Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/246/1 - 1916 - 1929 - Part 13

7
while a hastily organised party of us pushed on
up the trench. The trench was a very poor one
being very shallow and very muddy and we
advanced along the parapet for a couple
of hundred yards,  until we came upon a
strong point with a very deep dug out
leading from it. In this dug out 17 or 
18 of the enemy were found & they surrendered
at once. Sgt Lockwood of B Coy rendered
valuable assistance at this stage, while
our improvised bombing party pushed on,
led by a truculent looking NC.O. with 
a revolver in either hand. Owing to the 
heavy fog we could only see a short distance
ahead but we followed the trench & presently
came upon another strong point & another dug
out. Further on we found a third strong point.
More men having now been sent forward from
Loupart Road, garrisons were told off for
these strong points & the deepening of the
trench commenced.
Where Mall trench intersected Loos Cut we
engaged the enemy with brisk rifle fire & 
rifle grenades and here we sustained several
casualties from enemy snipers.
After some difficulty - owing to the uncertain
 

8 light - we established a junction with the
5^th A.I.Bde who had bombed along from
the right flank. By this time we had gained
about 600 yds of Mall Trench.
Consolidation was carried on under cover of the
mist and fortunately the fog did not lift until
about 10. 30 am or 11 am. Then the enemy
began registering but by that time we were
well gu dug in. There was no counter 
attack.
Among the prisoners captured by us was a
French soldier - a sergeant. He had been
working as a prisoner not far behind the
line & having obtained possession of a Hun
great coat, had ventured into their front
line in the hope of being captured by us.
The captured dug outs were found to be all
well stocked with cigars, cigarettes and
cakes and at one strong point I even
came across some of our fellows regaling
themselves with cream - puffs. There were
strong & numerous indications of a recent
enemy relief and if my memory serves
me truly our opponents that morning,
belonged to one of the Reserve Regiments
of Prussian Guards. 

9.
our reconnaissance reports in reference to the
enemy wire we were now able to confirm
xx at our leisure. It was thick and
well sited. We were relieved on the night 3/4 March.
Diagram - see original document
 

Somme Winter, February 1917.
Historical Notes, xxxxxx
46th Battalion.
“He and his two brothers were three of my bravest and
most trustworthy men and were held in the highest esteem by
all officers, n.c.o's, and men of “D” company. I and ten of
my men were on a bombing raid. Watt was one of the first to
volunteer when I called for men to go as bombers up to the
head of the advance, and it was just immediately afterwards
that he and a comrade was mortally wounded.”
(Extract from letter from Sgt. C. Rooney, 46th Bn. to the father
of Pte. W.B. Castles, who was killed at Gueudecourt on 14 February
1917.)
 

H/N
Le Barque  - Beunett

The 3rd Bde moved 
against a le [[Blona?]]
written message from
Bde H.Q. The divisional
operation order was 

drawn up after the 
events for purposes
of record only
Cth Bk
16 May - 10 July 

NARRATIVE OF ADVANCE BY 9TH. BATTALION A.I.F.
on 24th., 25th., and 26th. Feby.1917.

SITUATION

1700  At 1700 At 1700 the Battalion was defending the line from M.24

B.9.7. to M.18. C.3½.½.

Companies were distributed as follows::- “A” Coy. right sub-sector 
firing line, from M.24.x. 9.7. to M.24.A.8.4½. 
“B” Coy. :Left subsector firing line, from M.24 A.8.4½ to
M.18.C.3½.½.

“C” Coy: Cobham Trench, M.24.C.4.4 and Cough Drop, M.35.A.7.3.
This Coy. was support to "B" Company.

“D” Coy: Yarra Avenue, M.2.0.B.5.7. This Coy. was support to
"A " Company.

Battalion Headquarters, Hexham Road, M.30.A.8½.5.

