Chapter 5.
History of the Trench Warfare Department. Part II.
The Transfer of Section FW3A to the Ministry of Munitions.
Section 4: The Growth of the Trench Warfare Department.
(viii) The Growth of the Trench Warfare Department. Once separated from the Departments of Munitions Supply, the drive and talent of the Trench Warfare Department came to the fore, and it expanded rapidly, a process greatly facilitated by the organisational talents of Alexander Roger. With Kitchener’s approval Dr Addison transferred to Jackson from the Departments of Munitions Supply responsibility for the development and manufacture of the Mills bomb, the No1 percussion grenades, the 4-inch and 3.7-inch light mortars and the 2-inch medium trench howitzer and overseeing the production of the No 2 percussion hand grenade and rifle grenade by the Cotton Powder Company and the 1.57-inch medium trench mortar by Vickers. Technically, research and development remained with the Directorate of Artillery in the War Office, but at this time, mid-1915, the Directorate was overwhelmed with work on the production of guns and their ammunition. As the development of grenades and trench mortars was a distraction, it agreed that the Trench Warfare Department would become responsible for their research and development on the understanding that they kept the Directorate informed about what they were doing through working with the Ordnance Board and, in keeping with War Office regulations the Director of Artillery would approve the final design before issuing to the army. This enhanced research and development activity required the development of a second experimental ground at Wimbledon.
(ix) Achievements of the Trench Warfare Department. June-November 1915.
The most formative year in the development of trench warfare munitions was 1915. It was the year in which all belligerents on the Western Front struggled to understand and come to grips with the realities of trench warfare, the nature of which was constantly evolving and full of tactical surprises that presented the infantry with many unforeseen and rapid changes in the nature of the combat between the trenches. It was the year in which most of the weapons for trench warfare first made their appearance: the trench mortars, hand and rifle grenades, poison gas, body armour, signal lights, flares for illumination, incendiary bombs and much more. Unlike the development of conventional weapons, many originated in the life and death struggles of the soldiers in the trenches who demanded, and in many cases first developed, the munitions they saw as crucial to increasing their chances of survival when engaged with an enemy no more than a few yards away.
When Section FW3A transferred to the Ministry of Munitions, its output of munitions was modest, between 15,000 and 20,000 grenades a week, no better than the output of the bomb factories in France, along with the development of the two bomb throwers, the Leach catapult and West Spring Gun. The primary task of the Section in the War Office was not manufacturing, but the research and development of new munitions that might prove useful in trench warfare. With the transfer to the Ministry of Munitions came a significant increase in funding, making the period June to December 1915 the most fruitful period of invention and innovation for Jackson and his research team, who developed a range of munitions never previously provided to the army. The departmental priority was the manufacture and delivery of lethal chemicals but research continued into different patterns of grenades filled with high explosives, smoke or chemicals, trench mortars and their ammunition, flamethrowers, flares and coloured lights for signalling and battlefield illumination, and protective equipment such as body armour, shrapnel helmets and movable shields to protect infantry crossing No Mans Land, as well as a myriad of other specialised trench stores all to assist the soldier in his trench become more militarily effective, safer and perhaps even a little more comfortable. Many of the items produced during this first burst of creativity, roughly from November 1914 to late 1915, served as short-term fixes to provide the troops with the specialised weapons they demanded while better patterns were developed. From this period emerged a small number of choice munitions, such as the Mills bomb and the 3-inch Stokes mortar, that effectively determined the nature of the explosive firepower placed in the hands of the infantry.
Success of The Trench Warfare Department. (July 1915-November 1915).
In November 1915, in preparation for Lloyd George reporting to Parliament on the first six months of the Ministry of Munitions, General Jackson summarised the achievements of the Trench Warfare Department.
(x) The Growth of the Department July – November 1915.[1]
The staff of FW3A that joined the Ministry of Munitions were:
Brigadier-General Jackson;
1 Captain R.E.;
1 Captain R.E. (Temporary);.
1 Personal assistant
6 Clerks and Draughtsmen.
In 5 months, it had expanded:
Head Office.
Military Officers and Heads of Sections. 28
Technical Assistants. 30
Clerical Staff, accountants, typists, etc 124
Outside Engineering Branch.
