Sniping in France: Winning the Sniping War in the Trenches

by H. Hesketh-Prichard

Before it became a standard military tactic, and immortalised in film, the science of sniping was both untrusted and often regarded as unsportsmanlike by the military.

To nostalgic British generals ardent for the cavalry charge and volley fire, the use of a crack marksman, working alone to pick off unsuspecting enemy, was just ‘not cricket’.

But the Germans were not so short-sighted.

By the end of 1915, the German sniper dominated the battlefield, inflicting countless British fatalities, and severely weakening morale.

That same year, the renowned adventurer and big game hunter, Hesketh-Prichard arrived in the trenches to remedy the perception of sniping in the British army, and wrestle the initiative away from the Germans.

Armed with his personal supply of rifles and telescopic sights, he was given the freedom of the British front-line to hunt the deadliest of German snipers and inspire the British to better marksmanship.

In this absorbing account he tells the story of those duels, the genesis of scout sniping, the ruses invented to lure an enemy out into the open, and the founding of the first British army sniping school.

‘Sniping in France’ is the true story of how one man and his rifle helped alter the course of war. In an impersonal, machine-ruled conflict, Major-General Hesketh-Prichard sketches a rare tale of British ingenuity, dramatic duels and extraordinary individuals.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, War, World War I, Military Fiction, Military History

126 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 1920

About the author

See also H. Heron.

Major Hesketh Vernon Prichard, later Hesketh-Prichard, DSO, MC, FRGS, FZS (17 November 1876 – 14 June 1922) was an explorer, adventurer, big-game hunter and marksman who made a significant contribution to sniping practice within the British Army during the First World War. Concerned not only with improving the quality of marksmanship, the measures he introduced to counter the threat of German snipers were credited by a contemporary with saving the lives of over 3,500 Allied soldiers.
During his lifetime, he also explored territory never seen before, played cricket at first-class level, including on overseas tours, wrote short stories and novels (one of which was turned into a Douglas Fairbanks film) and was a successful newspaper correspondent and travel writer. His many activities brought him into the highest social and professional circles. Despite a lifetime's passion for shooting, he was an active campaigner for animal welfare and succeeded in seeing legal measures introduced for their protection.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sniping in France: With the British Army During the First World War gets a strong 3 Stars for shedding light on key aspects of trench warfare in WWI, namely, snipers and associated observers and scouts. The Germans were initially in the lead, imposing high casualties on the occupants of opposing trenches. On one day in early 1915, one British battalion lost 18 men to snipers, a casualty rate that couldn’t be sustained, never mind the impact on morale of the targeted unit. This leads to the author’s efforts to establish a British sniper capability to counter and attack the German snipers. Additionally, this is one of the few ways to impose losses on the enemy. The associated scouts and observers gather intelligence. All these specialized roles had to be taught and trained. Hesketh-Prichard gets a sponsor to help get the sniper position as a regular army position. Up to early 1915, the story is an old one—the army bureaucracy does not look fondly on this new tactic of sniping—just not “sporting”. But this is a new kind of war, needing new ways of fighting.

The book is mainly a recounting of setting up sniper schools, along with the associated position of scout and observer. Many examples of operations in the field are included. The tactics of camouflage and ways to make the other side reveal themselves (so a shot could be taken) are extensive. Quite inventive and ingenious tactics are developed and the book has photographs and drawings to illustrate. At the end of the book, there are examples of training syllabi and equipment requirements. Interesting to think it was just 100 years ago this month (Oct) that the author was finally getting some traction and the British snipers were starting to have an impact. British losses (to sniper fire) go down and morale goes up.

Observation points were critical and some were so valuable, the snipers were not allowed to use them. Very creative ways to establish a covert point to watch the enemy abound. Here is one:

At one point there was a slight rise in front of the French position and above the German. Both trenches cut across the Paris road, and exactly upon the top of the rise between the trenches where the observation was best stood a milestone on which was stated the number of kilometers to Paris.

This milestone the French photographed. The photograph was sent to the Camouflage Works, where an exact copy of the milestone, with the number of kilometers printed on it, was made in steel, but with an observation eye-slit covered with gauze. Then one night a French party crept out and removed the real milestone, putting in its stead the camouflaged one. A tunnel from the trench was next dug, and for many months inside that harmless-looking milestone a pair of keen French eyes noted much of interest that happened in the German line.

As an “original source” the book gives you a one-sided view of this battle. British are clever and the Germans are not very. It would be nice to read a German account of the same to get a balanced view. Just know what you’re getting into if you read this one. Highly recommended!

