Defence of duffers drift

BOOK REVIEW by Sailesh

1. THE DEFENCE OF DUFFER DRIFT A BOOK REVIEW

2. BEFORING GOING TO THE BOOK ??? DUFFER; Idiot Person DRIFT; Area near slow flowing river

3. AIM TO ACCQUIANT ABOUT THE BOOK “THE DEFENCE OF DUFFER’S DRIFT”

4. 1 st Published : British United Service Magazine ,1904 Published by : Praetorian Press, LLC, Seatle USA 2012 Military Small Unit Tactics classic book Lieutenant back sight Foresight book Task to defend Duffers Drift Scenario played out six separate times, in six "dreams.“ After each defeat, learns lessons and adapts new strategy INTRODUCTION ABOUT THE BOOK

5. INTRODUCTION ABOUT THE AUTHOR Writer: Maj Gen E.D Swinton ,1904 Born : Bangalore, India, in 1868 Education : University College School, Rugby School, Cheltenham College, Blackhealth Proprietary School, and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. Officer in the Corps of Royal Engineers in 1888, serving in India and becoming Lieutenant in 1891. Invent Tank , Commandant of Royal Tank Corps(1934-38)-earning the rank of Maj. General; Also known as the Father of Tank W arfare Battles/Wars: THE Bore War; nd Boer War and 1 st WW Awards : Distinguished Service Order,Knight cdr of order & companion of the order of the Bath

6. THE BOER WAR BOER, Now Cape Province of south Africa Dutch farmers settled in Bore in 1652 1806 Britian annexed so, D utch had to fled Later B ritish discovered Diamond, Gold and minerals so clash went on Guerrilla warfare

7. BOERS (DUTCH DECENDANTS LIVING IN SOUTH AFRICA) BRITISH SOLDIERS V.S

8. REGREET TABLE MOUNTAIN Gentle Hill At NORTH (SUGAR KOPJE) 1 mile FARM AREA/ INCIDENTAMBLA DRIFT OPEN LEVELLED GROUND 1000m UNDILUATING GROUND 2000 M 1 000 M KARAL WASCHOUT HILL SILLIAASVOGEL RIVER EN APPROACH GENTLE RISING HILL N NON SCALE ORDER NOT TO ALLOW BOERS ENEMY TO CROSS THROUGH THE DRIFT KAFFIRS AND LOCAL RESIDENTS

9. BRIEF ANALYSIS OF BOOK First Dream New officer given chance of independent command No battle experience, defensive measures reading documents. Careless in defence ; No defence , measure of defence more important than comfort of men

10. Assumptions • Picks, shovels unnecessary • Rising ground good • Guard target closely • Natural obstacle; defence by 3 side river • Enemy far away • Information from locals valid • Locals not hostile • Fires a good idea Results • Assault before dawn • Locals aid Boers in intelligence •Brits : 10 killed, 21 wounded Boers : 1 killed, 2 wounded • Boer convoy crosses drift First Dream

11. Dream 1 Lesson Learnt 1 . Do not put off defense 2. Do not trust locals 3. Do not advertise position 4. Do not be in tents Lessons Learnt Position of camp No movements of civilian Sentry post Underground trench during firing

12. Made the defense more stronger Second Dream Trenches were dug out, no people were allowed to come near the camps, fires were put off at night Again , same night lose the battle Assumptions Keeping posts further out gives more time Square Trenches sufficient Soldiers only diggers Keep locals out, fires out sufficient Results • Brits: 24 killed, 6 wounded • Boers able to fire from cover of bushes • Brit position known • Brits unable to fire from cover • Square trenches increase casulty

13. Dream 2 Lesson Learnt With modern weapons: a. Don’t sit on top of drift b. Make positions away from concealed ground c. Make defences concealed and bullet-proof d. Square trenches not effective Spread disinformation, deception Force labor Lesson learnt Defensive position at spot may not arise problem Dignity of labour Let strange men cannot be let off

14. Third Dream Send out two patrols to bring all male villagers for diggings. Prepared every thing for the night except attack from the air. Women betrayed and finally forced to surrender. Assumptions Position outside horseshoe better cover Straight trench w/single break sufficient Sufficient to guard male population Enemy has same arms as you Results Shelled from a distance Trenches useless (a target) against indirect fire Location given away by other locals

15. Dream 3 Lesson Learnt Gather all possible locals Against shelling, scatter in hostile environment gather troops ; against direct fire, Narrow , steep, trapezoidal trenches necessary Surprise Packet Shallow trench with a low parapet against gun, donot conjust your defence Lesson

16. Fourth Dream Patrols sent to bring all human and animals in use for enemy shot at. EN stalked, find unusual, gun from top of hill Assumptions • Dead animals won’t be noticed • Solid parapet sufficient for return fire • Obvious front: North • No cover for trench necessary Results • Position detected • Trench enfiladed • Position surrounded • Brits incapable of returning effective fire • Brits: 25 killed, 17 wounded

17. DREAM 4 LESSON LEARNT The front is everywhere Watch your rear Beware of being enfiladed a ) Rifle fire b ) Long-range guns Do not put your trench behind rising ground Do not huddle your men Cover from sight worth more than from bullets Surprise a great advantage Conceal your position Look from the enemy’s view Lesson Not keep all man in a small trench Checkback concealment frm en point of view For Surprise,obtain concealment No trench near the rising ground “Head cover" and "loopholes"

18. Fifth D ream With lessons in all, the defence was strengthen Attack began , caused a heavy blow,25 enemies killed but the remaining escaped Serious damages to the enemies but the mission failed Assumptions • High ground is sufficient • Guarding ground is a solely defensive operation • Cover is the main criterion when choosing positions Results • Deception useful – Boer scouts caught off-guard – Sandbags provided false target • Ground made up for numbers • “Dead ground” made road safe for Boers to pass under covering fire

19. Dream 5 Lesson Learnt Beware of dead ground A hill has "command," the best place to hold . “ Bluff" trench to waste much ammunition, and draw fire away from the actual defences LESSON

20. Force Deployment Good ground: – Highest points – Close to objectives – Be aware of dead ground – Can direct fire to multiple areas • Internal lines: – Capable of quick reinforcement – Troops don’t waste energy

21. Sixth D ream Twenty two lessons, conclusion to hold the river bed Around 20 or 30 enemy killed The total losses- 11 killed and 15 wounded The troops were able to hold the drift The next day suddenly reinforcement had come and were relieved.

22. SIXTH DREAM STRATEGY IN SIXTH DREAM • Trenches to cover dead ground • Decentralized command • Use of natural cover • Extensive deception RESULT IN SIXTH DREAM • Brits: 11 killed, 15 wounded • Boers: 25+ killed • Drift held

23. Strength and Weakness Deliver message in the form of lessons Good commander make work until surely safe from any enemy View the whole defense area from the enemy's point of view Decision of BF to imprison locals is doubtful

24. Conclusion EXPERIENCE AND THE REASONING POWER COUNTS LOT IN BATTLEFIELD. LESSONS AND TACTICS REQUIRES DURING THE PERIOD OF WAR UNSUCCESS CAN DRIVE YOU TO THE WAY OF SUCCESS

25. RECCOMENDATIONS Written principles may not be always correct judge on basic of situation and capability Must Develop self learning and self correcting habit

26. ANY QUERIES GENTLEMAN????

27. THANK YOU !!! Gentlemen