Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/121/1 - 1915 - 1916 - Part 6

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
RCDIG1066622
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

66 From Saust Dir. 12.25 am. Sent 1.25 M Bugade in centre, report that following from 6 CD held continuousty from NGCSI t NIDC. I small gap on left is being fuled 0.0x 07 Dx bits held No isolated X I. am. (sent midnight) I Bdeer Following message from May. Denehy idicates t atack of this brigade was completely failes, such 1 6 pn of the bott. as actually reached enemys trembes 600 0 have theen) blled or capturedy The two confanies 6 of 2 x down then close enemp 50t mown -0 very few came back and trench. - theisage begins at men of all 0X baktalions are coming back from Womansland and N pull that they will graduacy drift back to the line) expect 5 drift Many ten are wounded Menyare not & are not. many officers are gaenate resuding 56:58 Majs Macrae & Hutchan Elliott Eoponan p dead and all
ORI 9 120 67 ploceedin Daans, seeme intosible Latten but how long it will be posise to proced dependes on the protection te seems be 24.2 affordi 60 I unanimous of the fact. tat not a single may of C in Tenenry. hote hs arrived 15 Ble leares trench are comingg from the while enemy as X pont this blgode t9 allothed 6 organisent original tioe defenc your tin w trerches and on fe funt Ave Pennen Vc Please notofys Chivision and ask Merage ends T tX instruction thei 5 Bde. report that he has been (ole R. 40 tepse all time p0 whole Fise 43 now Sir fS. B enemys arelery on hby an he ist weping 18 X paraets with tebreache sacn think ilibe beb gainst counteratach C be 58 dribblin in
68 I from 25 Aust Sir at 12/.15 am. that it uncoured is £8 An 89.00 in woogs to ty from enemys were e4 59 ing can gai objective with altack by yar Cad You may 61Div. try to do so If not W 595 soueh fall tack to the treuhes in middle Nomansland an 4 connect up left of that sap w night German trenches 6 2 ob in Hs left your decertion wonh contre you take 4 Bole 15 to pror 12am tag Jt dayh Ohe o my has returned sd scould t 2 thinks the Ot He duele on He penentrated 6 M could nearly to the Terman tine but find none 2 our men tan wounded 7X other 75Bde 6 2
AUS IRIA 63 2 Bd 6 24 am Anst Abanson Dev. defence your adoe t0 oorcaness Katly rest Have helf bn they now Secto x in rea 14t Dle is connecting from it right 14 Gem trenh back in Please yew assist Thes tonneting henth pasible as it is to the 3 wita to the tt 14 Orfauan 873 Denveln trenches clear 6 bo putter abt to to bays. 3 sent out Satiols. 3 foert Lens well 28 428 pom patte still weak but can be held left strengthend Engls begge attendey to Sap tayh Denvely defence. t 0 reliable Two teen 9 came in & say there 8th no co covise time
70 98 Aust t 3.45 cent 3.30 ble now Te users a 0 H no further aight. trenches with its German 6 than e 2 15 NGC 1 repered to suptor will be flank exposed from earess 65 M. dawn in port. enency trenched ritle on Ele le and to right of 14 2 from 1015 Bde i aust 4.20 seking artifleny and havg ansteen We are 1hat ol. an on our ight Sugar Loa E te suppert o our left and artallry and 14 60 Eet hle will Danage This in addition to 81 14 its support or communicate direct with C0lh. Aee. To 60 S 8th su 14th Ides will be ready to send 8 F74 a feares 503 signal for banrage using barrage telephone not available and reclable. a
from Into te Bougade 18 to t Aust Ing2 am 26 Sent. Atack wilbe made tonight 14x No separate 2 We gebact in our general attack wrll be made letery 6N brenches font tene Division Fron sent 618 am Saust 6 de are ordered to witdraw our own line t 8th PBpS 14 and 154hdes will coopenite with fere from 151h o ooperate fronts in the case of the Terans d folowing y their respective 6 counteattaking or oderfo Fronts from which they started tougates well aepy the 16 9 live orters for hetling 74 Collow 7a the have taken doe n) B2 the 14 law get Length to Pinner Temon trenebe. th information as to the position in no 2 E4 canseully ate a Fort lin trench being D 0 te many eisualties and having 66
X From tould sme nedilt or I Layh. 4o am assistanc be sent to front liner. ten wounded yesterday cs DBL e afternoon and last night are still lying, in trenches 0 f X 3 Mon 6 must Div. P.40 am. Reports from portion of our pont state heavy 0 To re tombardment and sujest massing of eveny massin sugjection doubtful but in case corretty you must a gontable have founed body of men - about the Croix Blanche junction post & waidy Foot. Further messge (from right to same effect. 94 10 am 1315 7X 1245 P.M. Fome 57 Br. Elledt round firing line and s no has been 0 5 0 enemy whatever. movement f X Aumen clonel said that buinging in of toled C.W B.CC mest be under ay Whites
13 Getron Mas. Bachtold Foy H Ferguson Lt 14 Enylo Engrs. Fioners 5615 built tn Sap across matthew 174 Ba 54th on lep Lih 1 Don objoes Sot. faul cas Pro E dutch Seem ar a have by d as a drain tahe water of Co 7Ad r Ma Nomns of 5300 Iam of Sit ware pson X very care in Ferman H La to water sd on DL let down from a reservou into this Mhay Cowle wk to hes wais once or twere. Messs at from OC. Bon am. Blle My Bn is very scaterd Si comn 4 w 31 There secous sap co betw Bdes Hav 14& 15 mede ansucissful attempts estab commn 5o
WUSII 75 Denven 76 4 Very few dea w Bde abt havs All ther 0 to 80 Bde) The 5a wt midayto thro ot 2 the comuin. was effet at patrol of an of 85 wer and. patiol (seryts patrol). They went along of one did not report anson abit Serft + had went ale twice bomb fight He each time i wight thought be l n post by icolated lef 5 7 found the te german at bock well as C Cowe went 88 back con you d men Cat alon He am. stoppel two who admitted the bount the cd 2 a to
45 ORIA 177 They were foin alon when be heard Haands 2 the formd presents oop & of a bout. The men never returned. Cowey went back to C.O. 60 him to thedugont wd be a minte. Co bonber in todnt behieve t thes ws possible Cowvery went off to cass of next to the 56th Bn. who had our pont line Coy The officer (Capt. FanninI Kit sinced of w. after sters in the lame thow wodat let him have them at first bec. the orders were aget ham reserve En but finath allowed one bomber team under Sergl Hurter 6 go across Tay

