Diary Henry Arthur Goddard 1918 - Part 8

VILLERS BRETTONNEUX
AVRIL
1 LUNDI
1 Killed officer 2 ^men wounded.
Got in a good sleep. Enemy shelld our position,
heavily on our left. We captured a prisoner
& killed his comrade
Capt Eade was seriously wounded - shot
through the back. I saw him at the R.G.P. He
is in a bad way and wont live, poor chap. The
Hun sniped at our stretcher bearers bringing
him down hitting two of them. Eade must
have had a rough passage. The bullet entered
close to the spine coming out under the heart
At 8.a.m. Gen. Birtwhistle C.R.G. British Artillery
called. He is handing over to Col Adams - I am
sorry. Birtwhiistle is a fine man.
Picked up many oddments of British troops
but sent them to rear. The only ones of any value
were a Coy of Canadian machine Gunmen who
had formed part of Carey's force. I have retained
these for the present Found others of Carey's force
without food and neglected. sent them to the rear.
Salved several Lewis Guns left by British.
Connell made a reconnaissance of position
early this morning.
At 8.p.m. I sent B Coy and all oddments
up to spitlock and a reserve line for in the event of
our being hit back there is nothing between front line which
consists of shell holes & the Huns. British appear to have done xxx
most.
 

VILLERS BRETTONEUX.
AVRIL
2 MARDI
1 Killed 2 Wounded
8.a.m. Consultation Col. Adams re S.O.S. line.
Captured  another Hun prisoner - These very
valuable for identification.
Very heavy shelling from WARFUSEE. all
the evening. Hun put a lot of shells into the
Church Square killing private Quinn and
some gunners who were in the church.
At 10.p.m. Col Morshead reported
arrival of Gun Bn in support.
Recommended to G.O.C. that this Bn be
brought up to town and in close support. and
to relieve front line by Corp and to help in
digging support Line.
Bde asked me to supply 50 men for Area
Commdt - Pointed out had none available
as every man was needed for defence and
all sundries strenuously engage digging support
line. Pointed out that 33 had sent back their
"B" team advised against this
Asked for socks for the men.
Drew attention to wholesale pilliage of
the town by British troops.
Two Sections 9^h Gun Coy placed at my
disposal.
 

VILLERS BRETTONNEUX
AVRIL
3 MERCREDI
5 Killed
x 11 wounded
9.a.m. Consultation with C.R.G. Col Adams.
9.50 General Rosenthal called at Hqrs.
Arranged 33 Bn supply working parties
and town guards. Handed responsibility over to me.
Went with Col Morshead to see the Church
a fine old building and except for one
or two shells untouched, a dead man or
two and a pool of blood just inside the door
gave it a tragic aspect. Climbed to the roof of
the tower - after Morshead inspected the organ
but it was out of order. Shells falling round.
Hun shelled town all day several
bursts very close to Hqrs. One fell in
"B" Corp billet killing 5 and wounding 15.
8.p.m. A  Capt from 6^h Londons (58 Div)
arrived and reported that his Bn was on road
nearing here and were to come into support.
and relieve us to-morrow night - sent Major
Hunt out to arrange billets At 10 p.m.
their Col     arrived. Did what I could
for dinn. No word had reached us of their
 

VILLERS BRETTONNEUX.
MARCH 3. Contd
coming or of any relief. Bad Staff Work
this. Things appear to be in a bad way at
back.
General Rosenthal when he called
this morning told me that the Divisional
Commander had refused to allow him
to come forward or become involved.
and that much as he would prefer to
be up there was nothing for him to do 
but hand over to me the responsibility
for fighting the line and defending the
town.
I have placed my Vicker's guns.
well forward. Owing to very flat country
and the advantage this gives them for
dealing with advance of enemy with direct
fire I think this risk should be taken
they are situated
P. 28.d.4.2.   P. 34.b.6.6.
V. 3.c.3.8,     P. 33.c.8.8.
with a section in reserve at such positions at -
P. V.1.b.70.10.  P. 32.c.30.40.  P.32.b.90.40.  P.33.a.95.95
these positions now completeing construction.
Recd word that Capt Eade died to-day.
 

NINTH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE
Brigade Headquarters,
1st April, 1918.
Headquarters,
G1st Division.
I beg to forward herewith detailed report of
Counter attach operation carried out by 9th Australian
Infantry Brigade on the afternoon and evening of 30th March -
Report on evacuation of casualties by 9th Australian Field
Ambulance is also forwarded.
The 33rd Battalion (Lieut-Col. L.J. MORSHEAD, D.S.O.)
was detailed to carry out the attack, and was supported by the
34th Battalion (Lieut-Col. E.E. MARTIN) - only one Company of
the latterx Battalion was employed.
Each Battalion had attached to it a section of
Vickers Guns from 9th Australian Machine Gun Company.
The assistance rendered by the 12th Lancers, 2nd
Cavalry Division, was invaluable, and my Officers and men are
enthusiastic in the admiration of the work done by the Cavalry.
The line as finally handed over on relief, though
not the line of the objective as ordered by you, is nevertheless
splendidly sited and very strong.
Please accept the thanks of myself and my Brigade
for your kind letter of appreciation.
Charles Rosenthal
Brig-General.
C.O.C. 9th Australian Inf. Brigade.
Copies for information to:-
5th ARMY
18th Division.
2nd Cavalry Division
(EMR) 1st Cavalry Division
3rd Australian Division (2)
33rd Battalionn A.I.F. (4)
34th Battalion A.I.F. (4)
35th Battalion A.I.F.
9th A.M.G. Coy  A.I.F.
9th A.L.T.M. Batyy A.I.F.
9th Aust. Field Ambulance
War Diary (3)
File.
 

