Diary Henry Arthur Goddard 1918 - Part 24

BATTLE HINDENBERG LINE.
SEPTEMBRE
30 LUNDI.
For moves and action see copy war
diary
A wretched day. Still unable to
use field guns as americans fear
I should cut up their men. Still they
have no idea of what has happened
by this time their forward men are
either all killed or prisoners.
Also see Field Book 

[*Casualties operations 29.9.18. - 2.10.18
Killed officers  Others.  Wounded Officers  Others
33 Bn      2.          4.                    5                   42
34  "                     5.                    4                   37
35                        4.                    1                   36
9. T.M.                                                                1
9 FD Coy.                                                           4
                2.        13.                  10.                120 *]
[*Total. Casualties       144
Missing.7. Injured 5.    12
                                  156.*]
[*Corrected Total Casualties
Killed.  Wounded.  Missing
O. O.R.   O. O.R.    O. O.R.
2.   13.     10  155.           7.
Grand. Total 187.*]
Casualties -
                             Killed.   Wounded  Missing
28.9.18 to     33.  O.  O.R.   O. O.R.   O. O.R.
1.10.18         33 Bn               3.   14.
                     34.           4.     4.    23x.          1.     x gassed
                      "                               4.
                     35.           3.            27.           14.
1.10-2.10.18.33.           1.            11.
                     35.                            1.            4.
2.10-4.10.15 33.                            8.
                                                      2.
                     34.                            9.            4
                     35.                    1.     3.            3
4-5.10.18      33.    2.    2.      2.    11.
                     34.                             2.
                     35.                             1.
                     34.                              2x.                {x 2.10.18
                                                                             {1 gassed
Officer Casualties Operations 30.9.18 - 1.10.18
33 Bn. Wounded. 29.9.18. Capt. O.R. Cormack. Lieut L.R. Bell,
2/Lieut A.G. Hague. Killed 1.10.18. Capt C.J. Doig Ms.
Lt H.I. Spencer R.M. Wounded. 1.10.18. Lt A.H. Hocking
Lieut. F.J. Burke D.S.O.
34 Bn. Major W.A.L. Fry. Major F.G. Grant Lieut J. Sneddon
Lieut W.H. Richardson wounded. 29.9.18
35 Bn. Capt. T May. R. Sayers. M.C. wounded. 1.10.18
remained on duty 

BATTLE HINDENBERG LINE.
OCTOBRE
1 MARDI.
For action of troops see copy war
diary.

HINDENBERG LINE.
LEMPIRE-EPÉHY
OCTOBRE
2 MERCREDI.
Enemy shelled our vicinity with gas about 6. am
I was awakened by choking about 6. am. As I
was laying on the ground I had got a good
dose of it as it rolled along.
Order for relief came along in the
morning G.O.C. 151 Brigade (British) was
up. They take over from us. but the
Bde withdraws without waiting for
formal relief. I pushed off with Paterson
I was feeling frightfully ill with the
gas and could hardly see where I was
going. Once passing out at. LEMPIRE I came down
cutting my wrist. There are many British dead
about here.
Got back to old Quarters in sunken
road or ditch near EPÉHY. They had made
my quarters very comfortable and had a
bit of a fire going but I let it go out on account
of the smoke. The sickness passed off a bit
by about 11 and I slept well.
Brigade Pain was particularly insane to-day
He objected to some instructions I gave to the Signaller
and aired his grievances largely to all and sundry
I am afraid he is quite impossible - and that I
will have to part with him. He is a menace to the
discipline of the Brigade 

EPEHY. - TEMPLEUX-LA-FOSSE.
E.12.C.9.5.
OCTOBRE
3 JEUDI.
[*Casualties
     Killed.   Wounded.
     O. O.R.  O. O.R.
33. 2.   2.     2.  10
34.                     2
35.                     1.
Above occurred. 29. Sep 30 Sep & 1 Oct.*]
The Brigade marched this morning to Templeux-la.Fosse.
I rode on with the Brigad Major,
leaving Hqrs about 11. a.m. It was a perfect morning
bright and fine - As we rode into the valley
AIZECOURT Le BAS. the scene was quite beautiful.
In the distance the forest of BOIS de GURLU. singularly
untouched by the war. The villiages are of course
utterly destroyed. The defences and wire here
are very strong. If we can take what we
have taken the past few days - we can go
through any resistance the Hun can offer.
We bivouaced down near the Bois de Gurlu
a very pretty place.
Went round and had a look at the
35. Sayers got Leo for me - he walked back
to the camp with me. He seems a little
bit miserable, poor kid.
Turned in about 11. and had a good
night

