Diary Henry Arthur Goddard 1918 - Part 11

"A" Form.
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS

TO 35th Battalion.

Sender's Number.  Day of Month.

B.M. 38.                  8

34th and 36th Battalions will take over half 

of the Divisional front extending from

HANGARD Northwards tomorrow night 9th inst. 

AAA 34th and 36th Battalions will then

come under the orders of the 5th Australian

Infantry Brigade AAA 33rd and 35th Bns.

will remain in Divisional Reserve in VILLERS-

BRETONNEUX AAA 9th Aust. M. G. Coy and 9th

Aust.L.T.M.Bty. will move on morning of 10th

instant to cellars vacated by 54th Battalion

in VILLERS-BRETONNEUX AAA Detailed orders

follow AAA 34th and 36th Battalions to

Acknowledge AAA

Addressed 33rd, 34th, 35th and 36th

Battalions, 9th A.M.G. Coy., 9th A.L.T.M.Bty.

Repeated 5th Aust.Inf.Bde., 175th Inf.

Bde., 18th Division, 3rd Aust.Division,

9th Aust.FieIf Ambulance.

Place: 9th Aust.Inf.Bde.     

Signature J H F Pain  
Major

Bde.Major 9th Aus.Inf.Bde.

VILLERS BRETTONNEUX

[*9 Wounded*]

AVRIL

10 9 MARDI

Villers Bretonneux

Intermittent shelling - no casualties

overcast dull day.

at 9.30. a.m. I met General Rosenthal

outside town reference forthcoming operation

We met in a ruined little college. Shells

were falling near. 33 are to remain as

garrison of town and we are to become

counter attack battalion.

Harrassing fire by enemy on town all

day. 

VILLERS-BRETTONNEUX

[*1 Killed

3 wounded*]

AVRIL

10 MERCREDI

Villers Bretonneux

Overcast some rain - 2 men Killed and

three wounded shells over.

Enemy heavily shelled town with gas.

At 10.a.m. I held conference Coy Commanders

on proposed forthcoming operation.

Came across a pathetic case of an old woman

left behind in a cottage She is bedridden. Says

she has lived in the cottage for nearly 80 years

& refuses to go away. Boys doing what they can

for her. Will try & get her away in an ambulance

Also found another old lady dead in her

nightdress on the floor of her cottage evidently

having been blown out of her bed by a shell.

Very heavy artillery work all day.

34 & 35 Bns are holding line next the French

this side of Hangaard.

VILLERS BRETTONNEUX

[*1 Killed

1 wounded*]

AVRIL

11 JEUDI.
Villers Brettonneux
a little sunshine at intervals
1 man killed
Intense bombardment of line and town
from before daylight up to 11.a.m
Received orders to move at once to a position
of readiness. N. of BOIS DE GENTELLES
 

[*1 wounded*]

AVRIL

12 VENDREDI.
Villers Brettonneux Gentelles
Col. Milne & his adjunct were killed and
Major Mc Dowall badly wounded.
Bright day. Aircraft active.
At 10 a.m received order move to position
of readiness West of GENTELLES in T. 11
(Street 62^D) The move was complete by
2 p.m. Cold night bivouaced in 
open. Reported to 18^th Division to whom
we were allocated
Hangaad reported in the hands of enemy.
It is said that a Bn of the French & one of
Essex Regt to attack and retake it. About 6 pm
there was a very heavy barrage fire, probably
this attempt being carried out. Enemy have
taken Amentiers and Neuve Chapel in the N.
After all the work I put in there. It should
never have been taken. Enemy are now in a
line resting on Steenwerck Station. The day has
been fine but the night bitter cold We 
bivouaced in the open without great coats
or blankets. Enemy planes over all night and
did some bombing - Got hold of a tent -
and some old blankets shared same until 
Capt Cornell & Yates & Lieut Bunline

[*Copy 
sent to 
all Coys
14th JM*]
NINTH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE.
Brigade Headquarters,
14th April, 1918.
33/4/5/6th Bns.
9th A.M.G. Coy.
9th A.L.T.M. Batty.
9th Aust. Field Ambulance.
869th Coy. A.A.S.C.
The following is the full text of a letter from
General W.R. BIRDWOOD to all G. O. Cs. Divisions,
It is hoped that Battalion Commanders will ensure
that this letter is promulgated to every man, and that the
terms of the Commander's letter be appreciated by all concerned.
Charles Rosenthal Brig-General.
G.O.C. 9th Australian Infantry Brigade.
"Headquarters, Aust. Corps,
11th April, 1918.
My dear General,
I hope you will explain to you Brigadiers, and ask them
to be sure that it is passed on right down to the men, the fact
that during the present phase of fighting all units must expect
to be practically continually duty. We cannot expect Divisions
to be pulled out of the line for anything like long and recognised
rests. Everything will be some to get tired troops out when
possible for rest and re-fit, and I am particularly anxious that
troops should not think that they are hardly treated, if it so happens
that they have again to go in possibly within twenty four hours
of having left the line. I know so well with what complete willingness
our men invariably face all fighting and hardships, and it is
only if they think they are unfairly treated that resentment is
caused.
I mention this as I heard of a case the other day where
one of our Brigades thought they were unduly put upon by an English
Brigade on the flank being pulled out after having been only a few
days in the line. As a matter of fact, I afterwards heard that this
Brigade was pulled out only to be immediately put in another part
of the front - but this, of course, the men did not know.
It is, I think, particularly important that this should
be impressed on all ranks, owing to the fact that we must so often
rely upon ourselves, because reserves naturally cannot always be
behind us ; and it is a case now of really fighting for the final
victory, which might easily be jeopardised by even a small error
or want of spirit.
We have undoubtodly a critical and hard time before uss
which may be continued indefinitely, and it is therefore essential
to do all we can for the men - to keep their spirits up, and
conserve out man-power in every possible way. This I well know
that you and all Officer in your Division will do.
Yours very sincerely.
(signed) W.R. BIRDWOOD".
G.O.C.,
All Australian Division".
(EMR)

