Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/249/1 - 1917 - 1932 - Part 10

To
The Adjutant 
12^th Battⁿ.
"Report on Recent Operation".
Assembly = Too much undue
exposure and unnecessary
noise (regarding commands
etc)
Advance to Red Line
No formation 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th.
Battns were all mixed up. Men
too eager overran Barrage.
When 11^th Battn were consolidating
at Red Line we reorganised.
Advance to Blue Line
In Lines of Sections in single file
Control good.
 

Advance to Green Line
9^th Batt^n. advanced before
barrage had lifted and had
to retire.
10^th Battn followed barrage
according to Barrage time.
From the Assembly point to
Blue Line no serious opposition
met with.
Consolidation
Good (shortage
of trench tools.)
Line too thickly held.
Counter Attacks
When information reached Blue
Line that enemy were massing
every man stood to & was thoroughly
alert.
 

Supply of S A A. Bombs, rifle grenades
good.
Relief - For D Coys Line was
carried out satisfactorily.
Lessons Learnt.
After objective taken & consolidation
men should remain in the
trench or strong points & not
promenade in the open, and
when enemy aircraft overhead
even if digging should
remain still.
E.D. Shepherd
Lieut
O.C. D.Coy
24/9/17
 

NINTH  AUSTRALIAN  INFANTRY  BATTALION.
Story  of  Operations.  19th. 20th and 21st SEPTEMBER 1917.
19-9-17.
2345.
ThexBattalion moved up from CHATEAU SEGARD by Platoons to
the jumping off tape as laid down by Brigade and Battalion
Orders. Owing to the rain and the natural condition of the
ground progress was impeded.
Crossing HOOGE till the Battalion came under a heavy enemy
barrage & suffered many casualties including all the Company
Commanders. The junior officers took over at once the
organisation and command thereby saving confusion at the
Assembly Point. Much greater part of casualties at assembling pt.
& Chateau Wood.
 

20-9-17
0555.
The Battalion was in position and ready for the advance.
Great work was done by all Officers and N.C.O's in keeping
direction and sorting out other Units who by mistake occupied
the Sector allotted to the Battalion.
The Enemy was still shelling the ground over which the troops
were advancing, but caused no material damage.
 

0625.
First Objective captured by the 11th Battalion with the 9th
just about 100 yards in rear. When the barrage lifted they
again went forward keeping in touch all the time with the
flank Battalions and just in rear of the 12th.
During the mopping up between the 1st and 2nd Objectives
opposition was encountered and a small party of our Battn.
under Sgt. BENTLEY succeeded in killing the Garrison of an
enemy Strong Point which was still offering resistance. - 
[[*a small
concrete
redoubt.
Threw a few
bombs
but
no
time
to get
M.G. out.*]]
 

0750. 
At 0750 Second Objective captured by the 12th Battalion and
the Barrage remaining for 2 hours in front presented the long
hoped for opportunity of re-organising for the attack on the
3rd. Stray shells at this time.
Officers, N.C.O's and individual [[????]]
the task was indeed heavy. All Sections were ready even down
to the Carrying Parties and everyone was conversant with the
nature of the work ahead of them.
At 2nd objve they got in touch w 28 Bn on left & 12 Bn on right. Liaison ws
good w 28th who sent word 2 c.attacks tt cd be seen on their front - one at 12.30, other abt ?6 pm
 

0950.
The Barrage lifted and the Battalion advanced to the 3rd 
Objective. Opposition was encountered but was very short
lived at the Enemy Strong Point in j.9.A.90.35..
One enemy machine gun was captured at this point and the
Garrison either killed or captured. This M.G. ws got going but they got round it
& bombed it.
This bombg ws mostly done w hand grenades.
During this advance the enemy Artillery was fairly active but
the shelling was wild.

1015.
Thirdx Objective captured and the troops at once commenced to
consolidate. xxxxxxxxxx. The ground was in the nature of
sandy loam soil and the entrenching tool was handy in the
extreme.
During this period Patrols were sent out to gain touch with
the enemy but only isolated cases were found abt 200 - 300 yds ahead,
towds racecourse.
Communication was maintained with the flank Battalions, and
they all similtaneously commenced to dig in.
This BUTTE ws sd to have bn Haig's O.P. in 1st Battle of Ypres. The observers cd be seen leaving it when fired on.
 

1125.
The Strong Point as laid down by Brigade at j.9. Central^X was
commenced and the Carrying Partys to the rear were detailed
from those organised at the 2nd Objective.
^XEngrs helped in this.
It was reveted with
timber from / wood
& a good job w [[done?]].
The enemy did not make good use of his observations, as men were
working during this period exposed to full view. 3rd Field
Coy. Engineers [[provided?]] a good deal of assistance in the
construction of a Strong Point.
 

