Diary Henry Arthur Goddard 1918 - Part 19

HAMEL.

JUILLET

13 SAMEDI. 
Slept well and feel better. Spent morning, a

beautiful one, going through intelligence,

maps etc. My headquarters are situate in a

very pretty spot. My little possie built in

the side of the hill is no protection against

any form of shelling or gas, but it has the

advantage of a pretty outlook across the

Sommes Valley with fresh air and by

climbing to top of hill I have an excellent

view of my position.

Enemy artillery ^very active during night. He

paid special attention our front line and 

approaches to SAILLY Le SEC., He also shelled

BOUZENCOURT and HAMEL.

At about 8 p.m he sent a plane over which

attacked two of our Colours in succession

firing both. The observers (4) came out in

their parachutes.

Divisional General was up on observations

probable alteration in Brigade boundaries &c.

Casualties

1 OR Bde Hqrs. injured

1 officer & 1 O.R. 34 Bn injured 

 

Lieut. W.D. Gibbs 34^h. Injured

T. Major. H.H. Percy M.C. Wounded
2/ Lieut V.C. Stevensen. M.M. Killed. 

HAMEL
JUILLET
14 DIMANCHE.

With Capt. Dixon I visited the battalion. Enemy

was shelling while on way to and at 35^h. Saw

Col While at 35, Col Moreshead at 33. Major Grant

at 34^h back about 2. p.m. Afternoon paper work

that day.

A Coy of 3^d Pioneer Bn came under my

command with instruction to take over an

exclusion of right flank for about 300 yds at

present held by 40 Bn. also that they were to

be an independent unit accountable direct to Bde,

I put up to Div through the B.M. the advisability

of having men attached to the right line

But - as for all purposes including intelligence,

patrols, signals - this is necessary. Also it

being their first time in the line it is taking a

risk to let them be so completely detached.

What The Div Comdr however ruled that

they were to be independent of my Bns.

While passing through VAUX today Dixon and I

went into the Church. A shell has entered adjacent the

alter and made a great smash. There are some fine old books

Casualties

33. I. O. R. wounded. 1 officer injured

34. 1   "            "          1 O.R.      "
" and beautiful priests vestments laying about

It is possible was villiage church at VAIRE and completely wrecked

14 Sunday cont

Enemy artillery active on firing & support line. Vanse to back

area. Lieut V.C. Stevensen Killed. Major H.H. Percy wounded.

JUILLET

HAMEL
15 LUNDI. 

With Major Dunlop to Hailles to consult with

Gen. Stewart G.O.C. 14 Bde. re leases of work.

He was engaged in conference with his Div Comdr

so did not see him. back 12.50 p.m.

General Stewart 14 Bde. called in afternoon

consulted re aboves

Enemy plane brought down one of air baloons

the observers got away in parachutes.

3.30. pm. Major Connelly came up from Div

consulted re Outer going to Div and Pioneer

Coy. He reiterated that it was Div Gen ruling

that the Coy should be independent of Bns.

Interviewed Lieut Phillip transferred from Air Service.

Enemy plane brought down one of our baloons 3.50 p.m.

33 Bn reported shoreshooting by our 18 pdr.

Turned in about 1. a m. Very rowdy night

artillery exceptionally heavy.

Casualties

34 Bn. Killed. 1 officer  Wounded. 1 officer 11. O.R.

33  "                                                               4    "

HAMEL.

JUILLET

16 MARDI.

Col. Comdg. County Bty Group called. Discussed

fire area &c. about 11. a.m.

3. p. m. Col Allsop Group Commdr called discussed

S.O.S. area shoots; and artillery groups.

Wire received stating Hun attacking on an 80

kilometre front on French vicinity Rhiems 

made little progress. Americans counter-attacked 
successfully.

Toward afternoon battle continued between

CHATEAU THIERRY & REIMS Enemy delivery violent

attacks. Struggle desperate S. of MARNE Germans

unable pass line SAINT AGNAU - LA CHAPELLE

MONT HODEN. - southern edge BOUQUIGNY Forest

In the region French captured 1000 prisoners

MOREUIL-le-PORT in hands of French N. of MARNE

French hold up enemy at S. outskirts CHATILLON.

