Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/121/1 - 1915 - 1916 - Part 7

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

Page 1 / 12

18 workd 24. aame aeroas 2 had Jerman mean time almost reached the sap. Maclonaghy Col. Leen & arranged Col. case san a attack aget the right. fo enoon outside D £1 He pund told collect 5 his him atack preperet Blatoon the als parapet. men abt Denvon's hat boubs attend each. they & acarrying 4 pay to 3h sand bags full worked up the outside H ferman parape of the 60 6 recaptured line of sap. Denvon we de 80 S Bn Hancock hit pt. held the On to kelled
t 2 HN Lobinon repated. 4 2am. he distrebd 4 Gens 4 along Bdefront wh w then 62 am fail well fortigud. at Soan a german boub atack on lep repetted hut PEede began to retire. They seemed to have no of. Alittle later anothy attack to place on our 2ight boube were suppti flank this atot t 20 man ty 5h 4842 up truch ghbbons The Chapman 2/4 Robinson drove termans 200 ydo down Robinson wer twice across So to bin up Bole He 0t men X first time time. second Blo Bn had be 55 workingou common ther tthey were or doc to reinford front tere, Lt 16 HWytie ws targely responsitle fordiing this sap from B15D truck There portion of this 80 been no ha oriinall abt Stop. wdnight a we made way Loune 5top Lap our an ight puller fom Ory hi Sides both ba on down thre a fermans The one far this bombe our side dead w8 lye of it bombin The part 56 Systematical ci came Dundoons where bombe reached. There pay had nearl been have must at a Fair in bombo 2 sometin The time superior were pt new the tell fermants wo were physically out
From Cst p. Mton) 8t. by Sibbono & Chapman Cpt. Anson ws told of to check Combi altack on left. And this bombin attack we made but wo checket by our arty. St Ble retired att this tiuce. Gibbins ased Chapian to get together bowbers & c-attack. They disso. Tibhons e ordered his men to extend to left. Thy did so but were boubed ermans and bune tocntr ribbins led out another pl a 4/10 Robinson, Pi Larbalestier Hhapman. Drove tn back 100yds. Gibbins wt wd & went et his wadocised. Bobmin went back across C for held on till t recifts. Chapman, ws ordered byy G. to retive. He retired to point B till most of got te 35 Bn had gove past. When evenn bombers had rache him be retirn to our own times, 82 these the end fust before bombers were allowed well altn retire to they left worn out daylight told exertion. Cowey with Termans cass of this. Dear to bomber back Sap again Casd orderd Cowey Woods (ady of 40 no matter them bact to drive out betw. Gervan Thep how. fot were & trench & three Comb them from a point on top of 2t here further than boub were dropps tn trech Th then part retired towes sap owaity sperate if to repeat this fermans but came on not had Sermans reage
2 The commn party diging from Germ. pont 3rd line began t but ws dowen in at once by begining of ferman bomber attack. Two frinad wos were form 8 but sent back word bombs it sapplie were undeterates (som also i thrown without sins be thrown Yarver darted teto 1 Ter himself till delonctid ones arrd 84 reternt the before head sap of a aft this time Stwd Senall were ferman exadsfom an at Mere left. the t across H lass. open. has dere Gilbons been to cover HC the retirement Noman yds a few to k. in own parape from our we recovere his body at Sailly buried PBn of Sans The Lewk one back all came in the they were extra abo 250 held. furthest line called 3r yes in Cometim there Sometis and line + a weak trench an beluveen) Wt were ordered Lewis Sans The the be come at back to