Personnel shown in Column 2.

Detached:	B.H.Q.		33rd Bn.		34th Bn.		35th Bn.		9th TMB.
	O.	OR.	O.	OR.	O.	OR.	O.	OR.	O.	OR.
D.H.Q.			1	6		6		3
B.W.Q.			1	5		3		3
36th Bn. Trapt.				6		7		9
Div. Concerts				1		1		2
D.A.D.O.S.				2		-		2
Baths				2		3		3
Y.M.C.A.				2		1		2
A.S.C. (Loaders)				3		2		2		1
Div.  Canteen				1
Total.	-	-	2	28	-	23	-	26	-	1

Personnel shown in Column 3.
 

Detached:	B.H.Q.		33rd Bn.		34th Bn.		35th Bn.		9th TMB.
	O.	OR.	O.	OR.	O.	OR.	O.	OR.	O.	OR.
Field Compound				10		9		6
Div. Wing.			1	3				1
Leave	2	2	2	13	1	14	3	10		1
A.W.L.				7		8		4
Schools			8	20	4	16	6	19		4
Tank Corps						2
Reinforcements at Div. Wing.						11		12
American Div.					1	2
Total :-	2	2	11	53	6	62	9	52	-	5

NINTH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE
Strength Return "A.I." - Wednesday - 13th Aug. 18.

Unit.	Trench Strength "A"		Waggon  Lines "B"		Nucleus "C"		Sick 1.		On Command				Total. 4		Attached 5
									In Division 2.		Elsewhere 3
	Off	O.R.	Off	O.R.	Off	O.R.	Off	O.R.	Off	O.R.	Off	O.R.	Off	O.R.	Off	O.R.
Bde. H.Q.	8	22									2	2	10	24	4	4
33rd Bn.	35	558	3	61					2	28	11	53	51	700	1	2
34th Bn.	27	591	3	61						23	6	62	36	737	1	2
35th Bn.	24	523	3	61				1		26	9	52	36	663	1	2
9th T.M.E.	3	50								1		5	3	56	1
Total	97	1744	9	183				1	2	78	38	174	136	2180	8	10

G.O.C.
J.G. Paterson Capt
for Lieut-Colonel.
Commanding 9th Australian Infantry Brigade.
Brigade Headquarters,
14th August 1918.
(WJF).

Hutchinson's Group
diagram - see original document   
Mitchells Group
diagram - see original document 
23rd Bde Heavies
diagram - see original document
diagram - see original document
66^th Da
2-4-18

CASUALTY REPORT
35^TH Battalion AIF
3.4.1918
Killed in Action
2018 Pte S. J. QUINN 2.4.1918
Wounded in Action
1163 Pte E.T. KEMP    2.4.1918
6826  "    W.J. KIRCHNER -"-

DETAILS TO BE LEFT BEHIND AT Bn. Hd. Qrs.

2 C.S.MS. (A. and C. Coy.)	2.
1 Sergeant. per Coy.	4
1 Corporal   "   "	4
1 L/Corporal  "   "	4
2 Lewis Gunners "	8
2 Men        "         "	8
Signallers.	32
Clerks	2
Cpl. Outhwaite	1
Pioneers	3
Bandsmen	30
Runners (Signallers)	4
A.M.C. Detail	1
Pay Sergeant	1
	104.

"A" Form.
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS
Priority.
JHF  Pain.
Major
To {33rd Bn 34th bn 35^th Bⁿ 36th Bn 
9th Amb Coy 9th Artillery Bn
9th Aust Fld Unit 869 Inf AASC
Sender's Number  Day of Month
BM 49                      14 
Warning order aaa At dusk on
15^th instant following moves will
take place aaa 35^th Bn to reserve
line from GENTELLES in U7a to
BOIS L'ABBE in O32c aaa 34^th Bn
from O32c to main road in O27c
aaa 36th Bn to BOIS de BLANGY aaa
33^rd Bn 9th ALTM by and 2 Section
9th Amb Coy remain in VILLERS-
BRETONNEUX aaa 9th Amb coy
will receive separate orders later aaa
Above moves in relief of 175 Bde
which will take over the BOVES - 
BLANGY line aaa Bde HQ will
remain for the present at BLANGY-
TRONVILLE aaa Detailed orders will
follow
9th Aust Inf Bde
6pm 6.45pm
JHF Pain
Major