Diary Henry Arthur Goddard 1918 - Part 23
MOUNT. ST QUINTIN
(PERONNE)
SEPTEMBRE
15 DIMANCHE.
At noon I rode over to Division at DOINGT. to
Meet Mr Hughes. The party consisted of
Rt Hon. W.W. Hughes, Mr. Dean (Secretary to Prime Minister)
Thos Marlow, Editor of "Daily Mail" Edward Price Bell
(Rep of U.S Press) Mr. Blatchford "Clarind". Capt Plunkett.
Col. Lord Burnham, Lieut Burchell M.P. Lieut Louden.
I had lunch with Blatchford and Plunket to B. Mess
[*and Bean the Press Rep.*]
After which I drove with the Prime Minister to the
4 Div. from there I took them to my Headquarters
then to 33 Bn. I left them at entrance of PERONNE.
and went back to Hqrs. Kept going till midnight
with paper. We brought down another bombing
plane tonight.
MOUNT ST. QUENTIN.
(PERONNE)
SEPTEMBRE
16 LUNDI.
A fine day. Quite hot. In afternoon motored
over to Eclussi A G. 22 a 4 1. where the 2n Div
were holding a Sports meeting. Gen. Birdwood was
there, but I was not near enough to speak to him. Found
Gen Rosenthal's party. Met a lot of the old Anzacs.
Gen Robertson. Cols "Tim" Martin & Annand, Gens
Wisdom, Foote. There were some Sisters there from
No 5 Field Hospital. Left about 6. back at
Hqrs 7.p.m.
MT. ST. QUENTIN.
(PERONNE)
SEPTEMBRE
17 MARDI.
In evening. 5.30. rode over to HALLE to see
Concert troop. It was held in the skeleton of a
huge barn, badly shelled which kept together
by a miracle. It was a good show. One soldier
who impersonated a girl was so marvelously
natural that it was very difficult to believe he
was not of the fair sex.
Had mess with 33d and walked back.
directly after. was accompanied by Capt Gale.
MT. ST QUENTIN.
(PERONNE)
SEPTEMBRE
18 MERCREDI.
The Div. Commdr held a conference at DOINGT in
afternoon. Rode over accompanied by the B.M.
We attacked this morning (1st Div) prisoners and
wounded were coming back.
Corps wire timed 6.10.p.m. report capture
114 officer 1 Regtl. Commandr and Staff 2 Bn Commdr
and 2632 other ranks and 23 guns.
Sent in half yearly Honours and Awards List
(New Year).
Latest news is our captures (Corps) are.
127 officers and 3156 other
7 heavy guns and 20 Field guns.
Our advance on a front of 4 miles
we penetrated to a depth of 2½ miles.
19th
Div Commdr called in morng Long conference
re command 34, Honours & Awards in.
MT. ST. QUENTIN
(PERONNE).
SEPTEMBRE
1920th JEUDI.
In morning accompanied by Lieut Thomas
I rode to BOUCHAVESNES where 35 were carrying
out platoon tactics.
At 4.30 with B.M. attended conference
on coming operations at Div Headquarters.
at DOINGT. back to St Quentin about 7
Feel off colour and head bad.
The total captures for 18-19 by 104 Div
are. Prisoners 147 officers 3985 other ranks.
- 9.2 gun
8. 8" "
7. 5.9s.
10. 4.2s.
47. 77s.
3. Anti tank guns
and a high number of machine guns.
The Australian Corps since 8 Aug have
captured 541 officers & 19,900 other ranks.
SEPTEMBRE
20 VENREDI
MT. ST. QUENTIN
(PERONNE)
SEPTEMBRE
21 SAMEDI.
In morning rode round units Trench Mortar
34 Bn & 33 Bn back to Hqrs 1.30. In afternoon
went to Sports meeting of 34h at Mt St Quentin
and fr there to sports meeting of 33 Bn at
SAINTE RADEGONDE. Back about 6. p.m.
Feel off colour - I think it must be the
riding. Stuff coming in till pretty late
turned in about midnight.
MT. ST. QUENTIN.
(PERONNE)
SEPTEMBRE
22 DIMANCHE.
At Hqrs all day. was advised Press Representative
would be coming our way but heard nothing further
35 were to have sports I did not go as I was
feeling very rocky.
Turned out a miserable cold. wet afternoon and
evening.
News reached us of the break through the
Turkish Army in Palestine. coming on
top of the successful attack on the Bulgars
The Austrian set back and the success of
our offensive on this front the Hun will
be given something to think about.
Locations
Bde Hqrs. { METEREN
{ X 16 c 0.7
33rd Bn 40 RUE DE LILLE
BAILLEUL
34th Bn X 15 d 9.7
35th Bn F 2 b 5.8.
36th Bn X 25 a 5.6
M.G. Coy X 15 d 4.7
L.T.M.Bn. X 15 d 7.6
196 Rue Nationale.
METEREN.
MT. ST. QUENTIN
(PERONNE)
SEPTEMBRE
23 LUNDI.
Nothing of special note. The Air Service were to
have practiced a contact stunt with 34 & 35 Bns
but owing to weather put it off.
Saw T.M's practicing as with the German
mortars.
Cold night, but rain appears to have cleared
off, for the time being anyhow.
MT ST QUENTIN.
SEPTEMBRE
24 MARDI.
Walked over to 35 Bn. in morning from there walked
to 34 who were carrying out tactical training with
smoke etc. thence back to Hqrs.
Leo came up. He is one of the batch of Engineers to
be transferred to infantry when I heard of this I
applied to have him sent to 35h. He is very disappointed
at having to leave the Engineers.
News through of the defeat of the Turkish Army
in Palestine also of severe reverse to the Bulgars
in Serbia. the French and Serbians having advanced
9 miles and cut in half the Bulgar Army.