Huns made desperate effort S. MARNE during

afternoon. French succeeded checking them and

maintained line REMILLY-VRIZNY.(?)

Germans claim 13,000 prisoners

Casualties

34 Bn. 2. O.R. Killed 5 O.R Wounded

HAMEL

JUILLET

17 MERCREDI. 

Interviewed Col Commdg sub group Artillery
Steef. hot muggy day with thunderstorms.
The 7 Bgde at 9.45 p.m. advanced their
line astride Villers Bretonneux Road Marcelcave
Road Railway to an average depth of about
600 yds. on a front of 2000 yds capturing
1 officer & 2000 other ranks - 2. 77mm guns
& 9 machine guns & inflicted severe casualties
Very noisy night & very heavy artillery
especially to the South.
Lieut. E.C. Edwards. 34 wounded
  "     J. Bruce. M.C.  D.C.M. Killed.
General Rosenthal wounded in arm.
Casualties
33. Bn 1 officer & 1 O.R. Killed   1.0.R. Wounded

34   1 officer killed                       6   "         " 

HAMEL.
JUILLET
18 JEUDI.
Attended by Capt Paterson visited 34 Bn. Saw
Col Martin. discussed with him position of
Majors Grant and Wheeler. Told him he
must accept Grant as second in command.
To Brigade O.P. in WELLCOME WOOD thence
to 33 Bn Reserve Coy. at VAUX and back to
Hqrs.
The 34 bad luck sticks to them. Passed
three of them dead on the way out.
Reported General Rosenthal wounded in side & arm.
Germans pushed violently in South all day
with very little success.
Received unofficial wire stating French
have taken over 9000 prisoners & 100 guns
already counted and estimate total captured
over 20,000.
Casualties
34 Bn. 1 O.R. Killed. 3 O.R. wounded. 

HAMEL.

JUILLET
19 VENDREDI.
Fine day. At Hqrs all day with much paper work.
Interviewed Major Comdg Sub Group Artillery. Also
Col Comdg Pioneer Bn.
The fighting between the AISNE & MARNE today
was very violent The Germans attacking all along the
line with important reserves have tried to arrest the
progress of the French, but French continued their
advance on a greater part of the front. Prisoners taken
by them and actually counted numbered 17000
including 2 Colonels & their staffs & more than 360
guns including battery of 210 men (8^h).
Casualties
33^d. 1 O.R. Injured
34.   3 O.R. Killed 1 officer & 4 others wounded. 

HAMEL.
JUILLET
20 SAMEDI.
After breakfast with Bde Major I visited
major Philips in command of Pioneers in the
line - discussed supports with him. Then
to 35 Hqrs. Saw Col White discussed position
generally including M. Gun positions etc
Then Major Pain & I worked out to Hamel
Village & had a look at the ground beyond,
Passed along the parapet of the old German
trench. There is much debris here including
German dead. The town is only a heap of
rubbish now. Back soon after 1. Very hot.
4.15 p.m. Col Jess G.S.O. 1 called. Pain
took him forward.
Gastric headache again. Some thunderstorms.
Casualties
33 Bn  1.O.R. wounded
34   "    1   "          "
35   "     1   "          " 

HAMEL.
JUILLET
21 DIMANCHE.
At Bde Hqrs all day.
Conference Col.      C.O. 3 Pioneers reference to
dispositions 11. a.m.
Conference C.R.G. 4. p.m.
11. p.m. Enemy shelling Hqrs. Lovely moonlight
night.
Continued harassing fire vicinity of Hqrs all
night. System of intelligence routine Salvage
re &c.
Casualties
33 Bn.  1 O.R. Injured
34   "     8   "    wounded 1. O.R. messing injured

HAMEL.
JUILLET
22 LUNDI.
At Hqrs all day. Div General called in morning.
discussed system of Intelligence Maps.
Precedent books Direction Boards, Staff List.

