Diary Henry Arthur Goddard 1918 - Part 16
N. VILLERS BRETTONNEUX
Killed 1} 22d to 29 May.
Wounded 16}
MAI
22 MERCREDI. S. Emile 142-223
Sun 11.a.m. Saw Col Cox comdg left
right Bde Artitly. Col Ballengale comes in
Got information 34 Hqrs heavily shelled
& their sigs knocked out.
At 5 p.m. 6 American Officer reported
for allotment to the Brigade. Sent
2 each to 33 & 34 & one to 35 and the
Reglt Adjt Capt. Seitz remained at
Brigade
N. VILLERS BRETTONNEUX
MAI
23 JEUDI S.Didier 143-222
Hx xxx
General Birdwood called about 11.a.m
He told me my appt. to command the
Brigade had been confirmed and congratulated
me. General Monash called 12. noon. also
congratulated me so suppose the appl is O.K
Gen Birdwood told me he was going to
command the 5 Army. Gen Monash said
that he was to get command of the Corps.
Col Blacklaw was up also General
Burgess. of the Artillery.
In afternoon I took Major Dunlop
and went round the Bn saw Majors
Grant & Connell, but Col White was
on the line. The American officer was
getting about.
a fine day: Very little artillery work.
Casualties 22-23.
33 Bn. wounded 2 Killed
34 " 3 . 1
5 4 .1.
N. VILLERS BRETTONNEUX.
MAI
24 VENDREDI.S.V. deL.144-221
4pm. Col Ballengale commdg right group
Artillery called.
Very heavy artillery fire in North
during night.
Miserable dull bleak day.
Casualties.
33rd Bn. Killed Wounded. 2
34. '' '' 1
35. '' '' 2
5
Casualties 25
33 Bn. Killed. Wounded 2
34 ''
N. VILLERS BRETTONNEUX.
MAI
25 SAMEDI
With Major Dunlop on tour of Bd area in
morning. Visited Keep F. not very satisfied with
siting - Then to 33d Hqrs saw Col White.
On way to 35 enemy started heavily
shelling in rear of Men ∧about 350 rounds. and on 34 hqrs.
Had lunch with Connell - Grant 34
looked in as he could not get home on
account of shelling. Back to Bde Hqrs
about 2.40.
Col Jess of Div and Major of Army
called.
New Artillery Liason officer Capt T.H. Burke
came this morning Col. Cox also came up.
5..20 p.m. enemy fired 40 rounds in salvos
of four
7.45. enemy started concentrated gas
bombardment falling on Bois l Abbe
and our rear Battalion. 4.2s and
77s mustard gas fell at the rate of
60 rounds per minute. Continued to
9.45 p.m. then slackened. A similar
shoot was repeated 3.15. a.m. and
5.15 a.m.
MAI
26 DIMANCHE
5.10 a.m. enemy sent over 100 rds 5.9 on 34 Bn
Enemy continued gas shelling at intervals
mostly on 11 Bde front mostly 5.9s 8" but some 8"
5.9s.
10.45. 30 rounds 4.2 fell on support line
During afternoon about 300 rds 4.2 and 5.9
fell vicinity N of 34th Bn.
11.15 p.m. enemy opened fire between front and
support line.
5.10 p.m. - 6.20 p.m. 300 rds 5.9 fell
vicinity 34h.
Gen Monash rang up about 11.p.m. to say
he was sending me the 37 Bn for a reserve. The shelling
was very heavy. They reported 1.30 a.m. at
Bde Hqrs. I had sent Dunlop ahead to select
a position for them & they got up without loses
at 3.a.m. The firing was very heavy and
for a time it looked like the big stunt. but
at 5.a.m. it died down and I turned in.
I sent the 37th back at 6.a.m.
Casualties
Officer others
33 Bn - Killed. 1 officer. - others. Wounded 1. 2.
34 " includes 20 gassed 2. 26
35 " 4.
T.M. 1
3. 33
Lieut T.N. Learrmont 1. 33 Bn Killed Wounded
Lieuts J. MONFRIEST, & A.E. COLLINGS 34 Bn Wounded
MAI
27 LUNDI
3.a.m. - 3.45 a.m. 1200 rounds (including gas)
4.2 and 5.9 fell vicinity 34h.
At noon General Birdwood came up to Hqrs
to say goodbye to senior officers He leaves to
command 5 Army. General Monash who
was with him takes over the Corps. Gen Gellibrand
the Div. I had C.Os or representative of each
unit to meet him.
Very big explosion near Hqrs at 1.30 p.m.
think it was a big arial bomb
Between 8.55 p.m. and 10.35 p.m. enemy
sent over 300 rounds sneezing gas in
rear positions also about 150 rds 4.2s & 5.9s
Enemy gassed town & reserve Bn
Enemy planes flew low over our
lines firing their machine guns at the men
Leo arrived France.
