The following dates are extracts from the 93rd Light Trench Mortar Battery War Diaries (WO/ 95/2362).Work on trenches and dugouts had to be carried out at night. This was to conceal the movement of earth, which had been removed and placed in the rear of existing parados. On the 23rd April 1916 one gun emplacement was established six or seven yards in front of Wolfe Trench and a communication trench was dug from the trench to the emplacement.
Reconnaissance of trenches and enemy positions was carried out regularly, mainly at night enabling batteries to find a specific target. Some of these actions are mentioned as follows: -
16th May 1916 19 rounds fired on enemy trench mortar and machine gun emplacements, each mortar would find a specific target, register on it and then retire before any retaliatory action could take place.
The Stokes Mortar used by the Battery was extremely efficient but once fired, the Mortar projectile could be observed by the enemy giving away the whereabouts of their own position. This could however be used to our advantage, as was shown on the 22nd may 1916.
A pre-arranged time of 3pm with Artillery field guns and howitzers saw 16 Stokes shells fired on enemy trenches from which canister bombs had been fired the previous day.
Immediately the enemy replied with shrapnel, H.E and two canisters, to which our Artillery shelled the enemy positions heavily for some time with good effect.
The Somme
Much training had been carried out for the great offensive, which was to take place on the Somme, and on the 1st July 1916 all was in rediness with the 93rd Light Trench Mortar Battery. Being part of the 31st Division the idea was for the 93rd Brigade to attack and take Serre on the right, and on the left the 94th. All were in position in Colin camps for the bombardment. Two Stokes guns had been positioned in Grey Sap known as B Sap with Lieut Evers in command. Two more Stokes guns were placed in Bleneau Sap. This was known as A Sap with Lieut Bobby in command. These Saps were more exposed to the enemy fire as they were in front of the main trench system but linked to it. The rest of the eight trench mortars were spread along the firing line with Captain Titford in charge.
As our bombardment commenced the enemy artillery retaliated very heavily with deadly effect. 2nd Lieut Bobby was killed, Captain Titford was wounded, four others were killed or died of wounds and eighteen were wounded. The action had been extremely costly to the battery and they were very fortunate to have any survivors. During the bombardment seventeen hundred rounds had been expended. Apart from the loss of men nine out of the initial twelve mortars were out of action. Fortunately all the mortars were salvaged and seven were made ready for action. Lieut Evers was put in charge of the Brigade mortars.
Following this action the Brigade was moved to Vielle Chapelle and carried out training on the 24th of July, eventually reliving the 94th Light trench Mortar Battery on the 28th of July.
Lieut F C Prickett was to take command of the 93 Light Trench Mortar Battery on the 28th of July, after Lieut Evers had been wounded by a raiding party. One Sergeant had also been wounded in the same attack.
This intelligence report on the 23rd of August 1916 illustrates the war was not just been fought on the land and sea
