Thomas James Richards, Diaries, Transcript Vol. 4, 9 November 1916 - 31 May 1918 - Part 15

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I think it is the 6th May at this moment of writing and I
was right in anticipating there was an anxious time in store for
us when I made the above entry on May 3rd. We have been right
into the gaping jaws of Hell and for three whole days simple
engaged the German in bombing attacks and defenses, and waited
until the Hun artillery, or rather until the devil closed his
jaws and crushed us. The devil (in fact) did close his jaws
heavy and often, some got crushed mauled and mangled between his
teeth other survived until he opened his mouth again and then
gained their gasping breath. Oh! but when 1st Bn. got into touch
with Fritz he got Hell from our rifle and hand bombs also from
our snipers. But alas!! there were blumbers made by the 3rd
and 11th and 12th Battalion that were shocking; they got away
from the enemy bombing stunts like cattle stampeding. But looking 
at it from a personal view it was glorious for me, as after
leading a bombing party and taking 280 yards of main trench out
of Fritzs hands with a bombing party as well as 200 yards of
communication trench, taking prisoners about 18 men. Splendid
specimen of men right enough but oh!! they were in a pitiful
plight from shock and cried "Camrade" and would willing have
kissed me but for my demure and impossible countenance.
I built a baracade in the main trench and linked up with
the 3rd Bn. I held the Baracade and beat off some heavy attacks
from 1 p.m. until until 8 o'clock and alas when handing over to
2 Lt. Howell-Price a shell smashed his leg to pieces: he has
since died.
At 9.30 p.m. as word now came to Coy. Hdqs. that the 3rd
Bn. were retireing. Sure enough I found to my dismay it was a
fact. I did not think it possible for a crowd of Australians
to throw up the sponge so frightfully. I got assistance from
some 1st Bn. bombers and after a while about 16 of the 3rd were
were coaxed and bullyed to come and build a barrier and make a
stand. Right through the night we hung on and at 6 o'clock I
went into Coy. Hdqs. and and the post was releived by D. Coy.
Then this morning fully 200 men of the 11th and 12 Bns. came
running out before a German bombing attack. I cursed and swore
 

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at the top of my voice. Called upon them in the name of
Australia to hold out.
May 7th.   Monday.
The Scotish Gordons went over in front of Bullecourt at
daybreak. The Devons seemed to give the officers some trouble
in getting away. The Kilties I have just learnt raced away
ahead and linked up with the Australians in the trench we have
just left midst great enthusiasm and excitement.
The Kilties love to be fighting by the side of the
Australians and the Scotch are easily the best liked troops
amongst the Colonial. Their is a brotherly love between
them that is glorious to see.
I was taking a photo of Symens and Bitmead when a "nose
up" fell with terrific force at their feet. And so callous
are we that when they looked down to see what it was, I
shouted to them to hold their b-------heads up. I took the
picture and then we had a look at the nose up.
Lack of information seems to be most appalling. The
Scotchmen did not seem to know what was expected of them or
where they were going. This may have accounted for the trouble
there was in getting the Gordons to go over the top in attack
this morning. It was an awfully disappointing affair.
A Devon chap hobbled up to the front of our dugout just
now with the heel shot clean off his boot and other than a
little jaring, he was uninjured. He cursed his luck at missing 
so splendid a "Blighty." He said that it was like
getting his legs kicked out from under him at football.
It has turned 12 o'clock and here I am sitting on my
valise in pyjamas a clean singlet over my dirty skin and no
boots or socks on. My feet are dirty and a shame I know but
there has not been one minute during the past 118 hours. My
putties hung loosely on one leg for a whole day without a
chance of tightening it up. There are only a few big guns firing 
from about here it is raining a little, yes! but the joy
and relief of being back in a reagion of safety again,
 

