To all Companies

After Order

Company Commanders will see that every man understands what he is to do under the various circumstances.
They must immediately study the Defence Scheme and attached map with the Platoon Officer and Sergeants.
The Platoon Officers will then go thoroughly into it with their Sections.
It is of vital importance that every Section understands what is expected of it

Ammunition and rifles must be closely inspected.
water bottles kept filled - as no time would be available to fill if ordered out.
Iron Rations must be intact - any man deficient should be brought before the Commanding Officer.

Bombs to be carried by all bombers.
All men able to throw a live bomb should carry two if possible.

8 . 5 . 18

DEFENCE SCHEME

1. DISTRIBUTION OF TROOPS

The Divisional Front is divided into two sectors each held by one Brigade in depth.
The Reserve Brigade will be disposed at WARLOY and 4th ROYAL WELSH FUSILIER about V . 23 Central

2. ACTION IN CASE OF ATTACK

The front line will be the main line of resistance

(a) FRONT BRIGADES

Should the enemy capture any part of front line an immediate counter-attack will be made by Battalion Reserve.
Plans for immediate counter-attack by Support Battalions will be thought out before time to prevent delay in launching them

(b) RESERVE BRIGADE

The Reserve Brigade with 2 Sections of M. G. Coy will move to assembly positions as follows:-
     18th LONDON      V. 25 B
     19th LONDON      C. 6 B
     20th LONDON      V. 30 D
     2 Sections M G    V. 30 D
     141st T M B         V. 30 D

3. ROLL OF RESERVE BRIGADE

(a) The Reserve Brigade will be prepared to move to Battalion foreward to occupy the position vacated by either Support Battalions of Brigade in front line if either or both are moved foreward for counter-attack

(b) To Counter-attack any part of Divisional front on orders from Divisional Headquarters

(c) To occupy trench system
D. 6. b. 9. 0. to W. 13. C. 1. 0.

In the event of (a) para 3 the 19th LONDON will support 140th Brigade.
18th LONDON will support 142nd Brigade
A liaison Officer will be sent from Battalion to report to Headquarters of Brigade it is supporting immediately warning of enemy attack is received

In the event of (b) para. 3
The 19th will attack on the right the 18th on the left with 20th in support

Reserve Brigade Headquarters will move to HENENCOURT CHATEAU

In the event of (c) para 3.
The Trench system will be divided into three and occupied by their Battalions
  18th on Left
  19th on Centre
  20th on Right

4. TANKS

(a) One Coy of Whippets will act in Divisional Reserve in case of enemy advance but independantly of infantry.

(b) "A" Coy No. 2 Tank Battalion MARK V tanks (6 males - 3 females) located in WARLOY will cooperate in any Counter-attack made by Reserve Brigades or will move forward independantly to operate against hostile tanks

18th Lon Regt

Reference attached Defence Scheme
The Brigade Commander considers that detailed information should have been given to Company Commanders as regards the action required or role to be played by them in any of the four possible eventualities - incdg the move to the assembly area and the formation to be adopted

9. 6. 18

SECRET

18th Lon.Regt.     "B" Coy.M.G.Bn.
19th Lon.Regt.     518th Fld.Coy.R.E.
20th Lon.Regt.     4th R.W.F.
141st T.M.Bty.     Left Group Arty.
----------------------------------------------

1. "D" Special Company R.E., now have projectors installed at E.7.d.O.6.

2. These will be fired at early dawn on 30th May if wind is favourable; otherwise on firsdt favourable day. Zero hour will be notified later.

3. Targets will be the wooded bank running from E.8.b.0.5. to E.2.d.6.0. and bank running from E.8.b.4.0. to E.8.b.9.2.

4. This will necessitate : -

        (a) All troops being withdrawn from the RED triangle shown on attached tracing.

        (b) All troops within the BLUE triangle shown on the attached tracing wearing their box respirators from Zero - 5 minutes till Zero + 10 minutes.

        Bursts of artillery and machine gun fire will be directed on to the targets at Zero.

5. Code words will be used as follows : -
       CHARLES - operation WILL take place tonight.
       APPLE - operation WILL NOT take place tonight.
       FORTRESS - operation completed.

6. ACKNOWLEDGE

B.M.S.459

29th May 1918

Captain
Brigade Major
141st Infantry Brigade.

Issued to battns., T.M.Bty. and 518 Fld.Coy.R.E

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS

To:- 18th, 19th, 20th Lon Regt, 141 T M Bty, "B" Coy M G Bty, 518 Fld Coy RE, 4th Bn RW7, Left Group Arty

Senders Number - BM 606. Day of Month 30/5

Refers BMS459 of 29th Inst. Projectors will now be fired at 1.30 am on night 30/31st May if wind is favourable
A similar discharge will be taking place on the 58th Div front on Quarry at W.27.b.8.8 at the same hour
Acknowledge

SECRET

1/18th Battn THE LONDON REGIMENT.
OPERATION ORDER No. 246
Ref Map Sheet 62 D                         28 May 1918

1. The 18th BATTALION will relieve the 19th BATTALION in the LEFT SECTION on the night of 29th/30th May 1918

2. Companies of the 18th BATTALION will relieve corresponding Companies of the 19th BATTALION

3. Disposition of Companies will be as follows:-
"A" Company RIGHT FRONT, "C" Company CENTRE FRONT, "B" Company LEFT FRONT and "D" Company in SUPPORT.