66
2                               
From 5 Aust Div.
12.25 am. Sent 11.25pm
14 Brigade in centre report that following front
held continuously from N9 c81 to N10c.
Small gap on left is being filled.
No isolated bits held. 
1.a.m. (sent midnight) Bdier.
Following message from Maj Denehy
indicates that the attack of this brigade has completely failed, such
men of the 60th as actually reached enemys trenches
have (been) killed or captured. The two companies of
58th mown down with when close enemys
trench and very few came back. 
Message begins. Men of all 
battalions are coming back from Nomansland and
expect that they will gradually drift back to the line.
Many men are wounded. Many are not.
Many officers are casualties including
Majors Macrae, Elliott & Hutchins
all of whom are reported dead and

 

67
2
seems impossible to xorganise. Sapping is proceeding
but how long it will be possible to proceed depends on the protection
afforded by the ?others. Report seems be
unanimous of the fact? that not a single man of
15 Bde has now arrived in enemys
trench as enemys flares are coming from the whole
of the front a allotted to this brigade. I
am now organising the defence of our original
trenches and on the front Pinney Ave & VC.
Message ends.    Please notify division and ask
their instructions. GOC 15 Bde    
1.20 [Capt R. G. Legge reports that he has been
along whole front line
now held by 2 Coys of 57 bn.
enemys artillery ?firing heavy and he is sweeping
parapets with m.g. trenches breached.
?Doesn't think line will be held against counter attack.
58 & 59 dribbling in.

 

68
2 
From 5 Aust Div. at 12.15 a.m.
(That it is unsound for
59 Bn to dig in 100 yds
from enemys wire. If 59 & 58
can gain objective in conjunction with attack by
61 Div. on Sugar Loaf  "You may
try to do so". If not, 59 &
58 should fall back to the trenches in middle
of Nomansland and connect up
left of that sap w right
of 60 Bn in German trenches.
"It is left to your discretion which course you take"
to 15 Bde. 
2.12am  From Maj. John Layh. XXX
One of my 2 scouts has returned.
He thinks the other one is killed. He penetrated
nearly to the German lines but could can find none
of our men other than wounded.
(to 15 Bde) 

 

69
2
1.24 am From 5 Aust Div. to 15 Bde. Abandon
attack & organise defence of your
sector. [Have half bn there now. Rally rest]
in rear. 14th Bde is connecting from its right
in German trench back to you. Please
assist to dig the connecting trench if possible as it is
vital to the 14th. 
2.53  Dennehy - organising
s bs to clear trenches & putting
abt 1 offr to 3 bays.
Sent out 2 patrols. 
2.30 from Legge    Line fairly well
held - left still ?rather weak but can be
strengthened.  
2.45 Legge & Engrs attending
to sap. Layh & Dennehy
to defence. 
2.50 Two reliable L.G. men
of 58th came in & say there is no
organised line.

