Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/191/1 - August 1918 - Part 3

 

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shellfire.

There were saddlers

shops (army workshop)

medical stores, signalling

stores, armourers shops,

the Corps HQs w a beautiful

library & tremendous

quantities of papers-

a hospital in the church

& 20 wagon loads of arty

gear & officers kits. All

round the country w of

Hamerville there were

ammunition dumps-

we strafed all day w heavy

shell. 5.9, 8 in etc.

17 Bn stayed there 36

hours after taking the place.
38

 

111

Gen Currie [[shorthand]]

Air service,

Each corps has its own squadron

contact patrol.

There are 24 fresh squadrons 8 of which are

Camel scouts. These will go thru to

German aerodromes.

4 night bombing squadron

4 day bombing squadron

2 counter attack

rest low [[shorthand]] squadron to prevent its arty

getting away and to attack its infantry
20

111
Then on Aug 11. 19 Bn

pushed the line forwd

thro Rainecourt  (a

well carried out light

operation).

17 Bn then withdrew to 

the Bray Line (J.O. line)

& had 2 splendid days

of sunshine there, & a

bath in Bayonvillers

in a bath fixed up

by our own engrs.

The feeding all thro'

was excellent- on the aftn

of Aug 8 the men were

given a good hot stew, tea

& rum. The rations were issued exactly as if nothing.
39
 

111
[[shorthand]]
21

111
had happened.

On evg. of Aug 9 as

soon as it ws dark eno. for

limbers to get forward the

hot stew was ready & the

men gn a good feed after

the hard days work.

In spite o/ shelling

they got it next day too.

(Q.Ms. name Davidson

did first rate work)

1st day.

Lt Maynard} v. slight during first

shell to shoulder

Lt Sullivan} advance

bullet in foot

2nd Day.

Capt Harnett. piece of shell thro shoulder

& calf

Lt Harries slightly wd by same shell

(2nd day) Both these last on jumping off

line in the light barrage.

Read missing.
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111
New [shorthand]

at stated [[shorthand]]

[[shorthand]]

6 [[shorthand]]

S of Ceresy

         {Bayonvillers

 +4   {Guillancort

abt   {S of Mericonet
+5     {Harbonieres

22

41
whole holding on 3rd day

lost

Lt. Warner}    both wd in the

Lt Miller }       heavy shelling

The shift at Fauvillers (? 3rd corps)

had put many of their papers

on the train wh ws captured.

Others were clear sent back

by Bn- & there are

shll still many there.

They were in the chateau

& in houses used as offices.

The Germs had a couple of

tunnels in the orchard probly

in case of emergency.
41

111

Diagram- see original 
42

111
This is much the best

show the 17 Bn has bn

in. The organisation of

the first attack (Aug 8) was 
marvellous- secrecy, dumps,

moving up of everything

behind the attack.

The men are stale,

mentally not physically

tired. They had ∧ nearly 40 days

at V/B before this fight.

Hamel Patrols

After Hamel 18 & 20 Bns

reld 6 Bde & began to exploit.

They pushed out a certain way

(Brown got his VC for part of this).

they pushed out to a line
43

111

Diagram- see original
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NE & SW thro P26 central

19 & 17 Bns took over- &

contained it & one night

hopped out & took the German

Str Pt called Buzzard in

27c. Next night 17 Bn

worked out S. of rd to 32 centl.

& took tt bit of trench (to P 32

centl.) Posts were put out the

same night betw there & Buzzard

(very hard to find where you were)

This meant enabled 7 Bde to

start pushing farther S (next

night 7 Bde went to monument

wood & from Rly Bdge at V/B.

The follg night Germans intended to

retake Buzzard (we got their orders); but

19 Bn same night had taken the

post from which they intended to

hop off- Germ. arty came down

at 4.20 but no infantry action. We

wondered what it was till we got the order
45

111
46

12.30p.m. saw men got into Bray Corbie line^x . 1.15 Tommies going

ford N of Malard wood

shortly after we saw abt 23 [[shorthand]] running away on Chipilly spur x

2:10 16 Bn now in Morcourt Tommies having come up.

(abt 11.30 the left advanced battery came under v. 

heavy shellfire from chipilly

^xThere ws a fight here. Men signalled to tank

w smoke but tank ws stuck.

Germans meantime were bringing up

2.45 Chipilly being shelled heavily all time- going up in dust.

Smoke barrage on hill E of it & protective barrage.

111
Each little push brought down

a German barrage, genly

on the line they had left.

Also it turned up the m.gs.

The German used to have his

m.g. firing over the crops

(the crops interfere w the bullets).

The German then later put

out a very strong line of

posts across 32B & 33A

& wired them in (no posts

in front). & from there to the

time o the attack he ws

very nervous.

No more posts were taken.

It was told to our people tt they

were only sparring for a good

winter line- almost a continuous

trench by the time they left.
47

111
48

Diagram- see original

111
49
prisoners to 10am 9.
Yest prisoners abt 5000

154    5700    5854}                                         

wd                             6375

21       500    521}

 

2nd Div: 29 guns                      Before 12.

                23 TMs                         nearly 4000 prisoners

                150 M guns                 guns 87

                                                      m.g. 150       

                                                      TM. 23.       

                                                               

 

2: 8in.

7: 5.9.                                                 armed cars & engine.

Rly Gun 11.in                                   aircraft bombed it
 

111
50
Carlir armed cars.

Warfusee (got thro)  Put [shorthand?] (at Framerville/Harbonniers [[shorthand]])

[Another took Marcelcave]

Trees across Rd. got up to front line at Red Line.

Harbonnieres Valley many Germans. Then [[shorthand]] some to Framerville

All Germ. waggons ready to bo It. move. [[shorthand]]

All k. left there also 4 junior S.Os.

Shot some sham waggons at Vauvillers.

At Fancaucourt [[shorthand]] of rd meter.

Blew wheels off one car hit 3 [[shorthand]].

At Prozart found [[shorthand]] heavy [[?]]. Shot into houses

k. a lot.

111
51
Another sectn, went to Chuignolles - full of Germans.

Shot at them. At La Flaque a big dump. No wiring

old overgrown trenches but no system. saw many trenches going

away but no formed troops. [[shorthand]]

one line abt 1000 yds E of blue line.