Diary of Brigadier General Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliott, 15th Brigade - March - August 1918 part 4

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
AWM2018.19.96
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 13

wood - They captured the objectues bbut lates met a lot of Mr. Sen fire & had to fall back. I was mortannion balloctagan tonight but this has ben pilddn. Atbout 20 3 oclock reported that the Borche was attacking monument Copre uog3 tanss. We sent to on deason ofei Lt Forrest but he said ther wo nothing in it I screwed out a concemo fromo dw to allow me to leap horforward wherevn our popt er big thelled or where our positins could be improved, Scaula is tearpy out a raid on a grouss houres in his port. Frontalos tbe reorganized into a to Bn front with ho io Brigade Keverve. Had a very lad fitg congherg the afernon - Ifelt as of I would infpocate for a moment. 27th The 60th made an minor altack
on a grory of Strong woots an their lift front & reduced then after a perce stinggle in which they wok no prosoners but slew everyon they encountered & captures machu gun of the enemy & recaptined several of our dewis givon tho meig were ungagaent no. Unfortunately the casnalties were pretty noen us ine lost a lot of opcers & about so mer - somevry you oppens notally simpson & Holgate of tto 60 Were killed in tiattac As doylight the Bosche sent up about troo Bn 1500 stig to reeotablest his line- It inds evident fom his tactes than in tho octarin a real breach had beer made is the snemys lim had we made a big alteck as I rroed for we could have got through very deeply certainly as yor as Waijuree ettargout but our flantts would have leen rather in thoam - not that in the Peatedf Mind Frity wasi thes would have wattered. very greatly
theever as clear evidence that he had lost wee toint with his troop & believed the line was hopilenly breached he put down a creying farrage before his troops advancing to fill this gop- He put this down beherd a couple of his post who were ntbrarely holding thei grand but this Barrage mas the last thain coming or them from the reser & will one accord both ports dropped thei arms & rar forward with their hands up t rneder Unfortunately then was no time to take ther prisones as the pest hroop were coming u & then actionut this stage merely marked therefoor our fire is no notice ws taken of them submissionom me cntined to fire with the weoult that all there unfortuates were wiped out either from om rifle fine or then our shell fire! This attempted enemigattac was a completo pado - At 400 yards fror our line its forward momentan failed & ar attengt was made todry
in but the spot they chore happened to conncide almost exactly with our S.O.S. line of the Bitilleny cheated terribl havve in themranks. very few could have lived through it. About 2 p.r. this dtack was renered but withfewer twops & failed again ever more hopelessly than at the protattement - lation thlday a number of the enemy were diticted trying to checf formard in two & threes at wide intervol to reach then same ofjective - its they came into range they too were scattend byom fire but it is protable that n tho darkness reliefs wer effected. The excrtion of the 60 receivtated an early relief & I arranged for tho 5916 to wthere then accordingly & for the line tbe again advanced a little taroid the evenns shell fine as he old tie would know who ort it I also reorganczed my noos by adjusting the front betereith 5926p Dor 153 28. Relief of weid was anly completed as profoed without incidents the line advanced with admilage according to arrangements. The right of the 560 was blis relieved by twons) N12tt
