Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/243A/1 - 1916 - 1934 - Part 13

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
RCDIG1066604
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Page 1 / 10

Majo woult you mark where ickersley & Hills + ohers were. Also TBn Moat X & Mc Fm. DelangreI 24 Wthe Mcan Ionra gnt to n t ie e r en o o Pitch tracing of 50 air pnoto. on the trenches li 2 shown dark were certainly occupied improved at sone 100 300 ydo ne during the fisht. ao say tet Rough Stale
E. MEuys Captired 19 Naw 31 Br 6y Oeron of MecH. Crns DOTIED LNE. ENEIT apprex my routs Jachs on making reconnaisoonel ASS D E.M.A.G- o Snd BnS. not & MsonKen 44 NPrary. 2 31 en 328 Bn No 12 0 5 43 Tench sete to 45 sene. n0 Fermant 8 E. RE Land n 3 0 Landt p Nowars 3 0 8rlish pause Cine men shown thus 1111111
Rreginal of Fowketch, VotIII 14 Ba Cale of Frough EBde ne Ferman 88 on enen n t en e bront Ling 32 p gnnd -- ---- - o en o en e n a n e F Eamnn G popepo 0600 inpraan den 2 519 4 l Detaporte IFonl t Delaure prrrin 20610 Rough on Bands Seyrati Turcken ECke Old Etrenches shown theis. Grachol. E D B 3yds 4 5 6 Reduce 85 35 80
1050. 22 May 1926. Lient.-Colonel P.W. ToIl, D.S.O., V.D., Yeerongoilly, Brisbene, Eland. Dear Colonel Toll, Meny thenks for your note, which throws a good deal of light on the question. Cen you tell me whether; oither you or any of our men were firing from or near the nost advanced point reached by your My reason for asking is that the Germans say we penetrated even farther. This may have been a story brought back by frightened German soldiers, but the German records are generally fairly accurate. Yours sincerely. 1a E a
f0 Yeerongpilly H. May- 1926. Captain DSw Bean At. Hisheria Dear Sir Yes first about Yours of 22nd the time I was instructing Eckersley about ligging in a machine gun opened up on our left front. locating what we took to be his position, we opened volley fire at fixed range. this silenced that gun for the time and oue men tried to dig in with entrenchig tools. but not liking the position and as we were apparently in the air decided to fall I then back slightly and entrench. left the front troops (which had been formed about ½ left) + moned to mey right flank & up to the road as before menhioned. On our retirn me men firing heary, but at were shill doubtful targets. One of our machine Juns had got going from the old German lines (L Froumson probably this helped to keep the German under cover Yours faithfully tell dark. Hedw Loll
P.4151 an 1197. 5 Jaly 1926. Lient.-Colonel P.Y. Toll, B.S.C., VaD., Yeerongpilly Brishans— Qlland. 13E Dear Toll, in writing the chapters dealing with Framelles I have been a little pusaled by your order, siven about 7 or 7,30, to As reported, it appeared to be an wthdraw to the frent line. order for the whole of the 3lst to take position in the German Front line as no other defence line had been found, and this think, was the construction probably put upon it by Brigade H.d. At the same time Mills and Eakersley do not seom to have acted upon it, but to have remained in such trenches or ditches as they could find, digging in. Can you remember whether the order reached them all, or hew was it that the discrepancy occurred. You messages to Brigade at B.14 p.m. read: He works to hold so fell back to enamy first line ; and at 7-25 - Can hold enamy first line if reinforcements are sent over urgetly. I am also not sure whether in the marning the Germons 20 reached the frent line only on your left, or on your left and right also - I mean at about 5,40 a.m., before you retired. realise that they were in the line on your inmediate left. I take it that, when the post under Drayton fell back in the early morning it came into the line on your right, and ms for some time resist- ing the Germans there. Yours sinderely, C.E.W.BEAN
Yeerongpilly July 1926 Capt. CSt Bean. Dear Sir Your mems of 3 dnot re Gronelly I can find no trace in my notis of such an order at time 7157-30. The mps timed 7.14 pm is certainly mis- leading. On leaving Eckersley I verbally instrucked him to fall back gradually to a certain position. At this time I was not in touch with the left flank hence there was not order given to retire. Although I did not receive any further reports from Eckersby I found later that some of his party had dug in as instructed and Draylons bombers with soue of the 54th Bn were holding the flank, possibly 200 Yards in font of where I had established my HR. I have an impression that at about 7 pm it was my intention to withdraw the whole of advanced line to the enemies old earthworks (front line) but did not do so when I found the 54th was moving up on the right. It was a little after this that I found Mills had his parity on the left flank and about the aligument with position selected to hold It was about now I think I reported could hold the enemy first line et ref The german attack commenced at
2. So am with a bombing attack on our right flank. An officer reported about this time they had fallen back to the live on my right several of these attacks were beakn off but at 3.30 the left plank was as having been duuren back. The general attack then developed along the front very strongly on The enemy were certainly on both the lept. flanks before day light Yours faithfully fred w. Holl
Yeerongpilly, 20th Aug. 1926) Captain C, E, W. Bean. Historian. Dear Bean. Your No 1313, 1318126. IS Typescript returned herewith I think you have got the particuli generally correct, naturally much condensed. 1 note on page 344 re Capt Robertson mentioned, this was not our Robertson, G.G, He was killed in the first wave at Six O’'Clock on the 19th July. The Officer mentioned as with Drayton was Robinson but am not sure of his Bn, it is quite likely however that his unit was the 55th Bn. Re further information fo the 3ist doings, I have lots of details with Maps Orders reports etc which may be of use in in filling up any gaps in the narrative, You are welcome to them Yours faithfully.
1313. IS AMOSt 18E6. Llentenant-Colonel R.H. Toll, D.S.d., V.D., Yearonepilly BrLeBENE, GIIdE Dear Toll, Ia sending you the typescript of part of the chapters dealing with Fromelles. Buld you he so kind as to look through 1t, and return it to me with any notes and conments which ccour to yon, and also to lat me know whether it strikes you as 1 Generally, and (2) literally, accurates Thers is one obvious mstnke in the account. The -officer of the 54th helding the laft bombing post of that bettal- don in touch with Drayton of the 3lst is said to be Captain Robertson. There was, however, no such officer of that nome in the 34th. is 1t possible that Lientenant Robinson of the 55th, who was for a time with Captain Gibbins in that localit is referred to7 The note identifying Robertson with the captain of that nans in Ehe List Mist of Course be Mons. Yours sincerely, C.E.W.