GOC
2.10.1918.
The following message has been received from the
Corps Commander.
"Please convey to all Commanders, Staffs and troops
of 3rd and 5th Australian Divisions my sincere appreciation of
and thanks for their fine work of the past three days.
Confronted at the outset of the operations with a critical
situation of great difficulty and hampered by inability to make
free use of our artillery resources, these Divisions succeeded
in completely overwhelming a stubborn defence in the most strongly
fortified sector of the Western front. This was due to the
determination and resource of the leaders and the grit, endurance

and fighting spirit of the troops. Nothing more praiseworthy
has been done by Australian troops in this War."

BOIS de GURLU. TURKEY SURRENDERS?
OCTOBRE
4 VENDREDI.
A bit dull to-day, but fine. Leo came round
in morning. He seems a bit oppressed at leaving
the Engineers. I did my best to get him to
be a bit ambitious & to work for promotion - but
he seems to lack application.
News came through this afternoon that
Turkey had surrendered.
A bitterly cold night.
News regarding Turkey proved incorrect. 

BOIS de GURLU.
OCTOBRE
5 SAMEDI.
[*Casualties
wounded   missing
     O.  O.R.   O.R.
33.       8.
34        9.       4.
35. 1.   3.       3
above occurred
29.9.18, 30.9.18 & 1&2.10.18.*]
Received orders to entrain at PERONNE for. rest billet
South of ABBEVILLE. Went round Battalion with Pain
in morning. We sent part of the Brigade to Peronne
by Light Railway the rest marched. I worked with
Halford. reached Peronne Railway station about 5. p.m
(FLAMINCOURT). It seems hardly believable that a
week or two back this was in the hands of the Germans
far behind their lines. Now it is a huge shunting
track with French, English, Germans and Americans
rolling stock. I saw an American locomotive drawing
a train of German trucks. Peronne itself is in
ruins.
There was some confusion at the station
as the Railway people had sent fewer trucks

than arranged. and consequently some transport
had to move by road.
Myself & Hqrs entrained about 9. p.m
It was not so cold as I expected. Got a fair
amount of sleep.

AIRANES - YONVILLE.
OCTOBRE
6 DIMANCHE.
We arrived at Airanes about 7. a.m
Col Jackson was waiting in a car. and
drove me to my billet - at Yonville. A beautiful
place in lovely park. The people have
set apart a wing of the house for us.
My bedroom is very nice with two large
French windows overlooking the grounds.
They sent me up some coffee. and then
Pain and I walked in to CITERNE to try and
get some breakfast. This was difficult owing
to the French food restrictions. but we were
finally able to get some good coffee and bread
& butter and tinned salmon making a very
good meal. On our return we met the
good people of the Chateau Monsieur
and Madam his wife and Madame
the daughter. Both the latter speak excellent
English they were very kind and anxious to do
all for our comfort.
Div. Gen called. 3.30. p.m Discussed
training. Brigade Schools. Organization  of papers
and actual Coys.
Rather a restless night. 

YONVILLE.
OCTOBRE
7 LUNDI.
Breakfast 8.30. Madam & Mlle showed me
round the garden. Major Harrison came up in
morning. Discussed training etc. At 2.30 I held
a conference of Commanding officers. Madam & Mlle
had tea in the Mess afterwards. I then walked
through CITERNE where the 33 are billeted.
Showery afternoon.

Eve, my mare go her hoof injured coming
down from Perronne.
The dispositions of the Brigade are as under.
Bde Hqrs.  YONVILLE
33 Bn.        CITERN.
34  "           FRICOURT.
35  "           MERELESSART.
9 T.M.         FORCEVILLE.
9 F?. AMB. NEUVILLE.
9 F?. COY.  WOIREL.
24. COY A.S.C.

