Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/243A/1 - 1916 - 1934 - Part 8

(2)
laid down.
Private Miles and myself were in No Man's Land
for about 20 minutes during which period other incidents
occurred but hardly worth while bringing under your notice.
I hope the above is what you require and I can
assure you the details are absolutely what took place.
Trusting my reply has not be delayed too long,
Yours faithfully,
A.W. Murdoch
Major. 

1051.
22 May 1926.
Major A.W. Murdoch,
6, Black Street,
Middle Brighton, Vic.
Dear Major Murdoch,
Many thanks for your letter, which clears up practically
the whole of the incident in question. There is only one point
as to which I am uncertain. Two accounts in my possession - one
not very definite - state that the German authorities insisted
that either the picking up of wounded, or the negotiations incident
to it, must be carried out under a white flag and not a Red Cross
flag, and that this was the reason for the refusal of the suggestion.
Can you tell me whether, so far as you can recollect, this
demand was made?
If it is not too much trouble, I should be most grateful
if you would tell me shortly what were the incidents which you eh
served in No-Man's Land; even if they are not worth inclusion in
the history, they may be valuable in assisting the writer to form
his judgement about the battle and its results, and the suffering,
conduct, or morale of our men and the Germans.
Again thanking you for your assistance,
I am, Yours sincerely,
C. E. W. Bean

H.N.
6 Black Street,
MIDDLE BRIGHTON:
24th May, 1926.
Captain C. E. W. Bean,
Official Historian,
Victoria Barracks,
SYDNEY: N.S.W.
Dear Captain Bean,
I am in receipt of yours of the 22nd
inst. (No. 1051) and have to state the question of White
Flag or Red Cross was not mentioned by the Germans. In
my opinion our Divisional Headquarters turned the matter
down, not because I was to be held as hostage, but that
our Higher Authorities thought the Germans may have had
some ulterior motive.
Relating to the second paragraph of
your letter, to give a description would be rather lengthy
and perhaps be of not much value, but I will say that the
fight on both sides was a fair one and the morale of our
men and the Germans good.
I think the above will answer your
query.
Yours faithfully,
A W Murdoch

(2)
PERSONAL: Perhaps in your position you might help me in
securing the negative of a photograph of Miles and myself taken
by two German Officers while we were in No Man's Land, and if
it is at all possible we would like to have a copy. If you
could advise me the best way of setting about securing this
negative, I would be greatly obliged, but I think the chance
is very remote owing to the lapse of time.
To give you a small idea how fortunate Miles and
myself were to return to our trenches. When we were interviewing
the Germans, who fortunately were Saxons, a shot was
fired from our Lines. Possibly this did not have any ill result,
otherwise we would undoubtedly have had to pay the penalty.
With kind regards,
AW Murdoch

F.4151
xxxxxxx
1148.
25 June 1926.
Major A.W. Murdoch,
6, Black Street,
Middle Brighton, Victoria.
Dear Major Murdoch,
Will you excuse me bothering you with three
additional questions? The answers are sought for the sake
of accuracy.
(1) Did you and Miles stop and distribute waterbottles
on your way over to the German trench, or while you
were waiting?
(2) Did you enter the German trench, or sell out for an
officer from their barbed-wire?
(3) Were the men in both lines watching while you
crossed No-Man's Land, and how was the German attention
first attracted?
I should be much obliged if you could give me
this information quite shortly.
Yours sincerely,
C.E.W. Bean

H.N.
8 Black Street,
MIDDLE BRIGHTON:
28th June, 1926.
Captain C.E.W. Bean,
Victoria Barracks,
SYDNEY: N.S.W.
Dear Captain Bean,
I have to acknowledge yours of the 25th
inst. (No. 1148) and the following are the answers to your
questions: -
(1) Water bottles distributed while going across No Man's
Land and while waiting there. The Germans objected
to us distributing water bottles and recalled us back
to their barbed-wire entanglements. However, all
water bottles were distributed.
(2) Did not enter German trenches but proceeded to their
barbed-wire entanglements.
(3) Yes- both lines were watching while we crossed No
Man's Land. German attention was attracted first
of all by our displaying the 'Red Cross' which
consisted of a newspaper pasted on board and the borders
of a red material cushion were used to form the Cross.
This was placed on the top of our parapet and waved
from side to side to attract German attention. When
this was attained Miles and myself proceeded across
No Man's Land.
With kind regards,
Yours sincerely,
A W Murdoch

TELEPHONE NOS.
F. 2597.
F. 2598.
COMMUNICATIONS TO BE ADDRESSED TO
"THE DIRECTOR"
IN REPLY PLEASE QUOTE
No. 17/3/146 
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
"They gave their lives. For that public gift they
received a praise which never ages and a
tomb most glorious - not so much the tomb in
which they lie, but that in which their fame
survives, to be remembered forever when occasion
comes for word or deed ......."

TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS
"AUSWARMUSE."
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL.
POST OFFICE BOX  214 D.
EXHIBITION BUILDINGS, MELBOURNE.
21st May, 1929.
Dear Mr. Bazley,
Early in April ex-Sergeant W. Miles (No. 1178,
29th Battalion) wrote to the War Memorial asking if we had a
copy of a photograph taken at Fromelles. Miles explained that
he had accompanied Major Murdoch when this Officer endeavoured
to arrange an armistice, and he goes on to describe the
circumstances in which the photograph was taken: -
"It was taken in No Man's Land at Fleurbaix
on July 21st, 1916. I was attending wounded men when the
Germans called me over and we had a long talk. They then
sent me back for an officer and Major Murdoch of Prell's,
Queen Street, came back with me. We couldn't come to terms
about collecting the wounded so they told us it must be done
at night. While talking to the German officer, I had my
photo. taken repeatedly being asked to turn this way and
that. Sometimes I had to hold my hands above my head. Later
we were both photographed. If you could see anything like
this I should be glad to know as I may not be in town again
for a long time. There were dead and wounded men everywhere
around and while were over at Germany's lines our men were
looking over the parapet."
After Volume III was published we noticed that
there was a reference to this incident on pages 438 and 439.
Reference is made to a soldier named Miles but he is identified
in the footnote as Private H.N. Miles (No. 2605, 8th L.T.M.
Battery).
It is unlikely that both men were actively
interested in the episode. You may, however, have definite
evidence in support of your identification and I have wondered
if you think it would be advisable to investigate the matter
further with a view to endeavouring to establish which of the
two soldiers referred to above accompanied Major Murdoch.
Yours sincerely,
J S Treloar
Mr. A. W. Bazley,
c/- Official Historian,
Victoria Barracks,
Paddington, N.S.W.

Corrections Vol III pp438-41
TELEPHONE NOS.
F. 2597.
F. 2598.
COMMUNICATIONS TO BE ADDRESSED TO
"THE DIRECTOR".
IN REPLY PLEASE QUOTE
No. 17/3/146
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
"They gave their lives. For that public gift they
received a praise which never ages and a
tomb most glorious - not so much the tomb in
which they lie, but that in which their fame
survives, to be remembered forever when occasion
comes for word or deed ......."
TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS
"AUSWARMUSE."
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL.
POST OFFICE BOX 214 D.
EXHIBITION BUILDINGS, MELBOURNE.
18th June, 1929.
Dear Mr Bazley,
With reference to your ^my letter of the
21st May, I enclose a copy of a further letter received
from ex-Sergeant W. Miles, together with a copy of
a letter written by Lieutenant-Colonel J. McArthur.
We would be glad to receive any comments
you may care to make when you have time to go into the
matter.
Yours sincerely,
J S Treloar
Am waiting for particulars of this man
from Base Records.
Mr. A. W. Bazley,
C/o. Official Historian,
Victoria Barracks,
PADDINGTON.

Copy
Mooroopna.
June 5th, 1929.
Mr. Treloar.
Dear Sir, 
I have been waiting for letters to prove my statement
that I was the Miles in Fromelles incident, and now am
able to forward proof in the enclosed letter from Lieutenant-Colonel
McArthur, D.S.O. my old battalion commander. I have
written to Major Murdoch asking him to correct the statement
that he went over first. I was sent back by the German
officer, after he had rung up his divisional headquarters for
an officer and then Major Murdoch accompanied me back. The
rest of the account is correct as far as I know. I intend
appealing to the new board for an increase of pension as I am
sure now that another Miles papers have been mixed up with mine.
I am not supposed to have hurt my knee on active service
now this letter proves I did. So when you have finished with
these papers will you please return them to me as I cannot
appeal till I get the proof of my identity back.
Thanking you for the trouble you are taking,
I remain,
Yours faithfully,
(Sgt) W. Miles.
Ex-Sgt. W. Miles,
1178, 29th Batt. A.I.F.
Enlisted at Bendigo.

Copy
Drill Hall,
Surrey Hills.
4th June, 1929.
Dear Miles,
I am very pleased to have received your letter
and the one enclosed with particulars re Fromelles, and know that a
photo had been taken.
It is rather surprising that another Miles has
received the credit of your gallant action, when you accompanied
Major Murdoch into No Man's Land after our dreadful experience
of the night before. I remember when a volunteer was asked for,
you jumped from the parapet, and after having fallen got up and
although limping carried on, and continued to render assistance,
ever after the Truce had been called off, you also went out even
in broad daylight and carried water to those in front of our wire
also after dark again assisted in getting in wounded. I understood
that the C.O. had specially mentioned your work. I feel and
have always felt that you deserved the greatest praise, at least
for what you did, as also on the occasion when in front of
Pronville when leading your section and came suddenly on a large
German Patrol of 16, by your prompt action with the Lewis Gun
driving them off and saving your men.
In connection with the incident at Sun Ray
Trench I remember ordering you to leave before the Coy, owing to
your leg being injured, so that you could limp on ahead and not
delay the Coy, our stretcher bearers being fully employed.
As previously remarked there are many
actions that I could recount in connection with yourself, as you
seemed to come under my observation a good deal.
I am sorry to hear about your boy, and hope
that he will get O.K. and grow up to be a good soldier like his
father, also sorry that you have been in hospital, had I known
I would have gone out to see you.
[*Trusting that this will find you improving and that your troubles will soon be O.K.
With kindest regards,
I remain your old comrade, (Sgd) J. McArthur. ex. C.O. 28th. Batt.*]