Hand drawn diagram - see original document
 

Men killed
Killed Viller  Villers Bret
Killed                                    Killed on
3326  Henderson H.G.         3.4.18 } sheet 22D
2018  Quinn.J.                      2  "     }
407    Cpl. Connell J.            3  "
6915  McDonnell C.P.               "
6850  McPherson D,D.W.         "
3252  Annel F,                           "
2848  Moore H.F.                      "
2421  Clouten L.                   4
748    Crosbie V.C.                "
1478  Redman W.                 6
6853  Williams R M.              '
3339  Lou. G.H.                    31.3
1469  Beardsill Z.                  7.4
2425  Fitness C.L.                7
2967  O. Grady T.                 10
2595  Gallaghan. P.J.           10
2167  Warrington C.J.          10.
3268  Buckley E.G.               6
7305  Reid. T.F.                    31.3
368    R.S.M. Campbell J.A.18.4
6818  Jennings. V.R.           18         
7448 Barber G.O.                4
4301  Walker W.M.              "
-         Monk.P.H.                 4
 

Tape.
F.O.O.
9.p.m. Battle patrols to cover
[[weary?]] tape partie & wiring parties.
when trans completed present piquet
line Coy will move out as a wiring
party. 33^d will move up and
do wiring. On completion 33' withdraw
& piquet line will move behind
wire. Pioneers will then dig
new line of trenches. When
complete piquet line will occupy
 

SECRET.    B.M.B 15
55th Inf Bde Code No 169.
Ref Map sheet
62D 1/40,000    April 1st 1918
1 7^th Buffs will relieve 7^th Queens in
the line tonight April 1st/2nd.
2 Details of relief will be arranged
between CO's concerned.
3. On completion 7^th Queens will take
over billets at Bde H.Q. at present
occupied by 7 Buffs
4 Acknowledge
[[?]]
Capt.
Bde Major 55 Inf Bde
Issued at 1.30 pm
Copies to
7^th Queens       Left Group
7 Buffs              Artillery
8^th E Surey R
35^th Bn A.I.       18 Div.
 

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.
Urgent
To
ADAMS GROUP   35 Bn       19 CORPS RA
47 BDE                  50 DA
18 DIV G                39 DA
Sender's Number  BM74
Day of Month   31        AAA
BM 605 is cancelled AAA SOS lines are
now
ADAMS GROUP   2 Btys  V1oAo8-V4D7.7-P35c6.2
                       M330     "    V1oAo8-V4D7.7
                       HOWS   "    (D/331) V1oc2.6-A2.6
                                          (D/330) P29D8.2-8.6
1 18 Pr enfilade R/wy cutting at D4D
47 BDE RFA
2 Btys P35c6.2-B9c6.5
1 Bty   P35c6.2-P29c6.5
Hows
ACKNOWLEDGE
SOS fire will be opened on -
(a) Rocket signal RED/RED/RED
(b) Heavy enemy bombardment or
heavy M/G fire
(c) our Infy retiring.
Rates - INTENSE for 5 mins
             NORMAL   " 10  " then as situation demands
Acknowledge
From 66DA
Time 7.30 pm
Towns Capt.
[*Recd. 8.20 pm
[[?]]*]
 

3 Apl Contd.
Relieved "D." Coy (Capt Sayers) by "B"
Coy. Lieut Light - Holding "D" Coy in
reserves in town.
I placed two Coys of 33 Bn
in close support on new support
line with orders to push on with
its construction. The remaing two
coys I held in reserve on outskirts
of town. Col. Morshead's Hqrs I put
in house opposite Villa Yvonne.
 

VILLERS BRETTONEUX
BATTLE OF VILLERS BRETTONEUX
                Officers    Others
Killed           2.             29
Wounded     4.           164
Missing        1              23
                    7             216
AVRIL
4 JEUDI.
 

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS
Received by [[?]]
Office Stamp   203
Handed in at YR  Office  7.46 m.  Received 7.53 pm
To 9^th Austn. Bde
Senders number Q 126  Day of Month 4  In reply to Number. A10 249   AAA
If these people wish
to leave I suggest
your let them have
a few men to
drive their cars and
calves to Neighbourhood
of AMIENS where I
will try and arrange
for french authorities
to meet them if
you inform me further
aaa Could not the
officers and men buy
the hens and Rabbits
From  18 Div.