Casualties since yesterday
Wounded Killed
Officer Others Officer Others
33 Bn. 1. 1.
34 " * 1. 32 1 [*1 officer and 29 O/R gassed.*]
35 " 1
T.Ms. 1
1. 35 1
Arrange relief
MAI
28 MARDI
Col Ealy Eley. commdg left group Artillery
179 Bde. called. Capt. Wallington Liason Arty
officer also reported for duty with Capt Burke,
Col Blackton called re machine guns.
2.30. - 3. a.m. enemy sent over 50 rds 5.9s
vicinity "C" Bn.
Capt. U.S. Army reported
to be attached to Brigade for about 7 days. He
is a Gas Officer.
Major Dunlop sent to rear suffering from
trench fever.
Between 7.a.m. and 11.30 a.m. enemy sent
over about 200 rounds 4.2s and 5.9s.
about 30 rounds 4. p.m.
" 200 " 9.30 p.m.
Casualties.
33. Bn 1 officer wounded Chaplain Rev. P. LYNCH gassed
34 " 19 O/R " (20 gassed).
35 " 2 " "
N. VILLERS BRETTONNEUX.
MAI
29 MERCREDI
4.-4.30 a.m. enemy gas shelled rear Bn
10.a.m. General Gellibrand and Col Jess came
up. The former has taken command of the Div.
11.a.m. Capt. "Army" called. discussed
disposition etc.
1.p.m. Major General White called to say goodbye. on
going to 5th Army.
Changed Battalion round. after midnight
put 35th Bn in line, 34th in support and
33 in reserve.
The 33 captured a prisoner - an alsatian
I did not see him when he reached
Hqrs. as I had turned in. Halford
interrogated him.
New Bombing officer reported ^Lieut J.W. ANGUS 38 Bn
Fine Day.
Casualties
O.R.
34 Bn. Killed 0 Wounded. 8.
35 " " 1. " *1 *gassed.
N. VILLERS BRETTONNEUX.
MAI
30 JEUDI
Shelling a little lighter but more on back
area and what were rather free areas.
Some gas in the evening.
The advance by enemy South is serious
new to-day reports he has taken SOISSONS
Majors McCall & Pike were up in morng.
Also Jackson who went round with Pair.
Enemy shelled 0. 28. e. 10. - 10.20 p.m.
Put over 300 rds of 7.7 & 10.5s. front and
support line between 11.30 p.m. & 3. a.m.
He also shelled the former target in
the afternoon.
Very heavy artillery when I turned in
the earth was shakin like a train.
Casualties
O. O.R.
Bde Hqrs. Wounded. 1 gas. O.R.
33 Bn " 2 Missing 1.
34 "
35 " 2
N. VILLERS BRETTONNEUX.
Promoted Colonel
& Brig General
to command 9th Bde.
Authority D.A.G., A.I.F. 10/0/83. of 31/5/18.
MAI
31 VENDREDI
In morning directly after breakfast started
out with Major Pain and Lieut Gifford on
tour of Brigade area. Visited Villers Switch
Pinapple switch. "F" keep. then to 35th
Bn. Connell was in the line so we went
to front line via "Collins St" "Diggers
Support" and the new C.T. "York street
Saw "B" & "D" Coys. 35. Missed Connell
but saw him at his Headquarters
about 2 p.m. then walked back
to Bde Hqrs arriving back about 3 pm
General Gelibrand was up while we were
away.
Letter from Leo saying he arrived at
Base in France.
Enemy heavily gass shelled whole
Brigade area also those on our flanks.
The 11th Bde raided but it was not a success
the Huns raided them almost simultaneously
but failed and they took on 5 in prisoners
Casualties.
Killed. O.R.. Wounded O. O.R. Missing O. O.R.
33.
34 1 1 10. 1
35. 6.
Bde Hqrs 5 1
1 1. 18 1
Casualties 35th Bn. 30. Apl to 11. May.
Officer, N.C.Os Men.
Killed. 1 2 7
Wounded. 7 12 65
8. 14 72. for 12 days.
Officer Other
Brigade Casualties 23 May Wounded. 5.
Killed Wounded
O. O.R. O. O.R.
24 "
25 "
26 " 1. 3. 33.
27 " 1. 1 35
28. " 1. 24 (16 gas.
O.R 29. " 1 9
1 missing 30. 2
1 " 31. 1. 1 18
JUIN
1 SAMEDI
11.45 a.m. Col Ealy. commdg left group artillery called.
4.a.m. Enemy heavily shelled O. 27 with gas
(yellow cross) all calibres
11.40 p.m. enemy shelled front line area 4.2s.
11.45 p.m. " " O. 15. d. "
Enemy & our planes active
Promotion to Col & T. Brig General
appears in A.I.F. Orders 4 June 1918
under Australian Imperial Force
Honours List No. 340 and is dated
June 1st.
Casualties
33 Bn 1 O.R. Wounded.
35 " 2 " "
N. VILLERS BRETTONNEUX.
JUIN
2 DIMANCHE
3.30 a.m. Enemy heavily shelled rear battalion area
to 4.40.a.m. back to Bde Hqrs with over 4000 rounds
Gas. Phosgene and lachrymatory
2.30.p.m. G.S.O.I. Col Jess called discussed with him
new work. C.Ts & defensive switch also
menace of growing crops.