1510.
Front line system of defence. Continuous line with a depth
of about 5 feet. On the springy ground water was obtainable
at 2 to 4 feet and digging difficult.
Troops were engaged the whole time in the progress of the front
line defences, and on completion they presented a very
strong obstacle to attack. Wire round outposts, wire along front
line, & along support line & round S.P at J 9 central. The Regt had
250 yds of front & had probly 800 yds of xxxx wire out.

- 2 -
21-9-17.
0700.
The Firing and Support lines ^x Strong Points were wired
with old German wire found on the Battle field and that
sent from the dumps. (A German dump ws found in Polygen - and
we got 30 coils of concertina wire there)

CASUALTIES.
Our casualties were slight compared to those at the forming
up and I am of the opinion that the enemy was shifting his
Field Guns as quickly as he could anticipating a much
bigger advance in depth.

SHELLING. 

1800
2400.
From the time the Counter Attack was reported to be taking
place up till mid-night no shelling at all took place.

RELIEF.
21-9-17.
2nd Battalion A.I.F. relieved the 9th Battalion at 2300 on
the 21st September 1917: the 2nd Battalion meeting with a
few casualties.

Lieut.  Col.
Commanding.  9th Battalion.

NINTH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION.
Nar^rative of Operation of 19/20th and 21st SEPTEMBER  1917.
19-9-17. 1st Phrase.
2345.
Battalion moved off from CHATEAU SEGARD Camp through
SHRAPNEL CORNER, WARRINGTON ROAD thence 3rd Brigade Route
to point of Assembly. A,C and D. Companies reached Assembly
point at 0540 on the 20th. B Coy. arriving 20 minutes
later 0600; being held up by Enemy Barrage and Battalion
in front.
Enemy Barrage came down on old Front Line and in rear at
about 0500 causing many casualties to Officers and men; all
Company Commanders being casualties before Zero hour.

2nd Phrase.
LOCATION OF
BATTALION AT
ZERO HOUR.
"A" Coy.  j.8.C.3.4 to j. 8.C.3.1.
"B" Coy.  j.8.C.3.1 to j.14.A.5.4.8.
"D" Coy.  j.8.C.3.4. to j.14.A.4.8.  ^.
"B" Coy.  On move from HOOGE GATES Crater to jumping Off
Tapex.
Bn. Hqrs.  CLAPHAM jUNCTION.
Bn. Transport. H.27.A.1.7.
Map Reference. WESTHOEK 1/10000.

ADVANCE TO RED,  BLUE AND GREEN LINES.
ZERO HOUR.
At 0540 the Battalion moved forward in rear of Troops
for 1st and 2nd Objectives.
0625.  1st Objective captured, 9th Battalion in position in
rear of 1st Objective. In touch with 10th on right and 28th
on left.
0700.  troops allotted 2nd Objective moved forward follo^wed by
9th Battalion until reaching 100 yards in rear of BLUE Line.
During the capture and consolidation of BLUE Line Battalion
was reorganised ready for advance on GREEN Line; some
difficulty was encountered owing to the Troops having been
caught by the Enemy Barrage at forming up tape, and during the
advance and the troops for the BLUE and GREEN Lines having
become mixed. This difficulty was got over by the excellent
work done by the Platoon Commanders and N.C.O's.
0955.  Troops for the GREEN Line moved froward towards the
GREEN Line.
1015.  GREEN LINE captured. Consolidation commenced. Touch
with UNITS on flanks maintained throughout.

CONSOLIDATION.
1125.  Progressing favourably with Consolidation. Strong
Point at j.9. Central commenced.
1300.  Carrying Parties to the rear organised for material.
German wire Dump found in rear of GREEN Line, this is being
used.
1410.  Support Lines progressing with consolidation.
1510.  Continuous Trench along GREEN LINE has been dug and
wired.
1600.  STRONG POINT at j.9. Central fit for Defensive purposes
and wired.
STRONG POINTS constructed and M.G. Posts established at j.9.
B.25.60., j.9.B.30.30., and j.9.D.20.70.
VICKERS MACHINE GUNS in position in rear of GREEN LINE at
j.9.C.75.90., j.9.C.6.5., j.9.C.4.5., and j.9.C.8.3.
From here on consolidation and improvement of existing defences
was continued.

21-9-17.
0700.  Wiring completed on the whole of the front and support
lines and Strong Posts.  About 800 yards of wire being put
out forming a very good xxxxxx obstacle.
 

