Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/237/1 - October 1914 - 1918 - Part 12

103
COPY.
AUSTRALIAN ARMY CORPS.
RECORD OF PART OF THE WORK DONE IN 1918.
DESCRIPTIONS OF TABULATIONS ATTACHED.

The performances of the Australian Army Corps, during the
Spring, Summer and Autumn Campaign of 1918 cannot be described, with
any pretence at doing them adequate justice, except at considerable
length, and with the aid of many maps and diagrams.
It is possible, however, to enumerate in tabular form
certain statistics, which are in themselves some index of the
character and extent of this series of brilliant victories -
whether considered relatively to the performances of other
British Corps, or absolutely on their own merits.
These criteria may be classified thus:-
(al Prisoners and Guns captured.
(b) Towns and Villages Recaptured.
(c) Frontages, Depths and Areas of the successive advances.
(d) Enemy Divisions engaged and defeated.
In order to aid perusal several of the above data have been
subdivided over nine arbitrarily chosen periods or phases extending
from March 26th, 1918 - when Australian troops first arrived
opposite AMIENS - until October 5th, 1918 - when the Corps was
withdrawn for rest.
Each of the above criteria has therefore been tabulated
in nine successive stages, and the total is also given in each
case for the period as a whole.
                                   ------o.O.o------
 

(4).
OFFENSIVE FICHTING BETWEEN 27th MARCH & 4th OCTOBER,1918.
PRISONERS AND CUNS CAPTURED.

 T O T A L S : 28,655
x Total of Guns conservative estimate only.
Also many thousands of machine guns, mortars, searchlights, vehicles, kitchens, &c.,&c.,
and millions of rounds of artillery ammunition.

[* Prisoners include a
fair No. of Bn. Commanders
and several

Regimental Commanders. *]

 

105
(B).
TOWNS and VILLAGES etc. captured by the Australian Anny Corps,
during operations undertaken between 27th March and 4th Oct.,1918.

A total of 116 towns and villages : - not including
many fortified farms, mills, sugar refineries, woods
and cona--
 

106

(c).
FRONTAGES .DEPTHS AND AREAS OF THE
SUCCESSIVE ADVANCES.
 

 TOTAL - - -  251 Sq. Miles.
 

107
(D).
DIVISIONS ENGAGED BY AUSTRALIAN CORPS
and
NUMBER OF TIMES ENGAGED.
From 27th March to 3rd October. 1918.

108
(D) Continued.

It is usual to reckon that when a division has been
engaged more than once it is to be taken as two or three divisions.
On the above basis the total number of divisions engaged and
defeated amounts to 73 during the period under review, or more
than one third of the total German Army on the Western Front.
Of these divisions not less than six (6) are definitely known
to have been disbanded as the result of the shattering losses
suffered during these engagements. There is, however, very good
reason to believe that a number of other/of the divisions named have
also been disbanded, but it is customary to sift the evidence
very carefully and conservatively before drawing such a definite
conclusion.
 

Reports   from
No 2  Squ  AFC for Jy & Aug 1918
No 4     "         " Aug (2repts)

 

109
COPY.
No. 2 Squadron,
Australian Flying Corps.
D.A.A.G., A.F.C.
R.A.F. Headquarters.
.----------------------
Herewith a brief résume of the work carried
out by this squadron for the month ending 31st July, 1918 

Noteworthy features of the work of the squadron
during the month under review were:-
(a)   A successful bombing raid carried with the view of
interfering with railway communication at HARBOURDIN - (on the
LA-BASSEE - HARBOURDIN railway) which took place on the 7th.  The
results obtained were eminently satisfactory; direct hits being
obtained on the following targets:-
1.  Train at HARBOURDIN.
2. HARBOURDIN Railway Station.
3. Railway Goods Shed at HARBOURDIN.
4. On Railway Station WAVRIN, besides 2 dropped on the
permanent way; result of latter unobserved.
Altogether 12 twentyfive 1b. bombs were dropped on these objectives,
besides several hundred rounds fired into ground targets.
The following is a detailed account of the operation
which, it will be noticed, was carried out in extremely bad weather
At 4 a.m., six machines, each carrying two twentyfive lb. bombs
left the aerodrome accompanied by four more who were to act as
escort. A thick mist prevailed, and one of the escorting machines
losing the formation, returned early. At 5.15 a.m., the leading
machine of the bombers giving the signal, descended and dropped
1 bomb directly on to a Train and another on the Goods Shed at
HARBOURDIN with good effect, and, immediately afterwards, attacked
a hostile aircraft battery which was trying to interfere with
the progress of the raid. Some 200 rounds were fired by this
pilot. Two further direct hits were obtained on the Goods Shed
by other machines, and six were dropped near the train at the
railway station.
The first pilot responsible for the successful bombing of this
train descended to below 100 feet before dropping his bomb.
After the bombs were dropped, some hundreds of rounds were
fired by pilots into troops proceeding towards HARBOURDIN, also
 