Bryade inder lol Leane. This ns mccenpely canied out atrrangements were made for my relief the following night by the to Aust Brigade ender Give Brand 89th The Relief boy the 4t Brigadewas carried out very speedily & excellently by the pregaded & the whole of this prigade returned t the Mibigny line He Birdwood called, Give Hobloalis cacled. IO April. Fine day very quiet teen rested.. Had confinradf Br Connardus Genl Hobl & yere Andwood called. after imprevce to commorder reconstred rear m position ofs lelar eunof returnent hatty somore Ma it B Fine day. N Hobls called in afternon To. resumd work on tubyny line an My. Fireyes Brygade inder presre carried out a raid or an Enemy post but found it unoccupied. The 13 Brigade captined a purmer anew recrit from Termany for tew artillery who wandered int very lins. Got in permal naniatuves of fficer in knd 3rd May, 12th Brigade carried out a operation at monumnent wood
Atbrot it wn completely uccerpl but latedwentawry mainry through wand) Commmoeure precautims They attacked southwards from thei ralientin pous Villers Bretterean I imprised tho Borche rcaptined their objectin with a musber of pr but their lipflank nood) comn in tan othig had takin meanures to protect it& it was crumpled uy by a Counterattacs 4 may. Lorely you day very quiet- In afternoons rode you sts me& Mayn Freenawny & Col Waters & wilh them inspected the difences to the north of the Sommer made vanons ingute ramendments. on the ay It rained way back I me& lol Charteris who used the Bryade wajor &4 Brigade now Chief M. Sun tfemy fiscursed the doowver to Scheme of defence with him the enpressed himself as very interped E may. I rained reavily lost Night the morning though une to misty I dhill. Gil ootbs called in afternoo to come 2 lanks were
king placed under my orders for ure is Counterattoct if required. C.R.A. Brg Sive Biwll Mown called - also P.R.S. El mather, & walter interfactorily fivea to May. Very fine day - calling confiriace S B Commanders to go through Defencercheme wrth them allo so that theymay meet wank- Commorder &c get t know him. Had conference. Found Tank Commander a five fellow. Instructed Mr Commaden toget- toneh with Poy Comnandss of Tanks allotted to no & to exattest good relations. Subsequently foind that this had been done. That the theirs I ank Commanders lod be youg Verypfiltoundecd yt way Rode round line. ottach eexpected tomorrow at dain. Genl Berdyood called. 80 may. Rother dull + wex- spenk dayasono Brigade School where we lav the Din Demonotaten sletoor doing a number of Hunts. Weals gove a Demontiation will new Brencde thrower which worked well
finoal Commander attended He ws well pleased. He at temno inspected tho School & the tudent p prevented a bield t Ca Eoy of tho 57 pr who wont it all Ricpoal last y guly alont- - field pring Competition. Kather mee thield Boocke attock did not materialize 9t May. Very fine day. Rode round line. Asated B.M. about not doing telter in iting post & were &xnng all about Detence Scheme. Watsons sector, is pretty good shape strated Turmelless Birtist) for bantorly cutting a doorway in the Brickwall of this Chatean of Tronville todipon of rejure chalk from the Dugy onto bery constructed Complained o Dir Sive about Bitst Detillery losting all the prniture from Dubyan t purmot their dugonts thronghons setting very had enample to my men. He woos going to post then iy about it. The Heavy siteltery people care bultdrocipling Ire then horns t trees & tamnalsmr the trusbycating the bark off thoo