PATROL

1700 - 1900 Patrols on the nights of the 22nd. and 23rd. reported no enemy

movement in the front line, and a daylight patrol was sent out

at 1700 to reconnoitre THE MAZE,  and returned at 1900, having
been all through the enemy lines facing our sector, reporting
that the enemy had vacated his lines.
SITUATION

1930  At 1930 the two Companies in Support were ordered to proceed 
to YARRA BANK preparatory to the advance into the enemy
lines.
2030  The order was given to advance - two bombing teams from
“A” Coy. were ordered to proceed into the MAZE, one team to
clean up the CHORD LINE, and the other to work up BAYONET TRENCH
and create a bomb step at M.24.B.40¼ 99.
Two bombing teams from “B” Company were ordered to proceed into
THE MAZE one team to clean up THE MAZE, and the other to
work up GIRD TRENCH as far as BLUE CUT and create a bomb stop
at M.18.C.4-7.
2035  At 2035 the remainder of  “A” and “B” Companies moved out
and occupied the enemy trenches, “A” Company occupying
TRENCH and the CHORD LINE, “B” Company occupying GIRD TRENCH.
The CHORD LINE was then consolidated and saps dug from YARRA
BEND to M.24.B.3½.9½ and M.24.A.5.8.and M.24.A..7½.9.
“D” Company moved up from YARRA BANK and took over old
line from “A” Company, & “C” Company taking over from “B” Company.
A patrol consisting of 1 Officer and 10 Other Ranks was
sent out to investigate BANK TRENCH. This patrol found BANK
TRENCH occupied by a few snipers. These were driven off by the patrol.
At 2300 this patrol reported BANK TRENCH clear of the enemy.

ADVANCE.  2330  At 2350 “D” Company was ordered to advance and occupy
BANK TRENCH, and consolidate it. Up to this point there was
no connection between us and the flank Battalions.
SITUATION. 

2400 The situation at midnight was : A line from M.18.C.7.2.
to M.18.D.5.1., Outpost line M.18.D.7-5., “A”,”B”, and “C”
Companies occupying the MAZE.
0130 25th. “D” Company reported BANK TRENCH occupied and consolidation
commenced. During the advance this Company was held up on three
different occasions by Machine guns and snipers. All, however,
were effectively dealt with, but our casualties were fairly
heavy. BANK TRENCH was in a very bad condition.
PATROLS 

0200 Patrols were sent out from this point to locate the
enemy, and they were found at about M.18.E.8.1. A fighting
patrol consisting of 1 Officer and 30 Other Ranks was sent out
to engage the enemy at this point. They met with strong opposition.

and were forced back. (Lt.B.G. Adams ws shot by sniper coming up from old gun position dugout - as he had a Mills grenade in his hand, & killed one of patrol Inf shot this sniper) Germans afterwards cleared and patrols went down Blue & Yellow cut.

0300 Two more O Officers’ patrols were then sent forward, one working 
up BLUE CUT and the other WORKING up YELLOW CUT. These
patrols examined the ground forward for about 600 yards, and
reported the enemy retiring to OAT LANE.
SITUATION. 

The situation was as follows :- One Company M.18.6.4.7.
to M.18.C.6½.2½. One Company M18.C.6½.2½. To o.M.18.D.5.
 

2.

to M.18,C-75-00. to Mc18.D.501.
One Company M18,6,65-24. to
Mc18.D.5-1. One Company M.18.A.8.2. to M.18.D.7-55.
Battalion Headquarters - Mc24.B.3-37.
The enemy placed a heavy barrage on our positions and greatly
hampered operations. We linked up with the right Battalion
at BANK TRENCH. No connection so far with the left Battalion.
It was owing to our flanks being unprotected, our advance
was held up till 1300.
ADVANCE 
1300 
At  1300 our line moved forward towards CAT LANE, reinforced
by one Company from THE MAZE. Strong opposition was met
with, and enemy shelling was intense. Casualties heavy from
machine gun fire and artillery fire.
At 1530 CAT LANE was occupied, 2 machine guns and 2 prisoners
being captured.
SITUATION
1530 The situation of the Companies was as follows :-
"C" Company, and "D" Companies, CAT LANE. "A" Company, BANK TRENCH.
"B" Coy, THE MAZE.
PATROLS
1700 AT 1700 patrols were sent forward to examine MALT 
TRENCH
One proceeded up YELLOW CUT, crossing WHEAT TRENCH, the other
via GINGER CUT. These patrols all met with opposition, being
harassed a good deal by snipers. MALT TRENCH was cleaned up
to about M.12.D. 7.6. and a bomb stop was formed at this point.
The patrol via GINGER CUT, proceeded up sunken road as far as
M.7.C.8.7. and formed a bombing post at M.7.C.70.95.
Parties
of the enemy were encountered in dugouts along the road, and
were all sumarily dealt with.
ARTILLERY During the advance from BANK TRENCH then enemy persisted
in a strong barrage, hampering our movement to a great extent.
ADVANCE
0100, 26th. At 0100 "D"  Company moved forward to occupy WHEAT TRENCH
from M.12.D.4.3 to N.7.C.1.6. The enemy were fairly strong
in numbers and they accounted for one Officer (Lieut., Barnett)
and fifteen Other ranks. During the enemy retirement, they
used to great advantage Machine suns and snipers.
SITUATION
1300 