Would you mark where ^ Maj. or Lt Eckersley
& Mills & others were?
Also 54 Bn
Diagram - see original document
Tracing of 

Air photo.
The trenches
shown dark
were certainly
occupied &
improved at some
time during the fight.
Others may have been 

 

Diagram - see original document

 

Diagram - see original document

es 

1050.
22 May 1926.
Lieut.-Colonel F.W. Toll, D.S.O., V.D.
Yeerongpilly,
Brisbane. Q'land
Dear Colonel Toll,
Many thanks for your note, which throws a good deal
of light on the question. Can you tell me whether either you or
any of the men were firing from or near the most advanced point
reached by you?  My reason for asking is that the Germans say we
penetrated even farther. This may have been a story brought back
by frightened German soldiers, but the German records are generally
fairly accurate.
Yours sincerely,
C.E.W.Bean
[[H.Aul?]] 

 

[*Fromelles
HN*]
Yeerongpilly
26. May 1926
Captain C.E.W.Bean
Historian A.I.F.
Dear Sir
Your of 22nd. Yes. Just about
the time I was instructing Eckersley about
digging in a machine gun opened up on
our left front. locating what we took
to be his position we opened volley fire
at fixed range. this silenced that gun
for the time and our men tried to dig
in with entrenching tools. but not
liking the position and as we were
apparently "in the air" decided to fall
back slightly and entrench. I then
left the front troops (which had been
formed about ½ left) & moved to my
right flank & up to the road as before
mentioned. On our return my men
were still firing heavy but at
doubtful targets. One of our Machine Guns
had got going from the old German lines (Lt Trounson
probably this helped to keep the Germans under cover
till dark.
Yours faithfully
Fred W Toll
 

 

F.4151
xxxxxx
1197.
5 July 1926.
Lieut.-Colonel F.W. Toll, D.S.O., V.D.,
Yeerongpilly,
Brisbane, Q'land.

