Diary Henry Arthur Goddard 1918 - Part 14

LAHOUSSYE
 2 wounded
AVRIL
27 SAMEDI.
A quiet day - a little enemy
shelling between us and Bonnay
and Heilly.
In morning sent Coy commander and
two platoon commanders from each Coy
under Connell & Yates to reconnoitre
Bridgehead line. Instructions were for
all to reconnoitre the whole of the line
and the emergency routes, but Carr
returned after seeing only his Company piece.
 

LAHOUSSYE
 3 wounded 
AVRIL
28 DIMANCHE.
Another quiet day. No shelling to speak
of in our vicinity.
In morning McCallum of the Comfort
Committee called. re some man in Australia
complaining that the men did not get the
comforts. Some lying skallewig.
Major Pain & Major Grant also came in.
Dull overcast day. 

LAHOUSSYE
AVRIL
29 LUNDI.
Lahoussye.
At 3. a.m. was turned out by a terrific
shellfire. Found it was mostly our own
a real terrible Hole.
At 9 a.m Connell and I started out
on a reconnaissance of the new brigade
front. I saw Col Woolcock and Col.   
42 & 43^d. It was heavy going. Got back
just before 3. Was having something to eat
when Gen Rosenthal called. He discussed
the relief - breaking up of 36 ^h. Also
showed me a letter from Div General in
which Blake of the flying corps brother of Blake
of ours who I had had sent to England
made a statement that I had said I would
give an order for men to fire on our own
low flying planes. Easily put that right -
but what a waster !
Miserable wet cold day
 

Lahoussye. - Morlancourt Sector
5 Wounded
AVRIL
30 MARDI.
Major Grant reported back from 33^d
36 Bn was broken up today. Two platoons
with three officers Capt. Arnold and Lieuts  
came over to us. They reported 2.p.m. and
I said a few words of encouragement to
them. At 7.30 we moved out to relieve
the 42^d. Just as we left we heard there was
to be an operation on left the 11^h Bde were
advancing some posts and on our right in where
a raid was being carried out. I feel a bit
anxious about the men getting caught on the
roads. Grant and self pushed ahead. via
MERICOURT. It was a long walk, and the night
was very dark. We only passed through the village as the
stunt opened. We reached Bn Hqrs about 10. p.m. I had
had about enough. Felt very cold after I cooled
from the walking. There was a bit of a hitch through
Carr (A Coy) and  Lathleen 'D' Coy getting parted from
their Lewis Guns. Relief was completed about
midnight.
Heavy rain.
Now occupy MOULANCOURT Sector
from J.18.d.35.90 to J.12.central. 

NOTES D'AVRIL
My Disposition ^First Battle Villers Brettonneux
Night 30 Mar
to 2 apl.  35 Bn. : D.B.XC Coys in line B in reserve in town
3 Apl.  B.A.C. Coys 35 in line 2 Coys 33 Bn support line
        2 Coys 33 Bn & D Coy in reserve in town
3   "  First battle -
2 Coys 33 (Duncan & Farleigh) B Coy A Coy 35
2 Coys 33 (Fry & Smith) & C Coy 35 in line
with 6^h Londoners in reserve in total.
After first battle - as above only 36 Bn in reserve
in rear of of right of town & 34 on left.
Admitted into 3^d Lond General Hospital:
Capt G.D. Coghill 8.4.18. wounded
   "     Sayers. on con leave. to 6.5.18
Lieut Furr
         Henry. C.H.
         Horne F.
         Lyne M.H.
         Redfern E.D.
         Flanagan E.G.
2/Lt. Prentice J.T. Sick
Thompson T. E. con leave to 6.5.18
 

MOULANCOURT
MAI
1 MERCREDI.
Went round lines in morning. It is pretty good though
very exposed in places. Fritz sent a few shells over
where we were. I straffed a Sergt and four men
for dodging without their rifles.
Arranged to advance my left posts to confirm
to the 10^h Bde. at midnight. Carr's Coy to do
the job. Instructed Carr re same.
Good deal of trouble re cooking. Decided to
risk getting the kitchens up & using them near Bn.
Hqrs. in order to give one hot feed.
Interviewed Machine Gun Officer, Liaison Officer 37^th
Col. Blacklaw &c.
Cold dull miserable day
Very heavy artillery on right and some about us
10 p.m. Left Brigade advised that they will
not start to move up to their posts till 1 a.m.
and that the Pioneers were digging the new posts for them
The night was a particularly lively one, there
was an unbroken roar of artillery throughout.
I dont know that I have heard anything equalling it. 

