Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/244/1 - 1916 - 1933 - Part 14

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GLP/AJF. VR/1536/A

Branch Office, No 5 Area,

Imperial War Graves Commission,

ALBERT,

Somme, France

C.E.W. Bean Esq,

Official Historian

Victoria Barracks,

MELBOURNE, Victoria,

AUSTRALIA.

Dear Mr. Bean,

I have to advise you that during the

course of our research work the Body of the under-mentioned

soldier belonging to the 10th A.I.F. was found at Mouquet

Farm.

2971. L/Cpl. S. L. WALD,

10th Bn. A. I. F.,

Killed in action - 23.8.1916.

With all best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

G. Phillips

ALBERT. 

27.1.1928

Acknowledged

19/3/28 C W Bean

639.

28 January 1926.

Major G.L. Phillips, M.B.E.,

Australian Representative, I.W.G.C.,

Branch Office No. 5 Area,

Imperial War Graves Commission,

Albert (Somme). France.

Dear Phillips,

Many thanks for the information concerning men of 

the 10th Battalion who were found near Celtic Wood.

Have you any details of the men discovered in a

trench beyond Mouquet Farm, and the position of the trench? The

point is one of very great interest, and I am now at work upon

the chapters dealing with that period.

Also, the positions of any bodies found at the

Sugarloaf Salient in the Petillon-Laventie sector are of great

interest.

You and I are some of the few Australians who are

still at work on the war. I expect to reach a declaration of

peace somewhere about 1935! I wonder when your "war" will end?

With kind regards, Yours sincerely,

C.E.W. Bean

{signature]

GLP/SG. VR/9/P.

Branch Office, No. 5 Area,

Imperial War Graves Commission,

ALBERT (Somme).

FRANCE

C. E.W. Bean Esq,

Official Historian,

Commonwealth of Australia,

Victoria Barracks, Sydney,

Australia

My dear Mr Bean,

Replying to your letter No. 639 dated 28-1-26,

I am attaching herewith such information as bears on the 

question raised in para 2 of your letter. I have also been

successful in obtaining a loan of a Trench Map which relates

to that portion of the Somme in which you are interested, and

although a drawing has been taken out, I must wait until blue

prints are available before being able to send a copy to you.

I hope to be able to post by next Mail.

I have asked for any information concerning the

exact location from whence A.I.F. bodies have ben removed in

the Petillon-Lavente Sector, and this list may also be completed 

in sufficient time to accompany the map.

Regarding your last para. it must be somewhat

consoling to know when your declaration of peace is expected

to take place. With me it looks as though the War goes on for

ever.

With kindest regrds to yourself and Mrs Bean.

Believe me,

Yours sincerely,

G. Phillips

Albert.

22-4-26

Enc : . , List.

A.I.F.BURIAL GROUND, GRASS LANE.

Flers.

57c. N.25. b.9.5.