Dear Toll,
In writing the chapters dealing with Fromelles I have
been a little puzzled by your order, given about 7 or 7.30, to
withdraw to the front line. As reported, it appeared to be an
order for the whole of the 31st to take position in the German
front line as no other defence line had been found, and this, I
think, was the construction probably put upon it by Brigade H.Q.
At the same time Mills and Eckersley do not seem to have acted
upon it, but to have remained in such trenches or ditches as they
could find, digging in. Can you remember whether the order reached
them all, or how was it that the discrepancy occurred. Your
messages to Brigade at 7.14 p.m. read: "No words to hold so fell
back to enemy first line": and at 7.25 - "Can hold enemy first
line if reinforcements are sent over urgently."
2. I am also not sure whether in the morning the Germans
reached the front line only on your left, or on your left and
right also - I mean at about 5.40 a.m., before you retired. I
realise that they were in the line on your immediate left. I take
it that, when the post under Drayton fell back in the early morning,
it came into the line on your right, and was for some time resisting
the Germans there.
Yours sincerely,

C.E.W. BEAN

 

Yeerongpilly
8th July 1926
Capt. C.E.W. Bean.,
Dear Sir,
Your memo of 5th Inst re Fromelles
I can find no trace in my notes of such an order at
time 7 to 7-30. The m/s timed 7.14 pm is certainly 

misleading. On leaving Eckersley I verbally instructed
him to fall back gradually to a certain position.
At this time I was not in touch with the left flank
hence there was not order given to retire. Although
I did not receive any further reports from Eckersley
I found later that some of his party had dug in
as instructed and Draytons bombers with some
of the 54th Bn were holding the flank, possibly 200
yards in front of where I had established my HQ.
I have an impression that at about 7 pm it was
my intention to withdraw the whole of advanced
line to the enemies old earthworks (front line) but did
not do so when I found the 54th was moving up on
the right. It was a little after this that I found
Mills had his party on the left flank and
about the alignment with position selected to hold
It was about now I think I reported "Could
hold the enemy first line etc" 
re Para 7 The German attack commenced at 

 

2.
2.30 am with a bombing attack on our right
flank. An officer reported about this time
they had fallen back to the live on my right
several of these attacks were beaten off but at
3.30 the left flank was as having been
driven back. The general attack then
developed along the front very strongly on
the left. The enemy were certainly on both
flanks before day light
Yours faithfully
Fred W. Toll 

 

Yeerongpilly,
20th Aug. 1926/
Captain C, E, W, Bean.
Historian.
Dear Bean.
Your No 1313, 13/8/26.
Typescript returned herewith I think you have got the particulars
generally correct, naturally much condensed.
I note on page 344 re Capt Robertson mentioned, this
was not our Robertson, G.G, He was killed in the first wave
at Six O’'Clock on the 19th July. The Officer mentioned as
with Drayton was Robinson but am not sure of his Bn, it is quite
likely however that his unit was the 55th Bn.
Re further information fo the 31st doings, I have lots of
details with Maps Orders reports etc which may be of use in
in filling up any gaps in the narrative, You are welcome to them.
Yours faithfully. 

 

1313.
13 August 1926.
Lieutenant-Colonel F.W. Toll, D.S.O., V.D.,
Yeerongpilly,
Brisbane, Q'land.
Dear Toll,
I am sending you the typescript of part of the chapters
dealing with Fromelles. Would you be so kind as to look through
it, and return it to me with any notes and comments which occur
to you, and also to let me know whether it strikes you as (1)
generally, and (2) literally, accurate?
There is one obvious mistake in the account. The
officer of the 54th holding the left bombing post of that battalion
in touch with Drayton of the 31st is said to be Captain
Robertson. There was, however, no such officer of that name
in the 54th. is 1t possible that Lieutenant Robinson of the
55th, who was for a time with Captain Gibbins in that locality
is referred to? The note identifying"Robertson"" with the captain
of that name in the 31st must of course be wrong.
Yours sincerely,
C.E.W. BEAN 

 
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