Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/243A/1 - 1916 - 1934 - Part 20

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

Page 1 / 10

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALLA. RS. mnmn Tetephors AIR BOARD. CENTRAL 4780. HEAD-OUARTERS, ROVAL AUSTRALLAN AIR FORCE. Telegraphic Address: AIR BOARD, MELBOURNE. VICTORIA BARRACKS, MELBOURNE (S.C. 1) AOORESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO THE SECRETARY Official Historian, Victoria Barracks, LITY, N.S.W. -------0-0---6- Dear Sir, with reference to your letter dated ist December - I regret that I am unable to supply any very definite information in connection with the query raised by you regarding operations at Fromelles. We had a gun in action at the bomb-stop in question and were, in the early part of the evening, 9th Pattalion mainly - personally mixed up with the 2 1 don't know which Battalion was responsible for the bomb-stop. Lieutenant Lillecrappwith his M.G. Section remained in position near the bomb-stop and old German Comnunication Trench and fought off part of the counter attack from this position. When the counter attack was launched the Germans got in between the 29th and 32nd Battalions, certainly as, Just after Mortimer was killed, 1 found it necessary revent him being cut off. to shift Lillecrapp to pr I visited the bomb-stop twice during the night of 19th July and there was no bombing on either occasions towards dawn, however, bombing started at this point, I presume as part of the organized counter attack. I regret that I am not very clear about things but was concerned with other parts of our line and had to leave the bonbing-stop to Lillecrapp, and only ordered him to shift his position when it seemed likely he would be cut off. Johre Saithsully. o 4
P.4131 1351. 2 September 1926. Ceptain A.K. Flack, M.C., 78. Stanmore Ros Lo Doar Sir. In writing the nacount of the Battle of Framelles for the Official Histery 1 find a difficulty in ascertaining what exactly vas the position on the extreme left. Captnin Barbour, to whom I had written, tells me that he thinks you were in a machine-gun pest on the laft of the 3and Battalion. 1 wonder 1f you wuld be so good as to sive me the benefit of your memory, particularly with regard to the fellowing pointsr 111 Md the long German commnication trench past Blangre Farm opan into any of the eld trenches hold by you or the 3andy According to ad rephotegrephs, it did not commnieate my of them except the old German front Line. 121 Were barrieates built across this trensh, and across the old Germmn frent line at the extreme left flank, and, 1f 1 find nothing definite in the co, at what points? records about barricades. Perhaps the trenches were just Broken by trench-mertar bombs? 13 If there were barrieades, were definite partios holding them (al in the commntaction trenches, and (Dl in the Front Line; and, IF so, do you know what happened to these partissr Were they bombed out7 I should be greatly obliged if you could spare the time to jot down for me a few notes comrising your recollections on the above paints, and on your experiences that night. 1 den't knw if you are ever in the direction of Visterin Sarracks; but 4f so, and 1f you remember anything of the pesition on the last I should be very glad if you would let me show you the adrephotegraphs and mans which we have here, some of them shawing the attack on the last, in order, 1f pess- Able, to identify the positions. Yours Feithfully,
4 5f 19/10/15
Cy apt Krinks vinC. of Cheesemans went our with accumt but finding tings bady placed bad stayed. He went to help Flacks wt on ley Bullerdown Ant voxes o make a voro stop. Is & sof into wade it wo hors. bombery up y, S0 K & his nean pot out of y on C.tto Sten tarnen 2 I sot over Shellholes & f1 shotgs when they got up to bont S Severnety K. went back to pill toxslyte get same h & evently got 33 2his own Borly lon pa 25 from Clarke Flacks Ng. 5 & fot back 55 ap 7 H Mills St stoy doing ft work. pattien o2 par o0lf K got 2 hgs back to Lord to his post. Frre 1 till amuen you had to te saw aete ante out pty 98 Eheaond rese & abt Cam ae en n e rest sor Coufab- Each they had for himself, To goback to getten, if any were pmared, w to reseue him - got tho 2 lots & fs. Out of 12 101
e 6 D 5 a jod know 30 whit Souethen of Sutteland te or w. Cv. Twishart 26 & watts 3 ed5 2 20 wotl pet. s 2 t 3 wd in bere came back 4 got back from reserve & got tem met night- but 2dreseves were shot by a Bn & Hille 4/2 Suntry 1ORI
see that white in skelches is detached from rects. recouverval What genns berre d Masteng parke. Ranct. Tanks Tosa made a fas attack on Cs. After Frowelles when 8Bd ws is it maters of R went over abt 11 sm unde 7 just before by Dalheir Hophins K at Sar not much use. IIRA Brock also wd Sord a maite read rate for raped 14 Coy for CT hs pat on carrg amnu. Prser ught out all tin yus 842/Coy 67 e in 24 Prs t build 2c (1 mele nY 15 Bde charged this strap & waxted started as SB ws in aSSp3 working in spite of all warnigs in hot fire wal had on foet to ple o4 14 a while 2L 20 En. An otf Engl. soldier. Atter Frowelles B3 WC189 I toy bried Sinking thre! the waler bearing suid bed, a fer feet below surface. Coddy & hisscodnt dgt.6t wde Ferpuson 14 FC.
met 37 Don Stuart t Capt Ray allen. three Cl. shd be able to sive ofr. Asford. hoved at tedday an officer. fom village to leqecers oomen intentd was trench. Ihe moved up to 3oot 24 Thence into 70t Y thio Saps &. as 5.40 into front line. no y r3oory Field on left (betw ofh) walked blony duckbd with drain on lett. t Sprgt farland serried to notice (son of Heaifirer of Syd. Scpl. Ovry berbed were wasnt cut thme - onl I places to fet thio. One ws found midg the first 20t seemed to be out of Cerman range, but The line was not le was right outs the openiy in the were cos tiped. Lees & bep. He first party cucld& forland pt acroo Cadden dispue with this, but but be ws k. near toe far side. He mg. Cs the scacnl trained upon the pot & the end& Zod pties were practly line was teken wiped out bailt up sndbap & gt men out past Alle & an the opening. Allaw thee sent a ftz to b along Enganer Sert day a gaod truch nder a Copl who w taken presoner t part of it sp the nef themselves Te Is were abt 50& along. The gernon neef. Ws The tedieo gave some depressed so that it could get a man about stetter down to the lvees, but beliew that it w kelled second to be screened by the parapet. on the far Allan got his sca ander it. anoter openin Side after some despeng. us found to the South. Te 20th near the old The work was I us it was most difficult. I hees ws wp continued by Rusheg footod ofthe estrame right & was killed there. Sandbap from se Abens ar was mby a shell as be our ys lates partly reached the fl. pow & b water as asked for v. early - it as vo hot - they used to know waterbotths across
Check this the danevous space Later parties were dionted to the Sopenin likl the other avenue was completed, Allen had left towds net. C.O. Beartnoot street were jast inside te Sally Port. B. ordered Allen back, when he first returnn. The tomances shd have buable to beep the bf down. Ies le came ad our wen in with boubs. Beardsmore ws wd at HGrs () gt Allen got back to J Amb. abt dawn. At abt 3 ft ran into water. Atalt man came to Alllen shaking all over with shell shock & said: I'm not apaid, give me something to do. Allen gave been an amu box & be took it on . A loy were Cergly Soclors. an overflow from the Naval Bridging Erain - we s aaral offers. & orgen). One ot wention Orpen)
31 Bn 7 a shell Cr b 3 Thoulder shatteris by died awost tn oe ene e n ate. i e e never alle t . a aet at tane eirey a w 15 sert wele ill cro 1 b Hyou
Elhott. eve tribute pe of he Corote The grand ots man swe hir Beasti lwe e a eraine ado a Perhess we a7 Macte cay him better I caristestical ten any ohe arm. I bod personatry wh so of daunang Deer wit frow trainey his school shldd Sitide 50 He a Det was ruped 1 shary. ter a fipter. Thes cde sulces our loys b rason