YONVILLE.
OCTOBRE
8 MARDI.
At the Chateau all day straightening up

the aftermath of the fighting. A wet bleak day
In the afternoon I walked across the fields
to VAUX MARQUENUEVILL where the Fd Amb are . back about
4. p.m.
Lieut Parkes reported to 34. He is son of old
Sir Harry Parkes.
Worked till 11.30. turned in.
Leo came up in evening He brought me some
apples. It is rough going for him, poor kid.
and I feel being in comparative luxury. but what
can I do. I wish he could have shown more application 
in his school days. or here. It would have helped me
to assist him. 

YONVILLE.
OCTOBRE
9 MERCREDI.
In morning went down to look at the mare, but she
is very lame. No hope of using her for some time.
With Halford walked to MERELESSART where the 35.
are billeted. Saw there A Coy at work met also
looked in at their A.M. Store. Saw Col White,
Major Sayers, Lieut Prentice. Padre Osborne &c.
back for lunch. The country here is very beautiful.
Major Harrison was up.
We had the 35 band play in the Chateau grounds
in the afternoon.

YONVILLE.
OCTOBRE
10 JEUDI.
In morning I visited 33^rd Bn. Saw them at
training. Handed Major Hawkey Lieut Kitchins
shooting medals. Called at 33 Hqrs but Marshead
was out. Thence to Hqrs of 34 at FRUCOURT. Saw
Major Wheeler. He does not seem to have got
far ahead with his training.
Col Morshead called 4. p.m. reference his
R.S.M. Discussed training &c with him.
Col Jackson called 5.30 He goes to England
All the original Div Staff will now have gone.
I am in to leave for Staff Course in a few days
Gale is to go elsewhere also. There is no continuity
at all. The whole show is getting chaotic and
the discontent very grave. The boxing of the
Companies is hitting the men very hard and the
reluctance to give senior officers leave wrecks their
efficiency. and realizing the certainty of a break down
takes away their own confidence in themselves. 

YONVILLE.
OCTOBRE
11 VENDREDI.
In morning I interviewed the suspended
sentence men and gave them some good advice
Had paraded before me the R.S.M. of 33^rd
who had been discovered drunk.
In afternoon a conference of Commanding Officers
(3.30.) General Cannan was up at 4.

YONVILLE.
OCTOBRE
12 SAMADI.
A wet day. Was not out. Madam des Forts
asked Pain & I to afternoon tea.
The Australian Mail came in. pretty rotten
news from Melbourne. M. A. D. have withdrawn
their Agency. This means we must close down.
It seems the demon of hard luck which hangs
to my shoulders will never he shaken off. 

YONVILLE.
OCTOBRE
13 DIMANCHE.
Within doors all day. Much paper work
Leo came up in afternoon.

YONVILLE.
OCTOBRE
14 LUNDI.
At. 9.15 to 9.30 interviewed candidate for Officer
Training College.
10.30. Inspected 33 Bn. Transport. a very good
turnout. Was attended by Capts Jackson & Paterson
after returned to Hqrs.
Major Harrison called and took me to Div Hqrs
HALLENCOURT. Lunched No 1. Mess. after which
Div Comnds held conference till 4. p.m.
With Major Harrison to Vaux and Marguenneville
to find quarters for Bde School, but met with no
success.
MAJOR PAIN left this morning for Staff Course in England.
LIEUT LEAHY Staff Trainer reported for duty. 

YONVILLE.
OSTEND, THIELT, COURTRAI
LILLE & DOUAI taken to-day.
OCTOBRE
15 MARDI.
Attended by Capt Paterson I inspected the 34 Bn at
FAUCOURT. I was agreeably surprised at the fine turnout.
The transport was particularly good. There was heavy rain
towards the end of the parade and we all got wet.
At 2. p.m. I addressed the officers of the 33 Bn on the
duty of an officer.
At 3. p.m. I motored with the B.M and Lieuts. House
& Thomas to LIMEUX where we intend to establish a
signallers school. Left House there.
Back to Yonville 7. p.m.
MAJOR CARMICHAEL reported for duty at Brigade