Plot.	Row.	Grave.	Particulars.	Exhumed From.
13.	A.	7.	U.A.S.	57d. R.33. b.1.3.
15.	O.	11.	U.A.S.	57d. x.4. b.8.2.
15.	O.	26	U.A.S.	57d. R.27. d.9.1.
15.	P.	4.	U.A.S.	57d. R.33. b.6.9.
15.	P.	5.	U.A.S.	57d. R.28. c.00.03.
15.	P.	6.	U.A.S.	57d. R.33. b.9.9.
15.	P.	7.	U.A.S.	57d. R.27. d.9.0.
15.	P.	8.	U.A.S.	57d. R.28. c.0.1.
15.	P.	9	U.A.S.	57d. R.33. b.8.9.
15.	P.	15.	U.A.S.	57d.R.28. c.0.0.
15.	P.	16.	U.A.S.	-do.-
15.	B.	6.	U.A.S	57d. R.33. b.1.2.
15.	B.	7 to 13.	7 U.A.Ss.	-do.-
15.	B.	4.	306lv PARK J.H.	-do.-
15.	B.	5.	16/A.I.F.
15.	B	5.	782 JACKSON L/Cpl.J.W. 16/A.I.F.., 16/8/16.	-do.-
15.	O.	23.	3325 GOLDNEY A.F., 50/A.I.F.	57d. R.27. d.9.1.
15.	O.	24.	4447 BUCHANAN R., 13/A.I.F.	-do.-
15.	O.	25.	3298 DUKEMANN J.E.D., 50/A.I.F.	-do.-
15.	B.	34.	U.A.S.	57d. R.34. b.7.4.
15.	B.	37.	U.A.S.	57d. R.34. b.0.3
15.	C.	30.	U.A.S.	57d. X.5. a.8.8.
15.	D.	27.	U.A.S.	57d. R.33. b.1.3.
15.	E.	19.	U.A.S.	57d. R.27. d.0.4.
15.	E.	20.	3151 HUDSON, T.G., 62/A.I.F.	57d. R.27. d.1.2.
15.	E	21.	5724 SILL R.,
15.	E.	27.	953 SUSSEMS G.,  24/A.I.F.	57d. R. 34. b.0.0
15.	E.	28.	U.A.S.	57d. R.34. d.1.9.
15.	E.	29.	U.A.S.	57d. R.33. d.9.7.
15.	F.	20	4037 BRIGGS J.A.,  16/A.I.F.	57d. R.33. d.6.8.
15.	F.	21.
15.	F.	21.	2264a DUMMOND Pte. P.J., 50/A.I.F., 16/8/16	-do.-
15.	F.	22.	U.A.S.	-do.-
15.	F.	23.	4477 EDWARDS Pte. F. H., 14/A.I.F., 8/8/16	57d. R.34. d.7.5. -do.-
15.	F.	24.	U.A.S.	-do.-
15.	F.	28.	3951a DAWSON, J., 49/A.I.F.	57d. R.34. b.0.3.
15.	F.	29.
15.	F.	29.	U.A.S.	57d. R.34. b.05.30.
15.	F.	30.	U.A.S.	-do.-
15.	K.	11	U.A.OFFICER. 2/Lt.	57d. X.5. a.3.6.
15.	M.	23	1661a CROCKFORD Pte.J.T., 21/A.I.F., 29/7/16	57d. X.4. c.6.6.
15.	M.	24
15.	M.	24.	U.A.S.	57d. R.34. b.1.8.
15.	M	25.	3866 PROUD Sgt. A.H., 46/A.I.F.	-do.-
14.	C.	16.	3964 WILLIAMS J., 9/A.I.F.	57d. x.5. c.8.0.

(2).

Plot.	Row.	Grave.	Particulars.	Exhumed From.
16.	C.	12.	U.A.S.	57d. X.4. b.6.8.
16.	D.	13.	U.A.S.	57d. X.4. c.4.8.
16.	E.	7.	U.A.S.	57d. R.34. a.5.1.
16.	E.	8.	487 L/Cpl. WATSON A.A., 22/A.I.F., 4/4/16.	57d. R.34. c.5.7.
16.	E.	6.	251 TURNER H., 25/A.I.F.	57d. R.34. d.5.6.
16.	E.	13.	U.A.S.	57d. R.33. a.6.2.
16.	H.	9.	291 Mc Kechnie Sgt. J.A., 10/A.I.F., 23/25-7-16.	57d. X.5. b.1.1.1
16.	H.	10.	U.A.S.	-do.-
			CERISY GAILLY F.N.C.
2.	G.	14.	PAUL E.J., 10/A.I.F.	57d. R.34. d.6.0.
1.	D.	21.	U.A.S.	57d. R.28. d.0.1.
1.	C.	14.	1757 CHILDS H, 11/A.I.F.	57d. R.34. a.30.45.
1.	F.	11.	U.A.S.	57d. R.33. b.8.9.
			CERISY GAILLY M.C.
3.	F.	11.	U.A.S.	57d. X.5. c.2.0.
3.	F.	12.	U.A.S.	-do.-
3.	F.	13.	U.A.S.	57d. X.5. c.22.00
3.	D.	5.	2102 ANDRESEN R.E>, 26/A.I.F.	57d. R.34. c.7.5.
3.	E.	1 to 5.	4 U.A.S. & 1 U.B.S.	57d. X.5. d.5.5.
2.	C.	20.	U.A. OFFICER	57d. X.5. c.18.23.
2.	C.	21.	U.A.S.	57d. X.5. c.4.1.
2.	C.	6.	2682 TORNQUEST Pte.G.E., A.I.F.	57d. X.5. c.25.10
2.	C.	7.
2.	C.	7.	U.A.S.	-do.-
2.	C.	8.	1264 PAGE Pte. S.E., 19/A.I.F.	57d. X.5. c.30.15.

The foregoing list covers the exhumation and

reburial of all Australian soldiers found in the area

bounded by Thiepval, Courcelette, Pozieres, & Bazentin,

since February, 1925.

 

GG./GLP.  VR/P/9.