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.
AS.
AIR BOARD,
HEAD-QUARTERS, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE.
VICTORIA BARRACKS, MELBOURNE (S.C. 1)
Telephone:
CENTRAL 4780.
Telegraphic Address:
AIR BOARD. MELBOURNE.
ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS
TO "THE SECRETARY"
No. AS.
Official Historian,
Victoria Barracks,
SYDNEY, N.S.W.
Dear Sir,
With reference to your letter dated 1st
December - I regret that I am unable to supply any
very definite information in connection with the
query raised by you regarding operations at Fromelles.
2. We had a gun in action at the bomb-stop
in question and were, in the early part of the evening,
mixed up with the 29th Battalion mainly - personally
I don't know which Battalion was responsible for the
bomb-stop.
3. Lieutenant Lillecrapp with his M.G. Section
remained in position near the bomb-stop and old German
Communication Trench and fought off part of the counter
attack from this position.
4. When the counter attack was launched the Germans
certainly got in between the 29th and 32nd Battalions,
as, just after Mortimer was killed, I found it necessary
to shift Lillecrapp to prevent him being cut off.
5. I visited the bomb-stop twice during the night
of 19th July and there was no bombing on either occasions -
towards dawn, however, bombing started at this point, I
presume as part of the organized counter attack.
6. I regret that I am not very clear about things
but was concerned with other parts of our line and had
to leave the bombing-stop to Lillecrapp, and only
ordered him to shift his position when it seemed likely
he would be cut off.
Yours faithfully,

