Diary Henry Arthur Goddard 1918 - Part 15

Battle MOULANCOURT

MAI

                men          officer

Killed          13

wounded     65              4

6' [[Con'?]]   MOULANCOURT

xxxxxxx MAI

6   7 MARDI. S. Stanislas

round me., a regular  embarassment [[?]]

[[?]][ took about 170 prisoners including 3

officer about a dozen machine guns 2

minenwerfers (trench mortars) a huge

amount of comminutions and rifles.

The 34' Bn operation was not a success

so here we are in the German trenches

[[with?]] only Germans in an other part.

It was a long night at about 2 a.m

I got messages that [[?]] was stuck up

I sent forward B. Coy. to his help.

1.4 the position was [[?]] the C.T.

being still in the hands of the Huns but

the position was not cleared at dawn

when nothing else would be done. D Coy

Pioneers went up at 1.30 a.m and dug

out T head saps from old enemy fight

line on Cornwells flank they had to fight.

Col white his adjt [[?]] the Intelligence

officer Yates & the F.O.O. were with me at

xxx during the fight it was a long night

& my second [[?]] sleep

For [[?]] see over

 

BATTLE of MORLANCOURT

[[bounded?]] 7     7 MAI

7. 8 MERCREDI. S. Dėsirė   128-237

A long heavy day- squaring up things

making up reports on fight & the General

came up in afternoon. The 34 are to

establish posts on our right to-night and

the 39 on our left. The Hum shelled

heavily all day the worst of which

fell round Headquarters - as we have no

protection we were lucky. The 33' Bn

went back in the evening except D & B

Coys which remained under my command

I am putting them in our old front line & [[?]]

the whole of the 35 in the captured lines. Field

want of sleep. It is over 60 hours since I

have had any. An awful night raining

hard dark as pitch and the mud sticking

He shelled us furiously all night artillery with intense.

8 May

[[?]] urgent call for help from 34 at 4 a.m sent D. Coy

33rd & then [[?]]

The day cleared a bit, the trenches in the 

captured area are awful and the condition

of the men deplorable in mud to their [[?]]

and laying in it all day in the shallow trench

Had formed the old evening support line. Sunday

2 div people up about our relief - the 34 did

their stunt to-night on our right. I hope they have

better luck this time. Intense artillery from both side

a lot of [[?]] stuff falling [[?]] my quarters

MOULANCOURT

Officers who actually went forward

in the attack

A Coy,     Major Carr

                Capt Pearce                on right

                Lt Cattle

                 "  Balsiller

                     Purcell

D. Coy     St Mc Laren

                 "   Glossop    Killed

                 "   Blakeley                     centre

C. Coy     T/ Major  Connell

                Capt Arnold   wounded 

                 T/ Grace       wounded

                   " de Vere                      on left

                   " [[?]] [[?]]    wounded

                   " Borrow      wounded

B. Coy        Lt   [[?]]                          reenforced

                     xxxxx                           in morning

                    "   [[?]]                            (after

                    "   Clifford                         attack)

                    "   Simpson   wounded

                    "   Clarke       wounded

    BATTLE of MORLANCOURT

1  Killed

1 wounded

MOULANCOURT

1 wounded

MAI

9 JEUDI. Ascension     129-236

A beautiful spring day. Artillery much

quieter. Col Murphy 18 came up in [[?]] re

relief. 7. p.m. discussed will Connell scheme

to late enemy strong [[?]]] on our left.

informed Gen Rosenthal of action I intended

to take. after reconnaissance I found

it impossible to go on with the scheme.

We decided the position a very [[strong?]]

one being with Boche and with the few

tired men I have available I should only

become involved in a position it [[?]] be

difficult to [[?]] myself from ao

turned the project down.

Shelling to-night absolutely hellish

___________________________________

our casualties (35' Bn) in yesterday

operation were

officer        officers    N.C.O.   Men

Killed             1              1           6

Wounded       6             12         57

Total Casualtlies   83.

[[?]] Lieut W. H. Glossop    Killed  

Lieurts  W. L.Simpson, D J. H.I Clarke. C. E. Grace

[[?]] Lieut F . Berrous, S.A. McCouaghy and

Capt. H.A. Arnorld wounded.

  MOULANCOURT - LAHOUSSYE

1Wounded

MAI

10 VENDREDI. S Antonin     130-235

Bleak damp morning, but  improved later

It was a quiet day very little artillery

but about 7.30 a big shell burst right

amongst our headquarters. It gave me

a bit of a jump I thought at least a

dozen were wiped out, but only one G.M.C.

chap was slightly wounded.

Col Murphy came up 6.30. I left with

ades and a couple of runners

leaving Major Grant to complete hand over

after I had gone in to every thing with [[?]] 

Arrived Lahoussye midnight. Slept

on matress on floor of [[?]] billet.

Artillery very quiet tonight am glad  &

will [[/]] the boys a [[?]] to get out'

LAHOUSSYE RIVERY

(AMIENS)

MAI

11 SAMEDI. S. Mamert      131-234

Grey overcast day, but fine

march from LAHOUSSYE 12 noon

arrived RIVERY about 4. p.m. It is a

suburb of AMIENS and [[?]] that city

quite deserted. [[We?]] billeted at the

HOSPICE D' AMIENS. (HOSPICE SAINT VICTOR)

I have a room in the hospital, evidently

it belonged to a nun there are [[?]]

[[?]] about & post carer [[?]] to

La Salier Hippolyte.

