Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/249/1 - 1917 - 1932 - Part 9
3
Consolidation.
The necessity for first gaining good cover
from artillery fire was demonstrated. 'A' Coy
firstly dug deep in selected positions in groups
of 4 - 6 men and later connected these posts by
a more shallow trench. Tho casualties were
inflicted by the enemy's barrage on the evening of 20th
If men are kept immune from shell fire they can
defeat an infantry attack from shell holes.
Counter Attacks.
It was evident from observation that the enemy
had great difficulty, and suffered heavily, in bringing
his men into their assembly positions. They came forward
in very small parties, rushing from shell hole to shell-
hole, and it must have been impossible to regain
good organisation. The men appeared to be in
marching order.
Relief
5th Bn began to relieve in daylight and the
enemy evidently surmised that that was the beginning
of a general relief. If tapes could have been laid
by each unit (Coy. to Bn or to some central point, and
thence to the rear) it would have greatly assisted
incoming and outgoing troops.
4
Lessons Learnt.
Our heavy barrage, with the starting at the same
time as the infantry is an effective counter to
the enemys principle of defense in deapth.
The necessity for keeping close to the barrage,
each man knowing as much as possible about his
objective, line of advance and method of advance were
both emphasised. The value of a rapid converging
attack on strong points was obvious.
Enemy's new Dispositions
Nothing was noticed which had not been
previously notified in Div. circulars and maps
Enemy's Morale.
The enemy's morale was undoubtedly bad.
He was evidently demoralised by the weight of
our artillery fire and our infantry were upon
him before he could recover sufficient courage
to resist and surrendered abjectly in most cases.
His equipment was good and food seemed to be
sufficient. His bread was of much worse type than
that sampled on the Somme.
Geo Vaughan
Lieut.
A Coy
Report on operations 20th to 21st Sept 1917 B Coy 12 Bn
At 0130 on 20/9/17 I moved off with 'B' Coy from Halfway
house being rear company of the battalion.
At the entrance to Chateau Wood 'C' Coy stopped
at dump to load material which then brought
the battalion into the following order of company
A. D. B.
We reached the assembly position with little
trouble & no casualties. A & D Coy's formed up
along the tape. A on the right D on the left.
I formed my Company up 40yds in rear of
them across the brigade front in the following
order of platoons from the right 5. 6. 7. 8.
The platoons were formed up as arranged
I.E - Lines of sections at 40 yds intervals
in shell holes about 0430 the enemy
discovered that troops were moving in front
of our line & opened a heavy barrage,
this caused some disorganisation. And The
troops started to move towards the left
flank to avoid the shelling.
This disorganisation was only momentary.
I went along towards the left flank & ordered
the men to take cover in shell holes which
they did immediately.
Our casualties from this barrage were
very slight. At about 0530 A Coy of the 9th Bn
moved up & took cover in shell holes in
rear of my position.
The tapes at the assembly points were of
great assistance in getting into position.
At zero hour our barrage started & on
its lifting the first 100 yds the whole line
moved forward irrespective of distances,
to enable us to get out of the enemy
barrage which was still on the assembly
point.
2.
On moving forward towards the first objective
I could only find a few of the 11th Bn. I took
charge of that part of the line moving
the whole lot forward irrespective of Coy
or Battalion & with these men reached
the first objective which we started to
consolidate.
There was no opposition reaching this
point & enemy shelling was well in
rear of us.
I reported having reached first objective
to Battalion H. Qrs. at 0360. ? 0630
We reorganised the 12th Bn as far as
possible at this point about 0640.
Capt Mason 11th Bn with his Company
came into first objective having got
too far out to the flank. They immediately
started to consolidate the position.
At 0708 I pushed forward under barrage
with 12th Bn towards the second objective.
the following officers were with me in
going forward Lieut's Shepherd - Campbell-
Tynan - Sandy - Blacklow & Wardlaw.
We reached second objective without
no opposition capturing (7) seven machine
guns & about (30) Thirty prisoners.
We immediately started to consolidate
approx. along line J.9.A.8.4. to J.9.C.8.2.
all companies being in the front line.
Most of the material being brought forward
by C. Coy had been lost in the marshes
on the way to second objective in many
cases the men having to be pulled out
of the mud by their comrades.
The consolidation was helped along
considerably by us ∧our finding a quantity
of Hun shovels etc on the objective.
3.
About 1015 9th & 10th Battalions passed over
our lines towards the third objective.
Slight enemy shelling at this period.
At 1100 Lt. Wardlaw with two platoons started
constructing strongpoints about J.9.C.8.5.
to fill in the gap between A & D companies.
At this period Lt. Thompson was missing
& has not been traced up to the present.