Landmarks Salvage. C. Dvr responsibility is
handing over and my own Staff. Pain in
particular. He then went forward with
Col to 33 Bn visiting front line with Col
Morshead.
French advanced their line N of MONTDIDIER.
to a depth of 2000 K.metres & 10000 K.metres
now runs 1 Kilo NE MAILLY-RAINEUAL
to O. 20 central Have taken 1200 prisoners
& 24 officers.
Enemy heavily shelled the V.B Sector with
Yellow Cross gas. pulling over 10,000 rounds
on us. I had anticipated this and had
worked hard on inculcating gas discipline
and our casualties were practically nil but
the 11 Bde suffered very heavily.
Casualties
33 Bn 4 O.R. Wounded
34       1   "          "
35       1  "    Killed. 

HAMEL.

JUILLET
23 MARDI.
At 12. an ambulance called to take me to
No. 14. Casualty Clearing Station LONGPRE to see the
specialist about my eyes. It was a long
run. We changed motors at the 10 Field
Ambulance at Rivery where they gave us
lunch. When we got to LONGPRE it was 1½
hours after the time fixed and the
specialist was away. I could not wait
so had my journey for nothing.
Capt. Gale accompanied me. On way
we passed a large number of gassed
men.
Casualties
33. Bn  1. O.R. Wounded
34    "   2     "        "
35    "   1     "        " 

HAMEL
JUILLET
24 MERCREDI.
Was just starting up line when got a
message that General Gellibrand was
coming up. He arrived after 12 noon. Paraded
Capt Pierce to him. Discussed our
probable relief, proposed raid in front
of Sailly- le- Sac (Cemetery) &c. He
mentioned that he would arrange for
me to go on leave when we went out, and
asked me to nominate either Col Jess
or Col Moreshead.
Conferred Col Landey re disposition of
3 comiers
Attack true dysentery.
Casualties
33 Bn x 5 O.R. wounded
35  "       1   "  Injured 

HAMEL
JUILLET
25 JEUDI.
Very ill with dysentery. Feel really awful.
Interviewed Col Blacklaw C.O. Machine Gun Bn.
Interview Col Jess G.S.O.1.
Had to lie down most of rest of day. 

HAMEL.
JUILLET
26 VENDREDI.
Feel slightly better, but still pretty rocky.
Got very ill as day went on. Had to inform
Div. and get a Dr. Message from Gen.
Gellibrand I was to go on leave to-morrow
& he would send car to take me down
to Boulogne. 

HAMEL - BOULOGNE
JUILLET
27 SAMEDI.
Gen Gelibrand came over 2 p.m. and I went
on in his car. Capt. Dixon  .  the A.D.C.

travelling with me to Bolougne where we
arrived at about . 8. p.m.  Dixon & I put up

at the Hotel de Paris but we could get no

dinner there so went round to [[Monie?]] where
I was able to get them to cook me up a Sole.

Then back to hotel and turned in Had quite a

good night

BOULOGNE - LONDON

JUILLET
28 DIMANCHE.

Crossed over 11. Good crossing - Dixon got stuck up

and did not get over with me. Arrived at Victoria
about 1. p.m. No cabs waited an hour and finally

got a lift in someone elses. Club being closed I went
to the Piccadilly. Had dinner and turned in.

LONDON

JUILLET
29 LUNDI.

To Headquarters in morning. Fixed up

some shopping etc. Had lunch with Criper

dinner at hotel and wrote letters and

report to Div re Staffs etc. Did not go out

turned in. Still feeling pretty bad.

Saw Massie, Prune near Hqrs.

LONDON
JUILLET
30 MARDI.

Breakfast about 10. did a bit of

shopping etc. In evening feeling a

bit lonely I went to the Haymarket

and saw Chu Chin Chow - It was a

well staged thing - but I wasnt in the

condition to appreciate it. 

Had lunch with Criper & got a

sole cooked at the Grand Grill Room 

LONDON
JUILLET
31 MERCREDI.

Still ill - To Headquarters in morning
and fixed up a weeks extension of 

leave. Which I can take advantage of if I

do not get better quickly. I feel anxious

about being away just now, but I'm

about done. Had dinner in the hotel and

did not go out again.