 -  2  -
COUNTER ATTACKS.
No COUNTER ATTACKS eventuated excepting a slight massing at
1200 and 1800 on the 20th. These were dealt with by
Artillery Fire and Machine Guns.
PATROLS were seen several times moving towards the Mound. These
were fired on and dispersed.

xx RELIEF.
21-9-17.
Relief by 2nd Battalion was commenced at 1830 and was completed
by 2300.
The in-coming Battalion had a good many casualties owing to
Enemy Barrage being put down presumably for Counter Attack.
This was neutralised by our fire.
9th Battalion had few casualties coming out. Road built by
Pioneers through GLENCORSE WOOD thence to CHATEAU WOOD being of
immense assistance.

LESSONS LEARNT.
1. Carrying Parties should be  separate organisation altogether,
say one Battalion being detailed for Carrying work only and that
they should not pass the jumping off trench till 2 or 3 hours
have elapsed from ZERO hour. The reason being that Carrying
parties become involved in the fight and dump the material
carried when moving in rear of the attacking troops. Also
when troops for the final objective are dependant on troops
allotted Objectives in rear for material there is far too much
delay in getting it forward as the troops for the other Objectives
have the task of getting their own Objectives consolidated.

2. It is suggested in country over which the recent attacks took
place four sandbags per man should be attached to the Soldiers
equipment. This would save a good deal of work as they could
be used for revetting sandy loam soil.

3. Training in the use of German Machine Guns by all Lewis Gunners.

4. Barrage on the whole was too slow between objectives only the
time could easily have been reduced by an hour.

Enemy's NEW DISPOSITIONS.
It was observed and has been verified since by the 2nd Bn.
that the Enemy under cover of his Barrage on the night 21/22nd
had dug a trench about 200 yards in front of the Mound. This
appeared to be the only new system on defence in our Sector.

ENEMY MORALE.
The prisoners captured were no criterion as to the Enemy's
Morale as they had been subjected to a terrific test by
bombardment xxx Barrage .
The enemy was well clothed, well fed and equipped.
Lieut. Col.
Commanding. 9th Battalion.
 

Wounded at Landing
& also twice later in France
Pte H H Morgan DCM
3 MG Coy
K in A 21/9/17
In the Field.
30th September, 1917.
Dear Mrs Morgan,
It is with a sad heart that I have to try and express
to you my heart felt sympathy for the great loss you have suffered for
the cause in this great War.
Your son Herbert Henry Morgan died a Soldiers' death
for he was killed in action at about 9 p.m. on 21st September at his
post in front of Nonne Boschen, which we captured from the enemy on
the previous day. I hope you will have some consolation from these facts.
Death was instantaneous and he now lies at rest in a soldiers grave
about 2600 yards East of Hooge. Also your loss is our loss, for he
was a soldier and a man who was so esteemed by all ranks in "No 3"
Section. The Section join with me in asking you to accept our heartfelt
sympathy. The articles of private property which he was carrying on
his person, when he met his death, I am forwarding to you under
separate cover and I hope they reach you safely.
Well, Mrs Morgan, I will close this hard letter by letting
you know that we have lost a comrade when you lost your son and our
heartfelt sympathy is yours.
I remain,
Your sincerely,
(Signed) James C.Hoge.
Lieut of "No 3" Section
3rd Australian M.G. Coy.
 

Docts of Record.
EIGHTEENTH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION.
Battalion Headquarters,
9th.November 1917.
Dear Capt. Bean,
In reply to your latter of 3rd.inst.

It is most probable that 2nd.Lieut. A.V.L.Hull was
the officer who placed the flag on "ANZAC" on Sept.20th.

Certainly this officer carried the flag forward
to ANZAC with him and was present when it was placed in
position.

He was unfortunately, killed in action on 9/10/17 .
Most of those who were present at the capture of ANZAC
have since been either killed or wounded. Hull's rank
at the time of his death was that of Lieutenant.

I regret that this has been delayed, but the
battalion has only just come out of the front line.
E257
LE Robson Lieut.
Adjutant 18th.Battalion, A.I.F.
(for Lt Col Murphy). 

TELEPHONE: FL.4151.
Commonwealth of Australia.
HISTORIAN,
VICTORIA BARRACKS
PADDINGTON, N.S.W.
No 7330.

8 March 1932.

D.H. Anthon, Esq., D.S.O., M.C.,
c/o Southern Portland Cement Co. Ltd.,
Berrima, N.S.W.
 

Dear Mr. Anthon,
In writing the history of the Third Battle of Ypres,
I have had to deal with the taking of a pillbox beyond the
first objective on the right of the 20th Battalion. I understand
that you took part in this. I should be grateful if you
would cast your eye over the enclosed short account, and let
me know whether it is correct, and, if not, how it differs from
your recollection. It is very difficult to reconcile several
accounts in the records - they may relate to different
pillboxes.
Yours faithfully,
C.E.W. Bean
C.E.W. Bean
[[?]]
Official Historian.