T Roy. Marsden

 

F.4151
xxxxx
1351.
2 September 1926.
Captain A.K. Flack, M.C.,
78, Stanmore Road,
Stanmore.
Dear Sir,
In writing the account of the Battle of Fromelles for
the Official History I find a difficulty in ascertaining what
exactly was the position on the extreme left. Captain Barbour,
to whom I had written, tells me that he thinks you were in a
machine-gun post on the left of the 32nd Battalion. I wonder
if you would be so good as to give me the benefit of your memory,
particularly with regard to the following points?
(1) Did the long German communication trench past Delangre
Farm open into any of the old trenches held by you or the
32nd? According to air-photographs, it did not communicate
with any of them except the old German front line.
(2) Were barricades built across this trench, and across the
old German front line at the extreme left flank, and, if
so, at what points? I find nothing definite in the
records about barricades. Perhaps the trenches were just
broken by trench-mortar bombs?
(3) If there were barricades, were definite parties holding
them (a) in the communication trenches, and (b) in the
front line; and, if so, do you know what happened to these
parties? Were they bombed out?
I should be greatly obliged if you could spare the time
to jot down for me a few notes comprising your recollections on
the above points, and on your experiences that night.
I don't know if you are ever in the direction of
Victoria Barracks; but, if so, and if you remember anything of
the position on the left, I should be very glad if you would
let me show you the air-photographs and maps which we have here,
some of them showing the attack on the left, in order, if possible,
to identify the positions.
Yours faithfully,
C. E. W. BEAN

 

4th Copy
19/10/15

 

Capt Krinks 2 in C, of Cheesemans Coy
went over with ammun but finding things
badly placed bad stayed. He went to
help Flacks m.g. on left
Diagram - see original document
& got into C.T. and pulled down
boxes to make a bomb stop. Gs
made it too hot,
bombing up trench, so
K & his men got out
of trench on l. into
shellholes &
shot gs where they
got up to bomb
[*Gs had to get into open to do good
K & pty cd get at them then.
Whites line ws v. crowded.
K got back across G. line.*]
K. went back to
get some L Gs
& evently got
2 of his own
from Clarke
& got back
up trench.
Lt. Mills SEG
doing gt work.
K got 2 LGs back
to his post. Tried
till ammun ran 
out. In mg he saw
rest go ^ (he ws on a rise) - & abt 6 am
they had a confab - Each
for himself or together - decided
to go back together, if any were pinched,
to rescue him.  Got thro 2 lots of gs. Out of 12
Diagram - see original document

 

Lt White 30 Bn.) wd know something
or Sutherland
[*Wishart
& Watts
K.
bringing 
in Wells
over 
stretcher
night
of 20th*]
Pte J. Wishart )
Pte T. Watts   )  Pty went out w K.
Cpl. Forbes   )
S. Wells       ) wd & rescued
Pte Wh Amps.  ) next day
4 got back; 2 wd in wire - Came back
from reserve & got them next night - but
2 of rescuers were shot by a
sentry of 29 Bn & killed.

