Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/129/1 - 1916 - 1917 - Part 3

26
Diagram. See original document 

R9      27
of M. Alley into O.G. 1.  The troops
in O.G. 2 were right turned.  The Germans
cd be seen in M. Alley at this
time by a flare thrown up - dozens
of helmets visible.  The men were
led back thro' / the Commn trench &
a block ws placed near O.G. 2 in the
Commn trench.  It ws abt a 4ft trench.
They started bombing back up O.G. 1
until they were getting near tramline.
Cd see 2 trees by O.G. 1 abt level.
This ws abt 3.30 & daylight.  Germans
then began bombing back w idea of
cutting us off in the Commn trench.
2 Platoons of 1st Pioneer Bn under
Lieut Titford were digging with 5 Bn in
O.G. 1. When xx Germans were bombing
in O.G. 1 Pioneers gave a hand
building barricades - both offrs
wd early & a Corpl took charge.

R9      28
There ws a bomb fight from 3.30
to 9 am in O.G 1 - it went backwds
& forwds for 100 yds.  The bombs of
3rd Bde & the 2 bombs per man were
used in an hour.  2 Coys of 7 Bn
were ^then sent to Gordon Dump & all sorts
of units were getting.
Skilbeck, Pte. of L.M.fs., ws
ordered to fire from commn trench between O.G.1 &2
to keep past our bombers onto German
bombers who used to look over before 
throwing bombs.  He ws not satisfied
with this positn.  He got up O.G. 1
into shell hole onto right flank of 
bombing pty.  When bombs wd not
hold them up, he wd run across
nomansland to side of trench & fire down it.
Our bombing ws done from the top at
sides of trench.
Skilbeck had fired down the

29

Diagram. See original document

^X The arty ws xxx had bn called on
to fire on the str. pt. but cd
not well get it

R9       30
Commn trench across the tramline
earlier in the fight, from O.G. 2.
The bombers were in the open, being
sniped at from strong point, in order
to get a better range.  Our snipers
from the lower Commn trench cd fire
past the bombers at Germans
bringing up bombs.  The best work of
the day ws done by this bomb team.
Fitzgerald ws k. & Every man in
his 33 bombing team ws k. or wd.
This practically saved the retreat from
O.G. 2.  FitzG. ws k. a little after
daylight.
Abt 9 a.m. a Stokes mortar
came into action & fired abt at
where Tramway crossed O.G. 1. It
had a fair ammn supply & there
were now plenty of bombs. Once the
Stokes M.^X got the range it let the

R9        31
Germans have it as hard as it
cd be fired.  For 24 hrs the Germans
never threw another bomb.
Abt 6 am 60 or 70 Germans made a feeble c-attack
or movement of reinfts & came running
over skyline near Bp. Rd in open
order.  They were beaten w L Gs &
snipers.
Abt 9-10 Germans began to shell
more heavily.  Abt 10 a.m. waves
of enemy were seen coming over
from abt Bap. Rd to Munster Alley -
you cd see them dropping into shell holes
& another wave after them.
They were also seen from 10 Bn
digging from O.G. 2 back towards
Tommies (A-B).
Diagram. See original document
There may have been 2
Coys - or more or less

R9         32
Arty got onto them & broke them up
at once, both heavies & [[101?]] pdrs.
(Our ^own right ws to some extent shelled
by this). The arty
Abt 3 a.m. from O.G.2 a man in
an overcoat & a man without an overcoat
were seen coming in from E of O.G. 2.
The man in the overcoat sd he ws an
Australian, one of Capt Leadbeaters men -
They covered him w rifles. He sd "It's
all right, Ive got a bastard here, & he's
an officer too." This offr cd talk French.
The man had chased him out &
caught him. The Corpl ws abt 5ft odd
& German 6 ft.
Capt Leadbeater ws in the wire
by the 2 trees - blowing his whistle in front
of strongpoint north of tramway. Lieut McMullen
ws killed there too (L. Gun officer).
The 5 Bn used up all its bombs, 

33

Diagram. See original document
The officers at very head
of 5 Bn say they never
saw the 7 Bn. at all. But some
of head of 5 Bn were killed.

Grey pegged tape
at this end - it
ws found there later.
But the man at /
other end ws wd &
went back  - so Leadbeater
cdnt find tape & waited.

Man at this end of
tape ws killed wd &
tape not fixed.
This caused Leadbeater 
to delay head of 5 Bn.
Finally they moved out
& chained the tape.
Gray ws k. next in the morning
he evidently stayed
in nomansland as he did
not come back
there. Ws k.
in bomb fight
later.

Jess' account of
this wants considerably
modifying.

There ws clearly some muddle
at the head of 7 Bn with 5 Bn but
it is almost impossible to say
what. Capt Leadbeater ws at head of
5 Bn.
2nd Coy of 7 Bn ws directed
by 11 out on wrong side of trench &
got out towards the Copse.  They
charged over & found themselves charging
a strong post of the 11 Bn. They 7 Bn ws acting
under the 5 Bn C.O. The reconnaissance ws miserable
- 1 offr per Coy, so far as I know, had bn sent up.

