Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/111/1 - May 1918 - Part 6

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hand gable)- a couple of Germs came out.
They got behind a brick wall.  There ws
some sniping by them w revolvers.  Later
on a party of 4 Germs shifted to another
wall.  R. followed them w 2 of 23Bn.
They had some revolver shots exchanged -
the Germs getting in a shot whenever they
could.  They fought like this for abt
½ hour.  The Germs _^then bolted towds the
church along a wall - R saw them 

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He met 3 or 4 more of 23 Bn there who sd
there were Several Germs in this house.
It had a wall round it - & a barn on the
left of it.  They told R. not to take any
notice of surrender as the Germs had
surrendered twice before (at this same
place apptly) & failed to come in when our
men came off their guard.  R. had bn there
abt 5 mins - (the door & two windows
were open & there ws a hole in the left. 

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line from the X Rds _^1 B 5.6. to front of village.
On his return to the Caterpillar to get
the men he met some 2 or 3 men of 23Bn
with 2 wd Germans.
They told him tt 23Bn had found some
Germans in a building & tt they were
not strong eno' to get them out - R.
took his men & one of 23Bn to show
way.  He wet 3 or 4 more of 23Bn
close to the Bldg. abt E25C 9.6 

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R. went up the street.  Before while he
ws with Sullivan they cd see the Germs
running out o the village making up
towds Morlancourt.  In the street
they did not strike many Germs -
23Bn had bn thro' ahead.  They went
up this street to the end of the village.
The village had bn pretty well
mopped up.  R's front ws clear.
He recd orders to return & furnish a 

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A fair amount of sniping ws going
on from village - it ws 3 am &
dawn just lifting - very clear - no
mist.  R. later met Sullivan who told him
to take 10 men & mop up the rt half o the
village (this ws originally to have
bn done at 6.30 - Eeles ws to have
done it).  R. took ten men & went
forwd.  Macneil ws on his left. 

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- in touch w Macneil's right.  They dug
in w our guns shelling the village – possibly
the M.T.Ms had now stopped . R reported
by runner to Sullivan tt he had reached
objve.  He got no word for a time.  He
cd see movement slightly to his rt front
on S. Edge of village.  He went on &
found some of our own men in the
Sunken Continuatn of Big Caterpillar. 

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left corner of the cemetery were some
Germs who held this party up for
a couple of minutes.  R got his pln
to crawl forward into Cemetery abt
20yds right o the rd & the German
disappeared (.These probly took their m.g.
down into the village & possibly fired
from there in the mg.)  R. went on to
his objve abt 50 yds beyond & to rt
of rd abt 50-60 yds from the nearest house 

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pln.) wh went for the cemetery.
Before 21 Bn reached the Cemetery, 22
Bn seemed to be making to right.  The
men cd be seen agst bursting flas shells
& flares.  There ws some m.g. fire ^apptly from the
village (wh cd be seen sometimes by
flares).  The Cem. has a hedge round it &
a ^4ft deep Sunken Rd E of it - & the Crucifix 3 trees.
There were posts in front & behind the
Cemetery hedge & on the rd behind.  At the

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to go out & left B. temporarily in charge.
Benny withdrew No 2 pln from positn
on flank near Cemtery to the Caterpillar,
with instrns to Clean rifles & prepare
for C-attack.  He then went down to see
Capt Macneil in the village just
bringing back the last o the party.  From
then on Macneil took charge o the
whole operation.
[*Reilly?*]
Reilly ws in/c of the party (No 1 

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to C.O. acknowledging a message recd at
4.40 (or there abts) "to push one pln into the
village to mop up when the shelling ceased
(4.15)."  Sullivan had asked Lt Reilly to
take his pln into the village (No 1 - on left).
B. told him S. he had a line of posts betw.
K. 1. B. 3.5 & K. 1 B 1.7.  At this time
Lt Bazley came along & told them Capt
Macneil ws already in the village
mopping up.  Bailey then persuaded Sullivan