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(reasonable safety at any rate), is so great that I don't
want to sleep worn and haggard though I be. I have just
met Capt. Edgely and he fell over me with joy at my release
and congratulations at the brillancy show by his A. Coy.
The Major C.O. Woodford of the 1st Bn. was very pleased at
my bombing expedition the 1st day in and congratulated me
very earnestly; but alas: he was wounded a few moments
afterwards and is now dead. Oh, God, when I recall the men
that have fallen faithfully fighting by my side its so
pitiful. First there was young Martin my runner, and a fine
lad only 19 years of age, he jumped up onto the bank where
I was sniping Huns with my revolver, to get a rifle shot in;
a moment later he fell back onto me with his head blown in
and blood flowing all over me. I could see he was dead and
raced on around the corner. I moment later blood poured from
a fellows face, he wanted to stop but I pushed him back out
along the trench and shouting at the top of my voice went
onwards. Later Lple Mackley fell off the communication trench
at my feet shot through the shoulder and lungs at this moment
4 Hun prisoners came racing back shouting mercy with their
hands above their heads. I felt them for firearms and pushed
them on carrying Matchley between them and at once linked up
with the 3rd Bn. After putting in posts I went back and
bustled the fellows to build a barracade, done some good
target shooting and went hanging on to the position with the
Germans own bombs and a very limited number of rifle grenades.
It was lovely sport shooting Germans with both revolver and
rifle, as well as bombing them down in their dugout. Out of
one double entrance "dugout" 9 prisoners were afterwards
taken.
But the horror of it was at 7 o'clock when handing over
to young Howell Price. I stood with my hand on his shoulder
pointing out the German line of trenches ahead when a shell
came from behind and smashed his leg above the thigh very
badly. He rolled down say "Goodbye Tom old fellow I'm done."
I could not answer but on cuting away his pants and binding
 

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up the wound I felt sure that though he was certain to lose
his leg he would do alright. I kissed the boy and tears
welled up. We got a stretcher at once and on being carried
away he griped my hand with a firm hold. A grip of love and
tenderness. I went down into the deep dugout A. Coy. Hdqs.
taken from Fritz that morning and had a meal; but a little
later news came along that the Germans had broken through
the 3rd Bn. and they were retiring. I rushed up and found
it was only to true my heart bleed to think that Australian
would leave their post and run away from a bombing attack
of the German. It took a whole lot of coaxing to get 14 of
the 50 or 60 to stay with me and hold out. We held out all
night in great style but oh I did curse and swear at them
and then plead with them in the name of Australia to stick.
Had it not been for a few of the 1st Bn. perhaps we never
would have held out. Lple Byers and Brown (my batman stood
by and beat off several attacks until a German must have
sneaked up close and landed a bomb right amongst us.
After my batman and myself beat off this attack and
the confusion cleared here was my faithful Lple Byers with
his legs broken and battered as well as 3 other men knocked
out.
No sooned was Byers got back into the main trench than
a man, shot through the body, fell off the side of the trench
and knocked my foot from under me. He died a moment later.
At daylight I was releived by D. Coy. and went away to
rest down in Bn. Hdqa. dugout, somewhat the worst for wear
and with a bullet graze on my left upper arm also a shrapnel
mark on the forearm and thumb.
At "stand to" the following morning 6th inst. I was
talking to some of the boys on the right of Bn. sector
adjoining the 11th Bn. when the word came along that the 11th
were retiring. I ran up and after stopping some of the 11th
and 12th I found sure enough that they had actually left their
trenches and went going back over the open ground. I got
up several boxes of Mills bombs on either side of the trench
 

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mouth and pushed some of the 11th into the posts, one "windy"
cove cried that he could not throw bombs he was too knocked
up; but as he trembled with fear I cursed him, hit him a whack
on the jaw and shoved him into the post making him take bomb
for bomb with me and throw it, while my cheering and shouting
brought several to our assistance I them ran down and onto
the opposite post got the fellows working there and then went
back along the road side bank now lined by 170 or more 11th
and 12th Bn. men. I called on them to remember they were
Australians; "What will Australia think when she knows you
deserted your posts and let your brother soldiers down."
That shifted some back as they passed I gave them the boxes
of bombs lying about and cheered long and loudly as they filed
back to their trench. I saw Lieut. Bruton on the end with
his revolver drawn and preventing the men from going further
back.
While this rallying was going on Corporal Snowy Howell
raced away at the head of a bombing party and was pushing the
German back at a gallop with the 11th Bn. getting back into
their places in good style. In fact in 30 minutes they had
recovered the whole of their lost ground and were safe and
sound. To every 3 or 4 men as they passed I gave a box of
12 bombs assuring him that each of them was garanteed to drive
Fritz back 10 yards and that each bomb was worth £5.0.0.
Every man about was examined for injuries and each man
that came out of the trench was overlooked and often sent
back to his business at the double with many curses following
him, some of the wounded were ridiculous their injuries
being merely scratches. On the other hand some of the wounds
were very bad but they took their bombs and were back like
heros. Corporal Howell came back badly blown about. Ted
Spark came back with a bullet hole through the upper arm and
in pain. It was a very exciting hour I can tell and I would
have enjoyed it were the men other than Australians. But
as it was there was a whole lot of joy and self satisfaction
in getting the 11th and 12th Bn. back into their trenches
so successfully.