85 MncConsyley rep a 34I am. We have been through c att on night where 15 Bde std be. I have 20000 of Please lett Bde arein posit. me. resut prinades cantedr C in alt a wd like information re 15 di. Not 4 touch in them. thro ta teen 160 hav casl on ibbous hast order Secrety Capt Gibbons & It officers. you must prepar for an order retirning we are t protect on our flanks. Hold first He tine until furtur orders. 16 DM Conaghy 280 &Col. COSS 2 A (of infanty with h. gans t Chapman ame very last 86 o w across back T th0 +Sot Gibbons from men 00 right the were all line the pout Cxc. Sery Captuned or X Imen carryin the Yours 8 Malthews and part yet were and A Co On we het these bourt i both legs Folkhand (who as last seen in meed head to lyen & prisoners. alive are Both extreml oa 4 Camming captand w 0 also ryt g little Cales 60 a w the last sties across after went 300 in wave Bn Rest ye line
remay 34 Euiity At with $.24 orders to C line two Co from 30 y0 ye front live. one to send Order 1 recafoco 83 one to con to 4 went to B Coy 4 3 attent to C A to each went guns Lew15 b 25 over They were HGr went across. 10 70 At nearly had lost 58 tite fro at this all Worris had bn killed. Col. 5 then went Mr Conaghy Sector. May Cowey wenkovn then also. Only 2 you fro werdsont were fou near head of sap. They dirst know of anyo is positi 2t cowey wt sent
88 Capt Woods te to to find out Sibbons came back from left report to t toweys atman He reported a te were intouch 8t BAl with X were builden up Sausbago w Pebbons was at £1 hen This Cowey returned was from port line then were latter thick ti parts of this ma trench Capt Marran of D3 Cammens of were there. Folkhards Mathews were on extreme Eight of this Ane week ferman bombir attack wh were just starte They had a0 too Faa mad w so boubs 1661
8 thick 4 baps dnd bouls had to be thrown alon The tendency D for each man to di own piece his wate Thaken ap there we no Commn the have near to tont time- but two were started out te found no god commn but a well law waie line. men The hat to be Shaken dif ap te Common Itw Y party day by butnever morning complete. 2t one on wt never complete One van past Col. Cass deyout a ba fouter Over open #
bombers ferman took As th put up bay Each a post who like looke brown paper 9 of a piece traverse. behind the up these the m to So neat + notic were very puzzling. first signally from also The by danight by series showers of perh. time tin low flares at Teyalso shol lares. of bambers pout night alongy of lights acores foum eis these ha out de his in short Sent were up De System. of flares er 0d them asen aticat 32 Covey returning on we dent out again to Mattews. As the fr DT To terret madd thoke he decided along front lind in Search of another commn Y As te ws going aloy the from live he ws held up fermans Easmentioned above 2 cowards morning there weld 3 a cry of our own artille are Shellin as we have fr 0 dired to Eeters This wt 8h When Be were return As T.PR far as knew there wt unusual shell 20 of our bing own pihs. by our
23 There res shells tot abt the 32d te proll onr barrag They kept then OW 5 art on port line & our commn L.J firs in om caused man Casnalties an the full of dead? tapwe wit Still teful but wd tho in were there. but Ma o of these in were pr in 2 2151 Sometime on 3 Cowlichow knows abt the Red X incident of one of 50 batteries in the 505
5 teetes th at i is ks tot 4 he ear furthest 70 700 ✓ 171111 94
057 [eley) Bete e tinny Day tarks on Alonis te tay toanecthe a here ant aey an ne M a To attacking hereon Tues. Abt 500 o Kim & offe. with revolver& swors at head of them. On party holdin Cliff. Al 28 low Sout Capt. Walsh of BBn. came up on might of land ap 256 where cowey was (walsh ws k. here) Covey had retired on to this position from abl 200 yds in port. Walsh wt k. on it of loweys Probly Doyds from Lone Pond overent ot san e n e enene e ne ti e e ad aned e ae 483 (Gowryhire Ied alte the of ag sadhur tas aants conrn t cnstened te ac e Trenchhere Sn. y Campbell of 2Bn ws on Cowey'sleft just before dark on send. Heugh 2Bn ws w kill there on Mond monny- & d. of w. t 5

