Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/108/1 - April - May 1918 - Part 4

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
RCDIG1066553
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

te supposed toctie of 3 terman Tanks at B, April 24, 1918 26th April Went to 5th Div Hgrs in Bussy Chatean meaning to go on & sle the 13th Bde. If the gent. wanted to seene & asked me to clarap, what I considered I trivat matter of who shot Rechoffen. (I said the Augzie, from my little poszy, I shot keclliifen - te men have a shyme on it abre
ane I heard of a story which was work getting. The Officers at 55 Diob Hgos had one of ferman prisoners in to tea - a nice looking boy. In 1 course of general conversated be told soddard to following Wootton Bruds & ?goodland 200W. 207 bey. Geren hean ad I tanatl ached of by 1aly ton 2076 p a 3 be (yor 2 so deried, My ame along, fold by af. Iot were fing at hat thed we os little opporite from gont les at at. e to got actils te wancte the wth munend i fouly te annui ne cnse oes au o His recals tok suscees of attack wo due o taks ol hed dimorasied iits o C e9 pat I waid ap Ann Ge 40 noved a loag 1 trudes of foont too. fy, mosth Berkshires the got into the bron & aut theot I with tps o ws in a bit of scrut. He didit say why they adnt o. Cachy Cache bg the sb it te secb. when thy saw / ys coainy, as then te CS n C1 at pand but teydropped. H sd se anth kext way on vspinity. He had 4og 142p y
Hl expressed his admirate for them. He thought they were of good. He sd tei general hed tow tim preseoasly tt aneths were bewt tythig for . Sliskes There 1 2 chatean were a no. Iss in pos of the shod. He sd their plysiges ws v vebed - thy were not mea- they were - by as spiking to much tod boodspill on their ide ws Ge blood h 2 Austrigis Ise Anto didn't get much blood spilt - the Austrians were vi fine cavaliers,! were to so fins cloties, & looked s. nice, but it was all. He had fought to them in Serbia & had seen anstrcans there. The Renssian pigiting we nothing 6 1e to this He had fought atI in to Kenssian offensin be He as a five type of man-gentlemanly. He wsr astonished at I way pruozers, were feeand took after, Noo cd he understand our people looking to Gerkan wounded, while fight as soing on. Meoftes off also yos arrod 321
They kent repeating his. They sd evenyoe on 1other side thought they C wad be, bade trand. tec heesee no mall fo a by tim
213B de When 1 Britich were d nitely ascertained to be in Village on 1 southern edge of it the 51Bnws moved to support the 52Bn on Iright flank, owing to uncertainty of Southern flank Nothing ws known abbtt flank dont relieve as we do. They 5 The French (simply formulate a barrage line 4 & form up behendit & go forward. Our line ws in 10 front of their barrage but we had to be clear of it by a stated hour. 50 We had our Bris p 152 an the 50 Bn (from abt 5 Central & moving round to Irly King East of vellage in 36C.8.3.) At I same time as 50 Bn were trying to do this we had to follow 1 line 15Bde on 1 et in 36d. Two top of 49Bn from Bois abbe were moved round by 1 main warpse Road, W. 1B. Fro the 15 Bdes right [ no 1N Souther 1515de of 42 E520 1Co 2 Sy ee )DnCC - is Cx S.B (Do8 631 1.9410 5752 50 FoeC 360 3 to 95000 S276 N IV. P515- 36d & 2o 89r 9 B3
warec VB This was started about 11pon /6 meet 52012 CC Ec x 1620 n 11pm (1351 guide at 11) Salisbury had started corder, By 12pan cry of 49th was on way and ov 18 N+ 112om, Coy of 49. I met guided by 2 am was in contact with 500 pettation on the railway. There was natroith from 50 Eam 78 150 50 remays on therulary. Fops attobe clar of Sand gone by 4an and soon ris e o27 B. by e am after the truch starled to form up and go through. 34026 491 DO Bn, wh had to advance io them, started a little before ten & ws held ap by 15 bli. C be E 620V. my fire upes 200 yes. aenh at his his wers mg 200 attestange lshs, we arre in toud wt roe 691. ar seand to be soiy old 2 49 78 or
rept large no of Iranc comngback wd. Also soe es 645 Co S 70r20 wip expitedins from Hanfard wood, sall going strang. also ig For 51 9 Hanjari reptd on line 50 Bn sd 41 Frank 50p 89 at 6.30 W. O5C8.3 Bo had no reason to think to any break betw 50 r 0 50 t had occurred 50 From then orewds edal get anythen definite abt 1 French 62 Trench Dwin reptd to they had a bo in 1 mont wood. 8.30 6y E1 1 (morocans N of aesly we stall were go aratly ox we were now inctod to make good ( ground from V6B5.0 6 830 i 2 P3104.5
ded went to be it ws a deadly moeent so s0. 50 Bn v0 sis S0C S0 is told to past out patrol wkin in coy w1 Dr. 157Bn r. 57 wentup to On to find I facts as they 9.30 Morrell & C0.C is S0p6.1 of were hard to ascertain 42 fn sd t pan at 1 mont ws not cleas, & tt 10.35 am. S7 but of 50 b wo coing back to explained 50t Lowdin He sa 30 veret in mont wod but in tacd i, uo ate line we much as before 5B Hrertehants, on sly sent of town stald to 13r. were feld up were o1 W Hank monesty kaogs m. S. tie &o ane cap t o 150 we wailirg on 1 m 50
rly to go foud when 1 To. add (Maj Forster) had Nortrgunt. Hauds 6 detaite an of r 50 or. to go kor w 1 auathers 50 or pr a little tates we got depaite word from off to the 8th &d leasson (oretly a bde) to they werent in 1 wood. But they adnt I+.(s. Zouaves know wheter ty were going to att or not. coming back from his recase decded t / condn of tis O.C yrs wdnot aliow him to carry out much more fighting A Ran we then drawn ap ttB Ble were to come to Irly line 16 F18152 in VI Br with left on rly wo alt. I wood from I west neV Sorsts. One coy to come thioup VB, sack end, w.0 ply. (Sherwor V.B 1. 6 on pant of to der clear aly tine reman fast. 13Bdey
hee the fores to take thes place in 6 51Bn (734ArD This padon attend is is t sent 2 Bois de L Abbe line. A companies to 1Cacky Switch & two to ke 3 Cachy 82, Bois CAbbe lives 51 Be is poobly 1 hardest hit. 570 They have but over 35 officers 6 P935 6.

