Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/249/1 - 1917 - 1932 - Part 22

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
RCDIG1066610
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

Bein xw1276 TELEPHONE X6226 Hugh J. Boyd, 13.303 SURGEON DENTIST 68 Bay Road, CONSULTATION HOURS 9 a.M. TO 5 P.M. Sandringham, Ps, Jrac 1922 EVENINGS SY APPOINTMENT C.E.W. Bean by Dear Sir I am us reccept of you note ashing for cctain in formation i the Cation at Polyson Word in Sept, 1817. On taking ove that sector of the front of which my cog foued the Right front Flank of LAIF - I suiveyed the ascs allotted to my Cog a noted toat toe was a gess lift improbected on my Right which extended as I now estinate for as distance of approximatily 40-50 jaid. Rumisg down this gap from the enemy leadiy Foenelies accors No man's Land Many to on support lines was an obliterated road. may orders defined ths front I was required Fo Cold, as extending to but excluding ttis Obbitenatich Dodd aware of t Hon's penchant for attacking at the poits of junction of 2 anxiors toit annies I was natially
It is undifended corridor should be cloud to pomble attack, with tost in view I visited the clent on my Right which had taken on its sector, shally altes we ook on ous Ths sent was the pt Middersex Ret & I celled on tr Officers of it in Left Coy who adjoined me & shavin t my wnitten Retsef Arclus, pointed out trat the Obliteated Road was included in torcs front seck & bat to is rocassst outport to it, was at least 30-40 yands from this road, thus kaving an enguarded pout of in mace Hey agiced to immedicely extend is outport to the Left s0 as to include to gop in thei fiort. I asked to be allowed to see then Relief Cevans,& poiited out that to ie confuned my Iaement as to the secks allotted to them I dlid not feel altyetter selisfied toat toly were sufficiently seized with the importance of closing this jaf & instrucked Set. Colclough to sepot to me the action Feln by tar to defend it. He Viice repated to me Chat witht, boat toy had not get tatin any action, so I Sent him accoss with a sooke s qquesky to m to bale los necessary action
TELEPHONE X 6276 Hugh J. Boyd, 13. 30cc. SURGEON DENTIST 68 Bay Road, CONSULTATION HOURS 9 a.M. TO 5 P.M. Sandringham, SS. 132 EVENINGS SY APPOINTHENT 2 Hen's did not have any effect, so I instructed Lt. Fenteft to proceed at once demand &intrniew Middlen Officers, toat the receinary stips it tatens at mce Finally, I again went acurs myself but could find ss Officers winfle to is coy, of Middling Rigt & on questiony to NC.O.s, was informed to at all then Officees had gie to the scan but would be buch bt in to fust his early went sworn Despent I cam instrcted St. Fentoft t exend our Rt Frist so to include the old road & too goss beyond it in my cog fut & at the same bes instankd to English cof N.C.O8 to at once start diggin a trench to as Fo extend their salf Front to connect up with my veight com sepated all then fact to my Ball. H.94
Set. Colelough with a squad of an men, do all night, I worked to well that most of this gap was defented by dawn, allso of course it mneant thuming my Gamson to bold it -6- ou state in your letter tome toat I have been essisted by an excellent account from youself the Descrlig 6 sisctiy at Polyson word. I do not occollect to account to which you refer + if it is not addieg to you doubtless clicedy beavy labornes is the Histiy I would be very gideful if you would kindly in from up to what account by myself you sefer I hope the account I am now sunl mayle of some assistance in supply to in fouation you ask oor & will br glad to supply any dilail I may have minsed, if you will le use know finally I offer my spologies for to delay in replying dn to mossure Cusiness aus faith Jully Huga J.
TORIA From 4B00 NO & srr rr &UEEE wo wo, N02. - No1 - PMAToeN 5F.3FT] HAR 36 NANS 0. 3 Undifented Teptiue of 40720 includingg sa bas LAND CARINE FARN1 1sF MIDOLESex REGT PAYCON W00 Rough (very) Shikh SEPT, 19I
