21 Jul 21

According to the field service manual RE Sappers with the Field Sqns would have been issued with 50 rnds of .303 ammunition as normal, hence they would have worn the 5 pouch 1903 Bandolier. A further 50 rnd would be held by the unit in the Echelon.

This means that they would have been at a significant disadvantage compared to others in the Cavalry Div where they would have carried 90rnd in the Bandolier (9 pouch version) with a further Bandolier around the neck of the horse, some units went further with 50rnds on the belt.

The riding and training standard for RE Mounted personnel, particularly within the Cavalry Divisions was to meet and exceed that of a Mounted Infantryman as per the Yeomanry & Mounted Infantry Manual 1908. as such

When dismounted and not involved in Engineering the Sapper was expected to take their place next to their Cavalry bretheran to form a firing line and to operate in the dismounted infantry role, complete with the bayonet.

From late 1914 the sappers of the field Squadrons spend an extensive amount of time carrying out engineering tasks in the trenches, often longer that the Infantry and cavalry units that would rotate through,

1st Fld Sqn RE war diary shows the shooting training undertaken in Mar 1916 prior to the Somme and the Sqn undertook 3 days of shoot, 50 round practices with the emphasis on snap shoots and opportunity targets. Very much the type of shooting that would be found in the trenches.

To me this suggested that the Mounted Sappers through experience would have been carrying more that just the 50 rnds of .303 ammunition stated in the Field Service Manual. Also the shooting practices in field training suggests more was carried.

Now over the weekend when checking some info about the Pontoons carried by Field Companies, I reviewed this photo, nothing too drastic, pontoons on a pontoon wagon, 3 RE Drivers with a couple of sappers walking with the wagon

When you look closer at the front 2 drivers, you can see an ammo pouch at the shoulder away from the normal 5 pounces of the 1903 50rnd bandolier – both of these Mounted Sappers are wearing 9 pouch bandoliers, this image was taken in 1916.

The war diaries of all of the Field Sqns RE all mention taking part in infantry actions, through out the war – the 1914 Retreat, in the trenches and as part of the various Cavalry actions where the Sappers were supporting, Documents suggests that 90/100rds was more likely carried

The task now is to try and pin that down more firmly and to try and identify some more photos of Mounted sappers equipped to carrying more than just the 50rds stated in the Field Service Manual.