Diary Henry Arthur Goddard 1918 - Part 20

LONDON.

AOUT

1 JEUDI.

Fixed up one or two little shopping matters

Had lunch with Picks. Showers and dull.

11 Bde relived the 9^th Bde. S. of River SOMME

Bde Hqrs moved from CORBIE to LA NEUVILLE

Gen. Cannan handed over command to Col Morshead
 

SEVENOAKS.

AOUT

2 VENDREDI.

Packed up at hotel. Round to Criper. then joined Fuller

and one Arundel at lunch at.        in Great

Portland St. Then I went back to hotel. fixed

up there and caught. 5.20 to Sevenoaks. Ran

across Sir        who used to be A.I.M

2 Div. Criper was in another part of train but

picked me up on alighting. Mrs Criper & Mr

Dowley gave me a splendid welcome. They

are very kind. Did not sleep very well.
 

 

SEVENOAKS
AOUT

3 SAMEDI. 

Fell very unwell. Walked with Criper for a

bit Went to the Club with him for half an

hour. Then picked up Mrs Criper and Mrs Dowley

at the little Cafe. After lunch I read and dozed

a bit in the den. Then joined Mrs Criper at tea

Mrs. Gabeys. was up - and sang - she is very bright 

and sings charmingly. She has two little boys and

her husband is at the Front.

After dinner Criper Fuller & Brooks & I yarned

till after 11 when I turned in Had quite &

good night

Wet dull day.
 

SEVENOAKS.

AOUT

4 DIMANCHE.

We all had breakfast at 9. Feel very much

better. After breakfast Criper and Fuller went

to the Golf links I walked with them as far

as Brooks House and then came back walking

part of the way with Mrs Brooks who was

going to church. Then to my room and wrote

Dull day.

SEVENOAKS.

AOUT

5 LUNDI. 

Pottered about all the morning till after 12 then

round to Club for 10 minutes with Criper

and Fuller. In afternoon went with later

to Cricket Match being played by Officers

& others of Alien Bn. The C.O. a Col in a

Suffolk Pioneer Bn is in command We went

to afternoon tea in the Mess - the rain then

became so heavy that it was impossible to

resume match. Fuller & the Brooks & I then left

After dinner we talked a bit in the

drawing room and after half an hour in

the den to bed.
 

HOVE.

15

AOUT

6 MARDI. 

Left Sevenoaks by 9.55. a.m. train to

London Bridge.  Called at tailors for jacket

but not finished. Then round to Criper's

Office Had lunch with him at Holborn Resturant

then to Piccadilly Hotel for glases which had

been sent on there. Raining heavily all

morning.

Caught 4. p.m. train to Hove. Got

nice room in annexe to Premier Hotel.

Walked round to Picks at Vallance Gardens

Had dinner with them and after we walked

in the gardens. Back to the hotel 10. pm

bed about 11. Indifferent night - Felt

ill all day,

HAMEL WOOD
HOVE

AOUT

7 MERCREDI. 

Walked to Brighton after breakfast. Swarming

with Jews. After 11. went over to gardens opposite

Hotel. The Pick children were there and later

Mrs Pick came along. Left them at 12. and

returned to Hotel and did some writing

Dull day.

Went to Picks in evening Had nice dinner

en famile with Mr & Mrs Pick Yarning

with them till 10 then back to hotel and bed

Bde Hqrs opened HAMEL WOOD.
 

BATTLE ACCROCHE WOOD.
HOVE.
AOUT
8 JEUDI.
Went for a little walk in morning

but felt pretty rocky. Sat on front

for a bit, but had to go in a lie down

After Lunch I had to give up and lay

down on bed. Made an effort after 6

and went round to Pick's - Had a

dainty dinner there and after Mr Mrs

Pick & I walked along the front. Feel

a bit better. Back to hotel 10 & to bed

Attack by 9 Bde ACCROCHE WOOD 3 4.20. a.m.

see report

4 Div passed through 3 Div 8.20. a.m.

Bde Hqrs moved to P.17.c 59.
 

 

Somme Battle 7-9 Aug 1918.

Dispositions of Attack.

(1) Canadians Corps on right of Australian Corps

(2) 2 & 5 Aust Divs on Corps right

(3) 3 & 4    "       "     "       "     left

(4) III Corps 58 & 18 Divs on left of Aust Corps

(5) 1^s Aust Div in Corps reserve.

Phase ‭‭Ⅰ 2 & 3 Aust Divs assisted by

tanks to attack Green Line under Artillery &

M.G. Barrage

Phase ‭Ⅱ 5 & 4 Aust Div with tanks organized

in Bde Groups will move through 2 & 3

Aust Div & advance in open warfare formation

from first objective (Green line) & captured

2 Objective (Red line)

Phase Ⅲ 5 & 4 Aust Div will exploit

their success & seize old British Reserve

line (Blue line) & establish definitely in

their Line.

HOVE

AOUT

9 VENDREDI. 

A fine day. Went for a walk in morning

and afternoon. The news of our offensive is

fine, but I feel dreadfully worried at being

away. While I want to go right over yet

in my present condition it means a complete

breakdown and an end to all. My luck

is pretty rotten. Had dinner at hotel

Pick came round afterward and we sat

on the front for an hour. Manning came

along afterwards. Back to hotel 10.20. bed

about 11. Feel depressed and worried.
 

HOVE

AOUT
10 SAMEDI. 

Pick & little George came round in morning

We sat out on front for a bit then Mrs Pick

joined us & we walked for a bit. I left

them at 1 and lunched at hotel. After

lunch talked to a young flying officer and

who had been wounded and a queer old

man without teeth till 4 then to Picks

had tea on lawn - & stayed on to dinner

We walked along the front till 10 then

to hotel & bed. A lovely fine day.

Made up my mind to get back to the

front without waiting for end of my

leave Cant stick being over here when

there are things doing.

HOVE.

AOUT

11 DIMANCHE. 

Wrote General Griffiths to wire Division

and Brigade I would be crossing on 14^th.

Spent day with the Picks very tedious and 

boring and I was feeling restless. but could

not break away. Got back to hotel 10 p.m

3 Div in Corps Reserve.

1 a.m. Rel 9 Bde relieved. 12 Bde.

10 Bde were to attack but failed owing to

aeroplane bombing and machine gun fire they were

to have carried out an operation vicinity PROYART

but owing to above and at Gen Morshead's request we

did not go on.
We were relieved by 10 Bde at 5. pm 3.45 am 12^th

to JEAN WOOD. a.21.d.5.3. Bde Hqrs Q.24.c. & 30a 34 Bn

(old RED LINE.) 35 Bn at old BRAY LINE Q.x19.a &

c.25.a. 35 Bn Q.20.a. Q.14.c. (old Green line)

Bde now in Div Reserve Bde now in Div Reserve
 

HOVE - LONDON.

AOUT

12 LUNDI. 

Did a bit of shoping, visited barbers x in

morning Feel very weak and ill.

Caught. 3.40 to London. Put up at

Charing Cross Hotel where I arrived 5.30.

Went to get jacket from tailors. Then back

to hotel. Had dinner and did not go

out again spent evening writing etc.

Bde relieved by 53 British Infy Bde

Bde Hqrs transferred to VAIRE-SOUS-CORBIE

where whole Bde concentrated Div now in Corps

Reserve
 

 

LONDON

AOUT

13 MARDI. 

To Hqrs in morning saw General Griffith

He told me he had wired advising I

was crossing to-morrow. Bought overcoat

& did some shopping To Cripers office

I. With him to Holborn Resturant for

lunch. Then back to Hotel. Feel very

tired Lay down for a bit. Went

down Strand after 5 to get a few odds

and ends. Dinner at hotel Did not

go out again.  Packed up.
 

LONDON-BOULOGNE

AOUT

14 MERCREDI. 

Fine hot morning

Took spare luggage down to Criper's

Office. Got photo taken as Leo had asked

for one. back to hotel wrote Maud.

Left Charing Cross by Staff Train 3.15 pm

Selwyn King was on board. Reached

Boulogne about 7.30. The car had not

arrived so we put up at the Hotel de

Paris and had dinner at Money's Turned
in at 11. p.m. There was an air raid

scare on. but nothing came of it.

Casualties

35 Bn . 3. O.R. Wounded

BOULOGNE. - SAILLY-LE-SEC

AOUT

15 JEUDI. 

Car reported early this morning Lieut

came down with it. Had several punctures

on road. He had to go to Stationery Dept so

did not get away until about 11. We got

through alright with only one puncture

arriving at Div Hqrs at Bussy at a little

after 4 p.m. Gen Gellibrand was just

outside. He was inclined to slate me for

coming back so soon. Had a cup of tea

at Div then pushed on to Bde which had

its Headquarters at SAILLY-LE-SEC which place

now is a mere heap of bricks & dust.

Took over from Col Lord. The Div being in

support this was an easy matter.

Turned in about midnight and had a

good night. Bde arrived at this place early

in afternoon
 

SAILLY-LE-SEC.

AOUT

16 VENDREDI. 

After Breakfast I took with me Lieut Gifford

and went round the Battalion . Saw Cols

Moreshead, White and Grant. Very hot day

enemy was sending over H.V.s.

Col Jess was up at Hqrs when I got back.

We are occupying a small old dugout, apparently

built by the French in the early days, but mess

and work outside

34 Bn relieved 49^h. Bn 13 Bde 11. p.m.
Casualties
33 Bn 1 Killed

SAILLY-LE-SEC

AOUT

17 SAMEDI. 

Spent morning going through recent operation

and position generally. Dusty and windy.

Major Selwyn King up after lunch.

a quiet day.
Casualties 1. Wounded
 

SAILLY-LE-SEC - to OP. BRAY-SUR-SOMME
AOUT

18 DIMANCHE. 

In morning Major Casey of the Liason Div

rang up to say we were to take over from their

13^h Bde. and come under their orders  Pain

was out. Sent for White and Morshead

and instructed them to move forward - the

33^d in support & 35^h in reserve. the 34 are

already in front line. General Gellibrand

came up about 5. Discussed Honours and

awards. &c. He mentioned that he had given

my case when at Army as an instance of the

unfairness of the system. Told me he could

not send through my recommendation re White

& Moreshead. & Coghill.
[*19^th.*] 
Gen Wisdom Commandg Liason Force sent up a

car and Pain & I & Paterson went up to

13 Bde where we arrived 7.30. The Hqrs are

in a bit of quarry near GRESSAIRE WOOD.

and are very foul. Took over from General

Herring who got away about 10.30 p.m

Casualties

3 O.R. Killed * 1 Officer 7 O.R wounded

* Lt A Wight 34 Bn