Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/199/1 - August - November 1918 - Part 4

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open to contributions
Accession number:
RCDIG1066572
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

31 artery of 1 traffic across old lines - such little traffic as exests. There had bu a Portuguess battalion caning along it -all day we had bu meeting vits of them. (Bordie told me to 1 Portuguesc Commander tn Chief to to him [oten day a they had bu most reglected by their poot. For a year they had had no reinforcements. They aways had a rule in Portugal to when an experito Force went out it as relieved regularly at tent of Every 12 months - but these men had never bu relieved at all. Te officers weresent back to Postugal on leave; & when they got there goot kept them pere & sent vew & green off is back to 1 font. We result ws to offis
32 & Portaquese Corps were aseless. The men simply laughed at them, & when lately they were ordered to Co forward to do some work they repsed. It ws pretty serious. a machine gun ws turned on them (apparently by Portuquese Comander's orders). Sex or seven were kelled &f mating fell through. (Thes Birdis heard poin (Portaquise command co). After to Berdie split up 1 Portuguese Corps & put ove Bn in t each of his Bdes (in some dious, any way) 5o as to make them up to 4 Bas sere Bde. Being aned in this way they and as chance to meting We found the Oth rmansland sumply full of our dead. In the narrow Sector Wdfthe Laies River & E of the Corner of (Sugas loaf
satient Iskeels + bones & torn anforms ofteern were lyving att Everywhere. I found a bit of Auatialian kit lying Dogds from 1 Corner of 1 satient; & 1 bones of an Austalian oficer? several men within wogds of Further round immediate it. on their flank were a few British - you co tell them by their leater equigment. And within 100 yd0 01 W. cornerd1 Sugar hoaf sabunt tere ws lying A smallparty of English too also w an officert you go tikl I clok of his goal The pound is all divides wto shallow twitte back ridges between grassy detches or water chaunels. And along one of teso water channch near german wire there were
34 Australian lying so many waterbottles to it can scarcely havebu an accident. The poor chaps must have crawled here wounded, at night, for water, I think. Or cloe onedf them must have cllected a number of th ater bottles awled out w them for himself & his mates. The Lager Coaf salient had bu tremendously pitted by shellfire & by PlumRuddiny boubs. And 1old ferman were had by oplindedly cut. Both sides had put up new were since. The British & high wire ws v. pooo & ancut; & cdnt have attempted to get tho it in most part what I ortguese can have bu doan when they let German thro! it I dont know. On 1 sast of road obt s00 yds W. of Delgngre Fin, & 300. Hooyds. S.oferman pout tine we found te water fill detch
35 wh we taken as our objective. It had certainly bu in part a ditch It ran tol cornes of a sort of orchard, 400 -500yds sw of Delangre & merged into I ditch along 1 Orchar bedge nearest to 1 German Ave. Delangore Far Iecento Blockhouse orchard Hockhouse at pout marked X I found a bit (cover of an austialian water bottle; & at y an old rifle butt, proby Australion. In I front line were a lot of concrete shelters, abt 3ft of concrete on 1 top & just room in a man. I little bok below, we crouchd
36 It came on to rain a wiste duigzle. But we got a number of photos; & then drave on to Boulogne. I saw very little signs of festivity over the place. Ouly when we punctured in Avillage beyond Wizernes & 4 children stood by to watch i mend it in 1 dark & drizzle, one of them Sd to 1 other. Have they a flay in post ? No sd I second. Then they have not been to St Ower Ihose chidren came from Lens So they volnteered. When I sd 1 kaises ws a refigic b sd we are refufies also from Lens. theis house us in ruins. They had lived in 1 cellars a long time 3 years they had be amougt
Termans. Then many people were killed by I shells, this came were coacuated tho Swizzerland. They wanted to know if I streets had been disente onthe 16 of rubbish yet? if 1 bridge to Donai had be blown up ? The Elderboy road Charles Ws 14 when I germian's evacuated them . if he had bee 15 thin wd not have permitted him to leave. There was a sister abt (same ape of a little brother. They were most quiet intelligent children. They told as to germans had bee billetted on them - thy were forced to take tem, & tere ws no payment. W Brench, their father ws at I war, thes mother had brought them here. A couple of French youths of 20 or so passed, singing
38 & rate drunk - ( first sign Of peace festivity. They were waven a flag. The French mostt seem fairbsizes to carry abt a vricolor on these occasions - not waveit but carry it quietly round. There were lights - subdued but still lights - in Ivillaps we passed thro. At Boaloype in 1 main street we did suddoly run into a crowd, mostly of Butish Soldiers, some Australian, some Ttench, and a few Women who were walking round I half lighter streets. There ws one Fother blowing a tiw trumpet one or two waving a flag; a few obviously half seas over; the
occasional boight shop pout attracted them like moths. There we very little noise really. There were a few electric lights near 1 quay but (trains & many of street lights were still darkened by staininy blue. Aave came over I hill towets Wimerenx an intermittent light wt at first I took for an Electric torch showed ap aheadg us. I gaess that old lighthouse basn't worked for four years; sd Boddy. and so it was a light house Cos Huxtable, who is now i comm No 2 Ago. & major white put me up Cars & men have born passing at interoat all evening. There has bn a little shouting – not as much as
40 on a Saturday night at home. St to quiet now - 1145 p.m. and so it is peace. The prtion in allminds at present is - can we ensure to this speit up german goot will pay for 1 damage to France & Belgim. can we be sare to Bavaria & other parts will not escape by proclamng themselves separate from Gormany. Anyway - the melitary require ts one -sptit, rent, smashed, Fled. Who cd possibly have anaquied tis 4 months ago? Nov 12/1918. Tesday. Crossed from Boulogrs today - a beautiful sunny cold day. On the boat coming over one had for the first time in four years, that feeling of delightful free roving, which

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