Diary Henry Arthur Goddard 1918 - Part 7

SERCUS.

MARS

25 LUNDI.

Position required here.

Conference of our officers

DOULONS.

FAMECHON.

MARS

26 MARDI.

Accompanied by Major Dunlop, & others of Staff I

left mounted for.     Railway Station. The

entraining had gone well. The first train consisted

of self & Brigade Hqrs. 9^th Machine gun Coy

and about 100 men told off for an unloading party

for helping to unload at DOULLENS. The night is

black and bitterly cold, frozen snow falling as

the train started punctually to time. It was bitterly

cold in the train and we were travelling light. Was

glad when daylight came and early in the morning

the train was stuck up at Pol was able to walk on

the platform and get some approach to circulation.

The enemy had been shelling the railway station

and town with very heavy stuff it was utterly

wrecked.

We reached DOULLENS at about 11. a.m. The

Townhall is alongside the railway station There was a 

conference of G.O.C's in Chief apparently going on there.

General Heng's & Gen Pelain's Car and a car bearing the

French Commander in Chiefs' Colours men there. Gen

Pluman Gen. Byng & many others - Our train was

broken in half - the horses & vehicles & machine guns.

cont'd on next leaf

FRANVILLERS

DOULLENS

MARS

2726 Contd. MERCREDI.

in one and personnel in the other Our half had

not come to a standstill before a British Major

came to my carriage and asked if I was 9^th Bde.

I replied I was. He asked what troops I had - I told

him Bde Hqrs. 100 fatigue men. a M.G Coy and

L.T.M. Battery. He told me that our line was

broken and the Germans were coming on to the town

and that their cavalry were now approaching it. That

I was to proceed with what troops I had immediately

and hold them. It was an extraordinary order - considering

the total troops in my hands were not

more than 200 to be asked to face an enemy which

had the 5^th Army on the run. I ha I told him I

was prepared to go if he would assist me in getting

the trucks with the machine guns and horses alongside

the ramp, but as the order was an extraordinary one

I should like some definite authority. He replied the

order was on the authority of the conference. I said I

would like the name of a General. He told me he

would get it. We got the Machine guns alongside the

ramp and the men just lifted limbers bodily off

the trucks. It was great, and astonished the onlookers.

HEILLY.

BONNAY.

DOULLENS

MARS 

28 JEUDI.26 contd

We had them off within an hour. The wounded

were pouring on to the station in hundreds. The

Hun prisoners were carrying them the bad cases

from the ambulances to the hospital train.

The Major came back and said General Byng

took all responsibility for the order. We were

ready to move off within an hour and

the advanced guard had got well on the road

when the order was cancelled. Shortly before

General Monash came up I told him what I

was doing and he approved. At 1.p.m. General

Rosenthal arrived and I handed over command of

the Brigade to him. I was very cold and very

hungry and with Col Morshead went into the town

to try and get something to eat. But it was pack

packed with hundreds of British officers -

refugees who looked perfectly fit and certainly

should have not been there. The town was full of

retreating troops - and it was a pathetic sight

our little forlorn hope pushing out and passing these

crowds coming back. As we went forward some of them

joined up. I joined up and took command

BONNAY

MARCH. 28 contd.

in front of VAUX. Saw Sayers He seems

pretty comfortably settled. Went over

to see the 10 11 Bde troops. Col Mainsbridge

was camped under a bank. A terrible

lot of dead horses about the air is very

putrid. A plane bearing our own

mark dropped bomb on a palise

of Sayers'. Got back to Hqrs at 2.p.m.

1 man wounded.

Copy of order recd at HEILLY 26^th March

Enemy reported to have crossed ANCRE at

DERNANCOURT and BUIRE A Bde of 4 Aust Div has been

ordered to hold high ground E & S.E of LAVIEVILLE

9^th Brigade immediately occupying line which

runs northerly E of RIBEMONT known as AMIENS

line which is a continuation of line now being

occupied between ANCRE and SOMME by 11 & 10 Brigades

In event of 4 Div being unable to hold ground

E of LAVIEVILLE they will fall back on the AMIENS

line or left of 9 Bde thus continuing our left

On the South of the SOMME the left flank of the

5^th Army in not known with certainty. 11 Bde

will therefore be prepared to look after the right

flank resting on the SOMME.

 

(2) MARCH 27 contd.

one old woman we met under shell fire

trying to get her cow along. With Gen

Rosenthal to see Gen Monash - then

with him and other C.Os on a

reconnaissance in front of HEILLY. After 

I took my own officer out on a 

reconnaissance. In the meantime

the troops had bivouaced in the open

in front of HEILLY. A plane bearing British

markings dropped a couple of bombs

on them but did no harm. on return

got order to move to BONNAY

7. p.m. moved off. arriving BONNAY

28^th MARCH.
1.a.m. Village utterly deserted. Made

my Hqrs in a cottage evidently lately

used by old lady and her daughter

for there were their house skirts & shoes

when they had hurriedly dropped

them before rushing off. & the old ladiey's

glasses were on the table beside a paper.

