SECRET ........................................Copy No.15.
8th R. INNISKILLING FUSILIERS. OPERATION ORDER
No.103 - 4.6.17. BY LIEUT.COLONEL T.H. BOARDMAN,D.S.O.
Reference Maps FRANCE 28 S.W. Edition 5A. 1/20,000 OOSTTAVERNE 1/5,000.
A sketch map of the Messines salient
GENERAL PLAN.
1. The attack on WYTSCHAETE RIDGE will be made by the 16th Division
in conjuction with Divisions on either flank.
The Attack
2. Battalions of the 49th Inf.Bde. will be disposed as follows:-
These two battalions will carry out the attack on the RED and BLUE Lines.
2nd Battalion The Royal Irish Regt. will pass through, and attack GREEN and BLACK Lines.
8th R.Innis.Fus. will provide Moppers Up and Carrying Parties for the three Attacking Battalions,
49th. M.G.C. and 49th. T.M.B.
�B� & �D� Coys. will act as Moppers UP and will be attached to
7th. R.Innis. Fus. and 7th/8th R.Irish Fus respectively. Full details
as to their work is laid down in Appendices �A� & �B�.
�A� & �C� Coys. will provide Carrying Parties, and details as to
their work are shown in Appendix �C�.
Having completed their task and reported to Units to which they are
attached, Coys. and Platoons of 8th R.Innis. Fus. will reassemble in
YUMYUM TRENCH.
3. The various Boundaries and objectives are marked as follows on Map
already issued(OOSTTAVERNE).
(a) Boundaries.
(b) Objectives.
(c) The following will be the times of arrival at and departure from the various objectives:-
Arrive. Depart.
RED LINE 0.35 1.05 BLUE LINE 1.40
3.40 GREEN LINE 4.10 4.20
BLACK LINE 4.40
4. Positions of Headquarters.
The Brigade Forward Station will follow the last wave of the attack on the BLUE
LINE and will be established about O.13.c.15.45.
When the BLACK LINE has been captured, communication will be extended forward to O.19.b.75.85.
5. COMMUNICATION TRENCHES. 6. DRESS 7. In making reference to times before or after which operations will commence, the following Nomenclature will be adopted in future:- 8. No marked maps of any description of our own lines will be taken in advance of Bn.H.Q. by any Officer, N.C.O. or Man.
All maps so marked will be handed in to Battn. H.Q. at once. 9. INFORMATION. 10. All ranks except strectcher bearers are strictly forbidden to leave thir work in order to assist wounded 11. All men should be warned against the probable misuse of white flags and signs of surrender by the enemy, who has been known
to sham death and then shoot into the back of our assault. 12. Watches will be synchronised at 9 a.m. 12 noon and 6 p.m. daily, under arrangements
to be made by the Signal Officer. 13. All commanders down to Platoon Commanders will keep in touch throughout with the
Commanders of similar formations on their flanks. They must know the disposition and action being
taken by their neighbours, more particularly so when the Units on their flanks belong to another Division. 14. All mines in the 16th Division Front will be exploded at Zero Hour. If the explosion of any of
the above mines has not taken place by Zero plus 15 seconds, it is to be understood that it
will not take place at all. 15. Danger areas are being marked under Divisional arrangements. Notice Boards will be put up in all subways. 16. No telescopic rifles are to be taken forward in the attack. They are to be kept at Quartermaster's Stores for use when when required. 17. To prevent congestion of ordinary traffic during the movement of troops, Battaliosn will march at 500 yards' distance. 18. It is most important that every precaution should be taken to prevent bayonets from flashing in the moonlight
when Units are moving to their positions of assembly. 19. In the event of Hostile Aeroplanes flying low over our lines to ascertain whether our trenches are more strongly manned than usual,
all ranks will remain still and will not look up. 20.In order to assist the Artillery in locating own our Infantry, distinguishing flags will be carried on the scale of not less than two per platoon. S
Strict orders are to be issued against planting these flags in the ground in order to avoid mistakes which might be acused by flags left behind in evacuated positions.