District Engineers. 6
Assistant Engineers. 8
Supervisors. 29
Clapham School.
Officers. 4
Watford Filling Station.
Hands. 30
TOTAL. 259.
Output of Trench Warfare Supplies.
Grenades: Explosive. In the week ending August 21st 187,000 were supplied and in the week ending August 28th, 257,000. The number is being rapidly increased and we have now provided filling stations with a capacity of about 1,000,000 a week.
Grenades: Chemical. 20,000 incendiary bombs were sent last week. In connection with the present emergency order, 26,000 Red Phosphorus grenades and 20,000 Lachrimatory grenades, together with 10 tons of Red Phosphorus for filling in France, are being sent this week. In addition, 1,500 2-inch Trench Mortar bombs filled with White Phosphorus for producing smoke cover, are being sent. Bombs: Aeroplane. By arrangement with General Du Cane, 200 large bombs filled with Jellite (poisonous) will be ready by the end of the week.
Catapults. There are 900 catapults in France and new improved pockets are being sent out for them. There are also from 300 to 400 lying ready for dispatch.
Gas. The amount now in France is sufficient for an attack on a front of 10,000 yards. In addition, 590 cylinders were dispatched last week. A similar amount will follow this week.
West Spring Guns. 78 additional West Spring Guns were delivered last week to France and 500 more available for shipment.
Trench Howitzers. A request was received from the War Office on August 5th for 500 2-inch and 500 1.57-inch Vickers Trench Howitzers. It was found that we could not rely upon Vickers for prompt delivery and they could not increase their output on their existing orders. They only delivered three during the last two weeks. We therefore increased the order for the 2-inch Howitzer, the production of which we have expedited, to 800. Mr Roger, through the assistance of Col. Gould Adams, had arranged for various tolerances and modifications for 2-inch howitzers, which will expedite delivery and enable firms not previously producing to manufacture them. Complete drawings were not settled and available until the 16th. And 500 guns were ordered on the 17th and 300 on the 18th. We have had to make the steel for the guns, a job which usually occupies from two to three months. This, however, thanks to Messers Steel, Peech and Tozer, is now being delivered and it is estimated that 50 mortars will be available by the middle of September with others following rapidly.
2-inch Trench Mortar Bombs. At the present time Woolwich and their sub-contractors are turning out these at a rate of 500 a week. We have now made arrangements for the delivery of 45-50,000 per week and a special ammonal filling factory is being put up at Erith and will be ready a fortnight from now with a capacity to fill 15,000 per week. They now have a small station there which can fill 1,000 a week, or more. 500 will be ready this week for filling, and 5,000 next week, and afterwords the numbers will rapidly increase, according to these anticipations in connection with these mortars and their ammunition, we shall do in as many weeks as has been done in the same number of months. One of the chief difficulties is an adequate supply of fuses for the bombs. We are sending out 1,500 bombs for the existing howitzers, filled with White Phosphorus, this week.
Stokes Gun.[2] Towards the end of July I instructed General Jackson to order 20 for experimental purposes. It is anticipated the whole of these will have been delivered by September 5th, and we are hoping to send out with them 1,000 special smoke bombs, and 5,000 will follow next week. On 12th August, in anticipation of the report of the Ordnance Board, which has since confirmed the request for Stokes guns, on Mr Lloyd George's orders I instructed the T.W.D. to arrange for a supply of 1,000 Stokes guns.[3] A request has since been received from the War Office for a supply of these guns. Every effort is being made to expedite the delivery of, but we cannot undertake to begin the delivery of them, with an adequate supply of ammunition, before September 20th these guns.
Trench Warfare Department. The following are extra supplies which it is hoped will be ready by the end of next week, It is, at present, too soon to say with any certainty, whether they can be provided.
Stokes Gun. It is hoped to have 20 ready with 5,000 smoke bombs or Capsaicin bombs.
4.5-inch Howitzer. It is hoped to have 1,000, filled with lachrymators, for these Howitzers.
Catapults. There are already 900 catapults out. It is hoped to provide 20,000 lachrymatory bombs for them.
Grenades. 10,000 phosphorus and 10,00 Capsaicin grenades will, it is hoped, will be ready. 140,000 Ball grenades will be sent out next Saturday and probably 150,000 the following Saturday.