"D" Company, WHEAT TRENCH, M.12.D.43. to N.7.C.1.6.
"C"         "             OAT LANE, M.12.D.6.2. to N.13.A.6.5.
"A"         "              BANK TRENCH
"B"         "             THE MAZE   
MACHINE GUNS  Two Vickers Guns were placed in advanced line, one xxxx
about M.12.D.3.3., the other about N.7.C.l.6., two in BANK
TRENCH, and two in CHORD LINE of MAZE.
PATROLS
1330 One Officer, 1 Lewis Gun and 30 Other Ranks to establish
a post at N.7.C.8.9. One Bomb team and 15 riflemen to N.7.
A.4.4. At 1530 the patrols returned having encountered the
enemy and were forced back. Enemy snipers and machine guns
were active. A fighting patrol was then sent along WHEAT
TRENCH and finally dislodged the enemy.
1800 At 1800 our troops established posts at N.7.C.5.7. and
N. 7.C.8.5½. Patrols were despatched from the left and right
to link up with the flank Battalions, and duly reported having
done so.
CASUALTIES Total Casualties during advance : 4 Officers ^(all killed) 74 Other Ranks
RELIEF  At 2000 the relief commenced, the 11th. Battalion taking
over the following dispositions:
One Company, WHEAT TRENCH, advanced post at N.7.D.5.7.
One Company, CAT LANE.
One Company, BANK TRENCH.
One Company, THE MAZE
Relief completed at 2400.
Lieut. Col.
Commanding 9th, Battalion
1st. March. 1917.
 

16 Bridge Street,
SYDNEY.
7th. March, 1929.
Captain C.E.W.Bean
Victoria Barracks,
SYDNEY.
Dear Captain Bean,
I have your letter of the 5th. inst, and am
just acknowledging same briefly. I note what you want
and although some twelve years have elapsed and I have
no notes of any description to fall back on, I think I
have certain facts imprinted in my mind which will probably
give me sufficient to work on. I am however, trying to
secure one or two names which may be of interest, and I
hope to send you along a detailed statement early next week.
Yours very truly,
J W [[Clark?]]
 

Charleroi
Killara
12^th March /29
Dear Capt Bean
The 30^th Bn relieved
the 31^st on the night 16^th/17^th March /17
and I took over from Col. Toll
of the 31^st before the Relief was
complete, the latter was exhausted
& unwell & his Bn. had suffered
heavy casualties (over 100 I think)
Bn. Hqrs. Dugout was in a chalk
pit at foot of slope leading up
to Ligny-Thilloy & our front line
ran along the top of the ridge
from which a clear view of
Bapaume could be secured some
¾” feet of a mile away.
A communication trench led from
our position (which had been the German
front line) forward to their old support 

2
Line Till Trench, and for some time
fighting had been taking place in
this Communication trench, mainly by
hand bombing, we had a block
forward from our front line & the
Germans had one to prevent our
advance, & were, & had been putting
up a very determined resistance.
Col It was suggested that our artillery
fire might be directed on to the spot
to aid our advance but I decided
the positions were too close & when
Capt Cheeseman reported that
Hand bombing was proving ineffective
I arranged for our Stokes Mortars
to go up & bomb the German block,
this operation proved successful
& we drove them well back.
Our front in the advance against
Bapaume covered about 1200 yds, 
our left being directed to a point
where the ALBERT-BAPAUME Road
entered the Town, & keeping touch