Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/246/1 - 1916 - 1929 - Part 15

Stevenson S.
Taree
11.3.29
Captain C E W Bean
Sydney
Dear Captain Bean
Yours of the 5^th
inst to hand re 17^th March 1917
& I regret that all my books &
maps etc were lost when
I was evacuated gassed
in 1918 so that I cannot give
as full a report as I would
like. I am surprised that
the Battalion & Bde war diaries
are so poor as I wrote
the operation up very fully.
My memory however is fairly
clear on most of it.
The 30^th Bn relieved the 31^st
Bn in the line in front 
of Bapaume at 10.30pm on
the 16^th Mch 1917. The distance
from Bapaume being approx
1000 ^x. The Co (Lt Col JW Clark DSO)  

2
placed me in charge of the
line with instructions to keep
in touch with the enemy
as it was thought that
they were on the point of
retiring. This was borne out
by the silence of the enemy
only M Gun fire taking
place but he kept his
flares going. As soon as
the men had settled down
I sent out patrols but
they reported that the enemy
trenches were still held
although they did not think
there were many Germans
present. I thereupon
organised a Stokes Mortar
and bombing operation which
resulted in the capture of
about 200 ^x of the enemy
line Forty clearing out.
This was in the early hours
of the morning I would say
about 3am but cannot fix

3
the time definitely. After establishing
our selves more patrols were
sent out & it was found
that Fritz was quite definitely
on the move & the whole
of the 30^th advanced on
Bapaume about 5.30.am.
Patrols were sent ahead
& some skirmishing took 
place in Bapaume where
isolated parties of the enemy
tried to hold us up.
Whenever they made a stand
we would outflank them
when Fritzy would retire
with greater speed than
caution. Some enemy 
casualties being caused by
Lewis gun fire & Sniping
when they were retiring.
We mopped up the town
& established ourselves
on a line about 600 ^x  on
the other side. of the town
My headquarter's (which afterwards

4
became Bn HQ being in
the ramparts. It is perhaps
worthy of mention that I
was never out of telephonic
communication during the
whole of the advance as
it was possible to salve
sufficient Fritz wire to 
link up.
I am sorry that
this is all the information 
I can give you & I sincerely 
hope it will be of some
use to you.
Yours sincerely
W J Cheeseman

.4151
4296.
18 March 1929.
Dear Colonel Cheeseman,
Many thanks for your notes concerning Bapaume.
I understand that at the entrance of one of the streets there
was met the fire of a machine-gun which killed one man and
wounded four. From your account and Barbour's, I take it
that this occurred when the patrols were sent forward into
the town, but should be glad of correction, if necessary.
From the accounts now obtained I also infer that, after
Barbour’s bombing stunt, the movement was made in four stages,
viz. -
(1) Patrols were sent forward into Till Trench, and,
on receipt of their reports, troops advanced (? to
Till Trench).
(2) Patrols were ^then, sent into the town, and were fired
on (when the abovementioned casualties occurred).
On receipt of their reports, the troops advanced
as far as the Peronne Road running through the
town.
(3) Here there was halt for 3½ hours - I assume that
this was due to waiting for orders. Patrols were
sent out. About 10.30 you arrived, and sent out
fresh patrols down streets parallel to those held
by the German machine-gun crew, which then cleared
out. You then ordered the advance to the eastern
outskirts of Bapaume.
[*At Barbour's
position*]
(4) This advance was afterwards continued to the line
finally taken up 600 yards east of the town.
I should like to be clear especially as to whether
in movement (2) the troops advanced behind the patrols without
stopping in Till Trench, and, if so, to what point they
advanced; secondly, whether the casualties occurred as
mentioned above; and thirdly, whether the dislodgment of the
last enemy post in Bapaume was effected in the manner
described.
Yours sincerely,
Lieut.-Colonel W.J.R. Cheeseman, D.S.O., M.C.,
Stevenson Street,
Taree. N.S.W.