 

70
2
3.45. From 5 Aust division to 15 brigade (sent 3.30)
The 14 Bde now occupies
German trenches with its right no further
than N 9 C 7.½. / x 15th Bde
will be prepared to support exposed flank
from earliest dawn w m.g
& rifle fire on the enemy trenches in front
of 15 Bde and to right of 14 Bde. 
4.20  From 5 Aust div. to 15 Bde sent 4.am
We are getting artillery and heavy artillery xxx support on
Sugar Loaf and on our right
and artillery and 60th Bde support on our left
This in addition to barrage. 8th Bde will
communicate direct with 60th Bde for its support
8th and 14th Bdes will be ready to send
SOS signal for barrage using flares
if telephone not available and reliable.

 

71
2
To 15 Aust Inf Brigade from  / 54 Infy Bde
Sent. 4.20am. 
No separate attack will be made tonight.
A general attack will be made later. We are back in our
front line trenches. 
From 5 Aust Division sent 6.18 am.
14th Bde are ordered to withdraw to our own line. 8th
and 15th Bdes will cooperate with fire from
their respective fronts in the case of the Germans following up
or counterattacking. 
Brigades will occupy the ^(orders for fronts from which they started (follow orders for holding line).

7am - From 57 Bn (14th Bde have taken over the
length to Pinneys) Can get
no information as to the position in the German trenches.
Front line trench being consistently shelled with H.E.
and having many casualties.

 

72
2
6.40.am From Layh. Could some medical
assistance be sent to front line. Men wounded yesterday
afternoon and last night are still lying in trenches. 

9.40am. From 5 Aust Div.
Reports from portions of our front state heavy
bombardment and suggest massing of enemy
suggestion doubtful but in case correct you must
have formed body of men abot available
about the Croix Blanche
junction post & Windy Post.
10am. Further message (from ? right) to same effect. 

12.45 P.m. From 57 Bn. Elliott
has been all round firing line and finds no movement of enemy whatever.
German colonel said that bringing in of wounded
must be under White flag.

 

73
Maj Bachtold.
Lt Fry. Lt Ferguson 14 Engrs )
Engrs. Pioneers & 56 Bn        )
built the sap across                 )
Diagram - see original document

74
2
55 Bn
54th on left 53rd on Right.
Got objves fairly easily.
3rd  trench ws a ditch - seemed
to have bn dry as a drain to
take water off.

Norris CO. of 53rd & Adjt., & Maj.
Sampson of 53rd were k.
very early in German trenches.

It has bn sd tt water
ws let down from a reservoir
into this trench. Maj. Cowley
sank up to his waist in
it once or twice. 
Message at 1 am. from O.C. 55 3rd Bn
to Bde. My Bn is very 
scattered - In commun
w 31, 32, 53 & 54.
There is a serious gap
betw 14 & 15 Bdes. Have
made 2 unsuccessful
attempts to estab. commn 

 

75
Dunoon
 
76
2 
w 15 Bde. Very few dead
huns abt ........ 
(All these messages got to Bde.)
(The sap ws thro abt mid night) 
The effort at commn. was a
patrol of an offr, & 3 men, &
anor. patrol (Sergts patrol).
They went along & one did not
report. Sergt Anson also
went along twice & had
bomb fight each time - He
thought it might be an
isolated post - but left trenches
& found tt there were Germans
at back as well. 
Cowey went along &
fo found men coming back
along trench (abt 1 am.) He
stopped two who admitted
tt they cd throw a bomb.

 

77
2
They were going along
trench when he heard "Haands
oop" & presently the sound
of a bomb. The men xxx
never returned. The Cowey
went back to C.O. & told
him tt the dugout wd be
bombed in a minute. CO.
wdnt believe tt this ws possible.
Cowey went off to Cass &
next to the 56th Bn. who
had our front line. The Coy
officer (Capt. Fanning) killed
in the same show since d of w. after Flers
wdnt let him have them
at first bec. the orders 
were agst using reserve Bn;
but finally allowed one
bombing team under Sergt
Hurley to go across. They 
 

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