Headquarters
35^th Battalion A.I.F.
In the Field 27.April 1918.

Farleigh B
Duncan
A 2 Coys 33^rd
Diagram - see original document 

MOULANCOURT
MAI
2 JEUDI.
1 Wounded
2.30. a.m. Message from Carr that he had gone up
11.30 and as the left Brigade had not turned up
after midnight and as he saw their posts taped
out and learned the Pioneers were digging them
he came back and suggested that the Pioneers
would dig ours. He is a fool It was his chance
and he missed it.
Went round the line with Engineer officer
in morning. On return found General Rosenthal
at Hqrs. Discussed with him proposed advance
& the officer question. Discussed Connell Carr
and Pierce. Less artillery to-night
Beautiful fine spring day.
 

MOULANCOURT
MAI
3 VENDREDI.
1 Killed
3 Wounded
2.30. a.m. Carr established new posts on
our left.
Enemy brought down one of our planes in flames
about 9.30 just over us.
He was sending over 5.9s back of our Hqrs.
during morning and scattered shelling our area.
Fine day. 

MOULANCOURT
MAI
4 SAMEDI.
Busy all day on working out tomorrows fight.
During last night I relieved "A" Coy (Major Carr) from
piquet line by B. Coy. (Findlay). I told Carr
to make a reconnaissance of enemys positions
with his officers and to arrange for his Company
to carry up wire and picquets to intermediate dump
in front of line. Strenuous afternoon -
Gen Rosenthal held a conference at my Hdqrs
at 7.p.m. T. Col White, T. Col Fry. The Pioneers
Capt &c were there. Went into 34^th stunt to-night
and my fight tomorrow. Left about 8.30.
Found Carr had gone on his reconnaissance
without arranging for working parties. His men
had turn-in. x I sent for him about 2 a.m.
and rated him. Worked with [[Major?]] Grant
until 3 a.m. on operation orders &c for
tomorrow.
34 Bn advanced their posts. It was
not too good a job owing to the intensely dark
and wet night.
 

MOULANCOURT
MAI
5 DIMANCHE.
 Carries
B-
½. A Monfries.
Miserable wet day. Our luck with regard
to weather is vile. At 9.30 had a conference
of Coy Commds. including 34^th. Thenover
morning & afternoon getting out orders interview. Machine
Gun Officer, Pioneers. T.Ms. Engineers
33 C.O. (White) and Coy Commander 34^h
Battalion Officers Major Pain &c &c
Halford the Intelligence officer came up as
Liason for Brigade. By 6.30 all was
clear. At 8 p.m. I had a fusillion conference
of Coy Commanders. Artillery, Pioneers
Trench Mortar, Machine Gun Officer &c
It is an awful night and the mud
bad. It will be tough going.
I feel however that I have left
nothing undone. I am satisfied with
my orders. I have done all possible
for materials - the rest lays in the
courage and endurance of the
troops. 