[Mark Mortensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 1920 memoir from a British WWI officer sheds much light on the subject of WWI telescope sighted rifles, a technical subject that has been overlooked to a large degree.

When WWI began in 1914 the Germans led the technology and apparently by the end of the first year of war each German company consisted of roughly 6 snipers with telescope sighted rifles. In the latter months of 1915 the author was instrumental in adapting this technology to the British Expeditionary Forces through equipment and training in classes such as the First Army Sniping School. Deer hunters in Scotland adjusted their Mannlichers and Mausers, with Evans and other scopes. Scouting tactics and tricks of the trade are discussed in detail. With trenches 400 yards across no man’s land, split second precision head shots were common. Naturally dropped rifles needed to be re-sighted. Piercing ammunition to knock out a machine gun rather than the shooter was also on the cutting edge.

German prisoners informed the British that through their telescopic lens they could identify British officers as a prime target from other military personnel due to the narrow cut of their pants.

A bit of humor is tossed in as on one account a sniper spotted a distant movement and withheld his shot when the object was identified as a cat. Cats were good as they ate trench rats.

The entire book provided much fresh material.

[E. Kahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short memoir on the subject of British sniping in WW1.

The technical advice given in this book is sparse and certainly obsolete. However, I found it of great interest to read (sometimes between the lines) of the conflict between the fossilized institutions of the British army, organized, trained and equipped for colonial wars fought against poorly equipped opponents and the immediate, literally life-or-death needs of the infantryman opposed to German snipers who were initially far better trained and armed for this peculiar mode of warfare than anything the British could put up against them. Eventually the British and their Commonwealth soldiers did gain the upper hand after some hard-won lessons through the creation of sniper schools and the acquisition of the appropriate equipment (initially repurposed hunting rifles) but I think the lesson here is in guarded optimism modern institutions could tackle modern crises - if there is the institutional will to do so.

[Trevor Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting blend of knowledge and documentation. Due to the purpose of the book as it was originally written (as a historical reference on the trainer and circumstance of the British Sniper program at the end of WW1, and that it was written over 100 years ago now, some of the chapters and language grow tiresome, thus why I give it 3.5 stars. At times it feels like a waterfall of ranks, names, and regiments. At its core it succeeds in its original intent, as well as being an interesting contrast and compare piece to modern sniper training, and its origins.

[Jack Stote · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read!

Absolutely incredible real. Short but very sweet. I almost wish the book was double its length! Highly recommend for anyone after an honest first-hand account of WW1.

[Ronda Wian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

I enjoyed reading this to t max as a target shooter with a history interest. Right up my alley. The men who served The great war are now almost forgotten . they shouldn't be.

[ANGUS ROSBOROUGH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written

A good book about sniping on the Western Gron during WW1. There are action oriented anecdotes to be sure but mostly the book is about method and training. It seems like a dry way of telling a story but in this case it is not.

[Andrew Scholes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Real war stories

It was informative to read a first hand account of the first word war and the actions and planning by snipers.

[Barbara]

Interesting how they learned to get better at using the weapons and tools they had at the time.

[John Garlington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

I only read the first half about sniping, which was interesting, though parts of it were long winded and should have been edited out. A good angle on warfare.

[Tony Brenna]

good ww1 information.

[Ian Duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but it does ramble on a bit.

An interesting read however it rambles on a bit about when training was done and without much substance of what was covered.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a good version on online, glad to see it is being republished. the illustrations are an important part of the book. Rather a low key, 'here is how you do it' book on the technique use in the setting up of sniper positions and the training necessary to do it effectively. The writing was neither the jingoistic "jolly good show" of the war years, or the more realistic horror show of the latter twenties. Fits with the author's background as a big game hunter... technical and practical. a rare and valuable insight on this area of WW1.

[Richard Givan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book out of curiosity, but came away with a new-found appreciation of the fighting efforts made back a hundred years ago in WWI. The author writes modestly about his efforts in championing and performing as a leader of snipers for the Allies.

[Aubrey Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great detail.

Although it was written some long time ago it was more informative than entertaining, to feel how important, good snipping/ observing really was, AND possibly still is in our modern times.

[Norman Leigh Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great study of the history of sniping in the British army in World War 1.

[Anders · Rating 2 out of 5]

For svært spesielt interesserte. Interessant hvor engasjert, lettsindig og motivert man omtaler drap når det er lovlig og positivt for egen nasjon (i krig).

[Bob Lake · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really interesting read