4 replies to this topic

[Stansman]

Hello to the forum, I have read a number of Bravery medal citations to junior Army Oficers praising their valuable work on a reconnaissance. I'm curious to know what was the usual number of soldiers who went on these missions, did the officer go into no mans land with just a handful of men to scout out the enemy, or did he do it with most of his platoon? Or was it even likely he just gave the orders and some of his men did the actual work? My feeling its likely to be the first possiblity in order for him to earn a bravery decoration but I'm appreciative of any other ideas.
Thanks
Stan

[tony paley]

Stan,
   No doubt you will get many answers. Such recce forays would vary.  sometimes it could be a large 'trench raid' that could even have some Artillery support. this would be undertaken to test the enemy and take some prisoners.  Or a small party just to keep everyone on their toes.  A small recce, sometimes an officer with an experienced nco may go out to scout the enemies wire and defences as a prelude to a bigger attack.  These raid often varied between units, some commanding officers adopting a more aggresive attitude to keep everyone on their toes.  This could help moral or have the opposite effect. Reading unit diaries gives the impression that it was the norm and policy for units to keep up such activities. Of course it does beg the question were some units more pro active than others.  Most Infantry diaries I have read seem to suggest that it was the norm rather than the exception.  even some 'Heavy' Artillery diaries have mentioned an operational order in support of a trench raid.  If you were able to obtain some unit diaries over a period they are sometimes quite informative of these raids, and I have seen junior officers reports attached to the diary.  hope this helps.
tony P

[centurion]

There is a great difference between recce patrols and more aggressive "dominating no mans land" exercises. What Tony describes are primarily the latter and do seem to have varied in size and intensity depending on a number of things such as the result required and the aggressiveness of the units holding the line in any particular sector.On the British side Guards regiments and Irish ones were reckoned to be amongst the most gung ho in this regard. They could still be quite small as when a German recce patrol might be ambushed and a prisoner taken. Recce patrols proper were always small and quiet and intended to keep tabs on what the enemy was doing, where his new wire was, were there any new gaps in his wire indicating a planned attack etc.

[squirrel]

As Centurion says, a "reconnaissance" could just be an Officer and an experienced NCO; a "reconnaissance in force" could be anything up to the strength of a Company or more with artillery support and more troops in no man's land to cover their return.
It depends on what was written by the person writing the report and what terms they used. For instance, one man's reconnaissance in force could be another man's trench raid.

[Stansman]

Thanks for the replies
Stan