Battle MORLANCOURT.
MAI
6 LUNDI.
               men    officer
Killed       13
Wounded 65         4
Missing      3         -
                 81
The night has cleared, and though the
going will be awful the going will be
awful it is something that the rain has
stopped. The barrage opened promptly
and the men got out well though
there was much short shooting of the
guns on our right inflicting casualties
on "C" Coy. The men went forward splendidly
Never did they show greater courage or
fight better They found the trenches
seething with Germans. The left platoon
were widely separated through a gap on
their right of 60 yards through casualties
but they went right through. They were
of course cut off, but they cut their way
out bringing with them 20 prisoners & a
machine gun. Connell commanded the
left Coy. Carr the right centre - they each had a
½ Coy of of "D" Coy, as a second wave -
I also had one & half companies of 34^th Bn
on right - they had little resistance. Connell
(C) had the toughest job & his flank is
still obscure. The prisoners poured in in
the rain heaps and I soon had over 100
 

MOULANCOURT
6^h Cont.
Wounded
MAI
AMF
Headquaters
33rd Bat

34th
35th
9th A.L
Right Arti
Left Artil
Divisional Co
"Corp
congratil
operated
aslo on
all who t

of the Di
executed 
JB.

 

Baule MORLANCOURT
              Men   Officers
Killed       13
Wounded 65       4
Missing       3       2
                  81      
MAI

6 LUNDI
The night has cleared , and though the
going will be awful the going will be
it is something that the rain has
stopped. The Barrage opened promptly
and the men got out well though
there was much short shooting of the
guns on our right inflicting casualties
on "C" Coy. The men went forward splendidly
never did they show greater courage or
fight better They found the trenches
seething with Germans. The left platoon
were widely separated through a gap on
their right of 600 yards through casualties
but they went right through - they were
of course cut off. but they cut their way
out bringing with them 20 prisoners & a
machine gun. Connell commanded the
left Coy. Carr the right centre - they each had a 
½ Coy pf. of "D' Coy as a second wave - &
I also had one & half companies of 34h Bn
on Right - they had little resistance. Connell
(C) had the toughest job. & his flank is 
still obscure. the prisoners poured in in
thousands heaps and I soon had over 100

 

6^h cont MOULANCOURT
wounded
[*ARY*]
NINTH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE
Brigade Headquarters.
6th May 1918.
Headquarters
33rd Battalion.
34th     "
35th     "
9th A.L.T.M. Bty.
3rd Aust. Pioneer Bn.
Right Artillery Group.
Left Artillery Group.
The following copy of message received from
Divisional Commander today is forwarded.
"Corps Commander desires me to convey his very hearty
congratulations to you, all units, arms and services who cooperated
in last night's very fine success AAA  I wish
also on behalf of myself and remainder of Division to thank
all who took part, for so brilliantly upholding the traditions
of the Division, both for gallantry and carefully-planned and
executed operations AAA  General MONASH."
Chas Dunlop
for
Major
Brigade Major
9th Australian Infantry Brigade.
JB. 

Baule MORLANCOURT
              Men   Officers
Killed       13
Wounded 65       4
Missing       3       2
 

6^h cont MOULANCOURT
wounded
MAI               
ARY
NINTH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE
[*HEADQUATERS
NINTH INFANTRY BRIGADE
7 MAY 1918

B.M. NO 33/206
A.I.F*]
Brigade Headquarters.

6th May 1918.
Headquarters
33rd Battalion.
34th     "
35th     "
9th A.L.T.M. Bty.
The following copy of wire from General Sir H. RAWLINSON
is forwarded for promulgation to all ranks.
"Following from General Rawlinson through Australian
Corps begins AAA  Please convey to 3rd Australian Division
my congratulations and best thanks for the brilliant piece
of work they carried out last night AAA  The success is
highly creditable to all concerned and will much improve
our position in front of MORLANCOURT AAA  --3rd Australian
Division."
The Army Commander himself called on the Divisional
Commander today and expressed a desire that his message should
reach all who took part in the operations of 5th/6th instant.
J.H.F. Pain.
Major
Brigade Major
9th Australian Infantry Brigade.
JB. 

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.
TO { CO 33rd Bn
Sender's Number  Day of Month
CO 30                       7.
Your T 2. The message
was for the two Bns of
9^th Bge in support to
17^th & 18^th Bns - a later
message was sent
giving situation at 9.13 p.m.
All O.K. here now. Only
a few huns got [[?]] our lines
Geo F Murphy
Lt Col
From CO 18^th Bn
Time  1.15 am