We look out over deserted amien when

I last passed through the city I little

thought to resist it under such condition.

Turned in early and had a good night

my bed or hospital got well [[?]] our 

blankets

RIVERY-(AMIENS)

MAI

12 DIMANCHE. S. Achille     132-233

Dull wet day. Saw the General in morning

moved my quarters to the house of the

concierge There in a proper bed [[?]]

Major Grant event to temp command 34

[[?]] Major Fry who has brother down

and has some [[?]] [[?]]

RIVERY (AMIENS)      

10

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION  "Q" 74/244.        

 Divisional Headquarters,

13th May, 1916

TO ALL UNITS

The Divisional Commander desires the following message to be

promulgated to the whole of the troops of the Division:-

"The Field Marshall Commanding-in-Chief paid a special visit to

the Division a couple of days ago in order be personally to express to

me his thanks for the valuable and decisive services rendered by the

Division, from the date of its arrival in this theatre of war on March 27th

up to and inclusive of the offensive operations of May 6th and 7th.-

The Commander-in-Chief desired me to convey to all ranks, Services and

Departments his keen appreciation and gratitude for the work they had done.

JOHN MONASH, Major-General"

Commanding Third Australian Division.

Robt.E.Jackson, Lieut.-Colonel.

A.A. & Q.M.G. Third Australian Division.

RIVERY-AMIENS

 

RIVERY-AMIENS

MAI

13 MUNDI. S. Servais  133-232

At 4. a.m. the enemy's Goltias came over

and bombed us heavily. They kept it going

for over half an hour.

Spent morning writing up Villers Britton

[[?]] stunt for war diary.

at 4.p.m. General Sir John Monash

called to personally congratulate me on

the good work of myself and regiment.

He tells me that it is fully [[?]]

that I have had a hard row to hoe

and not had a very fair [[chance?]] in the

past. That I have here recommended

for a Brigade which may [[?]]

[[?]]

Miserable duty windy wet day.

The Hun is shelling the town with

heavy stuff.

A quiet night

 

RIVERY-(AMIENS)

MAI

14 MARDI. S. Pacōme     134-231

Made an inspection of billets at q0-15 Then

addressed parade of Bn on the recent operation

giving them no [[?]] from Div, Corps and

army commds Afternoon inspected

transport and said a few words to them.

General Birdwood came up. Had a look

round. Gen Rosenthal told me I could

expect a change in a few days.

A better day with a little sun but still

cold. Planes dropped bombs during morning

RIVERY

MAI

15 MERCREDI. S. Isidore   135-230

A lovely sunny spring day

This morning at 3. a.m. the enemy

bombed us from the air & kept it

up it 5.a.m.

The Hun planes started bombing us

again 10 p.m.

A quiet night

 RIVERY

MAI

16 JEUDI. S. Honorė    136-220

Yates went for weeks rest Le Touquet

Parade Capt Pearce before G.O.C.

reference [[?]] bad report from Staff [[?]]

also Lieut Findlay reference my

[[?]] [[?]] 9.30. a m

G.O.C. inspected transport 2.30 p.m.

Huns bombed us 10-p.m.

beautiful warm sunny day

RIVERY

MAI

17 VENDREDI. S. Pascal 137-228

A quiet uneventful day

beautifully warm and sunny.

The Gothas are dropping bombs

on the town again 10. p.m.

Major Connell took over duties

senior Major

RIVERY

MAI

18 SAMEDI. Ste. Juliette        138-227

At 2. a.m. enemy dropped very heavy bombs

our vicinity. The was also heavily bombing

Amiens.

Received from Brigade detail of

role at Division Brigade and Battalion

while in Corps Reserve Divisional

at 9 p.m. held conference of officers

and discussed and explained same.

Fine day quite hot -

Very heavy artillery  fire started

11. p.m. and continued all night

RIVERY

MAI

19 DIMANCHE. Pentecŏte     139-226

11. a.m. G.O.C. held conference Bde Headquarters

reference new move and administration

In afternoon the boys held a

swimming carnival in the [[?]] on

the River just outside Amiens. It

was a beautiful warm sunny afternoon

one night have [[?]] oneself at

a Sydney seaside place The boys even

[[?]] about in all directions. The

River Banks and approaches looked

very beautiful oh [[?]] was

there just as we were going [[/]]

evening sent [[?]] [[?]] [[?]] Still

9.2 bursting shrapnel over the [[?]]

& H.E. into the town.

A good deal of [[?]] at night

RIVERY

MAI

20 LUNDI. S. BERNARDIN     140-225

at 3. p.m General Rosenthal sent for

me to say he was going to the 7 Div and

had instructions to hand over Brigade to

me. Handed over 35 Bn to Connell

temporarily with Major Carr temp 2'

in command Reid order [[?]]

into line N. of Villers [[Brettonneux?]]

our Div reiving the 4 Aust Div

RIVERY - VILLERS BRETTONNEUS

MAI

21 MARDI. S. Hospice   141-234

In afternoon Gen Rosenthal said good

bye to Brigade. I fell sorry to see him

go. He is a capable man.

We moved out to relieve the 12' Brigade

6 to 8 p.m. I left Rivery with Major

Pain at 8. p.m. riding a long the 

River Bank a very beautiful ride

we reached the Bde Headquarters a

cut into the railway Bank at O.25.c.

We relieved the 12 Brigade relief was

completed at 1.20. a.m. General [[Goldrand?]]

was my opposite

Turned in 2. a.m.

Fine warm day

Casualties

 1 man 33 wounded

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

                      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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