Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/112/1 - May 1918 - Part 6

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"about. It doesnt matter about If it were just Birdwood - going
"I wouldn't mind - he doesnt matter so much."
Col. Martin, (commdg 5^th Bde): "We've just
had Gen. Birdwood along saying goodbye - He 
very cut up. There's one thing I'm pleased about, that
he's not cutting himself off from the A.I.F. altogether,
but is continuing will still be our as G.O.C."
Went to Heilly with Dyson. Streeton was
there yesterday.
May 29^th Wednesday. Gellibrand took over from
Monash today in the Glisy dugouts.
At the 24 Bn mess (under a bank near Bonnay)
where I dined last night they had constantly referred
 

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to a subject which ws obviously hanging
over them like a big black cloud - the chance
of their being broken up. Their 21^st reinforcements
are still somewhere at sea - the Brigadier, when
asked which Bn ws "for it" sd: "Do you think
I'd tell you if I knew." It is a grand battalion
under old James - though Lloyd has gone to
/ Indian Army, & Savaige has some other
job - I forget what. It is the 4^th Bn in each 
single-state Bde wh is to go, by / weak ruling
given by our powers that be. who are afraid and
the 24^th (like the 8^th & 60^th) is the fourth Bn & / best in
its brigade.
 

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As I walked home last night Our planes were
humming over towds / Germans & / Germans drum-
- drum-drumming over towards us.
[Hand drawn diagram – see original]
Our searchlights were peering round in / direction
o / noise from all round their quarter o / horizon.
Behind me were the German lights - white “strings of
sausages" floating up as Sudden - British planes
must have been crossing their 
lines there. Suddenly in the
[Hand drawn diagram – see original]
The French & British (8, 21, 25, 50 Divns) have been driven across
the Aisne to half way to the Marne. The push seems narrowing 
 

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sky in tt direction there appeared unrolled itself an
altogether new apparition - a sort of
canopy of 10,000 orange sparks - tent shaped,
slowly sinking towards the ground while the 
[Hand drawn diagram – see original]
top of them remained stationary. I saw it 
again presently - this time two together,
clearly shot like a very light from /
ground. They must be, like the strings of
sausages, some new attempt to set the
plane on fire - clearly some firework fired from / ground
& working from a parachute. As our little planes droned
over with their little light trailing away for the horizon I
thought I wd not like to be / pilot seeing this apparition ahead
for / first time.
The French & British (8, 21, 25 & 50 Divns) have bn driven across
 

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/ Bray road. But he ws told tt / 
arty wd not be enough to cover
him - & so he had to content himself
with just swinging up his flank on /
flank of 22nd Bn.
The T. M wh the 18^th had seen
ws taken by the 22nd.
[End of ^this volume of Regtl Record]
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the Aisne & the Vesle, half way to the Marne. The push seems narrowing
to a point, gradually. The question with most
people is - is this Michael III? Most people say
not - Blamey today sd he ws positive it ws not.
The Germs have used 25 Divns.
Gellibrand took over today the Third Divn.
Monash takes the Corps tomorrow
Murdoch has wired to Watt & Hughes
according to our suggestions. Hughes in America
has wired to Watt asking him & Pearce to hold it
up till he (Hughes) & Cook arrive in England. But
Murdoch is afraid it may be too late.
[End of this volume of diary.]
 

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sniper, who had bn lying out in
a cornfield ^just to the S. got up & stood gaping
at them as they went back. He was
shot also. The eighteen men & their
officer & / prisoners got back
without a scratch.
On May 19, in / taking of
Ville, Murphy wanted to take a
much bigger bite o / hill top right to
 

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tt they were to stay there till dark &
bring / prisoners back later. But as
there had bn so little opposition Irvine
decided to come back at once w /
prisoners. They brought got out - I think
Murphy sd with 23 prisoners - 2
Germans had bn killed. As they came
back one German had a shot
at them from the Sunken Rd Bank                     
- he ws immediately shot; a second, a
 

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leaning agst / trench side, smoking a
cigarette. His mouth opened, / cigarette
dropped from it, up went his hands.
One other man was awake & / only
thing he cd think of to say
(Murphy says) “Good morning.”
The party got in / trench. They
found tt it ws continuous but tt
/ flanks o / post were only dug
a foot or so deep. The arrangement ws
 

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no sign of movement ^when he looked from there, he gave / order for
/ raid. The 16 scouts, Sergt & Corporal - 18 & Lt
Irvine - lined up in / new work &
went over. The first 20 yds, where they
were out of view, they walked.
When they cleared / crest they ran
as quickly as they cd for / enemy
xx parapet, making no noise.
When they got there, Irvine who ws
leading, jumped in. The sentry ws awake
 

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field glasses for ten minutes - seeing
no movement. He had decided, before, to
raid a post - C on / sketch - some night.
after dark. He sd to Irvine: ”Well Irvine,
what about it. Do you think you cd do
it by day - now?”
Irvine said he thought so. He
got his scouts together somewhere
about the new sap on / left. Murphy
went back to Hqrs, &, as there ws still