Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/246/1 - 1916 - 1929 - Part 17

- 8 -
prisoners of the 5th Coy, 2nd Bn, 1st Guards Res. Regiment.
Report received at 10.45 p.m.
A Strong Post was established at M.5.d.6.6. and
artillery kept junction of LAYTON ALLEY and GREVILLERS TRENCH
under fire intermittently throughout the night.
Received from 7th Aust. Inf. Bde. at 4.10 a.m. a
report that 7th Aust. Inf. Bde. were in MALT TRENCH on the
right and centre, and was held up on the left by wire. Arranged
that 17th Bn would work along MALT TRENCH to the west until
daylight, and 7th Aust. Inf. Bde. would work along to the east
to M.5.d.0.5. to avoid accidents.
At 5.45 a.m. enemy commenced heavily commenced shelling
area between MALT TRENCH and LE BARQUE SWITCH. Retaliation asked
for - complied with.
At 6.6 a.m. enemy attacking down LAYTON ALLEY in
strength. A S.O.S. sent at 6.26 a.m. The results of the enemy
attack were that a post in the valley at approximately M.5.b.7.0.
and the post established in LAYTON ALLEY had been driven out
into MALT TRENCH.
8.20 a.m. - A prisoner, 5th Guards Grenadier Regiment - 
captured. At same time a Coy. of 4th Bn. reported to Lieut-Col.
MARTIN that they had been ordered forward in support of the left
flank of the Bde. on right, as it was reported that their left
flank had been driven in.
8.25 a.m - One Coy. of 20th Bn was ordered forward
to Lieut LE BARQUE SWITCH to support Lieut-Colonel MARTIN's
right flank if necessary, and at 9.5 a.m. a Coy. of the 20th Bn
was ordered forward to support Colonel MARTIN's left flank,
as it was feared that the situation was developing rather
seriously there.
At 10.25 a.m. definite news was received that we were
in touch with POPPY in MALT TRENCH.
Ate 1 p.m. under cover of a heavy artillery barrage,
which barraged the whole of LAYTON ALLEY, the 17th Bn. moved up
LAYTON ALLEY and re-established themselves M.5.d.5½.8. They
discovered a new sap between the post and M.5.d.0.5. The post
at the point of junction was made very strong and POPPY was
asked to establish a post in the newly discovered trench to
connect up, which they did.
Twenty five freshly killed enemy weresfound in LAYTON
ALLEY as a result of the artillery shelling and Stokes.
Immediately after dark a line of posts - five in
number - was established along the general line of the buried
cable in M.5.d. with listening posts pushed out in advance.
The Brigade was relieved by the 6th Aust. Inf. Bde.
at 11 p.m. 2nd March. (B.M. 283).

R Smith
Brigadier-General,
Commanding 5th Aust. Inf. Bde.

Australian War Records Section.

19th March 8.
Lieut. W.L. Davies,
27th Battalion,
A.I.F.
France.
My dear Davies,
Many thanks for your notes on Malt Trench. They are
most interesting. If there is any point that one is uncertain
about or wants further explaining I will drop you a line.
Yours sincerely,
P.S. I have had the account you sent me typed, and have marked
in red a few points where an additional word or two would help one
in dealing with the action more graphically. I enclose the marked
copy and a list of the points, numbered. Would you fill them in shortly
and let me have them back? It is a very good account.

Points additional to Lieut. Davies account of Malt Trench.
1. What direction did the sheling of Warlencourt mostly come from?
and what sized shell?
2
2. Could you tell what obstruction there was in Loupart Rd where the
trench crossed it? a barricade? a screen?
Did you find out at a later stage? Was it the same in Loos Cut?
3. Did the 26th come up independently or to help the 27th? or how?
4. Did Parkes attack over the top? from where? Did fire open at once / or gradually
or how far did he get?
5. What were the names of the chief men in this scouting? What route
did they take? Are their reports in existence? (They wd make a splendid
Museum relic, because the occasion is a historic one, and wellknown).
6. Was there a Jumping off trench for the 26th left of the rd? Was
there a jumping off trench right of Loupart Rd? (I fancy not).
7. Was the idea that all the attacking troops were back, or only those
east of Loupart Rd?
Do you know what happened in the German attack here? Did they actually
get into Loupart Rd.
8. At this time in Loupart Rd was there a barrier up the road? How did
the road end (so far as you could see?)
9. Had the Germans gone back to Loos Cut, or had they never come
quite down to Loupart Rd?
10. Did you gain touch with the 28th Bn up the Malt Trench or over
the old Nomansland?.
11. Where exactly was Lampards gun, E. or W of the road? On the side
of the road?
12. When you pushed up the trench, how did you first know that each
of these strong points was held. What was the first sign of the
Germans in them. What happened then?
13. Were the men told off to rush or attack? or to act as sentries,
or mop up?
14.
What was the form of contact at the intersection of Malt Trench and
Loos Cut. Had the Germans a bomb stop? Had they a bombing post or
T.M.? In what way did their trench cross the Cut? Behind a screen

