Diary Henry Arthur Goddard 1918 - Part 15
Battle MORLANCOURT.
MAI
[* men officer
Killed 13
wounded 65 4*]
6 a cont. MOULANCOURT
wounded MAI
6 7 MARDI.
round me., a regular embarassment of riches
he took about 170 prisoners including 3
officers about a dozen machine guns 2
minenwerfers (trench mortars) & a huge
amount of ammunitions and rifles.
The 34th 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 Connell was stuck up
I sent forward B. Coy. to his help.
At 4 the position was obscure the C.T.
being still in the hands of the Huns but
the position was not cleared at dawn
when nothing else could be done. D Coy
Pioneers went up at 1.30 a.m and dug
out T head saps from old enemy front
line on Connells flank they had to fight.
Col White his Adjt Halford the Intelligence
officer Yates & the F.O.O. were with me at
11 am during the fight it was a long night
& my second without sleep
For casualties see over.
BATTLE of MORLANCOURT.
Wounded 7
7 MAI
7. 8 MERCREDI.
A long heavy day - squaring up things -
making up reports on fight &c. The General
came up in afternoon. The 34 are to
establish posts on our right to-night and
the 39 on our left. The Hun shelled
heavily all day the worst of which
fell round Headquarters - as we have no
protection we were lucky. The 33rd Bn
went back in the evening excepting D & B
Coys which remained under my command
I am putting them in our old front line & Recd
the whole of the 35 in the captured lines. Fieli
want of sleep.. It is over 60 hours since I
have had any. An awful night raining
hard dark as pitch and the mud shocking
He shelled us furiously all night artillery work intense.
8 May
An urgent call for help from 34 at 4 a.m sent D. Coy
33rd to their assistance.
The day cleared a bit, the trenches in the
captured area are awful and the condition
of the men deplorable in mud to their knees
and laying in it all day in the shallow trench
that formed the old enemy 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 fire both side
a lot of heavy stuff falling round my quarters
MOULANCOURT
Officers who actually went forward
in the attack
A Coy, Major Carr }
Capt Pearce } on right
Lt Cattle }
" Balsillie }
Purcell }
D. Coy Lt. Mc Laren }
" Glossop. Killed }
" Blakeley } centre
" Mc Lennan }
" Lachlan. went up after
C. Coy. T/ Major Connell }
Capt Arnold wounded }
Lt Grace wounded }
" de Vere } on left
" Mc Conaghy wounded }
" [[Borrain?]] wounded }
B. Coy. Lt Findleay } reinforced
Clifford } in morning
" Wyndham } (after
" Clifford. } attack)
" Simpson wounded }
" Clarke. wounded.}
BATTLE of MORLANCOURT.
8th 1 Killed
1 wounded
8
MOULANCOURT
1 wounded
MAI
9 JEUDI.
A beautiful spring day. Artillery much
quieter. Col Murphy 18 came up in morning re
relief. 7. p.m. discussed with Connell scheme
to take enemy strong point 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 would be
difficult to extricate myself from so
turned the project down.
Shelling to-night absolutely hellish
Our casualties (35h Bn) in yesterdays
operation were
officer officers N.C.O.s Men
Killed 1 1. 6
Wounded 6. 12. 57.
Total casualties 83.
2/Lieut W. H. Glossop. Killed
Lieuts W. L. Simpson, D J. H.I Clarke, C. E. Grace,
2/Lieuts F. Berrows, S.A. McConaghy and
Capt. H.A. Arnold wounded.
MOULANCOURT - LAHOUSSYE
1 Wounded
MAI
10 VENDREDI.
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 9.p.m.
leaving Major Grant to complete hand over
after I had gone into everything with Major
Arrives Lahoussye midnight. Slept
on matress on floor of Prentices billet.
Artillery very quiet tonight - am glad it
will give the boys a chance to get out.
LAHOUSSYE RIVERY
(AMIENS)
MAI
11 SAMEDI.
Grey overcast day, but fine
Marched from LAHOUSSYE 12 noon
arrived RIVERY about 4. p.m. It is a
suburb of AMIENS and like 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 womens
things about & post cards addressed to
La Soeur Hippolyte.
We look out over deserted Amiens. When
I last passed through the city I little
thought to revisit it under such condition.
Turned in early and had a good night
my bed an hospital cot with my own
blankets
RIVERY-(AMIENS)
MAI
12 DIMANCHE.
Dull wet day. Saw the General in morning
moved my quarters to the house of the
concierge There is a proper bed there.
Major Grant went to temp command 34
vice Major Fry who has broken down
and has some gas burns.
RIVERY (AMIENS)
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION. "Q" 74/244.
Divisional Headquarters,
13th May, 1918.
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 to 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
10
MAI
13 LUNDI.
At 4. a.m. the enemy's Gothas came over
and bombed us heavily. They kept it going
for over half an hour.
Spent morning writing up Villers Brettonneux
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 recognized
that I have had a hard row to hoe
and not had a very fair chance in the
past. That I have been recommended
for a Brigade which may eventuate
shortly.
Miserable dull windy & wet day.
The Hun is shelling the town with
heavy stuff.
A quiet night
RIVERY-(AMIENS)
MAI
14 MARDI.
Made an inspection of billets at 10.15 then
addressed parade of Bn on the recent operation
giving them the message 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.
A lovely sunny spring day
This morning at 3.a.m. the enemy
bombed us from the air & kept it
up till 5.a.m.
The hun planes started bombing us
again 10 p.m.
A quiet night.
RIVERY
MAI
16 JEUDI.
Yates went for weeks rest Le Touquet
Paraded Capt Pearce before G.O.C.
reference his bad report from Staff Course
also Lieut Findlay reference my
superseding him. 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.
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.
At 2. a.m. enemy dropped very heavy bombs
our vicinity. He was also heavily bombing
Amiens.
Received from Brigade detail of
role at Division Brigade and Battalion
while in Corps Reserve Discussed
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.
11. a.m. G.O.C. held conference Bde Headqrs
reference new move and administration
In afternoon the boys held a
swimming carnival in the baths on
the River just outside Amiens. It
was a beautiful warm sunny afternoon
one might have imagined oneself at
a Sydney seaside place The boys even
lying about in all directions. The
River Banks and approaches looked
very beautiful. The General was
there. Just as we were going the
enemy sent over some heavy shell
9.2 bursting shrapnel over the baths
& H.E. into the town.
A good deal of gunning all night.
RIVERY
MAI
20 LUNDI.
At 3. p m. General Rosenthal sent for
me to say he was going to the 2 Div and
had instructions to hand over Brigade to
me. Handed over 35 Bn to Connell
temporarily with Major Carr temp 2nd
in command. New order moved
into line N. of Villers Brettonneux
our Div relieving the 4 Aust Div.
RIVERY - VILLERS BRETTONNEUX
MAI
21 MARDI.
In afternoon Gen Rosenthal said good
bye to Brigade. I felt sorry to see him
go. He is a capable man.
We moved out to relieve the 12th Brigade
6 to 8 p.m. I left Rivery with Major
Pain at 8. p.m. riding along 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 Gelibrand
was my opposite.
Turned in 2. a.m.
Fine warm day
Casualties
- 1 man 33 wounded.
&
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