Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/120/1 - 1919 - Part 3

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9 Bn's Raid.
Night of 1/2 July
N9. d. 01. 3 m.g.  about here which caused
much loss & annoyance.
Right and left had also to be attacked
so as to minimise losses through enfilade
Silent operation decided on.
On June 9 selection was made from a large party
of volunteers. 160 chosen.
Sent to divisional bomb school. Heavy training. 
Patrols frequently out in Nomansland
N. 9c 75.10
N. 9d 02.15
N9d 25.10
Wire ws _∧methodically cut here by MT.Ms here
but also in other places
Heavy bombardment on rt flank 

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between N 8 d.8.2 & N 9.c. 41
with Barrage from N 9 c. 57.10
to N.15 a.6.7. thence to N.15.b.7.8
thence to N. 9. d. 7.2.
It was hoped tt enemy would
retaliate opposite this sector - & they did.
Our new trenches were being dug opp this
Sham sector – & our TMs
cut enemy's wire there in [[shorthand]]
M.gs. cooperated & from there
2000 yds back used indirect fire
Two V.M. guns protected
rt & left flanks - only protective fire
to raid (in special constructed emplacements-
1 at end of Pinneys
OC Raid 

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O.C. Raid
Capt M. Wilder Neligan
2 telephonists 2 messengers

25 
There ws a bombt.
(from time they were at
enemys wire) to form a
barrage. This ws to be
lowered when they left
trench. But ruse to rt
had bn so successful
tt the Germans never
replied on the proper
sector & our arty barrage
ws never lowered onto the
front trench. 

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Bayonet men the bayonets painted
black
O.C. Raid at ^ entrance to Sally Post.
All 3 parties  communicate with him by tel.
60 messages passed thro
Bn H.Q.
Code previously arranged ws used
Slight westerly wind.
11.50 Rt pty folld by Centre
& left parties began to debouce
12.43 ½ all parties reported
by buzzer (2 dots) tt they
were in position 200 yds from
ens trenches 2 m.g.'s then began
to sweep support trenches to cover
any noise.
1.30 am all pties 100yds
from objective. Left flank ws
here held up by enemys
wire wh took time to get thro!

27   
What we have when all this need suffer? 

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Order∧had bn given to go to 50 yds position.
Centre party also in trouble.
Rt Paty was already at 50yds.
Phone of centre party lost touch
thro temporary break down.
Bombt ws ordered ½ hr later
by O.C.  Bn before centre pty's
message  arrived (They were
poking abt for a place thro wire)
They then sent tt they were all
Right  -)
So far undetected.
At 2.30 am  "Gallop" sent to
arty & m.g.'s  2.3 ½  m gs
came in 2.5 arty
2.12 all parties reported in trenches
2.17. Signal order to retire
(rockets) 2.30½ all parties
had returned. Word sent to
arty  & mgs to xxx cease
fire. 

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Trenches were fuller than
normal. Enemy had bn driven
to flanks by bombt. Lieut Ramkema
& 2 men bluffed a dugout
full of enemy. 6 were K &
rest told to throw down arms
& proceed to our trenches. 3 became
troublesome on way across &
were shot. Remaining 11
reached our lines safely,
Lt Young - left party had some
hot fighting, 2 bombers bombed
a mg party - & secured
m.g. on heavy stand w Seat
(cdnt be unclamped).
Rt pty got in unnoticed
& then started hard hitting. Only
4 prisoners taken but many
killed.  Entry ws complete

 30
Men were told at 9.30 tt
they were in for final rehearsal.
Went down in motor lorry.
As soon as got down
given chewing gum, to prevent them
from smoking & coughing,
& then they knew something ws
on.  

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Surprise here.
Our casualties:
1 offr . k. Capt Benson
1 Ser. w.  Cap. Neligan.
1 w.          Lt Young
5 o.r. k .   1 or  w & m.
                  2 o.r. m.
                  21 or w.
All casualties either bombs
or HE.   Exc. Benson (bullet
wounds 25 yds from their
parapet- when all over)
No H.E. ws used in nomansland
53. En. killed (49 in trenches,
3 in nomansland, 1 in our trenches
by shell). many w.
21 prisoners  taken & large amnt
of material etc.
On retirement some of
parties became a little

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[[shorthand]] Klucks helmet. Theres sergt
Kenyon out there with our Benson
I'm going out to bring them & out he went)
Capt. A. Warren who 
ws to have gone
ws patrolling enemys
on June 18 when he ws
shot in spine & K.
(Young officer had bn all thro Gallipoli
from Ap.25)
3 spots attacked each abt
100 yds apart.
Party taken down by motor
Omnibus to old house near
firing line. Faces & hands blackened
Col Robertson ws under our
parapet in a Coy H.Q.
Nearly 1 hr before each pty
reported reached 200 yds line.
From there:
Slowly Crawling - dragging mats
& ladders from there
Rt & centre got quickly to 100yds
Left 2ft met stiff barbed wire.

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33
disorganised. Till then discipline excellent.
Neligan worked night & day at training.
Motor lorries were waiting
to take them to divisional baths . Cup of
Coffee & Rum, slept
all next day.
Neligan ws hit going
[[shorthand]] at final stage.
Knobkerries of little use.
Bombs & revolvers far more use.
Mats useful in retirement.
Enabled mg. to come back
(1000 rounds left still dragging
from it). White calico & luminous
paint makes good tape.
No time to use engineers

_________________________________ 
Parties rushed last 50 yds. officers
& bombers leading.
All got in without casualties 

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Benson led his party;
waited till last; assisted
two wd. men, & ws  shot in
back 50 yds from enemys trenches.
His body ws brought back.
Rankema found 21 of enemy
in one dugout. He ws fired
at repeatedly & emptied his
revolver.  K. 6.  ordered others
out, disarmed them, & w Sergt
Kenyon drove them to our
lines. Seeing escort so
small they began to be
troublesome. 4 had to be
shot- Rest were brt in.
Lt Young (left party) had great
diffy w wire but cut it
as he went on. Party got
in headed by bombers &
bayonet men. Enemy ws 

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driven headlong along trenches.
Here m.g. ws discovered wh
had watched us so long. Pte.
D Mahoney found & bombed
m.g. crew. M.g. ws brought
across in spite of rifle - grenades
& shrapnel on our party nearby.
6 mins after 1st party
had reported "in" the
interest rockets to retire
were sent up by Col. Robertson.
Capt W M. W. Neligan ws
behind centre  party when he
found an observation post.
contg 3 Germans. He killed
2 but 3nd managed to
throw bomb. Neligan ws
badly hit in head & shoulder
but went on into trench &