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Hand drawn diagram - see original
Supposed tactic of
German Tanks at
V/B, April 24. 1918. 
26th April.  Went to 5th Div Hqrs in Bussy chateau
meaning to go on & see the 13th Bde.  However The Genl. wanted
to see me & asked me to clear up, what I considered / trivial
matter of who shot Richthofen – ("I said the Auzzie, from my
little pozzy, I shot Richthofen" –  the men have a rhyme on it already)

 

 

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While there I heard  of a story which was worth getting.
The officers at 5th Divl Hqrs had one o / German prisoners in
to tea –  a nice looking boy.  In / course of general conversatn he told
Woolton Bruche & Goddard ? Goodland the following:-

 

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228 Div. 207 Regt. Germ. Lieut sd 3 Tanks attacked up by / rly (in /
same direction).  They came along folld by inf.  Inf were fired at but there ws
v. little oppositn from / front line at all.  The Ts. got astride the trenches & the
infy surrendered v. freely to them.  He thought tt a gt deal o / 
success o / attack ws due to / tanks wh had demoralised / infy &
put / wind up them. The Ts. moved along / trenches o / front line.
He got  into the town & went thro' it with mgs &
ws in a bit of scrub.  He didnt say why they cdn't go on.  Cachy
ws the objve.
Got into the scrub.  When they saw / tps coming at them they fired
at them but they ?dropped.
He sd the Austlns kept coming on vy finely.  He had 4 mgs

[* His rgt also took
600 prisoners in /
fight, mostly
Berkshires*]

 

 

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He expressed his admiratn for them.  He thought they were vy good. He sd their
general had told them previously tt / Austlns were / best fighting tps the British had. There
were a no. of Gs in front of the shed chateau. He sd their physique ws v.v. bad –  they were not men –  they
were  — Gy ws spilling to much blood. All / blood spilt on their side ws G. blood (ie not Austrian)
The Austra Austrians didn't get much blood spilt –  the Austrians were v. fine cavaliers, wore
v. fine clothes, & looked v. nice, but tt was all.  He had fought w them
in Serbia & had seen / Austrians there.  The Russian fighting ws nothing
to this. He had fought at  ......... in the Russian offensive.
He ws a fine type of man –  gentlemanly. He ws v astonished x at / way
/ prisoners were fed and look after.  Nor cd he understand our people
looking to German wounded while / fight ws going on. The other offr also ws astonished

 

 

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They kept repeating this. They sd everyone on / other side thought they 
wd be badly treated.  He had had no milk for a long time.   