REPORT ON OPERATIUNS CUTH BATTALION 2SIDDTD 287 1977 in The Battalion arrived at the CAFE BELGE at 7-30 pam. nn the night of Sept. 22nd 1917 At 4.30 p.m. on Sunday the 23rd 4 officers Capt. Doyle, Liout. Parker, Lieut. McNamara and Lieut. Didmond went forward with the 58th Battn. who were going to take over the line proparatory to the proposed attack. These offiers were to gather all the information possible about their front position of dumps[etc. remain in the line over night with the 58th It was intended that the Coth Battn. and report back next day. Pattn. should pass through the 58th Battn. who were to hold the Front line J 9 D 2.9. to 7 9 D 5.0 and take the first objective RED LIHE extending from 7 10 A 6.3 to J 10 C 3.0 and that the 57th and 59th Battn. should take the 2nd objective BLUE LINE on Tho LATH INFANT.) the frontage J 10 B 2.3 to J 16 B 2.9. BRIGADE Were to attack on our left and the 98th BRITISH INFANTRY BRIGADE on our right. in-a In accordance with an order from Brigade Lieut. Bannr and 100 other ranks reported to Capt. Keon at HOCGE DUmP at 5.15 for the purpose of carrying stores forward. Thilst engaged in removing ammunition the Dump was blown up by a sholl but we had no casualtios. The Staff Captain called in on the C.O. about 1,30 A.m. on the morning of the 24th and left an order for the Battn. to move forward next day to a position in the vic inity of CLAPRA. JUNCTIUN. Liout. Anderson and an advance party were despatched about midday with instructions to reconnoitre the ground with a view to accomodating the Battalion. At 4 D.m. the Battn. mood off from CHATEAU SEGARD and spent the night in shelters be tween HOUGE and CLAPHA. JUMCTION. Battalion Hars. were established in the MENIN TUNNEL. A conference of Commanding Officers was held at Brigade Headquarters at 7-30 p.m. on the forthcoming operations. Ur to this time we had received no ma jor operation orders for the attack but were told at Brigade Hars, that we would receive & copy of Divisional orders that night. Those were delivered at Battn. HGrs. atabout 1-30 a.m. on Sept. 25th and th Brigade Order No/ I16 was recoived at about 10 a.m. On account of the orders having been received so late great difficulty was experienced in getting together Company officers for final instructions with regard to these orders as by this time the Battn. was begeming scattered. About an hour before dawn on the 25th Sept. the enemy commenced to sholl the MENIN RoAD extending to Brigade Hgr Licut. Seward and 12 other ranks were wounded and the shell fire became more intense about 6 a.m. Capt. Doyle had to be evacuated suffering from Appendicitis A copy of the message from 58th Battn. to Brigado was This indicated that the enemy had taken received at 9-20 a.m. part of the Front Line held by the MIDDLESEX REGIMENT and had established machine Guns on the road forming the right boundayy of Brigade issued instructions for a Company of the 5th Division. BM Company with the Coth Battn. to be sent to support the 58th. Licut. Cahill in command yere immediately deppatched with orders to report to majpr Freeman. The troops had to pass through GLENCORSE WOOD which area was boing severely sholied. Lieut. Cahill was wounded but remained on duty, 20 other ranks were also wounded. The men were cool and steady and moved forward through the barrage unhesitatingly. Later Licut. Carl had to relinguish his command which was taken over by Lieut. Arter. Upon reporting to ma jor Freenan two plateons were lmdiately sent to reinforce the 58th Batt MOR DeM.
-2- in the front line the remaining two platoons dug in in sholl holes in rear of S8th Battn. Hgrs. At 10-30 a.m. another Company of the Battn. was reguired to be sent forward to Orders were issued to Capt. Dickson who support the S8th. was in command of Ac Company to move his Company forward and At this stage enemy shell fire to report to C.O. 58th Battn. was exceedingly heavy and in moving forward through the barrages of fire the formation adopted of one N.C.O. and 6 man at varying intervals and distances was found very successfull. The troops were steady and pushed forward without hesitation obeying implicitly instructions of their Section commanders Lient, Candy and 9 other ranks were wounded on this move. The bombardment on and about GLENCORSE WOOD at this stage was terrific and in two hours although dug in Licut. Stubbs and 53 others ranks had become casualties. It was impossible to get the wounded away until the fire lifted. Sgt. Hornsey who was wounded in the legs set a splendid example of Coolness and bravery and continued to encourage his men until evacuated. As an example of the spirit shown during the bombardment a burial service was hold by a Coth Battn. officer over some of his men who had been killed. Lieut. McNamara was wounded at 2.15 p.m. Mcn Company who had been sent forward to CLAPHAL JUNCTION for the purpose of carrying forward ammunition etc. soon