From my diary
End of Feb 1917
C.E.W.B.
Notes on First
walk to Butte,
LeSars Rly, etc.
Diagram - see original document
Quarry Big dugouts
Rly along rd smashed to bits
Huge crater in road.
Dump Truck from Essin
w barbed wire
Little trucks marked
Helmet station
Weisenan
In one case whited out
Timber duckboards
Material
Little engine
Le Sars not as as badly straffed
as Poz.
German
Graveyard Crosses May 1916.
III RIR Seinen Toten'
On back
Fricourt Mametz

ns 110 Montauban

Liers, La Boisette, serre

Diagram - see original document

From my diary
End Feb 1917
C.E.W.B.

3.
Diagram - see original document
1st Bn attack agst Bayonet trench
Nov 4/5

4
Fritz Folly
Diagram - see original document 

From my diary
End Feb 1917
5.
Diagram - see original document 

5th AUSTRALIAN
INFANTRY BRIGADE.
No 9/33
Date
S E C R E T.

FIFTH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE.
REPORT ON OPERATIONS from 13th March to 18th March, 1917.
1. After his initial retirement from the GIRD TRENCH - 
BUTTE - GALLWITZ Line, the enemy was pushed back to the line
TILL TRENCH - WARLENCOURT TRENCH, by the 2nd March. This general
line he continued to hold until the 12th March. On the night
12th/13th March, the 8th A.I.Bde. was completing the relief of
front line and support battalions of the 5th A.I.Bde. in the
THILLOY SECTOR (N.2.d.2.2. to N.1.a.7.6.), whilst the 17th Bn
was relieving the 28th Bn and the 19th Bn the support Bn, of
the 7th A.I.Bde. in the WARLENCOURT SECTOR (M.5.b.7.5. to
M.4.central). During the relief it became evident that the enemy
wasmuch less active than usual, and it was suspected that the
enemy was again continuing his retirement, as his action was
similar to that which preceded his original retirement. It was
therefore arranged that the C.O. and a proportion of N.C.Os. of
20th Battalion, who knew the country, should remain behind in the
line in the THILLOY SECTOR to assist the incoming Battalion in
testing the enemy's strength in TILL TRENCH, whilst the G.O.C.
7th A.I.Bde. made full use of the 17th Bn in the front line of
the WARLENCOURT SECTOR, to occupy the WARLENCOURT TRENCH and
GREVILLERS LINE, if suspicions were confirmed.
Patrols were accordingly pushed forward vigorously
and as was anticipated, the enemy was found to be evacuating the
WARLENCOURT LINE, but patrols reported that he was still holding
TILL TRENCH - mainly with Machine guns and Trench Mortars.
At 12.40 a.m. 6th A.I.Bde. reported that one of
their patrols had entered WARLENCOURT TRENCH, and this was
confirmed later by a patrol of the 28th Bn, which had been out
when the relief of the front line battalion was in progress.
The 17th Bn accordingly pushed forward under the orders of the
G.O.C. 7th A.I.Bde. and occupied the WARLENCOURT LINE. The 6th
(Imperial) Bde. on our left, having been informed of our intention
at 1 a.m., were conforming.
Touch having been obtained on both flanks, 17th Bn,
under cover of patrols, at 2.35 a.m. began to push forward to
occupy GREVILLERS TRENCH. At 3.35 a.m. the 19th Bn were ordered
forward to WARLENCOURT - BAUCOURT, being replaced by 18th Bn
in the vicinity of LE SARS, whilst the 20th Bn remained in the
vicinity of MARTINPUICH.
At 4.57 a.m. relief of the 7th A.I.Bde. being complete,
the G.O.C. 5th A.I.Bde. assumed command of the WARLENCOURT SECTOR.
By 5.35 a.m. 17th Bn had occupied GREVILLERS TRENCH,
taking one prisoner and were in touch with the 6th A.I.Bde. on
their right. The 17th Bn patrols then pushed forward with a view
to establishing a line of posts from FONDS BERTIN through G.35.
a.4.5. to M.4.b.0.5. according to Brigade instructions, whilst
the 6th A.I.Bde established posts round GREVILLERS Village with
their left resting on FONDS BERTIN, as had been mutually arranged
by Brigades.
By 6.a.m. a patrol of the 17th Bn had worked through
LOUPART WOOD, and reported it clear of the enemy; 6th (Imperial)
Bde. informed.
At 6.55 a.m. the enemy shelled GREVILLERS and the
WARLENCOURT Line heavily and counter-batteries were asked for.
Posts had been established by 17th Bn at 8.15 a.m. on the line
G.36.b.2.8. to G.29.c.0.8. and at 10.15 a.m. they were pushed
forward to occupy the SUNKEN ROAD in G.29.a. and b., but on
receipt of a wire from Division defining the left boundary of
the Division as G.35.a.4.4. - G.30.a.5.5. to BIEFVILLERS
Railway station, the C.O.17th Bn was instructed to withdraw
them and the 6th (Imperial) Bde. notified to that effect.
The inter-Brigade boundary was defined as G.35.d.4.0. - G.36.a.4.1. -
G.30.d.8.0. to G.25.b.4.6., but on conferring with G.O.C.
6th A.I.Bde. it was decided not to take over the new portion
of the line on our right until dusk, as machine guns and snipers
were very active on his front. The 17th Bn were accordingly held
in the vicinity of FONDS BERTIN ready to move forward at dusk. 