4. Order of Relief "D", "A", "B", "C" & H.Q.

5. Guides will be met on the track 100 yds NORTH of 19th Battalion H.Q. at 10 p.m. - 1 per platoon.

6. Advance parties of 1 Officer per Company and 4 C. S .Majors will report to the 19th Battn. H. Q. by 2 pm and will reconnoitre and take over Trench Stores etc.

7. All Trench Stores including all tools will be handed over and receipts taken will be forwarded to Bn H, Q. by 9 am the 30th inst.

8. The 19th Battn will take over from "A" Company the shift of 1 NCO & 10 men at 4 p.m. and the shift of 2 men at 9 p.m. D Company will relieve the shift of 14 men at 8 pm at the 19th Battn H.Q.

9. Relief complete will be reported by the code word "CHUNK"

10. ACKNOWLEDGE.

Issued at 10.45 am
29.5.18

SECRET

1/19th Battn THE LONDON REGIMENT.
OPERATION ORDER No. 182
Ref Map Sheet 62 d                         28 May 1918

1. 19th BATTALION will relieve the 18th BATTALION in the Left Section tomorrow night the 29th/30th May

2. Disposition. Corps of 18th Battn will relieve corresponding Coys of the 19th Battn

3. Order of Relief "D", "A", "B", "C" & H.Q.

4. Guides 1 per Platoon will meet relieving Coys of the 18th Battn on the track 100 yds North of Battalion H.Q. at 10 p.m. and will report to 2nd Lieut J B WHITWE at 9.45 pm at BN H.Q. Platoon Guides will reconnoitre Overland route from Coy position to BN H.Q. tonight.

5. Advance parties of 18th Battn will arrive at Coy H.Q. during the afternoon to take over Trench Stores.
All S.O.S. Grenades, Aero Stores, Aeroplane ????, Disposition lists, Particulars of "Work in Progress" and washing tubs will be handed over. Receipts to be forwarded to Bn H, Q. by 9 am 30th inst.

6. All relief Coys will move to positions vacated by 18th Battn as follows : -
      "A" Coy in SQUARE TRENCH.
      "B" Coy in HILL ROW.
      "C" Coy in DARLING RESERVE.
      "D" Coy in DARLING RESERVE>

Advance parties from each Coy consisting of 1 Officer, ! NCO and 7 men will proceed to their new positions and take over all Stores
O.C. Coys will make their own arrangements for guides to Support Positions.

7. Transport Officer will send Rations and Water to Coy Dumps tomorrow night and the Officer or N.C.O. of the advance parties will meet the Limber on their respective Dumps and unload.
Q.M. will arrange to send up cooked Ration tomorrow night pending the construction of Coy Cookhouses.
1 Water Cart will be sent to Support Battn H.Q. tomorrow night with H.Q. Rations

8. After Relief "D" Coy will move to DARLING RESERVE and then proceed to SHRINE TRENCH for work.
18th Battn will take over from "D" Coys Shift on the Div Battn H.Q. at 8 pm.

9. Relief Complete will be reported by Priority Wire - CODE-WORDS J.C.P. 182 received.

10. ACKNOWLEDGE.

Issued at 7.45 pm

Operation Order L.J.R. 242
by Lt. Col. A C Thompson DSO Commanding
18th BN LONDON REGT
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 .   Move   The Battalion will relieve the 23rd BN London Regt in the Front Line on night 9/10th inst.
      "A" Coy will relieve "A" Coy in Support.
      "B" Coy will relieve "B" Coy in Reserve.
      "C" Coy will relieve "C" Coy in Right Front.
      "D" Coy will relieve "D" Coy in Left Front
The Battn will parade at 8 pm in the Rue du Bas Baillon. Head of Battalion at D Coys HQ. Dress Fighting Order - Great coats rolled under waterproof sheet & carried on belts. Water bottles filled. Battalion will move by Platoons at 200 yards distance.

2 .   Guides   Guides (1 per Coy) & BN HQ will meet Companies at point V.22.c.8.8 at 9 pm. Platoon Guides at BN HQ.

3 .   Lewis Guns   Lewis Guns Mess Gear will be carried on Companies Limbers and will move with the Coys

4 .   Billets   Billets must be left in a clean & sanitary condition & Company Commanders will render to the Adjutant before they move off a certificate to this effect.

5 .   Locks   All men will carry at least 2 pair of locks.

6 .   Trench Stores   Coy Cmdrs will render to Adjt by 8 am tomorrow morning all details of Trench Stores. Maps, Defence Schemes, etc taken over with copies of receipts for same.

7 .   Relief Complete   Coys will wire relief complete by code word "FANNY."

18th Lon.Regt.     "B" Coy. M.G. Bn.
19th Lon.Regt.     518th Fld. Coy. R.E.
20th Lon.Regt.     4th R.W.F.
141st T. M. Bty.     Left Group Arty.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Reference B.M.S. 459 of 29th May, Zero hour will be 2 a.m. on the first night that wind is favourable.

2. Cancel para 5 and substitute the following : -

      "Code words will be used as follows : -

      MARJORY - Operation WILL take place to-night.
      CUTHBERT - Operation WILL NOT take place to-night.
      DANIEL - Operation completed."

3. Acknowledge

B.M.S. 477.
2nd June 1918

Captain
Brigade Major
141st Infantry Brigade

Some words (shown ???) very difficult to read. If anyone has any additions or corrections to these transcriptions please let me know.