110
2.
also into troops in a R.E. dump, HERLIERS. One machine, whilst
over WAVRIN, dropped 2 bombs on the RAILWAY STATION, both being
"O.K.", and another machine dropped 2 more bombs on the LA BASSEE
HARBOURDIN Railway; the result of the latter, unfortunately,
could not be seen owing to the mist which was getting thicker
all the time.
After the raid, great difficulty was experienced
in returning, several machines being forced to land on other
aerodromes, from whence, when the mist lifted, they eventually
arrived back.  Of the two machines which came as far as
the aerodrome, one crashed into a tree, the machine falling to
pieces, and the pilot being thrown clear, sustaining only minor
injuries.  The other machine descended into the middle of
a wheat crop which borders the aerodrome.
In view of the heavy mist that prevailed during the
operation, which, at the termination of the patrol, was so bad,
that it was impossible to see the aerodrome 50 feet from the
ground, it is a matter for congratulation that such good results
were obtained without any serious casualties.
(b)  On the 19th, the unit was inspected by General
BIRDWOOD who presented the following Officer and other ranks
with ribbons :-
Captain R. C. PHILLIPPS, MC. DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS.
Chief Mechanic LONSDALE, R.R.    MILITARY MEDAL.
Cpl. Mec. CAMPBELL, W.B.                        -do-
1st A.M. RAPHAEL, H.S.                                -do-
(Sgd.) A. M. Jones.
MAJOR,
Commanding No. 2 Squadron,
Australian Flying Corps.
 

3

111
COPY
No.2 Squadron
AUSTRALIAN FLYING CORPS.
To: D.A.A.G.
A. F. C.
---------
Herewith a brief resume of the work carried out by this
Squadron during the month ending 31st August:-

During the month the Squadron, as well as doing the
usual Offensive Patrols, has carried out,^ two successful daylight
bombing raids on the following enemy xxxxxxxx aerodromes : -
1. HARBOURDIN.
2. LOMME.
Sixty five machines took part in the first, and
sixty in the second operation. The dispositions of the Squadrons
protecting the Bombers, the co-operation of our Artillery in engaging
enemy Anti-aircraft batteries all tended to make for the success
that photographs taken before, and afterwards, so amply evidence.
AIR RAID ON HARBOURDIN AERODROME
On August 16th at 12.30 p.m. the four Squadrons
participating in the raid took up their positions at the correct
height over Reclinghem Aerodrome, and proceeded towards the line, thus:
At 13,000 ft. No. 88 Squadron - Bristol fighters,
At   11,000 ft. No. 92 Squadron - S.E.5's
       9,000 ft. No. 2 Squadron. A.F.C. - S.E.5's
       7,000 ft. No. 4 Squadron A.F.C. - Camels (Clerget)
Arriving over LA BASSEE the whole formation lost height correspondingly 
until the objective was reached, when No. 4 Squadron, A.F.C.,
immediately descended to bomb the sheds, workshops, Officers' and
Mens' quarters. While No. 4 Squadron was engaging the Aerodrome
this Squadron waited above at about 2000 feet, flying in wide circuits,
during which time smoke and flames were seen to be issuing from the
hangars.
As soon as No. 4 Squadron had completed the bombing, this Squadron
dived, one machine after another, on to the hangars, firing some
hundreds of rounds and dropping 72 - 25 lb. bombs from a height
averaging 300 feet. After each machine had dropped its bombs it
climbed in wide circuits to the left, and thus enabled the Squadron
to regain formation, on completion of which the machines flew