found that the dumps had beendestrpyed and at 5.20 p.m. a message was recoived stating that they had had numerous casualties including Lieuts Kelly and Lindsay. Lieut. Diamond was sent to take command and reorganise the Company. At 6.10 p.m. Dr Company with Licut. Beaver in command were ordered to push forward and establish a given position on the right flank of the S8th battn This was done on account of the message having been received From the 58th Battn. that without support their right flank would be unable to hold on. A message written at 6.30 p.m. was received from the 58th Battn. which indicated that the MIDDLESEX REGLMENT had not re-established their original line There was a gap of 100 yards on their right flank and on the extreme left of the KIDDLESEX there was only one platoon which could be seen. No further British line could be traced and the positionon that flank at this stage appeared critical. At 6.55 p.m. a message was sent to Brigade by the C.O. of the Coth Battn. asking for definite information regarding a company of the 8th Bde. with which the Brigadier said he might have to At 7-45 p.m. PD strengthen the Battalion for the attack. Company had completely filled in the gap on the 58th Battn. right Flank and were connected with the ARGYLE and SOUTHERLAND JCE HIGHLAIDERS and the MIDDLEDEX REGIMENT on their right. Lieut. Beaver was seriously wounded and has since died of wounds. This officer's work in taking his Company into the line and so successfully filling in this gap was worthy of great praise. At this stage Br Company was reorganised in th Support line. The two platoons which had gone in to the line carlier in the day being withdrawn and the two other platoons being sent forward to Join them. Lieut. Wellington was wounded and was evacuated. At 9 p.m. (Ct Company who had been in the GLENCORSE WOOD area were moved forward and were sent in to the line to link up with Mpn Company on the right flank on a line approximately 200 yards in front of BLACK WATCH corner. The 58th Battn. had received orders to withdraw to the Support line. A Wire was received from Bde. at 8.17 p.m. changing the dispositions for the attack Under the fresh order the 59th Battn. were to take the RED LINE and two Battns. of the 8th Bde. viz :- the 29th on the left and the SIst on the right were to take the BLUE LIHE. Instructions from Brigade made to C.O. 60th Battn. responsible for the laying out of tapes on the assembling position and the guiding of the attacking Battanions on to their tapes. The tapes were laid quickly and correctly by Lieut. Stillman Coth Battn, Lieut Francis 59th Battn. and Lieut. Doutreband with their own picked parties who were also to act as guides. The tapes were laid between I1 and 2 a.m. Sept. 26th. Battn. Hars. were establised in a Pill Box at BLACK WATGH CORNER at 2 a.m. The attacking Battalions were successfully guided to the ir positions and were in readiness for the attack in good time. At this time
5 Ar Company who were being kept as reserves were dug in in sholl holes near GLENCORSE WOOD with the 57th Battn. This company had suffered severely in both officers and men. In the early hours of the morning of Sept 26th machine guns which were going to give indirect fire for the attack were got into position on the edge of GLENCORSE WOUD . Some shelling of the support area took place about 4 a.m. At 2ero hour 5.50 a.m. on the 26th our barrage openad and a little leter it was quite easy to define the rattling of the machine guns through the roar of the artillery. The a tmosphere was hazy due to a slight mist and a continuous bursting of enemy shells which by 6 a.m. nad considerably increased. Our Barrage was magnificent and from accounts received the machine gun barrage particularly so. The combined barrages had a remarkable offect on the atmosphere and the vibration was intense At 6.30 a.m. the enemy placed a stationary barage on the support Lines across GLENCORSE 100D and then appeared to commence searching for the machine guns traversing the whole area about GLENCORSE SooD and the ridge which apparently the enemy decided was providing shelter for the guns. The men who were dug in about this area used wonderful initiative in folloing the movements of the enemy barnage and shifting their positions in accordance with it. so much so that although the barrage was intense casualties were comparatively fow. The York of the stretcher bearers at this period was magnificent. A