Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/196/1 - August 1918 - Part 2

9
markings etc on it.
Undoubtedly if 10 Bn
ever got into Lihons this
wd be while Mitchell ws
still beyond it out in
front line. There were
still germans in Lihons -
and even when Mitchell
were going out of / line tt
night on relief (all the parties
had bn searching all day)
5 Germs darted out
down a C.T. abt 800
yds ahead of the "Halte"
& scooted like frightened
cats away to / flank. C.O.
had his pistol out but
didnt fire so surprised
ws he.. All troops had 

10
to be warned tt they
night still meet Germans
on / way up to & back
from / front line - there
were so many old
dugouts.
Only 30 men were lost
in getting Lihons . Holding
it cost 90. From abt
1 pm on the Germs were
constantly creeping up
to c/attack by bombing
& bombing ws going on
till the actual relief ws
taking place tt night.
Capt Campbell who ws
wd during / advance w left
Coy got a DSO for Aug 9.
Lt Lowday ws hot this day also - on left D Coy. 

11
8 Bn Aug 9.
Start near V/B.
C.O only had orders
to march - met 6 & 7
After getting thro V/B.
Had no idea of what
order Bns wd be used -
went towds Warfusee;
on the main road Ulrich
met Mitchell & gave him
a map (gn him by Gen Heane)
with objve marked on it
thimt told him tt
they wd be required to
attack tt mg. with 7 Bn
on left & 6 & 5 in support.
The map had been 

12
marked in divisional
hqrs - one for each Bn.
Gen Heane, ws at Divn
at / time; he saw
Ulrich & gave them to
him. Ulrich galloped
on & gave them to the C.Os.
½ way betw V/B &
Warfusee the Bn broke &
marched in arty formatn
of plns across country
to S of Bayonvillers.
- didnt stop once
straight tho to S of Harbonniere
to forming up line in S9.W. 10
(7) W16 (8 Bn). They C.O. had
just had a call for a confce 

13
w Genl Heane just before
this while Bn advancing.
He told them they wd have
14 tanks betw the 2 Bns
7 each; & a section of
English guns. Foming up
positn ws behind the Sunken
Rd. 8 Bn passed over
this in formatn on starting.
The Bns were suppd to
be in positn by 1 but it
ws 1.40 pm before started.
[Everything had to be done
on / move - a confce
w Coy Commdrs had to
be held on the move - they
walking beside C.O] 

14
8 Bn troops were abt ½
hr resting at assembly
positn. C.O. arranged
with tanks – they
the objve marked. The
tanks sd they required
a screen of scouts to
tell them abt any oppositn
& the Bn in rear in shallow
columns, in two times of
Companys
C     B     -   -
B     A    -    -
Tanks scouts
The arty ws supposed to 

15
meet the C.O. but missed
him at / assembly positn.
Their observer. However
found him (on the road
where Murdoch & I met
Mitchell - just before them.)
15 Bd w ws / thro
19B & C diagonally to the
rly
Diagram - see original document
After passing thro them
8 Bn began to come under
very long range m.g. fire.
There had bn no trouble
to there from guns firing
direct. The tanks were
keeping directn & all
going well. 

16.
About on the (first) road
^ Sth from Vauvillers (not V-Rosierse)
they came under direct
fire fom guns at Bois
de Crepy & m.g. fire from
Rosieres Station.
Two tanks were hit
at once just before reaching
this rd N of rly.
Infy broke into small
columns of sections &
continued / advance.
Another tank wh crossed
to deal w / m.gs. -the
scouts directed them w their
rifles to the m.g. near
Rosieres Stn - ws hit
near / rly abt half
way to the German mg post. 

17
THe shell burst inside &
probly k all the crew.
This tank burnt.
Four tanks were left.
/ Infy rapidly broke up
into lines of skirmishes
on regular frontages.
advancing by small
rushes & individuals
pushing ahead wherever
they had cover. The
fire of the guns at Bois
de Crepy never slackend
till the gunners were
actually shot down.
The enemy on the
ridge in 22 b&d were
halting 7 Bn up.
Capt Campbell of D Coy
(left coy) worked round the 

18
german hospital & got
his Coy round to the
left into 22 C & Enfiladed
these Germs & enabled
7Bn to get ahead.
Campbell got a D.S.O. for
this work.
The Germans were using
the old trenches in this
part & had splendid
cover - there ws
little cover on / plain
S.W of it - the trench system
seemed to be on & over
the hill.
The 8 Bn reached
a line X 28 central, F4
A central
At the beginning of / attack