 

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I must go to bed Capt. Edgely is outside. We are sleeping 
in the same humbly dugout in the side of a low road near
Vaulx.
I have been in command of A. Coy since Lt. Yates fell
back with his brain protuding into my arms; and to-night I
lead out only 43 men representing the whole of A. Coy. One
platoon had a roll call of 44 men 5 days ago and the Coy.
strenght was about 186 and now I could gather together only
43 men to lead out.
May 8th.   Tuesday.
Breakfast after a refreshing sleep at 10.30 a.m. It has
been raining heavily all night through. This is the first rain
for some 2½ weeks the longest spell of dry weather I've
know in France. My heart goes out in sympathy to the lads
holding onto that few hundred yards of Hindenburg line. The
ground is so churned up to many yards in depth that it will
be an impossible position for anyone to walk over. The few
remaining trench walls are so shattered and crumbling that
they will run away like water, then the men will have no
protection from either the water or shell fire. It's going
to be bad when the monster closes its jaws and turns the
artillery loose.
It is 9 p.m. thousands of guns are blazing away all
around us. It is a terrific bombardment. I am anxious to
know whether it is the enemy or ourselves that are attacking,
but the gun fire is terrific.
I have been over to the Dressing Station this afternoon
and had a piece of shell taken out of my forearm and my knee
and upper left arm cleaned and iodined. Also an injection.
It has been a day of complete rest for me. The only thing I
done was to report on young Howell Price's injury. He died
on his way on to the D. Station and is buried near the D.
Station at C.20.0. central.
I cant help thinking of the savage shell fire we have
been subjected to for the past 4 days. How the ground fairly
trembled for hours on end it was like a lightly laden ship
 

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in a bumpy sea with the propeller jumping out with every toss.
I have enjoyed several bottles of beer to-day. Real
Worthington and oh! so fine. Up in the Hindenburg line we
had some beer also and with water being so scarce it was
lovely.
My batman Brownie went across to the dressing station
this morning to have his wound dressed and an injection. He
has not returned so I suppose they have pushed him off. He
never complained not even told me that he was injured; a
jolly good lad he is too.
Movements from May 3rd to 7th inst.
May 3rd. Bn. moved from Reserve position to support
position near Vaulx and moved into the 1st Hindenburg
line releiving by 4 a.m. on May 4th.
May 4th.
Releived by 4 a.m. At 1 p.m. I started with
19 men to bomb down the trench making some 250 yards
[*I received the Military Cross for this*]
and 150 yards of communication trench taking in all
16 prisoners and killing 25. We held on until 7 p.m.
when No. 2 took over from my No. 3. Lt. Howell
Price was struck with a shell at 7.30 p.m. while I
had my hand on his shoulded. I went to the Coy.
dugout. 1½ hours later the 3rd Bn. broke back before
a German bombing party and in losing the ground
they gained in the morning fell back on A. Coy
position and the whole aspect looked serious. A
barrage of Mills bombs turned the tide and after
a terrific amount of cursing and swearing about 18
out of some 70 3rd Bn. men were induced to hold out.
I throw bombs with the men and later settled back
and rallied the fellows with cheers and shouts, like
a mighty barracker at a football match, whenever a
German assult was launched and we got them every 40
minutes or so until daylight, when I went down into
 