 

 

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13 Bde.
When / British were definitely ascertained to be in /
village on / southern edge of it the 51 Bn ws moved to support the 
52 Bn on / right flank, owing to / uncertainty of / southern flank.

Nothing ws known abt tt flank.

The French ^don't relieve as we do. They simply formulate a barrage line
& form up behind it & go forward.  Our line ws in 
front of their barrage but we had to be clear of it
by a stated hour.
Hand drawn diagram - see original
We had our Bns  50⇡ /51/52 — the 50 Bn (from abt 5 central &
moving round to / rly Xing East o / village in 36c.8.3.)
At / same time as 50 Bn were trying to do this we had to
follow fill / line for of the 15 Bde on / rt in 36d.  Two boys of 49Bn
from Bois l'abbé were moved round by / main Warfusee
Road, N. of V/B thro the 15 Bdes right from / N. Southwds

 

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[Shorthand]                  

 

 

 

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Warfusee
This was started about 11 pm  (to meet
guides at 11).  Salisbury had started earlier. By 12 pm coy of 49th was on way and
by 2 am was in contact with 50th Battalion on the railway. There was no trouble from
Germans on the railway.  Troops had to be clear of French zone by 4 am and soon
after that French started to form up and go through.

50 Bn, wh had to advance w them, started a little before them &  ws held up by

m.g fire after 200 yds.  French at this time were
After barrage lifted we were in touch w / French & 49th.  All seemed to be
going well.
[*1 met guides.

1.50 50 [shorthand]
[shorthand]
[shorthand] 57.
3.40 2 [shorthand]
49 [shorthand]
of 15 Bde.
G20 [shorthand].

 

 

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6.45 Co 51 reptd large nos of French coming back wd.  Also some prisoners

also m.g. enfilading 51 from Hangard wood , still going strong.
7.5  50 Bn sd tt / French at 6.30  reptd on line U6c8.3
– U6A8.5  50 Bn had no reason to think tt any break betw
Fr. and 50th had occurred.
From then onwards cdnt get anything definite abt / French
8.30  French Divn reptd tt they had a bn in / Mont Wood.
N of the rly (Moroccans) we still were OK apptly
8.30 We were now instrd to make good / ground from U6B5.0 to
P31D4.5

 

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G.O.C. didnt want to bec it ws a deadly movement & sd so.  50 Bn ws
therefore told to push out patrols wking in Coy w / Fr. & 57 Bn.
9.30 Morrell & G.O.C. went up to 50 Bn to find / facts as they
were hard to acscertain.
10.35 am.  51 Bn sd tt / push at / mont ws not clear, & tt
Lowden Int offr 50th Bn ws coming back to explain.
He said / Fr. werent in Mont. Wood but in Touch w us abt
5B53 & / line ws much as before.
 ? Northhants, on rly south of town stated tt / Fr. were held up west o /
monument by heavy m.g. fire & one coy o / 50 Bn ws waiting on /
 

 

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rly to go forwd when / Fr. advd & 2 Bn Northants (Maj Forster) had
detailed an offr & 50 o.r. to go forwd w / Austlns.
A little later we got definite word from / liaison offr. tt the 8th
Zouaves (practly a bde) tt they werent in / wood.  But they didnt
know whether they were going to att. or not.
G.O.C. coming back from his recsse  decided tt / condn of his
tps wd not allow him to carry out much more fighting.
A Plan ws then drawn up  tt / 15 Bde were to come to / rly line
in V1      
One Bn with left on rly wd att. / wood from / west
(Sherwood Foresters).  One coy to come through V/B, south end, N. o / rly,
on flank of 15 Bde & clear / rly line.  13 Bde to remain fast.
 

 

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To relieve the Foresters, 51 Bn, from 34 A & D, ws to take  their place in /
Bois de L'Abbe line.  This has been altered – it is to send 2
companies to / Cachy Switch & two to the Bois l'Abbe line.
51 Bn is probly / hardest hit.
They have lost over 35 officers.

 

 

 

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