HN
Taree
22 3 /29
Captain CEW Bean
Sydney
Dear Captain Bean
Yours of the
18^th inst to hand & as far as 
I can remember the following are
the facts in answer to your
questions.
1 Troop advanced to Till Trench.
2 Correct. Casualties did occur.
I am not sure if Peronne Road
was exact location but think
it probable.
3 Correct essentially but dont
think the halt was 3½ hours or
that it was 10 30am before I arrived.
However, Barbour probably has been
fortunate enough to preserve his records
4 O.K.
Yours. f fully
W J Cheeseman 

FL.4151
4250.
5 March 1929.
Captain T.C. Barbour,
Box 2818M, G.P.0.,
Sydney.
Dear Barbour,
I am writing the account of 17 March 1917, but find
to my astonishment, that there is no detailed narrative
whatever in the brigade or battalion war-diary dealing with the
fighting of the previous night or early morning or giving
any times. In particular, I should be grateful if I could
obtain an account of what happened during the preceding
night and early that morning, and evidence as to what
originated the discovery that the Germans had retired, as well as
facts and times connected with the advance to and through
Bapaume. If you have any notes concerning this, or if your
recollection is sufficiently vivid, I should be grateful for
any assistance which you could give me. For the time being
I am leaving the story a blank and proceeding with the rest
of the narrative. I am writing also to Colonels Cheeseman
and Clark.
Yours sincerely,

H.N.
Box 2022S. GPO.
Melbourne 9/3/29.
Mr. C. EW Bean
Official Historian,
Dear Sir,
Your communication of the 5 Ins was re-addressed
to me in Melbourne, and I am forwarding under separate
cover MSS entitled "Bapaume and Beyond" which may
be of some use regarding your enquiries for times etc.
The 30 Bn. took over relief of the front line trenches
about midnight 16/17 March, and therefore cannot furnish
any information prior to that hour as to conditions, but
evidence of the German retirement on 'D' Coy Sectns early
on the morning of 17 March is given on P5, when a bombing
Party including Sgts Smith ^M.M and Forbes (Forbes later
obtained Commission Rank), bombed along a sap West
of Bapaume, on D Coys. right flank, as per Capt
Cheesemans minor operation order.
On the same page time is given 7.15 am when D.
Co. were well established in the centre of the Town without
much opposition, where they remained some considerable time,
aln the messages timed, 10.30 am to advance through
the town to new posts on line H28a25 to H28C32
East of Bapaume, where D .Co drove out parties
of the Germans, & remained there several hours
with both flanks in the air, until the 23 Bn and
another Company of the 30 Bn on our right which had
been held up, advanced, and ^thus completed the line
as described in the MSS.
The total advance of D. Co 30 Bn from our
old front line on the 17^th March was about 2 miles
Ground flares (smoke) were used to define our
posts to our aircraft, but they were damp and of little use,
but when the plane arrived, we managed to attract
attention per means of ground sheets etc.
Some messages & times on timing matters are
included on pages 9 and 10, also brief extracts with
times are given of some events on the follwg day March
18^th on p. 13. All messages & are from field note
book. Written during the Bapaume operation.
As the MSS forwarded is the only fair copy available
will you kindly return same after perusal to my Box
No. 2022S Melbourne as above.
Yours faithfully
T.C. Barbour Capt 30 Bn
PS
Sgt. D, Smith mentioned above was recommended
by the writer for his MM. which he obtained for his excellent
work during the Bapaume operation. He attended the Bn
reunion last year in Sydney, and revived many incidents &
the Bapaume Sector, particularly the joy of our men when they
took up position East of Bapaume & found themselves on firm
soil away from the muddy trenches of the Somme.
He is engaged in the Public Works Dept Sydney
should you care to get in touch with him. 

