Diary Henry Arthur Goddard 1918 - Part 13
Xx 7. SALVAGE. The great shortage in signal cable requires
that all good cable should be salved as far as possible.
8. TRAINING. The period during which the Brigade is in
reserve will be devoted to completion of reorganization and equipment,
and to continuation of training for the attack. In this training,
as many as possible of the principles of open warfare should be
demonstrated.
9. Units will notify completion of reorganization and
equipping to Brigade headquarters as early as possible, stating
number of Platoons per Company.
J H F Pain
Major
Brigade Major
9th Australian Infantry Brigade.
Brigade Headquarters.
16th August 1918.
Distribution.
Copy No.1-2 Brigade H.Q.
3 33rd Battalion.
4 34th ''
5 35th ''
6 9th A.L.T.M. Bty.
7 File.
8-10 War Diary.
11-12 Spare.
1 Wounded
AVRIL
19 VENDREDI.
Bois l' Abbes
11.30 a.m. Billeting parties left for
L'HOUSSYE.
5 more men evacuated result of gas
Dull day & quiet
Enemy's Gotha's came over in the early
morning stayed over us for about two hours
dropping bombs. Enemy sent over more gas.
C.O. 2 Middlesex (Major Drew) and his Coy
Commdrs came up & discussed relief. Major Connell
showed him round the line Much quieter day
so far as concerns artillery Got pretty lively
towards 10.p.m. We had a bad night
enemy shelled us with H. V. They are
beastly things when he is ranged right on
to one. For hours during the night his planes
dropped bombs on us No one got much
sleep
The day was brighter but very cold
with some snow
One man wounded.
LAHOUSSYE.
1 wounded
AVRIL
20 SAMEDI.
Lahoussye
Bn relieved at Cachy Trenches by
Essex Regt at 2.p.m
and proceeded to LAHOUSSYE by
march arriving there 5 p.m. A
poor dirty place
Day cold. Snow fell at intervals
Mud bad.
Major Drew (2 Middlesex) came up about breakfast
& his Bn relieved us 1.p.m. Our (Hqrs) packed off
about 2 p.m. & passed the Bn on the road to
LAHOUSSYE Connell & I rode ahead Yates who went
to the Middlesex Hqrs (They are going to occupy those of
34h) went back with Bentine to hand over Defence
Scheme F Advised 9h Bde our departure They
rejoined us on the road. We found LAHOUSSYE a
filthy little deserted village crammed with A.S.C.
& other troops Only place to billet was a farm
building with a cold damp stone floor but Col
Perry of the 45 A.I.F. who had an excellent
billet in a house practically untouched put
me up & gave me some dinner. Turned in
about 11 p.m & slept well. 23 Bde (British)
relieved us in the line & 24 Bde took over
counter attack duties Only one man wounded.
AVRIL
21 DIMANCHE.
Lahoussye
Church parade held in Aerodrome
Bright day
Lt Borrows & Lt d' Arey released
from hospital this afternoon & some recruits
spoke a few words to them.
Gen Monash called 9. a.m.
Spent day going into equipment and
general reorganization.
At 6. p.m Bean the Aust. War Correspondent
called for information re Villers Brettonneaux
fight. Took my photo.
The 45h moved out and I took over their
billets The Hqrs is a very good place The
house practically untouched with all
furniture intact, bedroom good. found
letters lying about a Madame Bermaun
Padieu lived there
LAHOUSSYE
AVRIL
22 LUNDI.
General Birdwood came to Hdqrs 1. p.m
with him to B. Coys billet. Gen Rosenthal
was with him.
Very heavy artillery fire forward
from 8 p m till late into night.
We brought down Baron Von Richthofen
the famous German Aviator by Lewis
Gun fire.
washed half the Battalion
"A" Form.
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.
Office of Origin and Service Instructions.
ARY
DRLS
To {33 - 34 - 35 - 36 Bn9th LTM Batt
Senders Number Day of Month
H 4/23 22
Following from Aust
Corps begins aaa
Documentary evidence
shows that pilot of
hostile plane brought
down on J 19 b was
Cavalry Capt. Baron von
RICHTHOFEN credited
with 79 air victories
aaa ends
9th Aust Inf Bde
G. Halford Lt.
SECRET. Copy No 16
174th Inf. Brigade Order No.77.
Ref. Maps 62 D S.&. and S.E 18th April, 1918.
1/20,000.
1.174th Inf. Brigade will be relieved in the line on night
April 19/20.
Units will be relieved as follows :-
(a) 8th London Regt. (Right) by 1st Sherwood Foresters,
(b) 7th London Regt. (Right) by 1st Fortunas. Regt.
(c) 174th L.T. M. Bty, 8th L.T. M. Bty.
(d) Battalion of 24th Inf. Brigade in Brigade Reserve is
1st Forester Regt. This Battalion will be taking up
positions selected by 24th Inf. Brigade.
