The Defence Of Duffer's Drift Presentation

The Defence Of Duffer's Drift

1. DEFENCE OF DUFFER'S DRIFT 1

2. Published in 1904 Written by Maj Gen Ernest D. Swinton Based on The six Dreams of the author INTRO 3

3. AIM To brief about The defense of duffers drift 4

4. SEQ 5 Author Summaries and Lessons Learnt Concl

5. ABOUT THE AUTHOR 6

6. Author 7 Maj General Sir Ernest D. Swinton was a noted English Soldier, author and professor Considered as one of the most far sighted officer Wrote on Effects of Air warfare, mining and Psychological warfare Served as a professor of Military history at Oxford Commandant of the Royal Tank Corps Rose to the Rank of Major General

7. FIRST DREAM 8

8. SUMMARY 9 Author assured by higher HQ that Boer Force is long way to go Pitched tents on the top of the hill Allowed local Boers to enter the camp Boers Sneaked in during the night and ambushed them

9. LESSONS LEARNT 10 Do not put off taking your measures of defence till tomorrow, as this is more important than the comfort of your men or the shipshape arrangement of your camp. Do not in war-time show stray men of the enemy's breed all over your camp, be they never so kind and full of butter. Do not let your sentries advertise their position to the whole world, including the enemy. Do not, if avoidable, be in tents when bullets are ripping through them: at such times a hole in the ground is worth many tents.

10. SECOND DREAM 11

11. SUMMARY 12 Authors men dug a shallow trench Prevented Boer men from entering the camp Attacked late at night Boers position were concealed and effective Lost 24 men

12. LESSONS LEARNT 13 Have a clearer field of fire When fired at by an enemy at close range from nearly all round, a low parapet and shallow trench are not of much use, as what bullets do not hit the defenders on one side hit those on another. It is not enough to keep strange men of the enemy's breed away from your actual defences , letting them go free to warn their friends of your existence and whereabouts.

13. THIRD DREAM 14

14. SUMMARY 15 Sends Forces to bring in all the locals Observer on the top of hill Trences for better Field of Fire Boers informed by local women Boers use their Artillery and attack from long range

15. THIRD DREAM 16 When collecting the friendly stranger and his sons in order to prevent their taking information to the enemy of your existence and whereabouts, if you are wishful for a "surprise packet," do not forget also to gather his wife and his daughter, his manservant and his maidservant. Do not forget that, if guns are going to be used against you, a shallow trench with a low parapet some way from it is worse than useless, even though the parapet be bullet-proof ten times over. Though to stop a shrapnel bullet much less actual thickness of earth is necessary than to stop a rifle bullet, yet this earth must be in the right place. For protection you must be able to get right close under the cover.

16. FOURTH DREAM 17

17. SUMMARY 18 Capture all the locals Dig Trenches Deep and thin Boers attack from Rear and sides Trenches being straight and inline prove to be an easier target 25 dead and 17 wounded

18. LESSONS LEARNT 19 For a small isolated post and an active enemy, there are no flanks, no rear, or, to put it otherwise, it is front all round . Beware of being taken in reverse; take care, when placing and making your defences . Beware of being enfiladed. It is nasty from one flank--far worse from both flanks. Do not have your trench near rising ground over which you cannot see, and which you cannot hold. Do not huddle all your men together in a small trench like sheep in a pen. Give them air.

19. FOURTH DREAM 20 As once before--cover from sight is often worth more than cover from bullets. To surprise the enemy is a great advantage. If you wish to obtain this advantage, conceal your position. Though for promotion it may be sound to advertise your position, for defense it is not. To test the concealment or otherwise of your position, look at it from the enemy's point of view

20. FIFTH DREAM 21

21. SUMMARY 22 Occupy local village to Surprise Boers Gained Concealment but lost ability to fire Defended against Boer’s Advance party Main force slipped in Suffered lesser losses but mission failed

22. LESSONS LEARNT 23 Beware of convex hills and dead ground. Especially take care to have some place where the enemy must come under your fire. Choose the exact position of your firing-trenches, with your eye at the level of the men who will eventually use them. A hill may not, after all, though it has "command," be the best place to hold necessarily. A "bluff" trench may cause the enemy to waste much ammunition, and draw fire away from the actual defences

23. LESSONS LEARNT 24 Beware of convex hills and dead ground. Especially take care to have some place where the enemy must come under your fire. Choose the exact position of your firing-trenches, with your eye at the level of the men who will eventually use them. A hill may not, after all, though it has "command," be the best place to hold necessarily. A "bluff" trench may cause the enemy to waste much ammunition, and draw fire away from the actual defences

24. SIXTH DREAM 25

25. SUMMARY 26 Decides to use Zigzagged Dry River Posts a rear Guard Multiple firing points near the River Places Sand bags with helmets 11 dead and 15 wounded Successful Victory

26. CONCL 27 Book is for anybody with an interest in Small Unit tactics It gives us an idea that how small mistakes can result in big losses In real life Tactic depends upon the terrain and environmental factors You must never let your guard down

27. QUESTIONS 28

28. THANKYOU 29