Capt Heron & Lt Antherland 59 you who had beer drunk at Atheville + makeng ares of then not the sent back to Hustratio as I recommended but to be give another chance to redism themselves lapd puttwell sso Bn who negleated to see that his Comp any was wearing thei has marke at the alert of to marning Hhe Court martialled. 10 - May. Very fine day - Genl Hobts called Nery quiet day. Lecture on Tanks at Bugallt School. Foind a clid dmmunt i which the Bullets were apparently filled with paper machen instead of lead. Very annoyed about This made strong report on it to Dinsion. D.A.G.M.S. later resuited that it is only the tit that is full of the hoper nachies & not tho whole interior of the Bullet. Will carryout some terts at tt School. Lo Deshon or br relected t command Devisural Demonstration Mlatwon
11t may. By permission of Dir commander took a day of Got Mow car & went with Bob Salmon & M Benaud on interpreter & went you a joye wide. Visited of our Brydde School wiotd att I raww Lo Bethon who goes today Do Division to Command the Demonstration Platoon - Save him a few wrll of advise & encouagement + withed himluck - Then went through Hoours to Quesver to see if we could find the 18th Brigade (3rh Dis Mc Nicolls Brygad. From enquiry as Querner from a 3nd Di N.J. officer yound they neudt Hllowille - we went 1s St Gratier & theow to Hllorwille There is a large chatean ther told & not veryecll hulks not in the bert nepair. But wilh a lorce park - a copple of magnificint histmt rees a than in fons of the house expartialay caughsing eye. We wr there serl Monart. Major Weeek lapt femondom & oher yhesKaft.
nent we went into the Village & sai Loloe Knowknight 37s m whon we found Breletted ther whonI bad nt sen ince I left Dustralin. yourd him is good form. I saw then also Capt Hymot &, O. Joenely of 7om & Lt Hitker his se in Command who was formerly a tolicitorpaitnes of Whitngs Hitken Milbourne. - Symms told me titken is a good toldier We metalso Major Bachtold now actungt. R.F gratis vice Williams who has gone to Corps as Director oHignals. Then we went tthe neighboring village of Eoiy Cardmitty where we called ir geal McNichole - Ther drove vsa Banville & Cowy to Flewelles Where we had lunch at an Im the rameplace as we had a few. meals is nove 116 before fregotom Mers going at the Chertean of the Marguis de Largny. The hoveen is a byge strappin oman ojeet hig as momvely bult as any Grenadier. She gave us a good weal & got in some real purtlattes
and some eggo tobring back with no etfter lunch we called on Madame Selbert The is a very nice tinal lady-typically Varacions little body - a widow whon we lad met during h presions sjour there. Yo conferration we declosed that we lad hr concerned io the recoptint Vellars Brettenen the was neatt encitent interested as she knew tha place quit well - Shewas & minsted ever more exited wher we told here about taving lived at the Platean at Corbie for the mnsmonoree Boullet's old omtnate find & fou stayed at the house worhe. The gave us a nember of interesting ditail about the Calte. Howe he lived an old Buchelor immersed in mevr the butterfly collecter with his mother untill the Collec died at 94 & how he then a gay. junit of 70 feeling tho need fmale care merriel ar old friend & neylom a widow of 22 years Iae has fived lapeve
ctentrat In Boullet is an extremely wealthy war rejuited the worth rone $2,000,000. Whe we told her we had raied tho Butterfly collection she almost embrared lss as the encloised rairing tothands Quelle graid snce a Fronce. What great semie sor Fance is we then set out for Bertangles whm Corps is now located. The villageit much tlook as In fact Ionde went through it in January 1917 en ponte to Kgracourt & my notting renokally about it. However on enquiry for the Clation we were directen ta soall rise outoidd the village there goily enlowered in grardold trees we found a very his onlicesting old watean. We entered things a massore archway & following a drive foind omrietes for th righsd th ten whih hee the oppositncy to the gate wherthy we had entred ther looking dou a maginpet avenine gradnally sloping from It done a genttogreer hope

*** Reviewer's Note ***
Re-open to Contributions.   
Reasons:

 

  • Allow other users time to examine and interpret unknown words.
    Please don't submit for review for at least a week 15/3/24
  • Have successfully deciphered some of the village names but there are still some (p12/13) requiring further examination. (15.3.24) 
  • Have successfully deciphered all remaining place names. (15.3.24)

 

***Second Different Reviewer Note ***

I am a Reviewer but was condributing at the time.

  • It looks complete but will leave it open till allow another contributor to have alook before it is submited. 

_______________________________________________________________________

 

wood - They captured their objectives
but later met a lot of M. Gun 
fire & had to fall back. I was  
most anxious to attack again 
a tonight but this has been 
forbidden. About 2 or 3 oclock 
it was reported that the Bosche
was attacking Monument Copse 
using 3 tanks. We sent to 
our liaison officer Lt Forrest but 
he said there was nothing in it 
& screwed out a concession 
from from Div to allow me 
to leap frog forward wherever 
our posts were being shelled or 
where our positions could be  
improved. Scanlon is to carry 
out a raid on a group of 
houses in his front. Front also 
to be reorganized into a two Bn 
front - with two in Brigade 
Reserve. Had a very bad fit of 
coughing this afternoon - I felt 
as if I would suffocate for  
a moment. 
27th. The 60th made a minor attack    

 

on a group of Strong posts on 
their left front & reduced them 
after a fierce struggle in which 
they took no prisoners but slew 
everyone they encountered & captured 
7 machine guns of the enemy & 
recaptured several of our Lewis 
guns the enemy were using against  
us. Unfortunately the casualties 
were pretty severe as we lost a lot 
of officers & about 70 men - some very 
fine officers notably Simpson & Holgate 
of the 60th were killed in this attack. 
At daylight the Bosche sent 
up about ten Bn 1500 strong 
to reestablish his line - It was 
evident from his tactics than on 
this occasion a real breach had  
been made in the Enemy's line 
& had we made a big attack as I 
pressed for we could have got 
through very deeply certainly as 
far as Warfusee Abancourt but  
our flanks would have been rather 
in the air- not that, in the state of 
mind Fritz was in, this would have 
mattered very greatly -  

 

However as clear evidence that he  
had lost all trust with his troops  
& believed the line was hopelessly  
breached - he put down a creeping  
barrage before his troops advancing 
 to fill this gap. He put this down  
behind a couple of his posts who were 
still bravely holding their ground  
but this Barrage was the last straw  
coming on them from the rear & with  
one accord both posts dropped  
their arms & ran forward with 
their hands up to surrender 
Unfortunately there was no time to take 
them prisoners as the first troops were  
coming up & their action at this stage  
merely masked these from our fire  
so no notice was taken of their  
submission & our men continued to  
fire with the result that all these 
unfortunates were wiped out  
either from our rifle fire or their 
own shell fire. This attempted  
enemy attack was a complete  
fiasco - At 400 yards from our 
line its forward momentum failed  
& an attempt was made to dig

 

in, but the spot they chose happened  
to coincide almost exactly with  
our S.O.S. line & the Artillery  
created terrible havoc in their ranks.  
Very few could have lived through  
it. About 2 p.m. this attack was 
renewed but with fewer troops &  
failed again even more hopelessly than  
at the first attempt - later in the day  
a number of the enemy were  
detected trying to creep forward  
in two & threes at wide intervals  
to reach their same objective. - As  
they came into range they too were scattered  
by our fire but it is probable that in  
the darkness relief was effected.  
The execution of the 60th necessitated  
an early relief & I arranged for  
the 58th to relieve them accordingly 
& for the line to be again advanced a little  
to avoid the enemy's shell fire as he  
would know when we were in his old post.    
I also reorganized my troops by adjusting the front between the 59th & 60th & with drawing the 57th
28.th Relief of the 60th was duly completed 
as proposed without incident & the line  
advanced with advantage according  
to arrangements. The right of the 59th  
was also relieved by troops of the 12th 

 

Brigade under Col Leane. This  
was successfully carried out.   
Arrangements were made for my  
relief the following night by the  
4th Aust Brigade under Genl  Brand 
29th The relief by the 4th Brigade was  
carried out very speedily & excellently  
by the Brigades & the whole of this  
Brigade returned to the Aubigny line.  
Genl Birdwood called, Genl Hobbs also 
called - 
30th April Fine day very quiet_  received   
Men rested.  Genl Ho  Had conference of  
Bn Commanders Genl Hobbs & Genl Birdwood  
called. After conference Bn commanders reconitred near fwd positions to be held in event of retirement north of Somme 
1st April May Fine day. Genl Hobbs called in afternoon  
J:O. resumed work on Aubigny line. 
2nd May.  Tivey's Brigade under pressure  
carried out a raid on the an Enemy  
post but found it unoccupied. The  
12th Brigade captured a prisoner a new  
recruit from Germany for their artillery  
who wandered into our lines.  Got in  
personal narratives of officers in Munich. 
3rd May. 12th Brigade carried out an 
operation at Monument wood

