Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/127/1 - Notebook - Part 2

Diagram -  see original document
 7
 9
We had L. gun from 11 Bn there on rt. It.
opened but not much, as little ammn.
A good many Germans fell. They lay down
but not more than 5 mins. Then they
ran back taking what cover they could
round to back of village.
We cd see him there & fired on
them. Arty opened a barrage round
N.E. end of village & probably got a
lot of them.
When Laing & 30 men went over to clear N. side
Snipers were in hedge & debris.
[* A Coyxx) 30
men there
too, to left
of D Coy.
They were
recalled. *]
One ws in the "wireless station" All sorts
of electric appliances (sort of power stn -
not in ambulance wh ws on / road W of
train crossing. One fellow had 3 shots at
Laing & missed - got up to get away but
[* One German
cleared off
on byke up
rd by
Church.
2 men of
12 Bn running
after him but
he got away. *]
one o / our men shot him. Screen ws put
round. There as a deep German trench
{shorthand?] on the line n. of Rd wh ws / line
we took. We bombed up it – Threw 3
bombs down the big dug out in tt trench
& didn't worry abt it any more. (A man
sd he saw men sitting down there).
Later Vowles sent & sd be had this
dug out w 18 prisoners.
There ws another dugout in this area. 

7
10
[*4k from snipers in 1st morning*]
10 4 Cas. in D coy.
On July 25. 11 a.m. Someone in village sent
up a white flare abt from centre
of village
Abt 3 p.m. he sent up 2 at
5 min. interval. Couldnt find him
but after these they seemed to
fire harder than ever for a
short time.
We had instrns to fire no
white flares. We had green flares.
In trench N of Rd. most of all men
were withdrawn into German dugout.
Dugout ws bit all to pieces on top &
ws very thin when bombt finished &
sev. shells in entrances – 2 men k. in
one entrance, & 1 k & some w in another. 

7
11
9 Bn. Relievd 68^th Bde. Took up
2 posts in OG.1. & O.G.2.
2 Coys of 9 Bn to relieve 2 coy of
Staffords Regt tt night. Staffs had fight on
so only B. Coy 9 Bn relieved tt night.
A Coy came in on 20 July.
21 July, Lt Monteath w 5 1 o.r.
attacked x 5 d 45 str. pt.
Lt. Biggs 5 1 o.r. agst x 5 d 7.8. str. pt.
At 1.55 M.T.M shelled it w. 14 bombs (all tt
were available. No arty.
2.25 two parties debouched to pt 40 yds.
from our trenches.
2.29 Both reported in place.
2.33. ordered to advance.
Good moon. Parties met w
heavy fire of grenades. Pty retired
w loss.
As soon as reserves appeared
heavy m.g. fire. Upon them as
soon as showed on parapet.
Loss. Lt Biggs 8or. killed.
29 or wd.
On 21 July orders issued for / Aust Div to
attack Pozieres.
9 Bn Objves. Front line trenches from X5 b 2.0 to
X 5c. 8.5.; 2nd line trenches fr. X 5a 8.6
to X 5a. 4.4. Also - O.G. 1 & 2
to rly line. One Coy of 10Bn
at disposal of O.C. 9 Bn to attack
OG trenches

7
12
Diagram - see original document
Abt 10 the firing line Coys B - A
moved out of firing line down B. Watch Alley
& then debouched extending to 2 paces & in waves.
Gradual movement then made towards (& parallel
to) 1^st objve. It crept up to within 150 yds of objve.
As firing line cleared place of A & B ws taken
by C. & D. (Maj Young)
(Capt Chambers)

Same ws happening in O.G.1 & 2. 

OG1.                   OG2 Lt. Armstrong

Lt. Monteath   Lt. Ramkema
Lt. Thompson   Lt. Thom

Coys reported all ready at 12.15 am.
Necy to push out early as commn trenches
were v full. & v narrow.
The Coy of 10 Bn for support in O.G. 1 & 2 had
not arrived at 12.30 am when attack made.
It did not arrive till 1.30 (delayed by
Gas shells etc.)

7
13
O.G. 2 ws found to be not a trench at
all - just craters. Attackers lost way &
returned. 3 parties failed to find trench.
In O.G. 1. Monteath found strong Pt 80 yds
from us. It ws rushed & taken at 12.59.
Attack on Z trench & enemy's front line had
succeeded. 12.45 Cpt Lawrance reported
he ws consolidating. C & D coys moved over
captured trenches to positn in front of 1st objve.
They had become disorganised. Capt Chambers
& Lt White only offrs left - Maj Young, Lts
Aggett, Wittkopp, Larkin, Ford all hit.
Advance, ordered but in dark Coys
bore to left & came in agst behind right of
11 Bn. Lt White & party alone reached 2nd
objve & held to it till relieved in afternoon.
Men who got to wrong point were withdrawn
& reorganised in 1st Objve.
O.G. 1 in meantime came to stop. Arty called
in. Heavy bombt for 5 mins - then fresh attack.
After 6 hrs Germans were pushed back to 2nd
strong post. Lt Blackburn, 10 Bn, ws in front &
but for him the gains wd bn lost. Casualties
heavy, men tired. No c-attack - whole day to
consolidate.
10 Bn this day put into O.G. 1; 9 Bn Pozieres
trench.

7
14
Night July 23/24 New line dug under Capt
Chambers parallel to uncaptured post
of OG 1. Troops brought from 2 Bde &
frontal attack ordered to be made by
5 Bn & 2 Coys 7 Bn. at 2 a.m. on 24 July
25^th July
At 2.10. O. G. 1 taken & troops pushed
to O.G. 2 Great oppositn here & men ordered
to fall back into O.G. 1. 3.30 enemy
c-attacked.
B Coy 9 Bn had to help in repelling
C. attack. A Coy sent to support 11 Bn.
Helmets sometimes had to be worn for
½ hour owing to gas shells.
July 26. 4 a.m. 25 Relieved by 17 Bn. 

           k       w       m
offrs.  3        8        2
           54     263  63
Total 393