Branch Office,

No. 5. Area,

Imperial War Graves Commission,

Somme - France

Albert

21st May 1928.

Dear Mr. Bean,

Further Human Remains relating to a 

member of the 10th Battn. A.I.F. have been found at

Moquet Farm on the 17th. inst.:-

2585. Private L.C. Beale,

10th Battn. A.I.F.

Killed in action.

19/23. 8.16.

An inscribed Cigarette case and Wristlet

watch led to the body being definately identified.

These effects will of course be forwarded to the

relatives within the near future.

I trust that you are keeping well.

With kindest regards,

Yours sincerely

G. Phillips

CE Bean.

C.E. Bean, Esq.

Official Historian,

Victoria Barracks,

SYDNEY, N.S.W. Australia.

 

[*HN*]   
TRUSTEE BUILDING
(FIRST FLOOR)
GRENFELL STREET, 

ADELAIDE

BLACKBURN & McCANN,                                             

BARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS                            

ARTHUR SEAFORTH BLACKBURN LL.B.    
WILLIAM FRANCIS JAMES MCCANN

TELEPHONE, CENTRAL 6543

 

13th June 1928

 

C.E.W. Bean, Esq.,

Official Historian,

Victoria Barracks,

SYDNEY, N.S.W.

 

Dear Mr. Bean, 

In August of last year you sent to me a 

passage from Volumn III of the Australian Official History

of the War for any comments which I could make upon the

matter. I placed it on one side to go over at my leisure

and unfortunately entirely overlooked it. Last night

whilst turning out some papers I came across your letter

etc. and realised that it had never been answered. In the

first place, therefore, I must apologise for my delay. I

fear that any help I could give will now be too late.

However, in the hope that even now it may be of some assistance

to you, I am enclosing herewith a copy of my report

upon the operations 23rd-25th July, 1916, so far as D Company

10th Battalion was concerned. I finally took over the

command of D Company on morning of 25th July 1916.

 

I still have my field note books and have made

a copy of the duplicate of the report submitted by me. I 

do not know whether this will assist you in anyway as I

 

C.E.W. Bean, Esq.   2. 13/6/28

 

presume you have had access to all Battalion reports, etc.

Upon looking through my note books I find that I have a 

copy of the 10th Battalion operation order issued for the

attack on Pozieres. If this will be of any assistance

to you I will be glad to send you a copy of same. Owing

to faulty carbon sheets, certain map references in the

duplicate of my report cannot be read, and as I have not

got a copy of the map I cannot complete same.

 

Again apologising for my delay and trusting that

these notes may be of some assistance,

 

I remain,

Yours sincerely,

Arthur Blackburn

AB/CG.

[* The first three paragraphs hereunder are copies of messages sent by me to C.B. 9th Batt

taken from my message book. They may be of assistance in fixing times. I do not

myself understand the second message if the time given is correct.

AB.

H.N. *]

 

At 0602 we are hung up by machine guns and snipers firing at us

as we cross an open patch

We have advanced and cleared 60 yards from the barricade.

Arthur S. Blackburn 23/7/16

Lieut.

C.O. 9th Battalion

 

At 0750 I linked up with officer of Trench Mortar Battery and

thus with our forward position I am consolidating now

Will you please send up materials and Pioneers at once.

Arthur S. Blackburn 23/7/16

Lieut.

C.O. 9th Battalion

 

At 1120 I find that owing to heavy machine gun fire on the same

spot I am still unable to advance.

For the past ten or fifteen minutes the enemy has been bombing us

severely.

My men owing to numerous further casualties and having to do

the work of consolidation are feeling its effects rather severely.

Arthur S. Blackburn 23/7/16

Lieut.

C.O. 10th Battalion

 

I beg to submit the following report on operations at Pozieres

23rd - 25th July:-

D Coy. was in reserve to the Battalion and in consequence of

presumed blocking in Black Watch Alley could not get into position in

the Alley. At the time the intense bombardment started although

exposed on the open road for fully 15 minutes the Company fortunately

suffered only one casualty at this stage. The Company subsequently

moved up Black Watch Alley as room was available and arrived in position

about 0400. After a wait of approximately three quarters of an hour

word was passed down for every man to prepare shelter for himself

against enfilade fire consequently every one dug shelter. At 0530

I received an order from O.C. Company Major Giles to move forward to

9th Battalion Headquarters with 50 men and to report to him there.

On arrival there I received orders from him to move on up the trench

and drive the enemy out of it as they were holding it from a point