 

At first it was completely successful 
but later went awry mainly through 
want of Commonsense precautions 
They attacked Southwards from their 
salient in front of Villers Bretteneux 
& surprised the Bosche recaptured  
their objectives with a number of prisoners 
but their left flank was of course 
in the air & they had taken no  
measures to protect it & it was 
Crumpled up by a Counter attack 
4th May. Lovely fine day very quiet -  
In afternoon I rode out & met  
Major Greenaway & Col Watson & 
with them inspected the defences to 
the north of the Somme - made various 
suggestions & amendments. On the 
5th May. It rained way back I met 
Col Charteris who used to be Brigade 
Major 74th Brigade now Chief M. Guns
advisor to 4th Army. Discussed the  
Scheme of defence with him & he 
expressed himself as very satisfied 
5th May. It rained heavily last night 
& this morning though fine is misty  
& dull. Genl Hobbs called in 
afternoon told me 9 tanks were

 

being placed under my orders 
for use in Counter attack if 
required. C.R.A. Brig Genl Bessell 
Brown called - also  C.R. G. Col. Mather 
& matters satisfactorily fixed 
6th May . Very fine day - calling  
conference of Bn Commanders to  
go through Defence scheme 
with them also so that they may 
meet - Tank - Commander &  
get to know him. 
Had conference. Found Tank Commander  
a fine fellow. Instructed Bn Commanders  
to get touch with Coy Commanders of 
 Tanks allotted to us & to establish 
good relations. Subsequently found 
that this has been done. That the  
Tank Commanders officers had been found 
very fine fellows indeed. 
7th May Rode round line. Attack  
expected tomorrow at dawn. Genl Birdwood called.
8th May. Rather dull & wet. Spent 
day at the Brigade School where  
we had the Divn Demonstration Platoons 
doing a number of  stunts. We also 
gave a demonstration with new Grenade  
thrower which worked well

 

Divisional Commander attended 
He was well pleased. He afterwards  
inspected the school & the students 
& presented a Shield to "C" Coy of  
the 57th Bn who won it at 
Thiepval last  july  July about - field 
firing Competition. Rather nice Shield 
Bosche attack did not materialize 
9th May.  Very fine day. Rode round  
line. Strafed B.M. about not doing 
better in siting posts & wire & knowing
all about Defence Scheme. Watson's 
sector in pretty good shape - 
Strafed Tunnellers (British) for 
wantonly cutting a doorway in the  
Brickwall of this Chateau of Tronville 
to dispose of refuse chalk from the Dug 
Outs being constructed. Complained to  
Div Genl about British Artillery  
looting all the furniture from Aubigny 
to furnish their dug outs throughout. 
Setting very bad example to my  
men. He was going to sort  them 
up about it. The Heavy Artillery  
people have little discipline. Tie their  
horses to trees & the animals ruin 
the trees by eating the bark off the tree.

 

Capt Heron & Lt Sutherland 59th Bn who 
had been drunk at Abbeville & making 
asses of them not to be sent back to  
Australia as I recommended but to 
be given another chance to redeem 
themselves. Capt  Southwell 59th  
Bn who neglected to see that his 
Company was wearing their Gas 
Masks at the alert after warning 
to be Court Martialled. 
10th May. Very fine day - Genl Hobbs 
called - very quiet day. Lecture 
on Tanks at Brigade School. 
Found a Clip Box of Ammunition in 
which the Bullets were apparently 
filled with paper machier instead
of lead. Very annoyed about 
this. Made strong report on 
it to Division. D.A.Q.M.G. 
later reported that it is only 
the tip that is full of the 
paper machier & not the whole 
interior of the Bullet. Will 
carry out some tests at 
the School. Lt. Deshon 59th 
Bn selected to Command the  
Divisional Demonstration Platoon 