Aeroplane Bombs. It is hoped 200 bombs, filled with gelite will be ready.
Gas. The supply is sufficient for an attack on a line of 10,000 yards.
2-inch Trench Mortars. This mortar has only been sanctioned. Orders for 800 have been placed. It is hoped that deliveries will begin by 11th September, but this is doubtful. There has been considerable difficulty over details, for example in getting sufficient tolerance allowed. Col. Gould Adams has been very helpful in getting this through. With regard to ammunition, there has been much difficulty over details, e.g. quality of steel to be used for the stick for the bomb; alterations in the eight of the bomb; and the supply of fuses. To-night (August 25th) we hear that this will probably be available.
(xi) Appendix.1. Staffing.
Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Munitions.
With reference to my minute dated 18th of June, on the subject of the organisation of this department, I should like to amend it somewhat in view of my further experience, and should be glad if the following appointments could be sanctioned and, where necessary, gazetted as soon as possible:-
DEPARTMENT OF TRENCH WARFARE.
Director. Brig.-General L.C. Jackson, C.M.G. (June 10th).
Financial Advisor. A.F.P. Roger.
Assistant Director. Lieut. Col. J.C. Matheson R.E. (June 10th).
Staff Captains. Captain S.T. Cargill R.E. (June 10th).
Captain C.H. Ley (Reserve of Officers) R.E. (July 2nd).
Captain C.F. Atkinson, from a Brigade Major.
Captain H. Moreland, 10th S. Staffs.
Captain J. F. Trelawney, 14th R. Scots.
Mr E.T. Richmond.
Mr F.C. Vincent.
Mr G.H. Wicks.
Mr F.V. Lister.
To be commissioned as temporary Captains, General List
Lieut. J.A. Leeming, R.E. to be promoted temporary Captain.
Sec. Lieut. F. A. Sutton The rank of Captain is very necessary for the above on account of their responsible work and the rank of those with whom they are brought in contact.
Assistants.
Mr E.V. Haig.
Mr G. Gray.
Mr E. Goodwin.
To be commissioned as temporary Lieuts. General List.
The reason for asking for these commissions for these Officials, is that all of them may be required from time to time to go out to the Expeditionary Force on duty in connection with their work.
With the increase of the duties of this branch a further list of appointments will have to be submitted shortly.
Louis Jackson, Brigadier-General, Director Trench Warfare.
(xii) Appendix 2. Classification of Staff for Pay. Trench Warfare Department. 19 Aug. 1915
Name Classification Proposed Rate
Brig.-Gen. L.C. Jackson Director-General
Mr A.F.P. Roger Financial Director Voluntary
Lt. Col. J. C. Matheson Deputy Director £1,000
Capt. C.H. Ley Office Staff & Organiser £500
Capt. S.T. Cargill Clapham School £500
Capt. C.F. Atkinson Staff Officer to Director £500
Capt. H Moreland i/c Section 1 £500
Capt. J.F. Trelawney i/c Section 2 £500
Lieut. J. A. Sutton i/c Section 3 £500
Lieut. J.A. Leeming Inspection Section £500
Mr E.T. Richmond i/c Section 4 £500
Capt. F C. Vincent i/c Section 5 £500
Mr G.H. Wicks i/c Section 6 £500
Mr F.V. Lister i/c Section 7 £500
Mr E. Goodwin i/c Section 8 £500
Mr B.C. Jefferys Secretary to Mr Roger £200
Dr A. W. Crossley Sec. Scientific Advisory Com. Voluntary
Dr C. R. Young Asst Sec Scientific Comm. £250
Office Staff
Mr W.C. Barber (Chief Clerk) Minor Staff Clerk (B of E) Seconded
Mr W.J.W. Quick 2nd Div. Clerk (B of E) Seconded
Mr D.W. Warder Assistant Clerk (B of E) Seconded
Mr R.D. Gosling Assistant Clerk (B of E) Seconded
One more to be engaged Seconded
Clerical Staff
Mr H.T. Phillips Minor Staff Clerk (W.O.) Seconded (Contracts Section)
Mr T Cuthbert 3rd Class Clerk £200
