7th Light Trench Mortar Battery

10 Jul 1918 Light Mortar in operation near Villers-Bretonneux IWM E(AUS)2677

Brief History

Light Trench Mortar Batteries were under command of the Brigade of the same numeric designation - in this case the 7th Brigade of the 2nd Division, usually under the direct command of the Brigade Headquarters but were generally deployed close to the front line so that the enemy was within range. Light Trench Mortar Batteries went where their parent Brigade went and their involvement in battles / campaigns reflects that of the Brigade. Trench Mortar Batteries and Machine Gun Companies gave the Brigades their own integral fire support. The trench mortars were the Brigade's own ‘artillery’ and the soldiers were generally drawn from units within the Brigade.

Mortars are simple, effective weapons with relatively short barrels, most often smooth bore weapons that fire projectiles at a high angle at relatively modest velocities. The mortar’s characteristic high angle trajectory suited it to trench warfare. However, their relatively short range meant they were necessarily located close to the front lines, which did not enamor them to the infantry (because they attracted enemy artillery fire) and made them vulnerable to direct infantry assault.

The light trench mortar was the Stokes 3 inch (75mm) mortar. It was effectively not much more than a simple tube for a barrel, with a bipod to support it and a steel base plate on which to mount the tube and bear its recoil. It fired a cylindrical bomb to about 800 yards, although its range improved throughout the war. They were relatively mobile and could be dismantled and packed up in minutes. The Stokes Mortar was served by a three man crew.

The ‘Number One’ in the crew would lay or aim the mortar. The ‘Number Two’ loaded and fired the mortar. The ‘Number Three’s’ task was to keep a supply of bombs up to the mortar. This involved collecting ammunition from carrying parties and stowing it nearby, then unpacking the ‘ready’ bombs from their transportation packaging. At high rates of fire it was possible to get 15-20 bombs in the air before the first one hit the ground; this was perhaps the mortar’s most valued attribute - a high volume of fire in a short space of time.

Unit Personnel

• † Oswald Chorlton 22 Apr 1916 - 1 Oct 1916 & 25 Apr 1917 - 14 Jun 1917
• Ernest Alfred (Jack) Lewis 1 Oct 1918 - 14 Jan 1919