillery was as heavy as they could manage and for 10 minutes they had fired a barrage of 10 rounds per minute, 100 rounds per gun and nearly 40 percent of the ammunition they had on hand. As dawn broke they had much better visibility of the British lines, they targeted them much more effectively. Hitting breastworks and outlying strong points which had been identified the previous day.
The Jägers advanced with a shout and with bugles playing the advance, they rose up from their concealment and advanced by rushes, the Royal Marines had kept their heads down under the artillery barrage, but as soon as the fire ceased, they returned to their positions, the breastworks had been damaged in many places but not enough to seriously impact their defence. The NCOs and Officers rapidly took charge of their men and the Germans had scarcely advanced more than 50 feet before the fire of the Royal Marines tore into them, the same musketry standard was expected of a Marine as a Soldier and the same withering rifle fire ploughed through the advancing ranks. The Jägers advanced with fire and movement tactics, pausing to shoot at the Marines, however they lacked the cover and concealment of the British Infantry, and the withering effect of Machine Gun fire was soon added to their problems. The Jäger advance stalled just short of the British line in most places but near the centre of the line where the shelling had been more effective, they managed to advance to the breastworks. The British defenders rose from behind their defences and engaged the Jägers with fixed bayonets putting the attackers to flight. With that failure and with the British artillery finally waking up to the threat and their shells finally starting to land amongst the attackers, the Jägers retreated back to their start lines.
The dismounted cavalry attacks fared even worse, they attacked in close order formations and were savaged by machine guns and rifle fire from the moment they came into effective range. The British artillery was only peripherally involved in the attacks they concentrated their fire on supressing the Horse Artillery. The Royal Navy did manage to contribute to the defence, with both 9.2” and 6” rounds being fired, their accuracy had improved with better signal links between ship and shore and the large targets presented by dismounted cavalry squadrons.
As the day wore on the German Attacks became ever more frantic, it culminated with an anachronism, at around 2pm as another attempt by the badly depleted Jäger and dismounted regiments was failing, two full regiments of cavalry formed up just out of rifle shot.
All of the surviving horse artillery units had joined the cavalry and they unlimbered as close to the British lines as they could manage. They began a stinging barrage and as they fired, the cavalry order to advance at the trot was given. The artillery attempting to shoot the cavalry onto the British lines, the cavalry in long lines was trotting forward, it was still out of range of effective rifle shot. The machine guns where also silent waiting till their fire would be most effective.
When the cavalry had advanced to within 1000m of the British line the horse artillery redoubled their fire, the machine gunners and rifle men still silent. The order to advance at the gallop was given, this was further out than is ideal with cavalry but the need to cover the beaten zone of the machine guns and rifles outweighed, the need to keep the horses fit to charge again.
The RMLI machine gunners still under fire keep their guns silent. The cavalry advanced, the shells soaring overhead getting ever closer to the charging horsemen until the battery commanders had to cease fire lest a short round or a faulty fuse strike their own men. Already they had kept shooting much closer than was pre-war practice but the bloodbath of the day had hardened them all to risk.
The artillery didn’t actually cease fire they just switched to slightly deeper targets, their ammunition supply was fast dwindling but the was the schwerpunkt, the point of decision on which the whole battle rested, nothing would be left to chance.
Within moments of the guns lifting the machine guns and rifles fired, as it had done so many times in colonial wars the combination of the Vickers Maxim and the Lee Enfield proved devastating, whole troops of cavalry were cut down in moments. The charge stalled 500 yards from the British line, confusion reigned, some units tried to dismount and use their carbines, others pressed on their numbers melting away the closer they got. At 150 yards they encountered a fairly simple barbed wire entanglement, only a few strands and wooden not steel pickets so knocked down in many places. But not everywhere and a horse with a loop of barbed wire wrapped round its hoof is chaos, the attack collapsed, those still mounted attempting to flee and those on foot seeking shelter were ever it could be found.
It was at that moment that the artillery got back into the action, the poor communications between the front line and the guns both on and offshore meant that their fire arrived too late to sway the battle but it devastated the retreating troops.