 

11th May. By permission of Div
Commander took a day off. Got motor 
car & went with [[Brd]] Salmon &  
M. Renaud our interpreter & went 
for a "joy" ride. Visited of our 
Brigade School first of all & saw 
Lt. Deshon who goes today to Division 
to Command the  Demonstration 
Platoon - Gave him a few words 
of advice & encouragement & wished 
him luck. Then went through  
Daours to Querrier to see if we 
could find the 10th Brigade (3rd Div) 
McNicolls Brigade. From inquiring at 
Querrier from a 3rd Div M. G. officer found 
they were at Allonville. We went 
to St Gratien & then on to Allonville
There is a larger Chateau there 
old & not very well built & not in the 
best repair. But with a lovely 
park - A couple of magnificent 
Chestnut trees on the lawn 
in front of the house are particularly 
caught my eye. We saw there 
Genl Monash. Major Wieck Capt 
Simondorn & others of his staff. 

 

Next we went into the Village & saw 
Lt Col Knoxknight 37th Bn whom 
we found Billetted there & whom I 
had not seen since I left Australia. 
I found him in good form. I saw 
there also Capt Symms V.C. formerly of 
7th Bn & Lt Aitkin his 2nd in Command 
who was formerly  a Solicitor partner of 
Whiting & Aitkin Melbourne - Symms 
told me Aitken is a good soldier 
We met also Major Bachtold now 
acting C.R.E. 3rd Div. Vice Williams 
who has gone to Corps as Director 
of Signals. Then we went to the 
neighbouring village of Coisy 
Cardonette where we called in 
Genl McNicholl - Then drove via 
Banville & Coisy to Flesselles 
where we had lunch at an Inn 
the same place as we had a few 
meals in June 1916 before we got our 
mess going at the Chateau of the Marquis 
de Savigny.  The hostess is a huge 
strapping woman 6 feet high 
as massively built as any 
Grenadier. She gave us a good 
meal & got us some real fresh butter 

 

and some eggs to bring back 
with us. After lunch we 
called on Madame Gilbert - She 
is a very nice French lady - typically 
Voracious little Lady - a widow whom 
we had met during our previous sojourn 
there. Upon conversation we declared 
that we had been concerned in the 
recaptured of Villers Bretteneux. & she 
was greatly excited & interested as she 
knew the place quite well - She was 
even more excited & interested when we told 
her about having lived at the Chateau 
at Corbië for she was Monsieur 
Boullet's old & intimate friend & often 
stayed at the house in Corbie. She 
gave us a number of interesting 
details about the latter. How 
he lived an old Bachelor immersed 
in science & his butterfly collection 
with his mother untill the latter
died at 94 & how he then a gay   
the spirit of 70 feeling the need of 
female care married an old friend 
& neighbour a widow of 72 years 
of age & have lived happy ever after 

 

After that M Boullet is an extremely 
wealthy man reputed to be worth 
some £2,000,000. When we told 
her we had saved the Butterfly 
collection she almost embraced 
us as she exclaimed raising
both hands "Quelle grande service 
a France". What great service 
for France. 
We then set out for Bertangles where 
Corps is now located. The Village is not 
much to look at. In fact I once went 
through it in January 1917 en route 
to Vignacourt & saw nothing remarkable 
about it. However on inquiry for the 
Chateau we were directed to a 
small rise outside the Village & here
fairly embowered in grand old 
trees we found a very fine & interesting
old Chateau. We entered through 
a massive archway & following a 
drive found ourselves on the right of 
the Chateau which faces the opposite way 
to the gate whereby we had entered 
this looking from a magnificent 
avenue gradually sloping from 
it down a gentle green slope

Last edited by:
Kimberley Hayes Kimberley Hayes
Last edited on:

Last updated: