With Cavalry in 1915 The British Trooper in the Trench Line, Through the Second Battle of Ypres — A Closer Reading

Artillery Mechanics and the Problem of High Explosive

Coleman devotes considerable space to the technical constraints facing the Royal Horse Artillery in early 1915. In the attack on Lizerne, he details how Major Budworth placed H and I Batteries near Woesten, about 3,000 yards from the target—an ideal range for 13-pounder and 18-pounder field guns. The author explains that closer positions risked hostile rifle fire, while the low trajectory at 2,000 yards made cover nearly impossible. A key frustration emerges: the 13-pounders lacked high explosive shell, despite repeated promises. Without it, gunners used long fuses on shrapnel, which burst against buildings rather than clearing them. Coleman records that a 13-pounder shrapnel contained about 285 bullets, an 18-pounder 365, and notes that timing fuses were affected by atmospheric conditions and gun heat. This level of technical specificity—down to rounds per minute during the five-minute bombardment—distinguishes the memoir from more general accounts.

Synchronized Watches and Observation from the Front Line

The coordination of the Lizerne attack hinged on careful timing. Coleman emphasizes that all watches were “most carefully synchronized” for the 2:30 p.m. assault. At 12:15 precisely, H Battery fired three shots, then three more; five minutes later, I Battery repeated the pattern. Observation officers in the French front trenches telephoned back minute corrections for range and fuse timing. This system—using forward observers to adjust fire—was still evolving, and Coleman’s account shows its practical application. The author notes that errors in direction were rare because gunners had accurate large-scale maps. The excerpt conveys the deliberate, methodical pace of pre-attack registration, contrasting with the rapid fire that followed: 400 shells in alternating spasms of five or six rounds per gun per minute, with two-minute lulls. Coleman’s focus on procedure rather than heroism gives the narrative a technical, almost instructional tone.

The Cavalry Division’s Role in a Static Front

Despite the title, Coleman’s cavalry division is not depicted in mounted charges but in trench-line support and artillery coordination. The attack on Lizerne was conducted to assist French infantry under General Putz, who aimed to retake Lizerne and Steenstraate. The cavalry’s horse artillery provided the firepower, while the troopers themselves likely held reserve positions. Coleman’s preface acknowledges that the “old order changeth,” hinting at the obsolescence of traditional cavalry roles. The narrative thus captures a transitional moment: cavalry units adapting to static warfare, their value lying in mobility and artillery rather than shock action. The author’s repeated use of precise distances, timings, and shell counts reflects a staff officer’s perspective, concerned with logistics and coordination rather than individual combat. This focus on the mechanics of combined arms operations offers a distinct viewpoint within Great War memoirs.

Coleman’s account rewards readers interested in the practicalities of artillery support and staff work during the Second Battle of Ypres. The excerpts show a writer who values precision over drama, recording gun positions, fuse settings, and ammunition expenditures with the eye of a trained observer. Those seeking a broader narrative of cavalry actions may find the focus narrow, but the memoir provides a valuable ground-level view of how British horse artillery operated in the spring of 1915, including the limitations imposed by equipment and terrain.