Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/239/1 - 1917 - 1918 - Part 1

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
RCDIG1066599
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

AWM3S Official History, 1974-18 War: Records of C E W Bean, Official Historian. Diaries and Notebooks Hem number: 3DR1606/23917 Title: Notebook, 1917 -7978 includes references to the 12th, 46th, 47th and 58th Battalions, Dunsterforce, Polygon Wood and Lagnicourt. AWMI3S-3DRI606/23911
Historical Notes Priginal DIRRY.NORSG. 30RL 606 1TPN 239 RSFTTCDIARIES 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 aslecp; 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 accuracy of statements made to him by others and here recorded. But he did try to ensure 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. JAR MEMSNAL C. E. W. BEAN. MC Cc Page 46247 Hpathobecg 14 Suatehouse 12 Mn. Lagniourt (DWaldock 8-1 Dunsterforie (Cpitooper) 13r 58 M. Polygontoed Capt Hooper) Dunsterforce (Mily 44750
Rele . 59 Robert 47r46 Biis at I Wale house ti 26 sood s of in t Shorten oxendinan assdawn ferm aps rosts of bullets - bart kyn of Ersa mncontees
2 ti down i le int 1 Pt he. Live down - so cyclet sent to Bell . He came back & I sd - Jeran were within eoorgds of 7d. Feams were already harnessonngs rady to pal out. My were sation & went down I road full gallop - Te 48½ first t the 474h (bom Ppds vatteries). 2re112 (Howss misse (thes show – Therey was a small t of Tomonces an cliteh – warwichd. There was doe of them on I road waving his arms by a trae aceived to be warming his hands of they og realiesd he was waying them on of th cose germs standing as a fering not more tran rooyds away. swerd in agan gound a n she batters went for all it ws wort. Dee
tomanges in]clitch] ] not move than co of tum must have disarranged fire 01 ferman's bccause only 2 horses of the 27 B3 were hit. Te gunnerd were tacking their left aon of Cambers while I Cubets stuch dusk of 2 horses hut wad. Tne 40a 65 had had to cat tou. t weredelif arrival of austalians ap there - They asked
man are the ansaied coming Heg what are you – first division? Richards did magnificing work therd. He was a man who fearless at ysres - laying dowd Kines of fire amoder most toenand ond bombardmnt pajectly cooky whice his laff of Anesmla The scottist Din (o) as sed forefrs Blick wished him to hall Onk to t & one Bn of the & many of our arty wo Rickards t e watch sot& Black watch & they have been trying to get him back ever since
12Bu Lagnicourt fom to was dock Natdoet was with to D. in the extreme right post of the 12th Ba. On Apt5 & when 1 fermans abtacked. They knew nothing wated they found I fermans bahient them Drig ontroat line came running back to fi sickes live (a Cong way back). D). got thim to dig in facing 1 ferman in theis lef rear. The next they saw of ferms ws at about 10 a a when the ferms
came past ter pout in column of lumpofoom 1 left att rooyd away. An acroplans wh as working for 1 guas a day did splendid work aming down so Cow & be wo able to shout directus to them ted tem where firmans were. That acropter setin acreport wh got Newland his VE. I told. him when to get out kept on pointing at Pernd erns were reaning from ie. Sis post & a 12 & Sir, turned on to 1fers w mgs. & refles & for a couph of hours was stooting them down The heavies were informed by Cremendously fast
same & lane. Itace to wirch over 1 ferns so low down to our infy cd see & head 1 observe quite carily I a tren is wad get back to funs near Morchies a say them out Tcanker roads + lanes in I Ferman wire. The prmans bothed from 1roads, & in triging to get msough theng own wire they were shot down by our rgs. rifes. Ore officer, and bu lefant w Ioutpost, woanded. Afte it we onn our men went out gor him. (. ancy L Harrison ws his name). He had be well looked after a bound up by Serman aa c
40 Dunsterford. From lent Hon Capt Hooper to brought bael from Paris by Gen. Miot att Jan 18 Gen. Elliott (who sent him. Meover -whodid notdo at all on well owing to a crtiin weekness. They were Sent to Esgland. Hooper thought at first he ws going to a stelf school til Elliott him a letter from Birdwood, A Horseferry Rd Jen gufitis saw hem on Jan 13. & us tole t report to Tower. w fora -abt 14 Auadian ffrs 14 Cam NCOS, att 12 SApians (i2NCOS) 12N2 9fis I2NENCOS, 20 Aut. ffis &20 Wle att 20 Ery. Scot Irish offis & 200C00 Kondyke, Soma Calfornca Etc) 11 bright cloteed Russian offis who cated cault them Russran

AWM38
Official History,
1914-18 War: Records of C E W Bean,
Official Historian.
Diaries and Notebooks
Item number: 3DRL606/239/1
Title: Notebook, 1917 -1918
Includes references to the 12th, 46th, 47th and
58th Battalions, Dunsterforce, Polygon Wood
and Lagnicourt.
AWM38-3DRL606/239/1

 