It is reported we have captured 25000 prisoners
in Turkey.
MT ST QUENTIN
SEPTEMBRE
25 MERCREDI.
Nothing special to report to-day. It started
very wet but cleared in the afternoon
Col. Jess was up in afternoon.
Cold night.
MT ST QUENTIN.
SEPTEMBRE
26 JEUDI.
In morning I had a look at the Trench
Mortars who were exercising with the captured
German Minenwerfer. then to the 34 who were
carrying out an attack practice. a very
good bit of work.
In afternoon attended Conference of Div
Hqrs. reference forthcoming operations
back to Hqrs. 6.30. At 8.30 I held a
conference of Commanding officers. It was
pretty late when I turned in.
It is intended that 30 American Div attack on the
right and the 27th on the left. The 5 Aust Div on right and
3 Div on left will push through American's objective and
later 2 Aust Div will push through 3 & 5 Divs Prior
to operation will concentrate (9 Bd.) S.E. of EPEHY.
[*MAJOR CONNELL injured by horse falling in shell hole
& rolling on him.*]
The 3rd Div attack will be carried out by 11 Bde -
on right 10 Bde on left 9h Bde in Reserve with
special mission 16th Tank Bn will co-operate
with Bde. Each group will work with its
affiliated Engineers, Tanks, Artillery. Machine Guns
and Ambulance. In case of counter attack 9h Bde
to be used open warfare then to be close up to 10 Bde
MT. ST. QUINTIN.
SEPTEMBRE
27 VENDREDI.
Issued orders for forward move. Sent Paterson
ahead with parties from units to reconnoitre
new billet bivouac area.
Col. Bingham and Capt Hall of 16h
tank Bn. came up. Discussed arrangements.
Rest of day preparing for coming run etc.
Leo came in at 4 He moved over to 35 yesterday
Poor Red its rough going for him I must
Recp. him out of his fight for the traing he
had in no way fits him to take his part with a
fair chance to himself.
Bde moved forward. after 9. p.m. the men
instructed not to move Bde Hqrs forward until
tomorrow morning.
Issued order for to-morrow's operation
at 3. p.m.
[*casualties*]
MT. ST. QUENTIN - EPÉHY
SEPTEMBRE
28 SAMEDI.
By car to new Hqrs. S.E. of EPÉHY established. 11.a.m.
5. p.m. Issued Operation Instruction Series E. No. 1. 5.p.m.
8 " " " " " " " 2.
8 " " Administrative Instruction to accompany
battle instructions.
Bde Hqrs. E. 15. c. 9. 5. 35 Bn E. 16. a. 7. 3.
33 Bn. E. 17. b. 1. 5 9. T.Ms. E. 17. a. 9. 4.
34 " E. 17. b. 1. 7. 9. Fd. Amb. E. 18. a. 2. 1.
11th A.M.G Coy E. 12. 23. A M.G Coy. E. 11.
Held conference Bn Commdr morn
Weather condition very bad. but I have
a fair little possie and in the
ditch.
S.W. EPEHY. and op Hindenberg Line
BATTLE HINDENBERG LINE.
SEPTEMBRE
29 DIMANCHE.
7. a. m Units commenced to move forward to
Brown line - (see battle instructions Series E para 2)
I pushed on ahead with Capt Paterson. In
passing in front of a heavy How battery which held
its fire to let us through one of the guns loosed off.
it was most annoying as we got the full blast. and
as The Americans were supposed to have taken the
Hindenberg line but as we passed through LEMPIRE
it was evident something had gone wrong for
we walked right into machine gun & field gun
fire. The town itself was a pitable sight the
British dead were lying in groups in the streets
& many dead animals. However there was
nothing to do but push on. I had passed the
34th on the road with the 35 going strong. I
reached the spot I had chosen for a Hqrs
at F. 17. a. 3.1 A ditch with some old dugouts
in. It was packed with Americans & filthy. I
chose a shelter for our quarters The American
Regtl Commdr was in a dugout a little further on
They could give us no information as to what
had happened. All we could get was that
at any rate part had gone over the Hindenberg
Sep. 29 cont'd. (2
Line. The whole show was a state of absolute
chaos. No communications, no intelligence,
information or organization whatever. It is clear
that what had happened was that the first
troops had gone over the Hindenberg line
and the Huns had all taken cover in the deep
and large dugouts with which it is well
supplied. The Americans had failed to mop
these up, and after they had passed over the
Bosch had come out and held up the next
wave, cutting them up and cutting off the
first wave. The men were like lost sheep.
not knowing where to go or what to do. This
American Division 27th is practically wiped
out and certainly out of action. In the
meantime our own is landed in a tough
place. carrying out even the approach under
machine gun fire. I went out and met
the 33 Bn. going into position. The shelling
was hot, many shells falling on the
column which marvelously escaped - There
were many tanks lying about out of action
and my own tanks were soon lit up
either by shells or mines. I could not
use my artillery as it was impossible to
say where American troops might be.
A truly bad situation.
The Advance of the 10 & 11' Bdes were
held up it of course being impossible for them
to carry out original plan. I therefore ordered
33. 34. 35 Bns to conform.
An enemy plane flew over our
29 Sept. cont (3)
troops machine gunning them but we brought
it down near Duncan's post.
At 10.25 a.m the 35 Bn commenced to move
forward. For moves of Bns see copy war
diary. We had a bad day and a
worse night. The weather was awful
black darkness and miserably wet. I
went out but impossible to see anything
except a tank on fire. which burned
all night. I remained on duty all
night. We were innundated with
orders to move and counter orders -
Our ditch is full of American stragglers
they are lying thick in the mud some
asleep leaning against the bank. One had to
walk on them to pass.
Several shells landed amongst us.
and the gas was bad.
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