A poor bed but I got 3 hours sleep

which I badly needed for I had had

no sleep for three days, three nights.

(Sent A Coy (Major Carr) to Corbie and D Coy

(Sayers) to VAUX.

After breakfast. I took Major

Blake and Capt Yates on reconnaissance

29 VENDREDI.

Rode out with Major Blake, Capt Conner

to reconnoitre front of our line. Called at

"D" Coys Hqrs. VAUX SUR SOMME Crossed the

river by the bridge at SAILLY LAURETTE

Called at Hqrs of Queens Boys saw the

Major & Adjutant. The Hun was shelling

the road as we left but I decided to push

through. We rode on to CORBIE via HAMEL on

South side of river - Called at A. Coys

Hqrs. The 33^rd are taking over CORBIE from

us. Saw Gen Rosenthal at CORBIE &

came back with him to BONNAY. 2. or

3.p.m. Gen Rosenthal instructed me

to take over that part of the SOMME

front held by 11^th Bde in addition to own

Sent Major Blake to get in touch with

11 Bde & select Hqrs at VAUX. 6.30. recd

orders. immediately withdraw from positions and

with Regt rendeveaux at CORBIE when we arrived

10.p.m. Moved from there 12 midnight marched

to CACHY where we arrived 2.a.m. billeted

abandoned aerodrome sheds turned [[in 2?]].30a.m.

(2) MARCH 27 contd.

one old woman we met under shell fire

trying to get her cow along. With Gen

Rosenthal to see Gen Monash - then

with him and other C.Os on a

reconnaissance in front of HEILLY. After 

I took my own officer out on a 

reconnaissance. In the meantime

the troops had bivouaced in the open

in front of HEILLY. A plane bearing British

markings dropped a couple of bombs

on them but did no harm. on return

got order to move to BONNAY

7. p.m. moved off. arriving BONNAY

28^th MARCH.
1.a.m. Village utterly deserted. Made

my Hqrs in a cottage evidently lately

used by old lady and her daughter

for there were their house skirts & shoes

when they had hurriedly dropped

them before rushing off. & the old ladiey's

glasses were on the table beside a paper.

A poor bed but I got 3 hours sleep

which I badly needed for I had had

no sleep for three days, three nights.

(Sent A Coy (Major Carr) to Corbie and D Coy

(Sayers) to VAUX.

After breakfast. I took Major

Blake and Capt Yates on reconnaissance

DOULLENS, FAMECHON., FRANVILLERS, HEILLY. BONNAY.

(2) MARCH 26 contd.

of 35 Bn which arrived 5.p.m. and we moved on the road to FAMECHON.

I leading. By this time it was dark. we still

passed troops retiring. We reached FAMECHON.

at 1.a.m. ↓

MARCH 27.

The village was deserted but there was one

collage where there was an old lady. She

made us some coffee. and gave me her

bed to get some sleep in Was just going 

to turn in when General Rosenthal came

in and said we had to move at once

that motor lorries would have come

for us in an hour. We embussed

but did not get a move on till

daylight was just going to try and

get a snooze in a corner of the

lorry when Gen Rosenthal sent

for me to go to his car. We reach

FRANVILLERS 4.30.a.m. The roads were full

of refugees - carrying what they could

one poor tottering old man was wheeling

his very big old wife in  wheelbarrow

BONNAY      BONNAY, VAUX,

HAMEL         SAILLY LE SEC, HAMEL

CORBIE       CORBIE, CACHY.

CASHY.

March

29 Wednesday.

There seemed a good deal of doubt about

HAMEL and who was going on on the South

side of the Somme. We knew the cavalry

were operating on the other side of the river

I decided to go over myself and find out.

especially as it was reported the Hun had

taken HAMEL. I took with me Major Blake

and Capt Connell. We rode through Vaux

and crossed the river at Sailly-le-Sec.
Here we came on to the Hqrs of the Quens
Bays. in the ruins of a farm on the River Bank
saw the Major and Adjutant. They appear
to have been having a bad time. When we
left them. the Hun was shelling our road.
badly. I decided however not to waste time
so we made a dash throug towards Hamel.
The Hun was still furiously shelling the
town - but it had been abandoned by the
British, evidently without waiting for a fight

Wed 29 Mar. Contd
As we came near Hamel. we met an
old couple. trudging into the town which was
an inferno of shell fire. Asked them where they
were going. the old man said to HAMEL. Told
him it was madness - he would  be killed
immediately he entered. He said they didnt
care. He and his wife had fled two days
ago - they had tried to sleep in outhouses
on the ground but his old wife could not
sleep without her bed, and would only die
of exposure so they would go back and
die in their beds. They refused to be persuaded
and went on. They would have been killed
before they got to the villiage. We pushed on
to Corbie Called at A. Co Headquarters
The 33 are taking over Corbie from us
Saw Gen Rosenthal at Corbie and came
back with him to BONNAY 2.30 p.m
3. p.m Received instructions take over share
part of the SOMME front line held by 11"
Bde. in addition to our own. Sent Major
Blake to get in touch with 11 Bde and
select Hqrs at VAUX
6.30. received orders immediately withdraw
from positions and with Regt rendevoux
at CORBIE where we arrived at 10. p.m
Moved from there 12 (midnight) Marching
to CACHY where we arrived 2. a.m
Billeted in abandoned aerodrome. turned
in in one of the sheds 3.30. a.m.