(e) 35th Battalion A.I.F. now at disposal of B.G.C. 174th
Inf. Brigade for counter-attack, cease to be available
on completion of Brigade Relief.
2. 6th London Regt. will move from BOVLS to BOUTILLERIL via
CAGNY completing move by 12 noon.
7th and 8th Battalions London Regt. and 174th L.T.M. Bty.
will move to BOUTILLERIE via LONGEAU on completion of relief,
Command of the Sector passes to L.G.C. 24th Inf. Brigade
on completion of relief when Brigade H.Q. will close at
0.25.c.l.l. and reopen at BOULILLIRIL.
3. Detailed arrangements for the relief will be made mutually
between Commanding Officers concerned. No movement East of
LOIS L'AILL by daylight. All movement by platoons at 50
yards distance.
Trench stores (including tents and bivouac shelters)
will be handed over and a receipt forwarded to Brigade H.Q.
within 24 hours of relief.
7th London Regt. has collected S.A.A. and shelters loft
behind by 6th London Regt. and will hand these over to 1st
Worcester Regt.
4. Code word for relief complete : LATHS.
Units will report arrival in billets to Brigade H.Q.
5. The Brigade will be in Divisional Reserve at BOUTILLERIE
and will remain in a state of readiness to move at one hour's
notice.
6. ACKNOWLEDGED.
F. Bryant
Major,
for Brigade General,
174th. Infantry Brigade.
Issued at ..9.. p.m.
Copies to :- 1 G.O.C.
2 6th London Regt.
3 7th London Regt.
4 8th London Regt.
5 174th L.T. M. Bty.
6 Bde. Signal Officer.
7 Staff Captain.
8 Bde. Int. Officer.
9 58th Division “G”.
10 58th Division “Q”.
11 9th Australian Bde.
12 14th de.
13 24th Inf. Brigade.
14 173rd Inf. Brigade.
15 175th Inf. Brigade.
16 35th Battalion A.I.F.
17 Cmdt., VILLERS
BRETONNEUX.
18 O.C. Tank Detachment.
19 511th Field Coy. R.E.
20 ERSKIMI'S GROUP R.F.A.
21 S.S.O.
22 Bde. S.C.
23 511th H.T. Coy. A.S.C.
24 War Diary.
25 File.
Headquarters
35th Battalion, A.I.F.
21-4-1918.
Headquarters
9th. Infantry Brigade, A.I.F.
Distribution of Officers of 35th. Battalion, A.I.F
Battalion Headquarters.
Lt. -Col H.A.GODDARD, D.S.O. Commanding Officer.
Major F.G. GRANT 2nd. in Command (detached to 33rd. Battalion).
Captain A.E. YATES Adjutant.
Lieut. H.M. BUNTINE Assistant Adjutant.
Captain H.J. CONNELL, M.C. Works Officer.
Lieut. D.A. PRENTICE Quartermaster.
Lieut. G.J.P. FINLAYSON Transport Officer.
Lieut. J. WESTBURY Assistant Transport Officer
Lieut. D.L.Mc.KENZIE Intelligence Officer
2/Lieut. E.J. WORLAND Scout Officer.
5/Lieut. A.MURRAY, M.C. Signalling Officer.
2/Lieut. N.A. DAVIES Lewis Gun Officer.
2/Lieut. Murray Sig Officer
Attached:- Captain H.S.THOMAS Medical Officer.
Chaplain J.E.N. OSBORNE, M.C.
"A" Company.
Capt. (Hon.Major) H.V.CARR O.C. Company.
Capt. E St.J. PEARCE 2nd. in Command.
Lieut. E.C.Barlow Platoon Commander.
" A.C.CASTLE "
S/Lt. J.M.BALSILLIE "
" P.M.DUN, M.C., M.M. "
" N.M.TIMBRELL "
" J.A.PURCELL "
"B" Company.
Capt. P.F.LIGHT O.C. Company.
Lieut M.S.FINDLAY 2nd. in Command.
" R.H.CLIFFORD Platoon Commander.
" H.S.WYNDHAM "
S/Lt. L.BEATON "
" D.J.H.T.CLARKE "
" W.L.SIMPSON "
"C" Company.
Capt. S.W. HAWKINS O.C. Company.
Lieut. W. W WARDEN 2nd. in Command.
" C.E.GRACE Platoon Commander.
" R.V. L .BROWNE [*Lt Burrows*] "
" F.J.DE VEER "
2/Lt. S.A. MC. CONWAY "
"D" Company.
Major W.V.J.BLAKE O.C. Company.
Lieut. R.V.LATHLEAN 2nd. in Command
" S.M.Mc.LAREN Platoon Commander
" J.H.Mc.LENNAN "
S/Lt. W.H.GLOSSOP Lt D'Arcy "
" L. BLAKELY "
Officers on strength Absent from Unit.