- 2 -
At 4.45 p.m. the 6th A.I.Bde had established a
chain of posts round GREVILLERS.
Steady rainx fell during the night and the enemy shelled
the forward area intermittently chiefly 5.9".
The relief of the portion of 6th A.I.Bde in the line
beyond GREVILLERS was completed by 5.30 a.m., there being some
delay owing to the late arrival of rations.
Dispositions were then as follows :-
17th Bn. 2 Coys outposts, with piquets approximately
G.20.d.7.3., G.30.b.7.1., G.30.b.5.6. and
G.30.a.50.65., with a small S.P. at G.25.c.1.5.
2 Coys and Bn. Hdqrs. in G.35.
19th Bn. Bn. Hdqrs. M.11.a.1.7.
(SUPPORT) 2 Coys MALT TRENCH.
2 Coys WARLENCOURT ROAD and COUPE TRENCH
18th Bn. Bn. Hdqrs. M.15.a.8.2.
(RESERVE) 2 Coys M.10.a. and c.
2 Coys LE SARS ( M.16.a. and d. )
20th Bn. Bn. Hdqrs. 26th AVENUE.
(RELIEFS BN.) 2 Coys GUNPIT ROAD.
2 Coys 26th AVENUE.
14th
March.  During the day a number of fires were observed in
BIHUCOURT, BIEFVILLERS and ACHIET, and an inordinate amount
of movement was noticed in the BIHUCOURT line, which was
overlooked from our position forward of GREVILLERS.
Night.
14/15th
March. At 6.30 p.m. patrols were pushed out and kept touch
with the enemy until daylight. During the night enemy
activity appeared to be normal and a minenwerfer was
active from H.25.b..
At 12 midnight the enemy pust over about 200 gas shells
in the vicinity of LE SARS without causing any casualties.
Patrols report that the wire was about 3'6" high and
strong, but they were unable to estimate the width.
15th
March  A bombardment of enemy's first line for 4 minutes and
second line for 2 minutes, was therefore arranged, with a
view to destroying his trenches and cutting wire. This bombardment
was carried out at 10 a.m. and but was not very
successful.
The day was fairly quiet with the usual intermittent
shelling of the forward area. Situation unchanged, except
that the 6th (Imperial) Bde. were now occupying trenches
on the line G.23.c.2.6. - G.23.d.3.8.
Night
15/16th
March.  17th Bn were again instructed to push forward strong
patrols with wire-cutters, at dusk, with a view to
effecting ane entry if the line was not strongly held.
Patrols were however, held up by strong rifle and M.G.
fire, but remained in touch with the enemy until daylight.
During the morning, small parties of the enemy were
seen moving in both directions along the BAPAUME - BIHUCOORT
Road, and fires in villages behind enemy lines continued,
whilst several explosions were heard in BIEFVILLERS
16th
March.  At 11.30 a.m. as a result of a conference with the
G.O.C. 6th A.I.Bde. it was decided that the 5th and 6th
A.I.Bdes. should attack the BIHUCOURT / line and BIEFVILLERS
as it was suspected that the enemy would be in process of
evacuating that line in accordance with the captured
German order. 

