Topic: CEF
Left Out of Battle
S.S. 135 — The Division in Attack; Issued by the General Staff, November, 1918
Appendix J – Number of Officers and Other Ranks to be Left behind before an Attack
1. Infantry battalions, machine gun companies and light trench mortar batteries must not go into an attack with their full complement of officers and other ranks; a certain proportion must always be left behind to provide a nucleus upon which to reorganize the unit in the event of heavy casualties.
2. The following is the minimum number of officers and other ranks which must remain behind when the battalion goes into action. Such officers and other ranks will not be available as reinforcements.
| Offrs. | O.R.s | Offrs. | O.R.s | |
| Battalion H.Q. | ||||
| C.O. Or 2nd in Command. | 1 | |||
| Adjutant or asst. adjutant. | 1 | |||
| Signallers. | 2 | |||
| Instructors. | 4 | |||
| Batmen. | 2 | 2 | 8 | |
| 4 Company H.Q. | ||||
| Company commander or 2nd in command. | 4 | |||
| C.S.M. | 2 | |||
| Signallers. | 4 | |||
| Batmen. | 4 | 4 | 10 | |
| 16 Platoon H.Q. | ||||
| Platoon commanders. | 4 | |||
| N.C.O.s | 12 | |||
| Batmen. | 4 | 4 | 16 | |
| 64 Sections. | 16 | |||
| 10 | 50 | |||
3, A minimum of 25 per cent. of officers and other ranks must be left behind by machine gun companies and light trench mortar batteries when going into action. Such officers and men will not be available as reinforcements.
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