Historical Notes
Original

[*Pages 
1-4  46th & 47th at Robecq
(Lt Waterhouse)
5-7  12th Bn. Lagnicourt.
(Lt. Waldock)
8-xx 43 Dunsterforce
(Capt Hooper)
13th 58 Bn. Polygon Wood
(Capt Hooper)
44-50 Dunsterforce 
(Lt McVilly)*]
Original
DIARY NO.239.
AWM38
3DRL 606 ITEM 239 [1]
DIARIES AND NOTES OF C. E. W. BEAN
CONCERNING THE WAR OF 1914 - 1918

THE use of these diaries and notes is subject to conditions laid down in the terms
of gift to the Australian War Memorial. But apart from these 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 discovered this, or remembered to correct the mistakes when
discovered. 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 accuracy of statements made to him by others and here recorded. But he
did try to ensure 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.                   C. E. W. BEAN.

AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL
ACCESS STATUS
OPEN

 

1

Robecq & Dunsterforce
Diagram – see original document
Shooting on roads at abt 3000 - 4000 Offrs in [[?]]
by maps - Boche doing same. Abt dawn Germans opened same way -
we went outside & heard m.g. bullets - bark flying off trees.

 

Diagram – see original document
2
Then [[?qrubby]] infy. coming thro. They sd Germs were close on
there. Line down - so cyclist sent to Bde. He came back &
sd - Germs were within 200 yds o / rd. Teams were
already harnessed up ready to pull out. They were
put in & went down / road full gallop. The 46th
first then the 47th (both 18 pdr batteries). The 112th
(Hows) missed this show - There was a small
pty of Tommies in / ditch - Warwicks - there was
one of them on / road waving his arms by a tree
- seemed to be warming his hands - then they
realised he was waving them on. They cd see
Germs standing up & firing not more than 200 yds
away. Others were in a group round a m.g.
The battery went for all it ws worth. The

 

3
Tommies in / ditch - not more
than 20 of them - must have disarranged the
fire o / Germans because only 2 horses
of the 47 Bty were hit. The gunners
were tucking their legs up on / limbers
while / bullets struck dust off /
road. The 46th Bty had 2 horses hit
& had to cut them out.
The Scots were delighted at /
arrival of Australians up there. They asked

 

4
Hey mon! Are the Aussies coming?
What are you - first division?"
Rickards did magnificent work
there. He ws a man who ws
fearless at Ypres - laying down lines
of fire amidst most tremendous bombardments
perfectly coolly while his staff of linesmen
wished him to hell! One Bn o / Black The Scottish Divn (51) asked for offrs
& many of our arty went to them & one Bn of the
Watch got asked for offrs Rickards went to them
& they ^Black Watch have been trying to get him back ever since.

 

5 x
[*Standing amongst friends
There are frxxxx xxxx but
I wont worry you with them*]]
Lagnicourt. 12 Bn.
from Lt Waldock.
Waldock was with Lt D . . . . in the extreme
right post of the 12th Bn. on Ap 15th when /
Germans attacked. They knew nothing until
they found / Germans behind them. Their
outpost line came running back to their
picket line (a long way back). D . . . .
got them to dig in facing / Germans in
their left rear.
The next they saw o / Germs
ws at about 10 or 11 when the Germs

 

6
came past their front in column of lumps from
/ left, abt 100 yds away. An aeroplane wh ws
working for / guns tt day did splendid work coming
down so low tt he ws able to shout directions to them &
tell them where / Germans were. That aeroplane
sent in a report wh got Newland his V.C. It told
him when to get out, kept on pointing at / Germs, &
/ Germs were running from it. This post of the 12th
& others, turned on to / Germ w m.gs. & rifles
& for a couple of hours was shooting them down
tremendously fast. The heavies were informed by /

 

7
same plane. It used to circle over / Germs so
low down tt our infy cd see & hear / observer quite
easily - & then it wd get back to / guns near
Morchies & put them onto / sunken roads & /
lanes in / German wire. The Germans bolted
from / roads, &in trying to get through their own
wire they were shot down by our m.gs. & rifles.
One officer had bn left out w / outposts,
wounded. After it ws over, our men went out & got
him. (? I fancy Lt Harrison ws his name). He had bn well
looked after & bound up by German A.M.C.

 

8

Dunsterforce - From Capt Hooper.
Capt Hooper ws brought back
from Paris by Gen Elliott abt Jan 10th.
Gen. Elliott (who sent him & McIver
- who did not do at all so well owing
to a certain weakness. They were
sent to England. Hooper thought at
first he ws going to a Staff school
till Elliott told read him a letter from
Birdwood. At Horseferry Rd
Gen Griffiths saw him on Jan 13.
& ws told to report to / Tower.
xx Fisher The whole force - abt 14
Canadian offrs 14 Can. NCOs, abt
12 S Africans (& 12 NCOs) 12 NZ offrs
12 NZ NCOs, 20 Aust, offrs & 20 NCOs
& abt 20 Eng. Scot & Irish offrs & 20 NCOs.
(Some Klondyke, Some California etc)
11 brightly clothed Russian offrs who
later taught them Russian

 

 

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