Lieut. J.Mc.GINNES (L.G. School) 2/Lt. B.A.ADES [[ (Rfct. O ? ]]
Capt. J.G.PATERSON, M.C. (Bde H.Q.) Lt. C.HALFORD [[ (D? ]]
Lieut. W.H.STATON (Bde H.Q.)
[* WCh G.1. *]
H’d Q’rs 35th Bn A.I.F.
18/4/18
H’d Q’rs
9th Aust Inf. Bde.
– Hostile Gas Shelling - Ref. 62D.
(1) From 4 pm. till 6 pm. 17/4/18 the
enemy bombarded the wood at
O 25 & 26 and O 31 a & b with gas
shell. Approximately 1,000 shells fell
in that time.
From 4 am till 5 am. 18/4/18 the
enemy again bombarded the
same area, but not with such
violence,. Not more than 150
gas shells fell.
(2) The shells contained chiefly mustard
gas, ^and were of x. 5.9” & 4.2” & smaller calibres.
(3)(a) 33 men have been evacuated
through the effect of gas, the shells
having fallen in vicinity of
trenches at O.31.a.& b.
(b) From 4 pm tp 6 pm. 17/4/18
(c) All men were in possession of
gas masks & put them on as soon
as possible after bombardment commenced.
Samples of shells herewith.
AEYates Capt & Adjt
for . C.O. 35th Bn A.I.F.
LAHOUSSYE
AVRIL
23 MARDI
Gen. Rosenthal came over in morning. Had
a long discussion with him on matters
generally & Carr’s action during Villers Brettoneux
fight also that of Major Blake. The
latter goes to a training Bn in England.
He said that I have been recommended by
himself & Gen Monash for next Brigade command
& that Gen Birdwood had asked about me in
that connection
Capt Connell went up to BONNAY-HEILLY line
with Lieuts Callte & d’Arcy to reconnoiter same
& fix the line platoon Hqrs.
Wet morning but turned out a fine day.
D.A D M S. Major Vickers called 4. p.m.
At 11. p.m. we got word that information had
been received that enemy intended attacking during night
and that we were to be prepared to move at one hours
notice. Made arrangements and turned in 12.30. a m.
Very heavy artillery fire all night
11. a m instruction recd to stand to
LAHOUSSYE
GERMANS CAPTURED VILLERS BRETTONNEUX
from British
AVRIL
24 MERCREDI
At 11. a.m. received word that things had not
gone well to the North. There had been very heavy
shelling all morning, including gassing of BONNAY.
We were warned to be prepared to go forward at a
moments notice. Took all necessary steps.
Enemy heavily shelled Villers Brettonneux
Mericourt, Heilly & Bonnay with H.E.
Gas – Phosgene, Mustard Oil & Lacrymatory.
Enemy attacked at Villers Brettonneux
6.30 a.m. and at 1. p.m was in
possession of the town. (after all our
fight to think these people so much
stronger in numbers than we were should
let it go) and the ground to the South
as far as HANGAARD
By midnight 13 & 15 Australian
Brigades had retaken town & the
lost ground and captured 1200
prisoners & 100 Machine Guns.
& 2 field guns.
LAHOUSSAYE
AVRIL
25 JEUDI
Enemy opened heavy bombardment on whole front from
SOMME to HANGARD at 3.45. a.m. using large amount
of gas. At 5.45 he attacked on a 2 or 3 Div front
astride Villers Brettonneux Road to Hangard. He
succeeded in taking Villers Brettonneux and
advanced on Cachy and entered the Bois
l’Abbe. In the evening our 13th & 15th Brigades
countered attacked and drove him out of
the town and back to original line east of
Villers Brettonneux capturing 1000 600 prisoners
3 tanks. 100 Machine guns & 2 field guns.
Have felt very ill all day but improvéd
towards evening.
Inspected billets in morning.
Received advice that Lieut Lewis was
an unwounded prisoner in German hands
I had written his wife that he was Killed.
Heavy fighting all night in & around
VILLERS BRETTONNEUX We must have inflicted heavy
casualties on enemy. Enemy is heavily attacking
British and trench positions N. of Ballieul.
Very severe fighting taking place. Total prisoners taken
Villers Brettonneux fighting 24-25 17 officers & 766 others
1 Officer & 15 others of these Killed by enemys shell on their
way to cage.
LAHOUSSAYE
AVRIL
26 VENDREDI
2 Wounded
Fighting round VILLERS BRETTONNEUX. We have
countere attacked and taken prisoners.
In the morning I made an inspection
of “A”, “B” “C” & “D” Coys and talked to the
men about the recent fighting.
In the afternoon the Bn having been detailed
to hold the Bridgehead Line - I made a
reconnaissance with Capt Connell. We
rode part of the way through Bonnay –
leaving our horses with Knight. the other side
of the villiage - The approaches were pretty
awful with dead horses - the road literally
running with blood. “Eve” did not like it.
We were about 4 hours away. Met Col
Blacklow on way back.
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