R9        34
9 Bn sent up all bombers & 10 Bn, &
abt 7 a.m. the left flank ws taken over
by Capt Oates D Coy 7 Bn. The 67 bombers
of 5 Bn were all used up.  14,000 bombs
were used up there tt morning. O.G. 1
from ^some way behind our bomb stop ws a mass of
wd & dead.
Wires had gone & pigeons were
used.  Lamp cd nt be seen thro' grey
smoke.
The contact plane just after
daylight came down low & saw our
men waving - went on over Germans
v. low & ws hit & came down
behind their lines (not a headlong fall).
The casualties were abt 60 p.c. for
bn. as it went in. (Abt 450).

35

Feb 25.
 

( ※ How can this be explained?)     25/26
W 2am on Feb 26   ※ Patrol ws sent along
Rye Trench & did not xxxx find
3rd Bde until they reached Malt trench.
It ws sent along 2ce w orders
to meet 3rd Bde & found them
2nd time in Malt Trench.

R9      36
The Retirement
5 Bn. Feb 24
Left. 2nd Bde Boundary from Bite trench
to E end of Ligny Thilloy.
Right. Through N20 central & N 9 central.
5 Bn boundary. from left to: sun line
from Sunken Rd. at Bde Boundary. .N 19. B. 5. 8 to
N 3 . C. ¼.¼.
5 Bn ws in Flers line when Germans
retired & 7 Bn in  line . Abt 8 pm. Feb 24
7 Bn made a move towards Bayonet trench
after reconnaissance.  A Coy 5 Bn ws
sent up to old front line at 3 am Feb 25
7 Bn took Bayonet trench, Juice Alley,
Line trench & (w 8 Bn) Luesenhof & finished
by taking Rye trench from N7 D. 4.4 to 8 c.3.3.
By 2 am on 26.  5 Bn. A Coy took
over this line from 7 Bn.
Before dawn a small patrol ^NCO 3 or 4 men ws
sent up to corner of Sunken Rd leading into
Ligny Thilloy , N 7 D 9.9.  It ws not fired
at & reached point.

37
Feb 26.
???

R9       38
Then a strong pt under an offr & 15 men ws
ordered to be estab. there. This ws sent at
10.15 am under Lt Stock.
He ws told tt 3rd Bde ws going
to try & put a str. pt at X road abt
N 7 B 22.  He had to try & get into
touch w them.
He occupied strong.pt ^but went further to Buchanans X There ws a
mine crater at X roads. (Buchan
(This mine crater will definitely settle
the point - it ws Buchanans X )
Stock Strong found an old m.g. emplacement
& Buch. X & found an offr of 12 Bn
(Lt Allen) abt 150 yds to left up in main st
of Ligny Thilloy (White St.) The 12 Bn.
then withdrew  Our guns started to shell
from 11 to 1 am & post had to retire
to X road further S.  The guns put 2
shells into crater from wh they had
retired - They came back 5 times during

39

Feb. 27

Night of 27/28.

R9        40
shelling.  12 Bn post had retired
from Ligny Thilloy.  Allen left a message
written to say he ws going back to
reform for taking Thilloy. (His corpl. ws
left in the village - possibly w a post).
Post ws then estab. definitely at
Buchanan's Post.
Next day Carter (A Coy) ws ordered to
find out Tick Trench & the how. pits. They
found it ws clear (on same day by daylight)
An offr ^Lt Glanville & 15 men were sent out & got there
under m.g. fire from Till - one man
slightly wd.  At night another 15 men
were sent out to him.
They remained there all tt day &
night of 27/28.  Night of 27/8 two
posts were sent up, one to X roads
White St. & Catapult Rd (1 offr Lieut Rigg. 32 men L mg)
& one (Lt. Maloney & 32) at Fork Rds near scrub incl.
S. of Thilloy.  Diagram. See original document xxx They had to dig