2
78
came across & worked up.
In mean time Germans had
almost reached the sap.
Leut Col. MacConaghy
saw Col. Cass & arranged
for a c. attack agst the right.
He found Lt Denoon outside
& told him to collect his
platoon & attack preferably
possib along the parapet.
Denoon's men had abt 3
bombs each; They attacked
& a carrying party w 4
sand bags full. They
worked up outside the
parapet of the 1st German
line & recaptured 60 to
80 yds of sap. Denoon ws
hit & Cpl. Hancock (55 Bn)
killed - they got held on to 

 

79
2/Lt N A Robinson reported. At
2 a.m. he distribd 4 L. guns
along 8 Bde front wh ws then
(2a.m.) fairly well fortified.
Abt 3.30am a German bomb attack
on left ws repelled - but 8 Bde
began to retire. They seemed to
have no offrs. A little later
another attack too place on our
right - bombs were supplied
to this flank. 
This left abt 20 men to hold 150yds
of trench. ∧Capt Gibbons 2/Lt Chapman &
2/Lt Robinson drove Germans 200
yds down trench. Robinson went
twice across nomansland to bring up
8 Bde. He got 4 men first time
& 3 second time.
After ∧B coy 55 Bn had bn working ∧15 trench on Commn  
trench they were ordered up
to reinforce front line, Lt
Mr Wylie ws largely responsible
for digging this sap from B to D. 
Hand drawn diagram in original
 
2
80
this portion of trench. There
had originally been no
stop. Abt midnight a
stop ws made some way
to right of our sap in
front line. Try pulling
down bags on both sides.
The Germans afterwds
bombed past this & one
ws lying dead on our side
of it. 
The bombing party of 56
came in & systematically
bombed where Dunoons
party had reached. There
must have been nearly
12 bombs in / air at a
time sometimes. The
new pty were superior
to / Germans till they
were physically worn
out

 

81
(from last p.but one) 
Cpt. Anson ws told off ∧by Gibbins & Chapman to check bombing
attack on left. Another bombing
attack ws made but ws checked
by our arty. 8th Bde retired abt
this time. Gibbins asked Chapman
to get together bombers & c-attack.
They did so. Gibbons then ordered
his men to extend to left.
They did so but were bombed
by Germans & bunched to centre.
Gibbins led out another pty
w 2/Lt Robinson, Pte Lanbalester
& Chapman. Drove En. back
150 yds. Gibbins ws wd & went
to get his wound dressed. Robinson
went back across Nomansland for
reinfts. Chapman ∧held on till he ws ordered
by G. to retire. He retired to
point B till most of enemy
got to 55 Bn had gone past.
When Enemy bombers had reached
him he retired to our own lines. 

82
2
Just before the end - these
Ger bombers were allowed
to retire but. Well after
daylight they left worn out-
with exertion - Cowey told
Cass of this. Germans
bombed back to near
sap again. Cass ordered
Cowey & Woods (adjt of 55th)
to drive them back no matter
how. These got out betw. German
wire & trench & threw bombs
on top of them - from a point
further to rt than where
bombs were dropping
in trench. The party then
retired towds sap & waited
to repeat this operatn if
Germans came on; but
Germans had not reached 

 

83
The party digging Commn trench from
Germ. front trench to 3rd line began
but ws driven in at once by
beginning of German bombing
attack. Two grenadiers were found
obtained but sent back word
th bombs were supplied were
undetonated (some were also
thrown without pins being thrown.)
Farmer started detonating them
himself till detonated ones
arrd. 

2
84
head of sap before the retiremnt.
It was abt this time th
German trenches were finally
left. There ws an exodus from
Cass. H.Q. across the
open. 
Gibbons had been ordered
to cover the retirement. He
ws K. in nomansland a few yds
from our own parapet -
his body ws recovered &
buried at Sailly. 
The Lewis Guns of 55Bn
all came back (6) & one
extra; they were in the
furthest line held - abt 250
yds in (sometimes called 3rd
& sometimes 2nd line - there
ws a weak trench in between).
The Lewis Guns were ordered
to be come back at the  

 

85
McConaghy repd. at 3.45am. We have
been strongly c. attd on right where
15 Bde shd be. I have given 20 yds of trench.
Please tell me if 15Bde are in positn.
2am. grenades wanted ∧to resist for c- att.
Wd like information re 15 Bde.
Not yet in touch w them.  
X F. had been shot thro' 
hand early on.  
Last order to Gibbons
Secret.
Capt Gibbons. & 55 Officers.
You must prepare for an
orderly retirement. We are
un-protected on our flanks.
Hold first Hun line
until further orders.
20/2/16
6.30am.
D McConaghy
Lt Col.
CO 55 

2
86
very last. Lt Chapman ∧of infantry with xx L. Guns came
back across Nomansland w
Gibbons & got thro: The
men on the right from
the front line were all
k. or captured exc. Sergt
& 2 men carrying the guns.
Matthews and party of
A Coy were amongst
these. M. ws hit by
bomb in both legs, &
x Folkhard (who ws last seen
lying w head in mud)
Both are alive & prisoners.
Lt Cummins on extreme
right was also captured.
At 6 or a little later the working
pties went across after last
wave. Rest of Bn in 300
yds line. 

