Books by Compiled Col G H Addison

The idea of forming a Camouflage Section in the BEF was first suggested at GHQ in the winter of 1915, following the success of the work of the French Camouflage Section in Amiens, whose workshop was visited by British officers. The chief means of camouflage was the painted screen, and as a result of a visit to France by a professional artist and his advice, volunteers were called for from the troops in France with experience of theatrical work, such as scenic artists, stage carpenters, workers in cardboard etc. These assembled at St Omer under an officer in January 1916 pending the fitting up of a building in Wimereux. Thus was born the camouflage service. This account goes on to give details of the first establishments and subsequent increases in establishment. The Camouflage Service was represented at GHQ, Army and Corps HQs and depots were set up corps areas and camouflage factories were formed in Army areas. By the time the war ended camouflage was 'big' in France and Flanders as this account reveals. American and French work in this field is also featured as well as German methods. At the end are tables of statistics showing quantities of stores and materials used.

This section begins by noting the complete lack of Engineer intelligence regarding the Western Theatre of War before 1914. An old, 1906 report confirmed that the roads in Belgium were paved or macademised, while all it said about the Meuse was that its current was swift in places while its depth was sometimes as much as 45 feet. Not a great deal of use! It then goes on to detail what information was needed and what efforts were made to get it. It also stressed the need for pamphlets and such like material for Stationery Services Publications and keeping them up to date; and fourthly was there was the requirement to obtain information on enemy field engineering methods and disseminate it. This section concludes with a series of appendices showing list of the plates of field work designs, a list of the Engineer-in-Chief''s Field-Work notes, Classified index of Mining notes, lists of publications and a list of German field-work plates.