constant stream of stretchers passed from the front line to the dressing station amidst a hurricane of bursting shlls. By this time prisoners had commenced to come in and many of them were compelled to carry back our wounded. A num- Derbof prisoners were caught in the enemy barrage and were killed At 10 a.m. Col. mason 59th Battn. reported that or wounded. enemy machine guns and snipers on their right flank were giving trouble. The British Bdc. on our ri ht not having been seen to At 12 noon Lieut. Arter and 40 men were sent up wih advance wire to the 59th Battn. who were consolidating in the RED LINE. All this time our right flank was in the air and the situation appeared critical particularly so as reports were coming back to the effect that our men were running short of S.A.A. Reports had come back from the 29TH and S1STBbttns. to the effect that they had suffered casualties in trying to push forward and that in event of a counter attack they would be unable to hold the line. Follow- ing upon this information parties were collected and were despatched to the support line with ammunition at 2.15 p.m. These troops were of the 57th Battn. and upon the completion of this duffy were to be used at. tm discretion of the C.O. of the Coth Battn. who was in close proximity to the break in the line on our right. 2nd Army report written at 4.10 p.m. and received at 5-37 P.m. indicated that the two roads J 12 A and B were full of enemy trbops moving towards the line. Prisoners taken had stated that enemy larrage would slacken and then increase with intensity when they would counter attack. On receipt of this information (Ct and 7Du Companies Coth Battn. were moved up to support the Sist Battn. with orders to report to O.C. that Unit in the line for instruction. At 4-55 p.m. Capt. Neale reported that an enemy attack had ben beaten off on the right flank and that the enemy were attacking in the valley on the left. At 4-36 p.m. an enemy acroplane was brought down by our rifle and machine gun fire. Ay 7 p.m. a strong counter attack was reported in progress on the right Flank a number of men on the British Sector retired but mixed parties of Australians and British hung ontaking up positionsnar some Pill-boxes on our right. Lieut. Knight Coth Battn. who had been brought up from the details camp on account of shortage of officers was sent to the front line about 11 p.m. to help to reorganise During that night our men were pushed forward m the right flank to a position bout 100 yards in rear of Cameron Thishouse was occupied but was cleared out by our patols. House. on the morning of the 27th about 6 a.m. Capt. Dickson and Lieyt. Parker were sent into the line with all stragglers whom they could collect. A slight drizzling rian commenced to falla at about
-4 -30 a.m. lastinc for half an hour. A despatch from Brigade written at 5,44 a.m. instructing the Coth Battn. C0. to organise an attack on JOYCE FARm was not recoived until 6.15 a.m on recipt of this the C.O. consulted with Col. Stewart informed Bde. of the situation and asked Bde. to wire instructions. Shortly after this the Brigadier himself arrived a BLACK NATCH CORNER and personally visited his Brigade front. At this stage things were very quiet and the 60th Bn. began to push forward acopting a formation of fighting patrols in advance of the main line. Three parties of 7 men advanced past CAMERON HOUSE pushing through POLYGON 70OD on the right flank whilst three other parties were pushed forward on the left flank. Two Lewis Gun Sections closely supported our ri ht parties and one the left party. The remainder of the Battn. in all about 100 men dvanced irregularly in small Groups in shallow columns). Bearings were taken from CAMERON HOUSE abd the direction of our advance was established. The C.O. with Lieut. Gamble of the A.L. T.m.B. advanced with the fighting patrols and captured five Pill-Boxes along our front. A small number of prisoners were taken and yere sent to the rear. Two machine guns were captured also one-ofLewis Gun and Field Telephone which had been apparently taken by the enemy earlneb in the action. At J 16 A.5. enemy machine gun fire from the ridge 600 yards distance and from strong points on our right and left flank was encountered and the formation of progress was necessarily alterdd men being filtered from Shell hole to shell hole with instructions to establish themselves in small sections on a givenfront and to dig in. During the