41
a str pt.  3rd Bde were thro Thilloy tt night.
It ws abt 11 pm 27/28 that the post below
Thilloy ws estab.  Stock then ws withdrawn.
They dug a strong pt on E of Sunken rd (not in old
trench).  Patrols connected up with Right Post of
1st Bde.
Feb. 28.  Quiet there.  Abt 8.30 on 28/1 this
post ws reld by Lt Maunsell, & Lt. Rigg (further S.)
by Lt Hay. Night of 28
Night of 28 1/2  The two posts in Catapult Rd ^(Maunsell & Hay) were reld by a
Coy. & D Coy. took over posts of 3 Bn round
Thilloy to Knotty Point.  It ws a quiet
night till abt 5.3 dawn (when night work
had bn covered up & some night posts withdrawn)
Germans put down a barrage.  wh fell
behind Catapult Rd but got D coy on their
left.  All commns were cut.  Abt 6.30
an enemy patrol of abt 30 20 were seen
coming from Tick Trench. They were at once
fired at.  A 6 Bn man who ws a prisoner
ran out with his hands up & stopped / firing.
They scattered - some to rear, some to front. Lt
Hay folld up those to S.E. with a small patrol
Captd xx (wd) 3 & 2 disappeared.  The people who got
behind came down White St. & then Nwds behind
Catapult Rd Positn.  A patrol went down White St.
under Lt. Sampson - The Germans made North,
wh brought them onto higher ground.  They were fired
on 5 k. & 5 wd. 3 prisoners. This accounted for
the lot.  The fog ws very deep. (No casualties in this 
show.)

R9     42
D Coy Capt Moore - Lt Pearce. ws from little copse (m.g. there) at Knotty Pt. in
succession of 4 posts up to & incl. Sunken Tongue Trench Rd (due E)
Thence continuous trench round the wood to B Coy
at this point.  Coy H.Q. in a dug out amongst trees.
Diagram. See original document
Barrage started apptly abt 6.15 heavily for ½ hr.
Abt 6.30 reports from rt & left tt Germans had
advanced under the barrage.
Then word tt Lt Smith had bn wd. in no 3 post
from left (not incl. m.g. post).  Abt 7 p.m. sentry on
top reported 3 Germans in front of dugout within
bombing distance.  Gun & No 1 post were (unknown to
others captd.  Moore came out (^sentry yelled They're Here)
the men from dugout cleared  fired on these 3 Germans who
went back thro' wood & occupied (as ws found out
aftwds No 1 post from wh they cd snipe the wood or
anyone going to line.  Moore came to centre of line &
found Lt Walters with everything quiet.  M. sent him to
left & M went to rt. where there ws still firing. where
Lt Pearce ws ^& men firing at Germans in front of them. P. had
captd. abt 5 & k. 3 by pushing out a forward post (Cpl.
Winslett & 3 men sent out who rounded Germans up).
Moore gave instrns for prisoners to be sent back - & went
to H.Q.  No report from left so apptly everything O.K.
At 10.45 Lt Walters sent in to say tt No 1 post had bn
wiped out.  He ws fired on from there.  It ws impossible to
get to m.g. Post till night.  At night dusk Pearce & 6
men were sent out to take No 1. post.  Found 3 Germans
who surrendered.  At the m.g.. post he found the Cpl. dead
& gun & rest of post missing.  He removed m.g. positn to No 1
post & made m.g. positn an infantry post.  The positn of
the m.g. ws handed over by 3rd Bn as a good one.  Post
ws probly taken from behind.

43
The lot wh came agst Pearce looked abt 30 strong -
coming in open. They were seen abt 40 yds away - slope
ws steep at abt 40 yds & enemy ws under cover
there As they (Warning abt raids had not reached
this post.)  No 2 & No 3 posts.  No 3. killed abt 10 Germans.
Agst D Coy at least 2 parties came out.
One German N.C.O. came up to within 20 yds of
No 3 post with a bomb in his hand & sd.
"Surrender ".  He ws shot & some others also.
___________________________________
One of the 3 Germans in the post when
Pearce came upon them after getting to the m.g.
post at Knotty Pt. (passing No 1 position observing it)
& came upon the 8 Germans in No x 1 post.
One of these chaps - a man over 6 ft., a corpl.,
said: "I am your very great friend -" xx
Presently he sd: "My father ws resident in Australia
8 xx years:" Then pointing to the body of one of
men in No 1 post who had bn k.  He sd. "I am
no criminal."
_______________________________
One wd German (of the 5 Gren. Guards) was lying outside
No 2 post wd. & becks abt 3 yds away, & beckoning
his mates to come on & he himself ws
trying to bomb the post. He ws ^then shot from No 3 post.
He ws crawling up to the post trying to bomb them.
Orders had bn gn not to shoot him till he
started to move.
D Coy lost one man k by bomb, 2 by shell, & 5 by sniping
thro' head - + 2 wd thro' head: W Smith.

R9     44

Nos 1 & 2 Posts showed the lack of
spirited N.C.Os (now more apparent)
on whom Victorians always lean more
heavily than most, I think. The corpl.
w / m.g. (1 NCO & 4^or 5 men) ws a
brave man & ws killed.
No 2 post ws quite cowed by the barrage
& wd not defend itself properly - kept low
in the hole it ws defending instead of standing up
& firing as Walters urged shouted to it to do. They cdnt
attract the mens attention from his post.

R.9
12 Bn.  Mouquet & Feb 24 1917
Aug 19 1916.
5 Bn Pozieres(O.G) & Feb 1917.

[[Nanc?]] FRERES
[[?]] [[LEXANDRIE?]] (Egypte)