"C" Coy at this period
A party from "C" Coy under (Lt. Tynan) were
at this period sent back to bring forward
material & establish dumps as previously
arranged.
During the afternoon & evening our own
heavies were consistently shelling our
own lines.
About 1930 the S.O.S. signal went up from
the green line our artillery immediately
replied with a heavy barrage & no
counter attack developed.
Shelling around our line at this period
was very slight & although enemy
planes were flying low he evidently
did not discover our lines.
About 2100 everything was again very
quiet & remained so until about daybreak
& our consolidation was carried on with &
a good line was established by dawn.
At dawn our artillery barraged. Enemy
replied with some slight shelling
causing no casualties.
My Coy casualties up to this period
were approx (5) five killed (13) thirteen
wounded (7) seven missing.
About 1800 I recieved word from Battalion
Head Qrs that we were to be relieved
that night.
4
About 1930 enemy opened heavy barrage
about our lines most of his shells falling
just in rear. S.O.S. signals went up
from right & left flanks. Also in front.
Our artillery replied with heavy barrage. At
2030 9th & 10th Battalions reported back that all was
O.K. on their front & that no attack had
developed. Throughout this heavy barrage
we suffered no casualties.
Things quietened down about 2200
& allowed our relief to take place
A. & B. Coy's of 1st Bn took over our line
about 0100 & we moved back to Halfway
House suffering no casualties duringly
during relief.
Lessons Learnt
Carrying Party - In my opinion a
carrying party for material is practically
of no use while moving forward to the
attack, as their loads are lost through
heavy shelling which causes disorganisation
& their loads are thrown away.
I think it would be best if loading
parties left after the objectives had
been taken.
Assembly - Assembly positions could
be better marked if different colored
illuminous discs were used in
conjunction with the tape lines.
Reliefs -: Advance parties from the
relieving units of a few N.C.Os. should
be sent forward by daylight before
a relief takes place to give incoming
unit fuller information as regards our
dispositions & those of the enemy
5
Enemy Morale — Although we captured
enemy strongpoints in some cases
with (3) three machine guns he made
no attempt to put up any serious
opposition. In no case did we find
any machine guns or enemy in shellholes,
Enemy dispositions - The main
enemy defences seem to be concrete
pill boxes distributed checkerwise
in depth.
24/9/17
I Holyman Capt
O/c B Coy
C Coy
12th Btn A.I.F
24.9.17
Report to the C.O. on observations on recent operations.
I was in charge of C. Coy 12th Btn which was detailed as
carrying Coy. On the morning of 19th inst we advanced
from Half-way-House loaded up. ∧and with orders to take
all our material to Dumps 5 and 6 in the blue line
Before arriving at the assembly point we experienced
considerable difficulty owing to the swampy nature of
the taped track. which greatly fatigued the men
at this early stage... On arrival at Assembly point
the enemy opened a fairly heavy Barrage on us
by which a considerable portion of our material was
destroyed. I think it would be an improvment on what
took place if dumps had been previously established
in our front line and sunken. tracks dug. so that
carrying Parties could assemble there and load up without
being seen. Those parties would start from the front
line. Quite fresh and would stand a good chance of
getting xxx most of their material to their objectives.
Tracks should be made and or tapes laid between dumps
as great difficulty has been experienced in keeping
correct direction in shell torn country in the dark.
The system of carrying from Line to Line as adopted
was a success. and sections in single file did not suffer
[*Carrying of material*]
2
2
heavy casualties while carrying in the day time and the
front Line was kept well supplied with war material
Advance –
The advance was carried out very steadily. but the
opportunities of reorganisation at Red and blue lines
were not availed of to the best advantage.
Consolidation.
The consolidation was carried out rapidly and well
in some places. however There was ∧ however a tendency to make prono∧unced
trench lines: Where the necessary means of concealment were
adopted, by joining up shell.holes and making no marked
earth works enemy planes and other means of observation
were unable to observe such and no artillery Barrage
were put on to them.
Counter Attacks
All counter attacks by enemy broke down under our
Artillery Barrage.
Reliefs.
Parties coming up to relieve our troops moved swiftly
and carelessly over the open country between the Red. Blue.
and Green Lines. and did not take the precaution to sit
still while enemy lights were over our lines. Those troops
were invariably shelled and casualties inflicted on them
and on the Troops being relieved. If troops got down when
a light is being sent up by the enemy they would be able
to observe the ground better and would not be observed by
the enemy.
Enemys Dispositions.
The country over which we travelled seemed to be held
lightly the main defence being strong points with machine
Guns. The defender appeared to be demoralised by our Artillery
and rarely put up a fight.
D Mcleod Capt
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