advance up to this point ou casualties had been light but Lieut, Banner who had done splendid work in bringing up his men was Killed by machine gun fire at about 11 a.m. By this time patrols had advanced through line 3 16 A C.S. northward to the road Lieut. Arter controlled the left flank Capt. Dickson and Lieut. Dolphin were on the Pight flank with Lewis guns. Lieuts. Hight and Parker were in th centre with the commanding officer and Lt. Gamble reconnaisance was made of the position forward from this line compass bearings taken and the position reconciled with the map. The valley between the ridge which we occupied and the ridge on which the enemy were in position formed a natural obstacle as fit was very soft and muddy but at the same time gave the enemy a covered approach which had to be carefully guarded. Strongpoints on the hill about 500 yards away were located and a STokes Gun got into position to deal with them. n observation post was established on th extreme dge of the rise commanding a full view of enemy movements. Battalion 1Grs. were established at J 16 A 5.7 in a Pill box. At this time about I1.50 a.m. both our flanks were well in advance of units on our rightand left but by 11.45 the Sist Battn. connected up on our left where we had a Lewis Cun Post at 7 16 B 1.9 about 150 yards in rear of JOYCE FARM. The enemy who had apparently pick d up our position very quickly started to shell us heavily and at 12.5 p.m. noon our observers reported an enemy machine gun position was vis ible on the left of a ruined farm and that men were seen digging. Our Stokes Gun was brought into action and some good shooting resulted in this party being dispersed. ENemy movements were again observed at 12.15 p.m. in trenches and dugouts in nd around the ruined buildings on the ridge. These parties were constantly engaged by our Lewns gunners and riflemen . Reports at 12. 40 p.m. indicated that the enemy were massing for a counter attack behind the strong point and out houses carrying pack tools and consolidating equipment. Runners were sent back with a message giving this information and also centain points for the artillery to fire on which later was done. The enemy continued to move down the valley toward our position under fire from our LewisGuns and at this stage our Artillery barrage dropped immediately an Thont of our line which made it necessary for us to withdraw some 50 yardsthe posts were pushed forward again when the Barrage lifted. meanwhile the enemy who were massing below the ridge broke into two parties on account of the barrage the right half took up a position in the valley parallel with the barrage the remainder proceeded back over the ridge. At 1-50 p.m. about 12 of the enemy approached this strong point dijacent to the ruined puildings at J 16 B I.5. carrying a Red Cross Flag. This flag was no doubt a signal to the ir machine gunners that troops were advancing
as immediately enemy machine guns bpened up from various points on a ridge distributing fire all over our front especially on the right Flank. The advance of the Welsh Fusiliers who were coming up on our right was superb. Notwithstanding the enemy barrage and heavy machine gun fire the came forward line after line in Splendid order and took up a position immediately on our right. Communication was immediately extablished and our whole position at this stage a ppeared secure. During the remainder of th afternoon the enemy shelled the position consistently paying particular attention to the Pill boxes. Five direct hits in about 5 minutes were recorded on Battn. HGM. Pill box and the men who by this time had learned to keep away from these marks jad again moved forward and escaped the worst of their barrage. The casualties in consequence being very slight. Enemy acroplanes had been very active for the greater part of the day, Flying low and at times peppering us with machine guns. The Battalion was relieved that night 27th Sept. by a Company of the 32nd Battalion and handed over a frontsge of approximately 250 yards which frontage all extended beyond the right of our original Divisional boundary. By 11-30 p.m. the relief was successfully completed and the Battn. reached CCHATEAU SEGARD about 2,30 a.m. of the 29th. In conclusion the conduct of tje men and officers who held this advancedposition when things were by no means comfortable was splendid and the resource and bravery shown by practically every man was most praise worthy.

