Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/200A/1 - August - September 1918 - Part 1

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open to contributions
Accession number:
RCDIG1066576
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

AWM3S Official History, 1974-18 War: Records of CE W Bean, Official Historian. Diaries and Notebooks Hem number: 3DRLCO6/OOAI7 Title: Notebook, August - September 1918 includes references to the 9th, 17th and 12th Battalions, Linons, Proyart and Pozieres. AWMISS-SDRLCOGIROONI
n F pholostat do 99225 atiotin prctimneLRI B. MRRA9 BORL 606 IM OOA F A38 DIARLES AND NOTES OF C. E. W. BEAN CONCERNING THE WAR OF 1914- 1918 THE ase of these diaries and notes is subject to conditions laid down in the terms of gift to the Australian War Memorial. But, apart from those terms, I wish the following circumstances and considerations to be brought to the notice of every reader and writer who may use them. These writings represent only what at the moment of making them I believed to be true. The diaries were jotted down almost daily with the object of recording what was then in the writer’s mind. Often he wrote them when very tired and half asleep; also, not infrequently, what he believed to be true was not so —but it does not follow that he always discevered this, or remembered to correct the mistakes when discevered. Indeed, he could not always remember that he had written them. These records should, therefore, be used with great caution, as relating only what their author, at the time of writing, believed. Further, he cannot, of course, vouch for the acctracy of statements made to him by others and here recorded. But he did try ig easure such accuracy by consulting, as far as possible, those who had seen or otherwise taken part in the events. The constant falsity of second-hand evidence (on which a large proportion of war stories are founded) was impressed upon him by the second or third day of the Gallipoli campaign, notwithstanding that those who passed on such stories usually themselves believed them to be true. All second, Hand evidence herein should be read with this in mind. 16 Sept, 1946. A CUCAIL. C. E.W. BEAN. an Mee
9-11 Aus. N.23 Au. 9 18 sept no 15 Thotoestal ll cariful ti 1D. D. 14 ATISS WE ELSKSSA, IOO, 1S. Si J.C.4s a
9Bo Lehons lhous. &cccurate acct from Capt Cha Bn came up pom onleide Corbie - leaving abt 4.30 pn on 151 Day to Hamiel. Camped tion night. Then at 7.30am by Compass bearing to a positer St of Harbounieres (to sapport 2 Bde.) Kaote at 8.30 om on nll of H reache a posite in 1 open abt 2 hs marc Rrom 1 front tine. Bn. ws ordered to dig in a defensive positi They had no sleep - no sheking diging till day light (The men had their maly all tho the lepons fighting Iam. On mosed agn to attack on Lihons wood, marching by Compass bearing (whole way. On reaching T.O. Tapes (Ruo 3h Bo) the men
were given a slight smoke & rest. No fire up to them. It ws alt 8 am. A german plaie came over Whole Bn flyig abt 100 feet up while they were smoking dropping places & firing its m.F. He till abt 8 men. you co see I faces of men. The Bn we in shellholes aold 2 At Sam Barrag 470 opened (two pens may have fined - thepman as thro it. without noticing). It ws folld by a very beavy M.J. barrag by 1germans & arty barrage the M.g. barrage being much worst. The left flank wt
completely exposed & ferman we firing completes Enfiladary 9Bn from 1left. inflicting heavy casualties Te Bn had + one Coybeto up by m.J. fire. Counter mp fire ws brought to bear on this flank. The ferman my fire ws direct. C saw one gun open on Penroses Coy wh had be left support but we now on 1 right - he cd sawhole crew. The German Mg. fire wo larget direct, but indirect also. The ferman ws only abt 50 ydo away at Sstart. The Bn went tho (wood in
parties. It ws heavily wered with strong dujonts & berricades The men who went this this wood - Lo Gower MC-ws thro' I left edge of wood. There as a heavily wered posite abt 30 or 40 yards from down 1 Edge 0lwood I lef hand corner of it - it ws in undersowth on edge of wood not far from hospital (in a sort of continuep wood onto Anger wood) The Germans cattacked after a very heavy barrage + drove our parties outo1 wood Except to there werd two posts or 1rt hand side of wood. RatEd as myers
then to his left thompson The 9t Bn ws so depleted by casualties that Bde ws as and for another coy to reinforce & retake 1wood. The Bn Commander 10Ba placed at 9Bn disposed his best toy under Capt McCann (DSo. MC.). Tey worked from S to M. to wood & managed to take abt 60 prisoners In conjunicty to May Ross whows O.C. Line of 9Bn In cann esteblishe posts on the NE side of wood making whole ea as one continuous line. There were troops of 11Bn
on Ileft flank. The posts wh had be estiblished were D Myers MeCann, Morgan, Chapiman, Knowles, tmpen, brag McCann Leers. thomas 6ld 98 2 Penman. The loss of director ws one of the great difficulties of all units. The end Bde were away to their rt & the last 3 posts of 9 Bn
105 were in aree of 2nd Bde. The ferman gattacked agn twice in force but were each time driven off leaving a lot of dead. In Each case an extranch heavy banage ws put down first - heavy, especially 8i - & most of shells Bliie Cross, Gas with HE the wood ws reckin tell wgas. In the first second of the 3 gattacks the fermans came to hand to hand fighting. There is a lot of small undergrowth & place ws a maze of truches

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