Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/126/1 - 1915 - 1917 - Part 4

2
41
advanced to positn on
rly line from 90 contour
in 4 B.7.7 to near
corner at 95 contour in 
C 6c. to abt 5 central.
There ws a German
post on rd junction
(sunken) in 5c. 5½ 7
Enemy put up fair
resistance, & later w
rifle & m.g. fire from
cutting on rt.  C Coy
had bn a little ahead of
its barrage.  The Post
fired at it. & It  The Coy
got down for abt 12 mins.
under fire from Post.
They then pressed on
under their barrage,

2
42
mopping up the Post
& coming under v. heavy
m.g. & rifle fire from
rly cutting. They occupied
the cutting getting 4 or 5 3 prisoners
& killing a good many.  They
then had both flanks in 
air for 48 hrs.  They
were under continuous 
fire, enfilade mg fire
from left, Germans still
being on same rly on
left _ pineapple bombs
& other TMs.  Germs
next day (5th) assembled
for c.attack.  This
ws dispersed by rifle &
m.g.fire & artillery.

43

6/7 5/6
During Fortescues advance 4/5
C.o. ws able to talk to him
on phone all way.  As
W. Yorks were not taking
part after all, an arty 
barrage ws arranged 
for.

2
44
During night 5/6 4/5 the
supporting line ws advanced
abt 400 yds & trench dug.
On night 5/6 Fortescue
still remained in cutting
but B Coy were brought
up & echeloned abt
(in conjunction w movement
of 15 Bn on right) on
right rear of Fortescue
abt on line running
S.E. W thro 12A central
11 B 77.  Simultaneously
D & A Coys occupied
rly line, left flank on 
contour 90 in 4 B at
rly line, & rt joined to
C (Fortescue)'s left.

6/7

2
45
W. Yorks were supposed
to come up on left, but
patrols out ¼ mile on
line did not find them.
We threw back protective
flank on left.
52nd went over
on next night (6/7) /8/
from Longatte & filled in
gap between West Yorks or
other British & 49 51 Bn
on 90 contour (who relieved
49 Bn tt night).
In fighting on cutting 
we lost Lt Maunder (k.)
by m.g. firing up cutting from
actual rly line abt somewhere
W of cross road.
Capt Gray, ws wd by

2
46
shell during advance of
A & D Coys on 5/6/9 ;
Fortescue's Coy lost 53 men
(went in 120 strong).  Incl.
Sergt Scott who had fought so 
well at Mouquet.

In beginning of these operatns
when op. order ws recd
from Bde, the positn had
to be reconnoitred.  Sergt
King, scout Sergt, went out
with 3 men, got round the
outpost 600 yds ahead , 
saw 15 men go into it (we
did not know of it before)
& then went round it to
the cutting in its rear.  He 
got close eno' to cutting to

2
47
find tt it ws fairly
strongly held.  This night
was sleeting. The informatn
helped to make operatn
a success - indeed op. order 
ws much based upon it,
& arty barrage arranged for.
The Coy commdrs were
A. Capt Gray.
B. Capt Bridgeman.
C. Maj. Fortescue
D. Capt. Willenbrock.

This ws a very trying
tour.

48

14 were taken in a dugout
in 1st objve by stretcher bearers -
 after bombers had put a
bomb down & gone on.

2
49
(Mouquet) (Cont) A Coy ws fought
by Germs in front line.  Where
52 were they the Germans were left
thick dead.  These One of 
the 49 Sergts (Sergt Gordon -
k. abt ½ hr later) shot 3
Germans there as he ran along
parapet.^X  There ws no
resistance in 2nd trench.
The 2nd trench ws full of
Prussian Guards - one 
man dazed & deaf - many
cd speak English - There 
were no dugouts in 2nd
Objve.
The barrage ws 
splendid.  All day long on 
3rd Germs were trying to

2
50
get away down 
Courcelette Rd - but barrage
ws hitting rd again & again.
(say every 30 secs)
(Lahore guns) & our men
sniping at them as they
made runs between the
shell bursts.
On early mg. of
3/4 (Monday mg.) Germans
made 2 attacks from 
directn of 36 - to 60 ;
& one agst 95.  They
used to come up / trenches
in each case.  They
were bombed out of it
each time & did not
attempt to come over / 
top - nor cause any
casualties.

2
51
Stuarts death ws the 
first for 24 hrs; &
the next casualty ws
one of our 18 pdrs amongst 
3 of our L. Gunners.
It is strange tt the
German barrage ws
almost entirely on Support
trench in which 49 Bn had few
men - but none on
66 - 95.  The Carrying 
pties got m.g. fire from
directn of Courcelette.
The 52nd & Canadians
under Maj. Lovat got heavily
shelled - Lovat was hit.
They were looking out onto
green country - no more
trenches visible & one biggish

52
A sign of a trench on our rt front.
Tops of Big steeples -? Miraumont
or Grandcourt

2
53
town.  Courcellette ws
plainly visible.^x Thiepval
ws over the ridge to left.

Maj. Fortescue ws in/c
in front at first (got DSO).
Reports came back tt all
offrs. had fallen, abt ½ hr
after start.  Capt Swain
ws sent up & found
Fortescue in front line ,
slightly wd.  Fortescue stayed
there till evg.  C.O. sent 
for him & Steele (L.G. offr).
who got an M.C. & rested
them.  Swain who had bn
there ws left in charge.
Maj. Fortescue came out
& reld. Swain abt midday
on 4.th Sept.  Swain