3rd October 1914, Bullegem.
2nd Lt Sholto Douglas was tired, his battery had been in heavy action for most of the last 3 weeks, the guns were showing wear and he had heard worrying rumours about the supply of shells. They had used shrapnel shells almost exclusively for the 18 pounders, saving a few star shells, but he had been told by the Battery commander that they would be receiving some high explosive rounds soon.
Douglas was scouting a position to relocate the battery, as the BEF continued to press forward against the Germans holding Brussels. The country was generally flat, although the land to south of the river Dender was higher with a slight ridge paralleling the river. It was on this ridge where most of the German defensive positions lay, observing those positions to ensure they would not overlook the battery being the goal of Lt Douglas’s current exertions.
The BEF was on the offensive, but its main gun, the 18 pounder was hindered by its limited elevation and relatively short range, it was best suited to direct fire the shrapnel shells being deadly against troops in the open but more limited in their impact against dug in enemies. Douglas was scouting up to the British front line, occasional bullets whistling past his ears or making that weird whickering noise of ricochets.
He was satisfied by the position, it was relatively well concealed, already the gunners had learnt the value of not positioning the guns in the open, both their own losses and those they had inflicted on poorly sited German guns had reinforced that lesson. The guns would be positioned on a reverse slope so their ability to fire defensively would be reduced but the observing officer would be able to direct fire over the river without too much bother. The signallers would run two separate sets of signal wire to the front line to enable communications with the battery.
Content that the battery would be able to operate effectively from the position selected Douglas returned to the batteries bivouac position, he would confirm the new position with the battery commander and then would commence the unenviable task of moving the guns up, so that the advance could continue.