BOIS L'ABBE
VILLERS BRETTONNEUX.
SATURDAY MARCH. 30.
Consultation 8. a.m with Gen Rosenthal in Church
Square Enemy have taken AUBERCOURT and
DEMART(?). 35 Bn to move to DE BLANGY BOIS prepared
to counter attack VILLERS BRETONNEUX 9. a.m
Enemy heavily shelled CACHY putting in some
big stuff in the CHURCH SQUARE. and T.M. Billets
wounding nine of the Battery.
At 2.30. p.m the 33 Bn moved out to
attack and recapture AUBERCOURT. to in
cooperation with Cavalry (Lancers) but were
held up in outside the wood in square V 18.
I decided to make a reconnaisance of
the VILLERS BRETTONNEUX front and took with me
Capts Connell & Yates. The weather was awful
cold and teeming with rain We pushed out
along the South of the Bois l'Abbe on to the
CACHY-V. BRETTONNEUX road. We met many men
coming back. I stopped some of them but they
were utterly demoralized. I stopped a Sergt of the A.M.C with
several men. Asked him why he was running
away. He said the line was broken and retiring

2 MAR 30 Cont
and the enemy was shelling the town and
road. I pointed out to him that there
was nothing very special in the shelling
and asked him to come back with me
but he refused. I ordered him to remain
where he was and improvise a dressing
station as wounded men would be
searching for his deserted post. but I 
had not proceeded far when I saw
they were clearing off. We entered
the town - a fine place. and but
little knocked about except that it
had the appearance of having been
looted by the troops. In the main
street lay a dead horse and further on
two dead soldiers, evidently linesmen
caught while repairing the phone wires.
The shells were falling round a bit
unpleasantly. We found an English
Brigadier (I think Gen Sennett) Talked
with him a bit, but got little information
Went on towards MARCELCLAVE and after
crossing the railway line came on on a

(3) MARCH. 30. contd.
cottage which was being used as an artillery D.P.
Struck a very intelligent artillery officer who was
able to give us some useful information about
the line, but confessed that there was no proper
line and the infantry could not give them one.
We went upstairs in the cottage where we could get
a good view from the window An officer in a
mackintosh had come in with us and had been
occasionally putting in a remark - a shell hit just
under the window we were looking out of. The
party in the mac disappeared. The artillery officer
told me he was Gen. Carey. We pushed
back. after a further look round. Walking
over the ploughed fields to the Bois .l'Abbe.
It was heavy going and we were very wet and
very tired. about 5. pm.  The men were very wet and
cold. I decided to move them back to the
aerodrome & here at any rate they would be
dry. I was just taking off my boots with
the idea of drying them and getting a little
sleep when I received an order to relieve
with the 35" Bn the whole of the 61 Div in front

(4) 30 MARCH contd.
of VILLERS BRETTONNEUX. I at once got out
orders. and with Capt Connell. & Lt Prentice and
Coy Commanders rode ahead leaving Major Blake
to bring on the Battalion. I reached Gen
Pagans Hqrs (182184 Bde) and fixed up with
Gen Spooner (183 Bde) and arranged relief
and guides. Gen. Evans of the 184 182 Bde
could not be found. He had been shelled
out of his Hqrs and had moved noone
even his neighbouring brigades being aware
of his location. The information I was able
to get was practically nil. The old General
(Pagan) was too keen on looted champagne -
the Brigade Major was either too tired or too
indifferent. to be of much use - I could see
that if relief was to be complete before
daylight (and movement was impossible
after dawn ordinary hand over was out
of the question - so I decided to extend
over the area and give authority for
all troops other than our own to withdraw
The Battalion came up - Relief was
complete by 6. a.m. Took up my
Hqrs. at General Pagans at
towards dawn Gen Spooner lay down for
a bit so did his B.n. but I took no rest.
1 man wounded.

C.O 35 Bn
Herewith information
received from Lt Purcell.
(2) I have used my reserve
platoon to strengthen temporarily
the river bank guard on
our left as the next few
hours are i think critical
Everything quiet now
H V Carr Major
OC A Coy
28/3/18
1053 pm

27.3.18
To "OC."
A Coy
At 5-30 Enemy broke
through on Flan Right
Flank of Americans
Situated 3 Kilos North of
LE HAMEL
Report recieved from Yourself
Soldier who was in Sector
South of AmeRICANS
Later Report
Enemy is being
held at all points
JS Purcell Lieut
Officer i/c of No1 Platoon
Time 10-5

CO
35 Bn