XW1276

TELEPHONE X6276

Hugh J. Boyd, L.D.S., B.D.Sc.

SURGEON DENTIST

68 Bay Road,

CONSULTATION HOURS

9 A.M. TO 5 P.M.

EVENINGS BY APPOINTMENT

Sandringham, S8, June 19th 1922

 

C.E.W. Bean Esq

Dear Sir

I am in receipt of your note 

asking for certain information re the Ge[[?tion?]]

at Polygon Word in Sept. 1917.

On taking on that sector of the front 

- of which my Coy. formed the Right Front

Flank of the AIF - I surveyed the area

allotted to my Coy & noted that there

was a gap left unprotected on my Right

which extended, as I now estimate

for a distance of approximately 40 - 50 yards.

Running down this gap from the enemy

trenches across No Man's Land thru my & leading

to our support lines was an obliterated

road.

My adas defined the front I was required 

to hold, as extending to but excluding

this obliterated Road.

Being Bxxxg aware of the Hun's penchant for

attacking at the points of junction of 2

armies I was naturally anxious that

 

 

 

this undefended [[?condn?]] should be

closest to possible attack, & with that in

view I visited the Unit on my Right

which had taken on its sector, shortly

after we took on ours.

This Unit was the 1st Middlsex Regt, &

I called on the Officers of their Left Coy who

adjoined me, & showing them my written

Relief Orders, pointed out that the Obliterated

Road was included in this front sectn

& that this nearest outpost to it, was at 

least 30 - 40 yards from this road, thus

leaving an unguarded point of menace.

They agreed to immediately extend

this outpost to the Left so as to include

the gap in this front. I asked to be

allowed to see their Relief Orders, &

pointed out that these confirmed my

statement as to the sectn allotted to them.

I did not feel altogether satisfied

that they were sufficiently seized with

the importance

of closing this gap, & instructed

Sgt. Colcloough to report to me the action

taken by them to defend it.

He twice reported to me that night, that

they had not yet taken any action, so I

sent him across with a note requesting them

to take the necessary action.

 

 

TELEPHONE X6276

Hugh J. Boyd, L.D.S., B.D.Sc.

SURGEON DENTIST

68 Bay Road,

CONSULTATION HOURS

9 A.M. TO 5 P.M.

EVENINGS BY APPOINTMENT

Sandringham, S8,................ 192

3

This did not have any effect, so I

instructed Lt. Flintoff to proceed at once

& interview the Middlsex Officers, & demand demand

that the necessary steps be taken at once.

Finally, I again went across myself

but could find no Officers with this

Coy. of Middlesex Regt. & on questioning

the N.C.O.s, was informed that all their

Officers had "gone to the rear" but

would be back xx in the front line

early next morning.

Despairing of

I then instructed Lt. Flintoff to

extend our Rt. Front so xx as to include

the old road & the gap beyond it, in

my coy front, & at the junctions

instructed the English Coy N.C.O.s to

at once start digging a trench so as

to extend their Left Front to connect

up with my Right.

I then reported all these facts to my Batt. H.Qs.

 

 

 

Sgt. Colclough with a [[?]] of our

men, dug all night, & worked so

well that most of this gap was defended

by dawn, altho of course it meant

thinning my Garrison to hold it.

             ________ ________

You state in your letter to me that

"I have been assisted by an excellent

account from yourself [[?]] describing the

[[?]] at Polygon Wood.

I do not recollect the account to which you

refer, & if it is not adding to your

doubtless already heavy [[?]] in

this History, I would be very grateful,

if you would kindly inform me to

what account by myself, you refer.

I hope the account I am now sending

may be of some assistance in supplying

the information you ask for, & will

be glad to supply any detail I may

have missed, if you will let me know.

Finally I offer my apologies for the

delay in replying due to pressure of

business.

Yours faithfully

Hugh J[[?]]

 

 

 

From Lt Boyd S8.