Mr A.B. Comyns Carr 3rd Class Clerk £200
Mr M.L. Beary 2nd Div. Clerk (B of W.I.) Seconded
Mr Matthew Murphy 2nd Div. Clerk (B of E) Seconded
Mr W. Hedges Assistant Clerk (B of E) Seconded
Mr J. Scott Temporary Clerk 31/6d + 10d per hr overtime
Mr Simonds Temp. Clerk Voluntary
Mr G H Cutts Temp. Clerk 31/6d + overtime
Mr J Ramsay Temp. Clerk Paid by M of M
Mr W.W. Grinyer Temp. Clerk 31/6d + overtime
Mr S.C. Batchelar Temp. Clerk 31/6d + overtime
Mr G Poynter Temp. Clerk 31/6d + overtime
Corp. J. A. Donaldson Engineer Clerk/Draughtsman 2 pounds 10 shillings pw
L.V. Hack Statistical Clerk £3 pw
Inspection Section
Mr E.V. Haig Inspector £350
Mr R.A. Carr Inspector £350
Mr G Gray Inspector £350
Mr P. S. Hay Inspector £350
Mr C.O. Bullough Inspector £350
Mr A.A. Rowse Inspector (B of E) Seconded
Mr J. Young 1st Class Draughtsman (WO) To be paid by M of M £350
Mr A. Thompson Examiner £3 10s p.w.
Mr J. Sutcliffe Examiner £3 10s p.w.
Mr S.F. Fox Examiner £3 10s p.w.
Mr M.W. Michell Examiner £3 10s p.w.
Mr A.E. Fletvher Examiner £3 10s p.w.
Mr J.W. Smith Examiner £3 10s p.w.
Mr H.F.W. Barnes Examiner £3 10s p.w.
Corpl. G.S. Warren A.S.C. Acting Examiner
Mr W.K. Sime Engineer Clerk £2 p.w.
Mr R. Muir Engineer Clerk £2 p.w.
Draughtsmen
Mr W.T. Bennett 1st Class Temp (WO) £4 p.w.
Mr H.T. Brightman Temp Clerk (WO) £3 10s p.w.
Mr J.W. Gillespie 1st Class Temp £4 p.w
1 more to be engaged
Typist Section
Miss G.M. McGuinnesss Superintendent (WO) Seconded
6 Shorthand Typists WO Seconded
Miss I.M. Clark Secretary to Mr Roger £2 p.w.
Miss B. Cecil Secretary to Dr Crossley £1 15s p.w.
Miss E. Dagnell Secretary to Lieut. Sutton £2 p.w.
Miss J Brander Secretary to Capt. Trelawney £2 p.w.
Miss A.J. Johnson Shorthand Typist £1 15s p.w.
Clapham School
J. Ellis Range Warden £1 15s p.w.
C.T. Jenner Night Watchman £1 5s p.w.
H.W. Reynolds Storekeeper £2 p.w
C. Jones Boy 10/6p p.w.
S.J. Humphrey Boy Messenger 10/- p.w.
(x) Examples of the Successes of the Outside Engineering Branch. The Output of Area 2.
The office opened on the 22nd of July 1915.
1. Trench Warfare Engineer devoted his attention practically night and day to a rush order for Emergency Ball Grenades which had just been placed at various firms by Capt. Leeming D.O.E.B. The work entailed, in addition to getting out a rapid output, the inspection and passing of the grenades, and advice on the manufacture, the provision of material, arranging transit to the various stations. Approximately 4 and a half million Ball grenades have been manufactured and dispatched.
2. Whilst this work was in progress a very urgent request was made for Traversor Mats. These mats were composed of wool mixed with fine powdered resin, and very difficult to work. The T.W. Engineer succeeded in keeping the people at work night and day, and got the required number of mats completed and dispatched, although the work had to be carried out under very trying circumstances in an atmosphere thickly impregnated with resin dust.
3. At the end of August 1915, in the midst of the other work mentioned, an extremely urgent order was received for 2- inch T.M. bombs. This involved going round to various likely manufacturers at night and getting them to take on the work, and commence the manufacture immediately. Then the dwelling houses of workmen were visited during the night, and the required number of men were brought to their particular work, and got going, the result being that although no preparation had been previously made some 950 cast iron bomb heads 9 inches in diameter, and 1150 stems 2 feet long by 5 inches diameter were manufactured and despatched within the period of one week.
