Bombers' Training, and Application of Same in Trench Warfare — Edition Insights

From Engineers to Infantry: A Shift in Explosives Training

The preface establishes a key historical context: before the war, explosives were the domain of Engineers, as seen in the Manual of Field Engineering, 1911. Ferris argues that manual, written before the bomb method, does not fully apply to current infantry needs. This work fills that gap, providing instruction on handling, shipping, and storage to avoid accidents, and on the characteristics and properties of explosives to make the best use of them. The author acknowledges Capt. G. S. Laing and Capt. G. D. Powis for assistance, grounding the manual in practical military experience.

Throwing Position and the Danger of Eagerness

In the excerpt on throwing, Ferris describes the correct position: feet spread, shoulder opposite throwing hand facing the target, bomb brought upward with a straight arm and circular motion, released when the hand is above the head. He notes that in a narrow trench, men cannot move from a standing position, so practices must enforce that stance. A telling observation: “men in their eagerness to get rid of the live bomb lose sight of the main object for which they are being trained, namely, accuracy and range.” This caution against haste under pressure is a recurring theme.

Sandbags, Tools, and Trench Comforts

Ferris devotes attention to practical trench skills. Sandbags are passed between legs, keeping heads down from rifle and machine-gun fire. Men practice building blockades and breastworks; in absence of sandbags, grain or flour sacks may be used. Digging and cutting tools are practiced in standing, kneeling, and lying positions. Reconstruction work uses dummy trenches wrecked for practice with earth, sandbags, sods, timber, brushwood, bale wire, and old packing cases. Means of egress from trenches—cutting steps, reinforcing with board, providing handhold—are taught so the whole line can go forward together. Even “trench comforts” are addressed: tight clothing at neck and waist to prevent falling earth, change of socks, and a supply of smokes.

Passing Orders and the Six-Day Syllabus

The manual emphasizes passing orders and information correctly by word of mouth, with a sender at one end and a receiver at the other keeping a record. This is practised during trench exercises. The syllabus for a six-day bombers’ school is shown on page 37, with a list of material and equipment for a class of 50 on page 38. The lectures cover explosives (working knowledge, classification, characteristics), types of rifle and hand grenades, bombers’ training in two parts, frontal attack, consolidating ground gained, and enfilade attack. The structure moves from theory to application, with the syllabus providing a concrete schedule for instructors.

Ferris’s manual is a practical, period-specific document that reveals the rapid adaptation of infantry training to trench warfare. Readers should note the emphasis on safety, accuracy, and the integration of multiple skills—from explosives handling to trench construction. The excerpts show a concern for both effectiveness and survival, with repeated warnings against haste and reminders to maintain cover. This is not a general treatise but a direct response to the conditions of 1916.