The flags will be provided under Divisional arrangements. At the time of issue all concerned will receive full details as to
their size and colour and the way in which they should be carried. The S.O.S. Signal will remain RED Signal Cartridges as at present. The following R.E. Dumps will be established in the Forward Area:- In order to avoid casualties the whole of the Infantry detailed for the assault of the RED & BLUE LINES should
get rapidly across NO MAN'S LAND. As few troops as possible will be left in our own front
and support lines. The wearing of captured German Headdress, Uniform or Equipment is strictly forbidden. After taking the BLACK LINE troops will be pushed forward to establish themselves on a more advanced line. 26. 27. TANKS 28. S.A.A. & BOMB LIMBERS, of Regimental and M.G. Coy. Transport and all Mobile Reserves of tools will be ready
loaded up by ZERO Hour and Brigaded under arrangements to be made by the Staff Captain. They are not to be unloaded without orders
from Brigade H.Q. 29. Position of Lewis Machine Guns will be as follows:-
"A" Coy. 4 Guns with Teams and all magazines in YUMYUM Trench. 30 POLICE ARRANGEMENTS 31. ACKNOWLEDGE. Issued through Signals:
The 49th Inf.Bde has been allocated two main Communication Trenches:-
Five Communication Trenches connect the CHINESE WALL LINE with the PARK LINE. They will be allotted as follows:-
Right Battalion THE FOSSE, CHOW STREET, AND CORK TRENCH.
Left Battalion CLARE STREET & USNAGH STREET.
Four Communication Trenches connect the PARK LINE with the Front Line; they
will be allotted as follows:-
Right Battalion. BIRR TRENCH & CROWBAR STREET(both to be rebuilt).
Left Battalion. TARA STREET(to be rebuilt) MAYO STREET.
The following roads in the Forward Area have been allotted to the 16th Division:-
Four Cross-country routes (two to each Brigade Area) leading forward from KIM ROAD
to the neighbourhood of WYTSCHAETE are being prepared for wheeled traffic, as far forward as our front line.
These tracks are lettered "C","D","E",& "F".
"D" & "F" will be reserved for IN or Eastward traffic;
"C" & "E" for OUT or Westward traffic.
All Officers will be dressed and equipped the same as the men; sticks are not to be carried.
Fighting Order for all ranks:-
"Z" Day is the day on which operations take place.
One day before "Z"..............................."Y" day.
Two days before "Z".............................."X" day.
Three days before "Z"............................"W" day.
Four days before "Z"............................."V" day.
Five days before "Z"............................."U" day.
Days before "U" day will be referred to as "Z" minus 6, "Z" minus 7, "Z" minus 8 etc.
Unit Commanders will send reports to Bn. H.Q. at every half hour from Zero onwards.
As soon as feasible a Dump will be formed at NORTHERN BRICKSTACK.
One section of Tanks (four tanks) has been allotted to the 16th Division for the advance from the BLUE
to the BLACK LINE. Four Sections of Tanks and any others which can be rallied have been allotted to the
16th Division for the advance from the BLACK LINE to the OOSTTAVERNE LINE
Details as to the employment of these Tanks will be issued later to all concerned
It must be impressed on all ranks in the Infantry that the Tanks are there to assist their advance if possible,
but that they must never for a moment suppose that success depends upon their presence. The men
must never wait for the Tanks but must push on to their Objective irrespective of whether they
come up or not.There is a great danger of the attack being held up if this is not thoroughly realised by all ranks.
On no account must men gather around the Tanks.
"B" Coy. 1 Gun and team with 15 magazines with 13th line 7th R. Innis.Fus.
and 3 guns with Nos.1 of each in YUMYUM Trench.
"C" Coy. 4 guns with teams and all magazines in YUMYUM Trench.
"D: Coy. 4 Guns with teams, carrying 15 magazines per team to report to B.L.G.O. 7/8th R.Irish Fus.
Remainder of magazines going into action will be dumped in YUMYUM TRENCH.
Police Posts will be formed along CHINESE WALL LINE to direct
Copy No.1 to O.C. "A" Coy.
Copy No.2 to O.C. "B" Coy.
Copy No.3 to O.C. "C" Coy.
Copy No.4 to O.C. "D" Coy.
Copy No.5 to Signalling Officer.
Copy No.6 to Intelligence Officer.
Copy No.7 to B.L.G.O.
Copy No.8 Medical Officer
Copy No.9 H.Q. 49th Inf. Bde.
Copy No.10 to O.C. 2nd R.Irish Regt.
Copy No.11 to O.C. 7th R.Innis. Fus.
Copy No.12 to O.C. 7/8th R.Irish Fus.
Copy No.13 to 49th. M.G.C.
Copy No.14 to 49th. T.M.B.
Copy No.15 War Diary.
Copy No.16/17 Retained.