Hand drawn sketch - see original document

Includes:

NO MANS LAND

OBLITERATED ROAD

NO 4 NO 3 NO 2 NO 1 PLATOON

Undefended gap here of 40 yds including old Road

CARLYLE FARM

1st MIDDLESEX REGT.

S8 BATT HQRs

POLYGON WOOD

Rough (very) Sketch

SEPT 1917

 

 

 

[* Photo of Col. Duigan.

taken at [[?Estrire?]]

in the road Neuf

Belguim - on left hand

side of Rd*]

REPORT ON OPERATIONS 60TH BATTALION

22ND TO 28TH SEPTEMBER 1917

 

The Battalion arrived at the CAFE BELGE at 7.30 p.m. on

the night of Sept. 22nd 1917. At 4.30 p.m. on Sunday the 23rd

4 officers Capt. Doyle, Lieut. Parker, Lieut. McNamara and Lieut.

Diamond went forward with the 58th Battn. who were going to take

over the line preparatory to the proposed attack. These officers

were to gather all the information possible about their front

position of dumps; etc. remain in the line over night with the 58th

Battn. and report back next day. It was inteneded that the 60th

Battn. should pass through the 58th Battn. who were to hold the

front line J 9 D 2.9. to J 9 D 3.0 and take the first objective

RED LINE extending from J I0 A 6.3 to J I0 C 2.0 and that the

57th and 59th Battn. should take the 2nd objective BLUE LINE on

the frontage J I0 B 2.3 to J I6 B 2.9. The 14TH INFANTRY

BRIGADE were to attack on our left and the 98th BRITISH INFANTRY

BRIGADE on our right. in a

 

In accordance with an order from Brigade Lieut. Bannar

and 100 other ranks reported to Capt. Keen at HOOGIE DUMP at 5.15 p.m.

for the purpose of carrying stores forward. Whilst engaged in

removing ammunition the Dump was blown up by a shell but we had

no casualties.

 

The Staff Captain called in on the C.O. about 1.30 A.m.

on the morning of the 24th and left an order for the Battn. to

move forward next day to a position in the vicinity of CLAPHA

JUNCTION. Lieut. Anderson and an advance party were despatched

about midday with instructions to reconnoitre the ground with a

view to accomodating the Battalion. At 4 p.m. the Battn. moved

off from CHATEAU SEGARD and spent the night in shelters between

HOOGE and CLAPHA JUNCTION. Battalion Hqrs. were established in

the ENIN TUNNEL.

 

A conference of Commanding Officers was held at Brigade

Headquarters at 7.30 p.m. on the forthcoming operations. Up

to this time we had received no major operation orders for the

attack but were told at Brigade Hqrs. that we would receive a

copy of Divisional orders that night. These were delivered at

Battn. Hqrs, about 1.30 a.m. on Sept. 25th and the Brigade Order

No/116 was received at about 10 a.m. On account of the

orders having been received so late great difficulty was experienced

in getting together Company officers for final instructions with

regard to these orders as by this time the Battn. was becoming

scattered.

 

About an hour before dawn on the 25th Sept. the enemy

commenced to shell the ENIN ROAD extending to Brigade Hqrs.

Lieut. Seward and 18 other ranks were wounded and the shell fire

became more intense about 6 a.m.

 

Capt. Doyle had to be evacuated suffering from Appendicitis

 

A copy of the message from 58th Battn. to Brigade was

received at 9.20 a.m. This indicated that the enemy had taken

part of the Front Line held by the MIDDLESEX REGIMENT and had

established machine Guns on the road forming the right boundary of

the 5th Division. Brigade issued instructions for a Company of

the 60th Battn. to be sent to support the 58th. "B" Company with

Lieut. Cahill in command were immediately despatched with orders

to report to major Freeman. The troops had to pass through

GLENCORSE WOOD which area was being severely shelled. Lieut. Cahill

was wounded but remained on duty, 20 other ranks were also wounded.

The men were cool and steady and moved forward through the barrage

unhesitatingly. Later Lieut. Carl had to relinquish his command

which was taken over by Lieut. Arter. Upon reporting to major

Freeman two platoons were immediately sent to reinforce the 58th Battn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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