Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/243A/1 - 1916 - 1934 - Part 9

H/FMG. 

TELEPHONE Nos

F 2597.

F 2598.

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.
TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS

"AUSWARMUSE.""

COMMUNICATIONS TO BE DIRECTED TO

"THE DIRECTOR.""

"They gave their lives. for the 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 for ever when occasion 

comes for word or deed . . . . . "

AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL

POST OFFICE BOX 214D

EXHIBITION BUILDINGS, MELBOURNE.
IN REPLY PLEASE QUOTE

NO. 17/3/146
21st June, 1929
Dear Mr. A. Bazley,
Further to my letter pf the 18th June, I am

enclosing a copy of a further letter received from Private

W, Miles, together with copies of letters written to him by

Major Murdoch and a Mr. Tom Stapleton who evidently served

with the 29th Battalion

Yours sincerely

J Treloar

Mr. A. W. Bazley

C/o Official Historian,
Victoria Barracks,
PADDINGTON, N.S.W.
 

(COPY).
Mooropna,
15/6/29.
Mr. Treloar,
Major Murdock seems offended with me, but still
does not admit the facts of the incident, or even that I am
the person concerned, which latter is vitally necessary to
me in proving my identity in my pension appeal. If you
have any doubt that a mistake has been made, I will obtain
further proof from Dr. Catford, E. Hawk, the adjutant
Mr. Ainsley, "Cooms Motors", Capt. Charles Derham, or a
dozen other witnesses.
Once I can prove the matter to the pension board
the matter can drop as far as I am concerned. I do not
want the limelight.
Yours faithfully,
(Sgd.) W. Miles.
 

(COPY).
14th June, 1929.
My dear Miles,
I have your letter of the 8th June and
hope that Stapleton & Sheehan will be able to get the necessary
information.  As I wrote in my last letter, make sure that
everything in detail is correct because if there is a prospect
of having your pension reviewed, the data must be absolutely
In order. As I have already mentioned, I will help you if I
can and if you wish it.

Referring to the footnote on your letter,
I wish you to clearly understand that in Beans Book of the
Official History of the War, the formula referring to the
Fleurbaix stunt is his compiling and not mine. He referred
to me for verification only.

Do not think for one minute that I am
taking exception to your letter, but I wish you to understand
that I am not the author of what has been done or the way in
which it has been done.

The War Museum Authorities communicated
with me two or three times, but I have not complied with their

request. I am quite willing to do so if facts are placed
before me, but I am not going to be the prime mover in placing
myself in the limelight.

My opinion of the review in the 'Daily
Chronicle' will deal with the Fleurbaix incident in a phase
that will not lay overdue stress on the incidents leading up
to what was achieved, but more in respect to the advisability
or inadvisability of carrying to completion the arrangements
that were tentatively made.
With kind regards,
I am,
Yours sincerely,
(Sgd.) A. W. Murdoch.
 

(COPY).
238 Toorak Road,
South Yarra S.E.1,
13th June 1929.
Dear Miles,
Pleased to have your letter, hope you & kiddie are
well. Re your request how to obtain copy of L. D. Chronicle of
25th May, I presume you mean of 1916, if so I think the best way
would be to write direct to London Office for same as it would
be a big job to find a copy here of that date.

Mr. Bean's statement seem to me to be all wrong, the
names as you say have been mixed, how I don't know.  In Capt.
A.D. Ellis Story, "History of 5th Aus. Division" you are
mentioned as being with Major Murdoch (but not fully), on that
occasion (Page 111) you can mention that from me, to anybody
you like.
Jim Sheehan's address is C/o Equity T. & A. Co. Ltd.,
85 Queen Street, Mel. C.1.
B. Rahilly, C/o S.A. & A S.A., V.C.A. Building, Collins Place,
Melbourne, C.1.
Cheerio. Best of Luck.
Yours truly,
(Sgd.) Tom Stapleton

P.S. Am having a bad time myself, haven't done any work
since I left Hospital, like you they cut down my
Pension. We cant do much against them so cheer up
we may have a good day yet.
Will be glad to hear from you again. Any others
of our Unit up there let me know their particulars.
Cheerio.
(Sgd.) Tom E.S.
 

Extract from
THE STORY OF THE FIFTH AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
by Captain A.D. Ellis. M.C.
page 111.
. . . . . . . . . . . It was a pitiful sight to see the hands beckoning
from No Man's Land for the assistance that could not come to
them, and early on the 20th Major Murdoch, of the 29th Battalion,
made a gallant but unsuccessful attempt to bring about their
relief. Fashioning a rough red cross on a piece of newspaper
he crossed, with Private Miles of "D" Company 29th Battalion,
to the enemy trenches and asked to see an officer. A Bavarian
Lieutenant, immaculately dressed, emerged from the enemy trench,
and Major Murdoch asked if an informal cessation of hostilities
could not be mutually arranged to enable the wounded to be
brought in. The Bavarian replied courteously enough, regretting
that he had no authority to give any order to that effect and
saying that he would telephone for instructions. Meanwhile, the
men on both sides of the line were not slow to take advantage of
the curious situation, and while our men busied themselves in
bringing in wounded, the Germans exposed themselves equally
freely in repairing breaches in their parapet. Major Murdoch
returned unmolested to the front line, but, shortly afterwards,
a few warning shots fired high indicated the enemy's intention
to resume hostilities. Our men accordingly returned to their
trench and the incident closed. . . . . . . . . . . . .
 