4151
4295.
18 March 1929.
Dear Barbour,
Many thanks for your notes concerning Bapaume, which
I will shortly return. They have been very useful.
I understand that at the entrance of one of the streets
there was met the fire of a machine-gun which killed one man and
wounded four. From your account and Cheeseman's, I take it
that this occurred when the patrols were sent forward into the
town, but should be glad of correction, if necessary.  From
your accounts now obtained I also infer that, after your bombing
stunt, the movement was made in four stages, viz.-
(1) Patrols were sent forward into Till Trench, and,
on receipt of their reports, troops advanced (? to
Till Trench).
(2) Patrols were ^then sent into the town, and were fired on
(when the abovementioned casualties occurred). On
receipt of their reports, the troops advanced as far
as the Peronne Road running through the town.
(3) Here there was a halt for 3½ hours - I assume that
this was due to waiting for orders. Patrols were
sent out. About 10.30 Cheeseman arrived and sent out
fresh patrols down streets parallel to those held by
the Ge rman machine-gun crew, which then cleared out.
Cheeseman then ordered the advance to the eastern
outskirts of Bapaume.
(4) This advance was afterwards continued to the line
finally taken up 600 yards east of the town.
I should like to be clear especially as to whether
any movement (2) the troops advanced behind the patrols without
stopping in Till Trench, and, if so, to what point they advanced,
Secondly, whether the casualties occurred as mentioned above;
and thirdly, whether the dislodgment of the last enemy post in
Bapaume was effected in the manner described.
Yours sincerely,
T.C. Barbour, Esq.,
Box 2022S, G.P.O.,
Melbourne. 

.Box 2022S., G.P.O.
Melbourne.
Box 2818 N G.P.O.
SYDNEY
T. C. BARBOUR
ARCHITECT
23rd March 1929. ₁₉₂
"STRUCTURAL
FAULTS
AND
BUILDING
FEATURES"
COPYRIGHT
1925
"YOUR HOME"
ADVICE
TO
PROPERTY
BUYERS
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2ND EDITION
T.C. BARBOUR
Mr C.E.W.Bean, Official Historian,
Victoria Barracks, SYDNEY.
Dear Sir,
Your letter of the 18th inst to hand with
enquiries/regarding Bapaume, and some of the following points
may assist you in the matter.
re TILL TRENCH etc. I have no knowledge of the stoppage
referred to.  At the time of the advance the writer was on the
Right flank with Bombing party established in position described
in adance of the Company sector, but Capt Cheeseman who was on th
North (left) should have definite knowledge as to the halt in
TILL TR.  After taking the sap referred to the writer desatch
a patrol from the bombing party under Sgt SMITH M.M. to exploit
further ahead (time about 5-30 am., see enclosed notes), and they
roamed over the old Factory at H32d9½5 which was found empty.
If you have a map of the locality it will show our positi
at that stage on the Right, the factory being several hundred
yards Easts of themain posts. in Warlencourt Tr. Information
of this further move on the part of the bombing party was then
despatched to Hqrs. Shortly after the above incident patrols
moved out to "C - C" on enclosed sketch, which may be TILL Tr.
as described by Capt Cheeseman. (I am unable at this stage to
recollect the name, in any case it is not marked on sketch).
From the ad^vanced post on the Right, the writer then
observed the line extending to the North, move forward, quite a
unique sight/at the time ^after months of trench warfare to see our men emerge from the trenches
and advance unopposed towards the Town. From what I could
see of the move there was no halt in the vicinity, and no
doubt the 23rd Bn was also moving forward on our left again.
The writer at this stage received a meassage to bring up the
supports left in Warlencourt Tr. and proceed forward to Bapaume..
Instructions were then given to the Bombing Party
to conform to the movement, and protect the Right flank of
the Co. as they moved forward. The writer then hurried
back to Warlencourt Tr and brought up the reserves, passing over
the track described by Capt Cheeseman (Till Tr) but met no
troops in occupation, and arrived in Bapaume on the heels of tehe
main body. Sgt Smith and his arty were als located, they
had gone clean through to Bapaume without opposition on the Right
The position established in the Town was that given in
the map references, which you describe as the PERONNE Rd.
I cannot recollect meeting Capt Cheeseman at the time
of my arrival, or meeting any wounded by M.G. fire He was
apparently at Hgrs., as map reference of our position was despatched
per runner, see memo MSS, in which 1s mentioned "presume xyou will 
come along to line mentioned". The writer then took charge,
reorganizing etc.
Patrols were sent out to H28a15 at that juncture which
included Pte FRENCH who was killed by a sniper in that area.
Later on the order arrived to advance. I think it was/signed by
Col Clarke, emanating from a Bde order, as it instructed the 23r
Bn to co-operate in the movement also.