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May 5th.    Bn. Hdqs. and rested all that day; taking trips
up to see how the men were fareing in the terrific
bombardment that lasted right through the night and
choped the lads up to mere dust and earth.
May 6th.  At 4 a.m. bombardment still intense I went up
to "stand to." hour later the German artillery
[* Howell  gets V.C.*]
stopped, and expecting an attack to follow I rallied
the men. Just then the 11th Bn. on the right of
our sector broke back along their trenches and over
the top before a German bombing assult. I immediately 
mounted posts to bomb from on each side of the
trench at the point where our right sector linked
up with the 11th Bn. on the banked road dividing
line.
The German advance was at once arrested. I
[*Later. Howell of my platoon received the Victoria Cross for this work. T.J.R.*]
then cursed the "wind up" rotters for leaving their
ground and called on them in the name of Australia
and their own Mothers to return and take back every
inch of the lost ground. This they eventually did,
but it was an anxious half hour for us.
The same afternoon thé 4th Bn. took over from
us (1st Bn.) and we moved back to the railway line
into supports. The artillery fire was terrific and
many casualities occured.
May7th. The Gordons Highlanders made an attack on the
Bullecourt front at dawn and immediately dozens of
prisoners commenced to come back. Lt. Yates was
struck my a shell and had his brains knocked out
right at my side. I now took over command of A. Coy.
as the two senior officers were gone. At 11 p.m.
the 6th Bn. releived us and by 1 p.m. were back
at Vaulx in trench and road side dugouts, thankful
and releived at our own personal safety but shell
shocked and greiving at the loss of so many good
and brave fellows while the Coy, was reduced to 75%
of its strength.
 

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May 8th. Capt. Edgely would not let me out of a comfortable 
valise bed other than to have some pieces of
bomb extracted and an innoculation.
May 9th.   Up at 10 a.m. Coy. report written out and
move off for Beaulencourt at 3 p.m.
May 9th.   Wednesday.
The yellow flowers the lovely green grass and a clear sky
is something that gladdens our hearts to-day.
We arrived back into a bell tent camp back near Beaulencourt 
at 7 p.m. tired and hot, as it was a jolly long
walk. I was pretty well played out as well as the boys, and
hardly as good a man as I thought I was. Oh, well, the pace
must tell I expect and the past few days have been over the
odds right enough.
I got some 15 letters to-night and after a cold bath lay
down and read them.
Hayward Moffat burned some gum leaves to the glorification
of we bush whackers to-night.
May 10th.   Thursday
Nothing much doing in regard to military matters, a
rifle inspection and new cloths.
Iron rations are ready for issue and it seems possible,
in fact we are told for certain that we are going back to the
front at once. We got 40 reinforcements to A. Coy. These
new men look very well too. Our 4 platoons are now about 22
strong all round. The fighting strength of a platoon is 36 men.
I am freting or nerveous or something of the kind as I
cannot remmember anything clearly my head is dull and heavy
and I take long sighs and broken breaths as a love sick youth.
May 11 and 12th.
I have missed a day somewhere as I cannot recall just
what day it was I write under two dates today. It is certain
now that we are to have a long and much needed rest. I should
 

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not say a long rest because I have no idea how long it will
be but we have earned a good long rest. It remains now to
see if we get our earned and badly needed rest.
I find that I am going to a bombing school tomorrow.
Capt. Edgely is pushing me away for a spell as much as
anything, on my return there should be a spell of 10 days
in England awaiting me.
May 13th.   Sunday.
Up at 3 o'clock this morning the Battalion move back to
Bazantine but with 5 men I go to the Bapaume railway station
and take the train for the school which no one knows the
whereabouts of or how long the course is likely to be.
We walked some 4 miles to the railway station to catch
the 6 a.m. leave train which did not move out until 3½ hours
later, and then it was 1 o'clock before we reached Albert. At
Albert there was some good lager beer and a fine lunch. At
2.30 we set out for the Anzac School about 2 miles back. We
are now settled in "Bow Huts" but fairly comfortable and I
expect to have a fair time of it although I wish we were somewhere 
near to Amiens where one can have a little run round and
a few good meals. The term is for 2 weeks and I suppose I will
find out quite a little about the use of bombs.
The day has been like a warm North Queensland day. Rather
too warm in fact for us as it is only a little time ago we were
midst the frost and snow with cold and wet feet.
May 14th.   Monday.
The first day at School and quite a good day too. Parade
from 8.30 to 12.30 and from 2 to 4.30 in the afternoon rain
came down like it does in North Queensland, very heavily, and
drove us in for shelter.
The mess seems to be a very good one here and with a bar
running at which beer, whiskey etc. is retailed we should be
in for a very pleasant 14 days the bombing squad contains a
jolly good lot of fellows too.