4. In the following month of September a further urgent demand was made for this particular bomb, and T.W. Engineer and his staff devoted themselves night and day in getting the work out, which involved all the testing and inspection necessary. This order was also successfully executed. The 3,000 bomb heads asked for were manufactured, tested, and despatched within a week's time. In connection with this bomb a further 1,000 heads were urgently wanted at once and T.W. Engineer and his staff succeeded in getting 1,000 completed, loaded up, and despatched within 24 hours. It must be understood that all these urgent orders mentioned were carried out in addition to the ordinary work of the department, and in nearly every case, one urgent order overlapped another one.
5. In September 1915 an important request was made for as many gas valves as possible. T.W. Engineer and his staff pushed this work on in Manchester, Leeds, Halifax and Doncaster with the greatest possible speed night and day, and they also tested and examined each valve before dispatched. This resulted in the obtaining of the number of valves required.
6. During the month of October 120 Stokes guns were required, the material for these obtained, and the guns were examined during manufacture by the O.E.B. staff.
7. Owing to some difficulty having been experienced in connection with tubing for fire projecting purposes T.W.E. tested the tubing in use and reported upon the same which resulted in its rejection, and better tube was provided.
8. In the month of February 1916 very urgent order was received for the manufacture of Newton Fuses at once. E.W. Engineer in conjunction with Major Elliot visited likely firms and got the work putting hand same day. This resulted in practically double the number of fuses being made within a given time.
9. The manufacture of the 240 mm bomb is being carefully watched and reported upon by O.E.B. staff in this district.
10. During the whole time that this office has been in existence, manufacturers have been assisted in the supply of material and tools. They have had advice how to overcome many difficulties experienced in the manufacture of the different articles, which had been up to that time quite strange to them.
11. The staff of taken stock of T.W. munitions stored on the manufacturers premises from time to time for the purposes of payment. Also inspected and reported upon machine tools.
12. The T.W. Engineer inspected and reported upon various works proposed for T.W. Munitions.[4] The number of articles manufactured for the Trench Warfare Department, in this area for the past 12 months is over 12 and a quater millions. The work in this area has been somewhat varied as the following list will show.
Items Manufactured by the Trench Warfare Department Area No 2. (Manchester).July 1915 – July 1916.
2-inch Trench Howitzer Bombs. 494,514
2-inch trench Howitzer Stems. 191,958
Emergency Ball grenades. 4,486,002
Traversor Mats. 2,000
Gas Valves. 13,894
Gas Cylinders. 584
Stem Boxes. 63,643
Stokes Shells. 436,781
Rifle Grenades. 100,000
Transit Plugs (brass). 109,970
Stokes Guns. 120
Couplings & Flexible tubes. 264
Mills Grenades. 3,914,061
Newton Fuses. 686,724
No 19 Percussion grenades. 60,676
Pippin Grenades. 20,028
Oval grenades. 19,534
M.L." T/2" Trench Howitzer Bombs. 10,000
3.7-inch Shells. 437,800
9.45 Bombs. 4,850
Adaptor Lugs. 30,240
Pistol Heads. 755,050
Cartridge Containers. 61,000
4-inch Cast Bombs. 6,232
Cast iron Transit Plugs. 62,810
Exploder Pockets. 167,969
Steel Tanks. 10
Relief Valves. 50
Reducing Valves. 8
Base Plates for Stokes Guns. 1,001
4-inch Stokes Guns. 29
Gas Cylinder Cases. 547
9.40 Bomb Crates. 7,460
4-inch Cast Iron Bomb Cases. 2,663
2-inch Stokes Shell Boxes. 132,119 [5]
[1] See Appendix at end of chapter for details.
[2] This refers to the 4-inch Stokes Mortar.
[3] This number refers to the familiar 3-inch Stokes light mortar.
[4] Abbreviations. D.O.E.B. Director Outside Engineering Branch; T.W., Trench; T.M. Trench Mortar; O.E.B. Outside Engineering Branch; T.W.E. Trench Warfare Engineer
[5] TNA: MUN/5/382/1600/11: History of the Outside Engineering Branch of the Trench Warfare Supply Department