Major Brookman called discussed
new work C.Ts. et..
3. p.m. Capt. Bean & Lieut Culloch called.
Issued provisional defense scheme.
Attended by B. Major & Sig Div
Officer inspected front, support, reserve
line & C.Ts. away from 10. a.m.
to 2. p.m.
Casualties
Killed Wounded
O.R. Officers O.R.
33 Bn 3. 5. (4 gassed)
34 Bn 5. (2 gassed)
35. 1. 1. 3. (Lieut J.R. O. Connell)
9.T.M. 1.
N. VILLERS BRETTONNEUX
JUIN
3 LUNDI
10.a.m. General Gelibrand came up. Discussed with
him. Machine Guns. T.Ms work, Maps
& B.M. The B.M. went round the line
with him.
11.30 Col Blackton called. discussed machine Gun
disposition.
12 noon Capt. new Artillery Liason officer reported
Capt Jackson G.S.O 3. and Major Murray
Div Sigs called.
This morning the enemy heavily gas
shelled rear battalion and Town - about
7000 rounds H.E. & gas (Phosgene
and lachrymatory.
Col E.F. St John D.S.O. called He takes
over command left group Artillery in place
of Col E.H. Eley C.M.G. D.S.O.
Casualties
Killed Wounded
Officer O/R. Officer other
33 1 - 3 gas 1.
34 1 4 1. 7. " 3
35 5 5
2 Bn 2 2
140 Rgt
W.S.A. ________________________
attached 34 Bn 1. 4. 2. 17
Lieut H.C. BALE
33 Bn Wounded
Lieut P. McFarlane
Killed 34 Bn
Lt T.H. BRITTON
34 Bn wounded
N. VILLERS BRETTONNEUX
JUIN
4 MARDI
Our Artillery put down S.O.S. on call from
our front. Evidently false alarm
11.a.m. Tunnelling officer called re preparing
Hqrs Group artillery.
12. noon General Foolte called.
11.15 am Col Jess called - discussed the
morning S. O. S. work heavy artilly
Major Brockman Field artilley Coy called
discussed work & new defence line
o.23.c.9.o along road northward.
11th Brigade relieved 10 Bde on our
left.
Less artillery action during night
Fine weather still continues.
Casualties
wounded
officer other
33Bn 8.
34 1.
35 2.
11.
N. VILLERS BRETTONX
JUIN
5 MERCREDI.
Less artillery last night
Gen Grimwade called in afternoon
10.10 Our artillery officer opened S. O. S. Div called
went out from us. I cut it out
Enemy shelled batn and scattered
fire over all areas.
Casualties
33 wounded 3 O. R.
34 " 6
9
N. VILLERS BRETTONNEUX
JUIN
6 JEUDI.
Two British soldiers (1 Royal Irish Fusiliers and
1 K. R.I.R.) they had been taken prisoner by the
Bosche on 21 March and had escaped. note our
lines since adventures.
10.30am Col Jess called
11. " " Jackson "
4 p.m.
Casualties
34 Bn 2 men missing
N. VILLERS BRETTONNEUX
JUIN
7 VENDREDI.
In morning went round Bn
Hqrs. Took with me Lieut Gilford
& Lieut the American Intelligence
officer. Left the former at 33 and
the latter at 35 and came back alone.
Saw Sayers at 35 He has just
returned from hospital and tells
me Leo came up with him and
that he has been drafted to the 11th.
Field Coy, but is at present at
Cannon. Hank was also on train
and Sayers tells me he has undertaken
to transfer him to the 9th Field Coy.
General Gellibrand came up in
afternoon. General discussions
trenches, organisation etc.
Casualties
Capt W J Gordon 33 Bn wded
& O.R. " " "
N.VILLERS BRETTONNEUX.
JUIN
8 SAMEDI.
Col Jess called 11.a.m.
Capt McCallum the Comforts Director called and
brought with him his successor Capt Kerr.
Enemys shelling scattered over whole area
but a bit more on front line
At 11.15 things got very lively and
continued till well into morning.
Much blue & green cross gas used
Enemy fired more on our front trenches
than usual.
Casualties
33 Bn. 2 O.R. wounded
34 " 2 " "
35 1 " "
5
N.VILLERS BRETTONNEUX
JUIN
9 DIMANCHE.
Enemy after heavy bombardment from
Montdidier to Oise attacked westward to eight
Div of French First Army. W of Montdidier
At no point has he penetrated our line which runs
Beblier - Mollenier - Courceller. Enemy used
about 9 Divs in attack with 9 or 10 in reserve.
In no case did he penetrate our lines.
At 3. p.m. I attended conference by Div
Comdr at Div Hqrs. On return was told
that Leo had been up and was at with
11 Fd Coy a few yards up the line. He
came back at 8. Poor kid he was tired
I walked back with him to his dug out
Later in the evening I heard shells fall
there. Poor Kid. It will make a difference
his being here. I cant help feeling
very anxious about him.
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