 

2
87
At 7.24 orders to go ∧quietly with
remaining two coys from 300 yds line to
front line.
8.55. Order to send one
Coy to reinforce 53; one to.
54.  B Coy went 54th (Gibbon)
A Coy (Matthews) to 53rd.
½ Lewis guns went to each.
They were over by 9.30.
At 10.10 HQrs went across.
53rd had lost nearly
all offrs. at this time.
Col. Norris had bn killed.
McConaghy went to their
Sector. Maj Cowey went over
then also. Only 2 young
offrs. were of 53rd were found
near head of Sap. The
didn't know of anyones positn.
Cowey ws sent to rt & 

 

88
Capt. Woods to left to
find out - Gibbons came
back from left to report
(w Coweys batman). He
reported th they were in touch
with 8th Bde  & were
building up w sandbags.
Gibbons was at H.Q. when
Cowey returned.  (This was
from front line). Men
were rather thick in
parts of this muddy trench.
Capt Murray of 53 &
Lt Cummins of 55 were
there. They los Folkhard  x
& Matthews were on extreme
right of this line meeting
german bombing attacks
wh were just starting;
They had not too many
bombs & mud ws so 

 

2
89
'Diagram. See original document'
Cass dugout
20ft below surf.
Concreted -
Enormous quantity
of m.g. ammun.  
McConaghy
Dugout with
little roof wh
wd stop shrap.
(Medical Offrs
dugout). 

2
90
thick th bags and bombs
had to be thrown along
trench. The tendency ws
for each man to dig
his own piece of trench
until shaken up.
There ws no Commn trench
from rear to this front line -
but two were started out.
We found no good Commn
trench but a well laid train
line. The men had to be
shaken up to dig a Commn
trench. It ws partly dug
by morning but never
complete. (One on rt
ws never complete) One
ran past Col. Cass' dugout
- a bad trench & from there
over the open. 

 

2
91
As German bombers took
Each Coy they put up
what looked like a post -
or a piece of brown paper
up behind the traverse.
In the morning these
were noticed & were at
first very puzzling. 
They also signalled from
time to time by [Showers] by daylight by series of perh.
20 flares. They also shot low flares at
night along trench in front of bombers. 
Cass found scores of lights
in his dugout & had these
sent up. We were short
of flares - or were not systematically 
using them.  

2
92
Cowey on returning ws sent
out again to Matthews. As
the front 3rd trench ws so terribly
muddy & choked he decided
to go along front line
in search of another Commn
trench. As he ws going along
the front line - he ws held
up by Germans (as mentioned
above) 
xxxxx    Towards morning
there was go a cry of
"Our own artillery are
shelling us";   "We have
bn ordered to retire."
This ws when 8th Bde were
retiring. 
As far as 55th knew
there ws no unusual shelling
of our line by our own guns. 

 

2
93
There were a lot of shells
abt the 3rd line - probly
our barrage. They kept their
arty on ∧our front line & nomansland
& our Commn trenches. M.G.
fire in morning caused many
casualties in nomansland -
The sap ws full of dead &
wd - but ws still useful
tho' men were hit there.
Many of these men were got
in. 
xxxxx xxx
[Sometime on 21st (?)
Cowlishaw knows abt the
Red X incident (of one of
[50th] batteries in the 50s).]

 

Cowey thinks he ws
at Steele's; Lear & he
were - at their furthest -
250yds in part of it.
'Diagram. See original document'

2
94
'Diagram. See original document over 2 pages'

 


A.Pril 25. 1915
Positn of Cowey, 3rd Bn.
  
Capt. Walsh of 15Bn. came up
on night of Sund Ap. 25 to where
Cowey was (Walsh ws k. here)
Cowey had retired on to this positn
from abt 200 yds in front.
Probly 800 yds from Lone Pine. 
Walsh ws k. on
rt of Coweys trenches.
on ext. rt of  

2
95
'Diagram. See original document'
Campbell of 2Bn ws on Cowey's left just
before dark on Sund. Heugh 2Bn ws
wd killed there on Mond morning - & d. of w.  

Last edited by:
Transcriber 6897Transcriber 6897
Last edited on:

Last updated: