Diary Henry Arthur Goddard 1918 - Part 22
N. CLERY-SUR-SOMME.
HOWITZER WOOD
[*Casualties
Killed Wounded
0. 0.R. O. O.R.
33. 2. 18. 3. 82
34. 15. 1. 34
35. 2.
2. 35 4. 120
Total 161*]
AOUT
31 SAMEDI.
Moved Headquarters to valley W. of HOWITZER WOOD
at H.3.b.6.8. on CURLU-CLERY Road. Good dug outs after the
engineers had had a go at them. They had been gassed. The
Hun shelled solidly with 5.9s. The 11th Brigade relieved us
General Cannan arrived at 7.p.m. the relief was not
completed until 4.30.a.m. I sent Major Pain to turn in
and get some sleep while I remained on duty. We walked
back to our Headquarters near Curlu where we arrived
just at dawn. I was very cold. It rained as we came back.
Had some tea and turned into my blankets pretty exhausted.
_____________________
9.15.a.m. 34 Bn reports trenches running N & S through
C.25 a re strongly held by machine guns and bombers
English troops reported in B.24.a.
12 noon. Light Horse patrols have returned to HEM
WOOD exception of observation post 1. N.C.O & 3 men on HILL 150
12.43. 34 Bn now on following line. General
line on contour 110 in B24c. trench junctions
B.20d One Coy is pushing forward to C.25 a 3.1.
to C.25 a.1.7. A Coy 33 in support on sunken
road. running N & S through B.20.d & H.b.6.
A strong point had been established at B.20.b.4.0
and another at B.20.b.9.4. Enemy still in possession
of MARRIERS WOOD
2.p.m. Ordered 33 Bn to move to B.28.c.
and B.28.d.
5.p.m. Following orders received from Div -
31. Aug cont
[*47 Div on left at battle Bray 22'8.18.
1/22 Londons on left of 33. These gave way. They were
commanded by Lt Col Pargiten.*]
Total captures by 9th Brigade 7th.8th & 9th
August :-
4.2. Guns. 4
4.2. Hows. 5
77 Guns 17
Medium Trench Mortars 1
Light " " 12
Pineapple Guns 1.
Anti Tank Rifle 1
Machine Guns 67
Total guns. 108
Prisoners.
Officers 20
Other ranks 1000
Casualties 9th Brigade Operation
Somme Advance 7.8.9 August 1918
Killed. Wounded. Missing Injured
O. O.R. O. O.R. O. O.R. O. O.R.
33 Bn 5 2. 62.
34 " 4. 1. 65 6. 2.
35 " 1. 7. 3. 79. 2.
9.T.M. Bty. 4.
9.A.I. Bde Hqrs. 1
1. 16. 7. 216. 5. 2.
Total 241x see recapitulation August end of book
N. CLERY-SUR-SOMME.
HOWITZER WOOD
[*Casualties
Killed Wounded
0. 0.R. O. O.R.
33. 2. 18. 3. 82
34. 15. 1. 34
35. 2.
2. 35 4. 120
Total 161*]
AOUT
31 SAMEDI.
Moved Headquarters to valley W. of HOWITZER WOOD
at H.3.b.6.8. on CURLU-CLERY Road. Good dug outs after the
engineers had had a go at them. They had been gassed. The
Hun shelled solidly with 5.9s. The 11th Brigade relieved us
General Cannan arrived at 7.p.m. the relief was not
completed until 4.30.a.m. I sent Major Pain to turn in
and get some sleep while I remained on duty. We walked
back to our Headquarters near Curlu where we arrived
just at dawn. I was very cold. It rained as we came back.
Had some tea and turned into my blankets pretty exhausted.
_____________________
9.15.a.m. 34 Bn reports trenches running N & S through
C.25 a re strongly held by machine guns and bombers
English troops reported in B.24.a.
12 noon. Light Horse patrols have returned to HEM
WOOD exception of observation post 1. N.C.O & 3 men on HILL 150
12.43. 34 Bn now on following line. General
line on contour 110 in B24c. trench junctions
B.20d One Coy is pushing forward to C.25 a 3.1.
to C.25 a.1.7. A Coy 33 in support on sunken
road. running N & S through B.20.d & H.b.6.
A strong point had been established at B.20.b.4.0
and another at B.20.b.9.4. Enemy still in possession
of MARRIERS WOOD
2.p.m. Ordered 33 Bn to move to B.28.c.
and B.28.d.
5.p.m. Following orders received from Div -
31. Aug cont
"Where the general front line held by 3 Aust Div and
the Div on our left runs approximately from I 7 cent
- I 1. cent. - C.25 cent. C.20.c & a. C.14.c. & A and
C.8 c. the 9th Aust Infy Bde will push forward
and seize the locality to C.20.d. - C.21.a & c.
and establish a defended locality. Where this is
established 10 Bde will swing forward ther left.
flank and take up General line in INFERNO TRENCH. 1.2.c.
and ZOMBO TRENCH 1.2.a. HERSFIELD TRENCH C.26.c.
junctioning with 9 Bde in vicinity C.20.d.2.0
Village of BOUCHAVESNES will not be attacked but will
be enveloped in conjunction with 47 Div. as the move
S.E. from RANCOURT towards C.9.d. & c 15 central
Further moves 10 Bde using 9 Bde as pivot will
depend on rate of advance of 2 Aust Div when
general line will be C.20.d.2.a along eastern side
of BOUCHAVESNES - MT ST QUENTIN Rd. along
POINSOT TRENCH. Next round from vicinity of
QUARRY from C.21 - C.C C.39 SE along SOUTHRI
TRENCH to canal in 1.4 cent.
10.p.m. Our Liason officer with English Bde.
31 Aug cont.
on our left reports that English are carrying out
operation tomorrow morning finishing with protective
barrage which will have its flank in the area this Bde
has been ordered to capture
10.15. Div informed of above
10.20. 175 Bde told their Bde would interfere
with our operation They insist on carrying out their
plan as arranged by them. Our plans will therefore
have to be altered.
1.a.m. Finally arranged with Div our attack will
take place as follows.
Artillery start line N & S through B.30.b.8.0.
Northern Bde Bdy through E & W line through
B.24.d.8.2. Southern Bde Bdy E & W line
through B.30.b.0.0. Barrage creep forward
to a N & S line through C.25 cent. at rate of
100 yds in 6 minutes, thence forward to main
N & S road running through C. 26.b. at rate of
100 yds in 26 minutes 174 & 175 Bds will
co-operate ∧on our left / they 10 Infy Bde attacking 500 yds from our right
flank. Our objective road running N & S through
C.20.a & d. C.26.b. Area to be exploded without
artillery assistance C.20.b & d. E of main road. C.21.c & B.26.b.
CURLU
SEPTEMBRE
1 DIMANCHE.
Slept until 12.30.p.m. Felt very ill on waking
Had to lay down again but by 6.p.m had fought
it down and got going on the paper stuff. Turned
in about 12. A fine day but chilly night.
Casualties
33. Bn 13 O.R. wounded missing
35 " 2. O.R. wounded
CURLU
SEPTEMBRE
2 LUNDI.
Gen. Gellibrand up in morning. Discussed
reorganization - Honours and awards. He wants
particulars of the Brettonneux fight.
After lunch I road over to Suzanne and visited
the Battalion. The men are very tired but in
wonderful heart considering what they have been
through. Got back about 7.p.m.
Casualties
33 Bn. 1 officer Killed. 7 O.R. wounded
34 " 2 " "
[*Casualties
35 Bn 1. O.R. injured*]
CURLU
SEPTEMBRE
3 MARDI.
At Hqrs all day fixing up paper aftermath of
the fighting etc. at 4 p.m. a car came to take
me to Div Hqrs to meet the Australian Press
Representative. The other Brigadiers of the Div were
there. Also Gen. Monash. They looked a funny
lot when they arrived. Nothing was said beside
just commonplace chatter. We took them over to
the Chapel which had been used as a stable by
the Persians. The is a fine tomb of a Knight Templer
& his wife there. The Pioneers have erected a wooden
casing over it to protect it. Some German prisoners
marched past doing their goose step - they looked
a fine lot. The Chateau where the Div is has
been a fine place with marble walls and staircase
& painted ceiling. It is badly knocked
about and stripped to a nail.
Leo came over in evening He looks well.