- 3 -
At 12.5 p.m. wire cutting was carried out by the
heavies with the new No. 106 fuse, on our front and flanks.
During the afternoon a patrol which reached the a
point within 150 yards of the enemy wire in G.24.d. was
sniped at from the BIEFVILLERS - BIHUCOURT ROAD, and reported
machine guns active from BIHUCOURT, QUARRY in H.25.a. and
CUTTING at G.24.d.
At 4.30 p.m. Bde. Operation order No. 90 was issued
detailing 18th Bn for the attack on BIEFVILLERS at 3. a.m.
17th instant.
At 8.50 p.m. 19th Bn relieved the 17th Bn in the line
in accordance with Bde. Operation Order No. 89.
16th/17th
March.  Patrol reports up to 11.15 p.m. showed that enemy was
still occupying the front line, but it was noticed
the rifle fire was only coming from one or two points in the
line, and was fired deliberately, apparently in accordance with
certain orders. On locating one of our patrols the enemy blew
four whistles, on which fire was opened on the patrol by a
M.G. and three snipers. Also a pinkish flare was reported by
the 6th (Imperial) Bde. during the afternoon, and this was
apparently answered by a similar flare from the MONUMENT,
which was to be the Headquarters of the Boche rearguard, according
to the captured order.
These reports served to strengthen the impression
that the enemy intended to withdraw before daylight.
At 11.15 p.m. a wire was received from Division stating
that the proposed attack could not be sanctioned owing to the
tactical situation on either flank. Operation Order No. 90
was accordingly cancelled but the 19th Battalion wereeinstructed
to keep constantly in touch with the enemy by means of patrols,
and if it was ascertained that they had evacuated the position,
to push forward and occupy it in accordance with O.O. No.90.
17th
March. M.G. fire ceased at 4 a.m. and ^ 2 officers' patrols were
sent out and at 6 a.m. had reported the BIHUCOURT LINE in our
sector "clear".
By 6.15 a.m. two companies of the 19th Bn were in
possession of the line H.25.b.8.9. - H.25.19.a.1.2.
Patrols then pushed forward and established posts
round the village of BIEFVILLERS in accordance with O.O.No.90
and found the village unoccupied.
At 8.15 a.m. the enemy shelled BIHUCOURT.  19th Bn were
therefore instructed to push their posts forward to H.13.b.50.45. - 
H.14.c.4.8. - H.14.d.0.0. to avoid any shelling which might take
place on BIEFVILLERS.
Later a line of posts was established on line H.14.central
and H.14.a. (CROSS ROADS) with a post at H.20.b.4.4.
Cavalry patrols were then pushed forward to reconnoître
but were hold up by M.G. fire from the N.W. of SAPIGNIES.
At 1.30 p.m. Brigade Boundaries were defined as follows :- 
Right Boundary - Row of trees H.25.b.central along
North end of MONUMENT WOOD (inclusive to 6th A.I.Bde.), along
road to Cross roads at H.16.c.2.9., thence along road via
H.16.c.90.95. to centre of BEUGNATRE to H.12.c.1.4. to H.12.central.
Left Boundary - G.30.a.5.5.- G.24.d.404.9. - H.9.central
By 9.15 p.m. sentry groups had been established on the
BAPAUME - SAPIGNIES Road and patrols were pushing forward into
FAVREUIL and SAPIGNIES in accordance with Brigade instructions.
A standing patrol in the former village had been established
at the northern end by 12 midnight, but was withdrawn and later
posted at H.15.a.8.9. to cover the flank of the 6th A.I.Bde.
who were about to advance and occupy FAVREUIL. 

- 4 -
MONUMENT WOOD and country as far north as H.15.a.8.9.,
where a M.G. was in action, were reported unoccupied.
At 12.30 a.m 6th A.I.Bde informed of situation.
Parties of the enemy could be seen moving about SAPIGNIES
with lighted lanterns at 4.30 a.m. but by daylight the village
was evacuated.
The 6th A.I.Bde. occupied FAVREUIL at daylight, and became the
advanced guard, 2nd Australian Division. The posts supplied by
the 19th Battalion were withdrawn with the consent of the G.O.C.
Advanced Guard, on the afternoon of the 18th instant as the
Advanced Guard was now covering the whole of the Divisional
Front, and the 5th A.I.Bde became Support Brigade to the
Advanced Guard.
Casualties for the whole operation up to the 22nd March :-
Killed  Wounded   Evacuated

9               49                   199                Total 257.
R. Smith
Brigadier-General,
Commanding 5th Aust. Inf. Brigade.
Bde. Hdqrs.
24.3.1917.