4669.
20 July 1929.
Lieut.-Colonel J. McArthur, D.S.C.,
Drill Hall
Surrey Hills. Vic
Dear McArthur,
I understand that a mistake has been made in Volume
III in identifying the Private Miles who went over to the
German trenches in connection with the truce after the Battle
of Fromelles. Unfortunately, the real Miles is listed in the
records as belonging to the 5th Battalion, to which he transferred 
in 1918. The only Miles whose name was furnished by
Base Records to us was the man mentioned in the volume. We
tried to get into touch with him by letter, but this was
returned unclaimed.

There was a good deal of difficulty in getting at the
facts of this incident. I don't know whether you remember
that you would tell me none of the details in 1916, but indicated
 that I might get them from somebody else. I eventually
got on to Murdoch but, for the reason mentioned above, was
unable to question Miles. However, a correction will be made
as soon as an opportunity occurs.
Yours faithfully,
C E W Bean
[[Haw?]]

 

4668.
20 July 1929.
W. Miles, Esq.,
Mooroopna,
Victoria.
Dear Sir,
Major Treloar, the Director of the Australian War
Memorial, has pointed out to me an error which was evidently
made in compiling Volume III of the Official History as to the
identity of "Private Miles", who was concerned with the arrangements

for the truce after the Battle of Fromelles. I may mention
that the only Miles who is listed in the records under the 29th
Battalion, and who was apparently present at this battle, was
another man. As in all cases we tried to get into touch with
him, but our letters were returned unclaimed. Unfortunately
you were listed under the 5th Battalion, and this fact caused us
to pass over your name without connecting you with the incident.
As soon as an opportunity occurs of correcting any errors in
Volume III, an alteration will be made.
I should be grateful if you would let me know any particulars

in which, as far as your memory goes, the account given in
Volume III is incorrect. We went to no end of trouble to obtain
all the particulars, but, as often happens, were unable to get
in touch with all the survivors. I forward herewith a copy of
an extracts from the London "Daily Chronicle".
Yours faithfully,

CEW Bean

[[Haw?]]
P.S. Colonel McArthur mentioned that you
had some knowledge of the action at Sunray
Trench, and also of a German patrol action
near Pronville. If you have time to add a
few notes of your recollection of these
subjects, I should be glad to have them.
 

Vol III
Corrections
Also H/N
Sunray Trench

& Pronville
Mooroopna

30/7/29
Mr. C.E.W. Bean
Dear Sir
Just a few words in explanation, as to 
how I became interested in this matter
It is not for a desire to seek the limelight
as Major Murdoch suggests or a wish to
detract from his performance, but
only to establish my identity before
appealing to the mw board for an
increase of pension. I have reason 
to believe that my papers are not
correct and incomplete. I was discharged

medically unfit from the 

21^st. Battⁿ. after being in the Base
Hospital. S^t Kilda R^d. for some weeks.

but have no way of finding out if 
this period of service is attached

To my 29^th. Battalion papers.  If Miles

of the 8^th.L.T.M. Battery gets the 

credit for the Fleurbaix stunt and I

am listed 5^th, Battⁿ you will see

that my papers are in a muddle.
(I was transferred to 5^th Battⁿ just
 
 

before leaving the training battalion

at  Hindcott.  Eng. where I was a drill 

instructor, in Dec. 1918.) (My pension

is £1-13-6 a fortnight.) I was wounded in

the right side of the head and have 

recently spent nearly four months in

Caulfield for an operation for fractured

jaw. I was blown up at Polygon

Wood, and reported “Blown up and 

shell shock.”  I was in hospital for 

three months all but a few days

in Remy Siding S^t Omer, and Calais

also resting at Trouville.  That is the

 only time I was away from the 
battalion and they were then 

spelling at Devres near the coast.
Now Sir I will soon be finished this

prelude to my yarn.  I do not care what 
correction you care to make to the

Official History and dont care whether
my name is mentioned or not. but
if you see fit to put in a word to 
the pension people, well I shall be
deeply grateful. Major Murdoch is
a wealthy, influential business

 

man at Prells Buildings. Melbourne.

and I don’t want to squabble with 

him as he may be able to injure

the little pension l have got.

The only child born to us since I 

returned “Aussie Miles” is a cripple
and although nearly nine years 

old, can neither talk or walk.

His condition, according to the

leading doctors in Melbourne is

the result of my shell shock.

That’s that.
Well S^ir  Forgive the personal pronoun

and here goes. Just two incidents to show

that my memory of that morning is

alright L^t. C^ol. Toll 31^st  Battⁿ. said just
before we left the German trench, “Well
men, no one could ask you to do more.
get back to our lines, but don’t bunch
up,” so we went across straggling

but as fast as possible. About half

way across, another sniper passed

me flying and sung out, “Never

knew I won a Stawell  gift did 

you Billy?” His name was Harry