The planes were over bombing about 10.30 and
there was some gas about, but not enough to
hurt. Did not sleep well. Leo had a Hun
pistol He was very pleased with his trophy and left
it with me to take care of.
[*Casualties
34 Bn. 1 Injured*]
CURLU
SEPTEMBRE
4 MERCREDI.
Spent day writing up Battle of Villers Brettoneux
for Gen. Gellibrand. A beautiful day, quite
hot. Worked at report till 2. a.m. (continued
with other detail) then turned in.
Received warning order that 11 Bde were to be in
readiness to move forward east of Peronne.
CURLU
SEPTEMBRE
5 JEUDI.
Sent in report on Villers Brettonneux battle to Gen. Gellibrand.
A lovely warm day. At 4.p.m. got warning to move
as the enemy were expected to quicken retreat and Div going
into the line again. 11 Bde went forward and 10 & 9 moved
up. I retained my Hqrs here. Heavy storm came up and
caught the men on the wire.
Large fires seen everywhere behind enemys line
He is evidently preparing to withdraw.
CURLU
SEPTEMBRE
6 VENDREDI.
At Hqrs all day fixing up detail. a very close
oppresive day. The 11th Bde have pushed on well past
PERONNE. Still we have no order to move. I am relieved
to find the men getting a little rest.
CURLU
SEPTEMBRE
7 SAMEDI.
H H.B. Walked over to 33 Had a long talk with
Col Morshead. A heavy hot day. By 5.p.m.
11th Bde had reached approximately the Blue line past
ROISEL. The 1st Div are up to relieve us.
CURLU
SEPTEMBRE
8 DIMANCHE.
The 10 Bde relieved the 11th but they still leave us
here, evidently intending to spare us as much as possible
on account of the fighting we have done.
I attended church service of the 33 Bn in a Quarry
on the PERONNE Rd in morning.
CURLU
SEPTEMBRE
9 LUNDI.
Learned that in the air bombing last night they got on to Div
Hqrs wounding Major Vickers and Major Connelly the
later having a leg blown off and the other badly injured
In afternoon went round the Battalion, yarning
with the men. Had a good night. Dull squally
day.
CURLU
SEPTEMBRE
10 MARDI.
Inspected 34 Bn Transport at 10.a.m.
Nothing of moment to-day. A wet squally
day. Hun aircraft was throwing bombs around
about 11 p.m Thirty planes came over.
CURLU.
SEPTEMBRE
11 MERCREDI.
Nothing of moment to-day. At 2.p.m. we
received orders to move forward to MT ST. QUENTIN
and HALLE area. Move to be complete by 3.p.m.
tomorrow.
CURLU - MOUNT ST QUENTIN
(PERONNE)
SEPTEMBRE
12 JEUDI.
Closed Hqrs at Curlu - Bns moved off between
8 and ten. Major Pain went ahead to new Hqrs
and I rode on with Lieut Thomas. Established
Hqrs at Mt St Quentin at 11.a.m. It is the site of
an old hospital camp tent blown to fragments.
However some of the sheds with much patching
will make fair cover. My own quarters are in
what was once the kitchen or scullery of a house
there are just the walls standing with an improvised
roof from debris - a damp sto brick floor.
However not at all bad except that the water
runs in all over the place, so that maps and
writing gear are all wet. An awful night
a continuous downpour of rain - poor old Leo.
His first knowledge of real weather hardship, as
applied to war.
MT ST QUENTIN
(PERONNE)
SEPTEMBRE
13 VENDREDI.
A wild wet day. At 9 p.m four enemy
planes came over and we got two of them
in our search lights both of these were
brought down. One a single "Gotha" a
great sight when it crashed its bombs
exploded. We were not again troubled
Word came through of a French attack
and capture of important ground and
20,000 prisoners.
MT ST QUENTIN
(PERONNE)
SEPTEMBRE
14 SAMEDI.
With Major Pain on a tour of Battalions
rode through PERONNE to 33rd The Huns have
utterly destroyed the town. Then to 34 & 35
General Gellibrand came over in afternoon.
discussed Training, organization of Specialists
& Honours and awards. Discussed Morshead
Pain and others with him in this connection
He plainly says that he considers I have
been badly treated and hints he is doing
what he can for me.
Major Wooton also called in this afternoon
& went out with Pain
Wrote home in eveng.
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