 

See that White in sketches is detached from Mills.
Swing the 56 re off our [[road?]]. What is
Germs barrcdd [[Mastering?]]
Marks & Russell.
Franks' force made a gas attack on Gs.
After Fromelles when 8 Bde ws w it.
- TMs  2 Mortars of 8 14 LTM went over abt 11 pm under Lt Dalkeith
Hopkins K at 3 a.m. just before retirement
not much use.
(Lt R H Brock also wd)
30 rd a minute recd rate for rapid TM.
Purser Coy for CT ws put on carrg ammun.
? 8 mg coy brought out all their guns?
5 Bns to build tramway (1 mile) in 2 nights.
15 Bde charged thro shrap & mg.
Maxted started as S/B ws in Nomansland with the 1st SBs
working in spite of all warnings in hot fire but
walked on foot w 14 Bde tt F/P.
Ca White 2 Lt 20 Bn. An old Engl. soldier.
After Fromelles BW (1899 - 1907.)
8 F Coy tried sinking thro' the water bearing sand bed, a few
feet below surface. Lt Caddy & his Sectn didnt.
Ferguson 1 K F Coy d or w. C.T. under Fry.

 

Diagram - see original document

Capt Ray Allen.

moved at midday
from village to Engineers
trench.
5 Pm moved up to 300x  trench.
Thence into 70x trench thro saps
& at 5.40 into front line.
Field on left (betw 70x & f.l. Engs trench & 300x trench) walked
along duckbd with drain on left.
Sergt. Garland carried the notice (son of

treasurer of Syd. Hospl.)
Our barbed wire wasnt cut there - only
2 places to get thro - One ws found immdly.
The first 20x seemed to be out of German range, but
he was right onto the opening in the wire w

m.gs. The first party incldg Garland got across

but he ws k. near the far side. The m.g. ws

trained upon the spot & the 2nd & 3rd pties were practly

wiped out built up sandbags & got them out past

the opening. Allan then sent a pty to l. along

G. trench under a Corpl. who ws taken prisoner to

stop the mg..

The Gs were abt 50x along. The German m.g. ws

depressed so that it could get a man about

down to the knees, but below that it

seemed to be screened by the parapet.

Allan got his men under it. Another opening

ws found to the South. The 20x near the old

trench in Nomansland was most difficult. Lt Leer ws in/c

of the extreme right & was killed there.

Allens arm was smashed hit by a shell as he

reached the f.l.

Water ws asked for v. early - it ws

v. hot - They used to throw water bottles across

[*The line was not

taped. Lees &
Cadden dispensed

with this, but

the general 

line was

taken.

Allan & an

Engineer Sergt

dug a good 

part of it

themselves.

The bodies 

gave some

shelter

Lees ws killed

on the far

side after some

digging.

The work was

continued by

pushing forwd

sandbags from

our trench, &

later partly

from X*]

 

the dangerous space. Later parties were diverted
to the S. opening while the other avenue was completed.
Allen had left towds mg. C.O. Beardsmore
Street were just inside the Sailly Port.  B. ordered Allen
back, when he first returned.
The Tommies shd have bn able to keep the
m.g. down. The Gs. came at our men in Nomansland
[*Check this*]
with bombs. Beardsmore ws wd at Hqrs(?)
Got Allen got back to F. Amb. abt dawn.
At abt 3 ft ran into water.
A tall man came to Allen shaking all over
with shell shock & said: "I'm not afraid. Give
me something to do!" Allen gave him an ammun
box & he took it on. A Coy were largely sailors.
an overflow from the Naval Bridging Train -
two ex-naval officers.  (Welby & Orpen).
(One need not mention Orpen) 

 

Lt H Cox 31 Bn

had shoulder shattered by a shell &
died almost imd.
Capt Robertson 31 ws seen leading men in att -
never after.
Lt Spreadborough k in Nomansland
Hagan shot by mg fire thro
heart while returning across Nomansland
Higgon k while crossing our wire in Nomansland

 

A fine tribute to Elliott.
A mjr of his Bde wrote, "The grand
old man with his [[?]] force of character
towers far above us lesser men as /
pyramids do over / Mena House . - - -
Perhaps we o / Mach Gun Coy reflect
him better & more characteristically than
any other arm. It was his personality wh
gave / dominant note to our Coy. Our
training ws carried out by men from
his school shedding his influence - - - He
was rugged, strong, determined, a
man among men, a fighter. This
ws / reason of our Coys success." 

 

 

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