Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/130/1 - 1916 - 1917 - Part 3

10
21
Feb 26. 1.30 p.m. after
"arty preparation"
(that which I saw)
the 18Bn. C. Coy in 2 waves
attacked. Wire ws
found uncut. They
lost heavily in wd.
in trying to get across
250-300 yds, (in twos
& 3s) to get into positn
100 yds from Malt trench.
Attack postponed.
Subsequent attack at
3.40 if wire cut was
the one I saw.

Diagram- see original document.

10
22
It ws postponed.
That night at c
3 pties were sent
to bomb into
Malt trench.
Party 21 1 got in first
(No 2 Lt Hickey - working to left.
& Irving to rt - got in
on Warlenct. Rd.
Met Davies (1st Pty
on rt of rd.)]
Germans
were still
in Le Boyne.
The rt of Malt ws :. held,
while Hickey went up
Malt trench to left. He
ws hit by a stick bomb
(4 standing together, only
Irving left) abt 90
yds up. Germans 

10
23
had a block there.
They made several
bombing attacks
up to stop & but
were outranged
w German bombs.
Davies had met a  Germans
near Battery Copse -
they ran into village.
Irving thought it might
be Hills pty bombing
down (No 3). He stood
up & shouted "Steady on
Jack!" But he knew
Hills lot had no helmets
There ws a man
facing him waist high
w a helmet, some

24
Diagram- see original document.

10
25
way back. The ^man fired
a revolver & missed
him. Irving also missed
& got of 2 or 3 more as
/ Hun ran along low
parts o /  trench.
Hills pty (3) got
along ditch on S side
of Bap. Rd under
wire. There ws a
m.g. on both sides
of rd.
Trench XY enfiladed
malt trench wire.
30 germs came out
as marked [shorthand]

10
26
bombed. We had to retire
Cpl. Nipperess & Pte
Allsopp on L.G.  All
Allsopps crew were
shot beside him, &
he ws wd in / eye.
He held on, put a
m.g. out of action
& / pty ws withdrawn
under Allsopp's fire.
Nipperess went back
under. / wire & brought
3 wd men back under
wire along ditch,
& then 2 dead men
whom he put under
the bank, so tt Germs

27
Feb 27

10
28
cd not get identification
2 more attempts
were made this way,
unsuccessful. Then
at daylight on Feb. 27
Stokes ms. were
brought & put behind
Warlenct. Rd S. of
Bap. rd. There
were rifle grenadiers
along wire to rt &
at block, & L.G.
along Bap. Rd.
Both Stokes at Daylight
fired at m.gs. on
either side of rd.
Left Stokes gun ws
switched off onto the

29
Diagram - see original document
10
30
Northern m.g. (as
marked (2)) while
infantry rushed at m.g.
B. The a party w
L.G. g The front pty
failed at wire near
B. Party on rt got over
block in trench. Germans
ran to left rear.
L.G. got up Bap. Rd
on N side & opened on
Germs as they ran
towards Loupart Wood.
A small pty reconnoitred
Malt support & found
it unoccupied.
18 Bn ws reld by 17 Bn

10
31
in Daylight.
18 Bn.
2/3 May.
H Qrs in small dug out
in Sunken Rd at C5 B1.7
18 Bn ws 5. 6. 7. 8 waves
on left -  Work began at
Rienct. to mop up
left side of Rienct.
20 Bn were to do
right of Rienct & form

32
Diagram - see original document
3 offrs in each line
1 offr. per line kept
back at H.Q.

10
33
flank to right. 18 Bn
had nothing to do
with O.G. 1 or 2.
17 & 19 Bns had to
do O.G. 1 & 2., Sunken
Rd & trench ind. in
front of Riencourt.
The waves were in
nomansland in front of Sunken
Rd. They were all
in place & reported in
place by 3.32.
At 3.42 German opened
on Rd, Rly embankt &
Cross Rd near tank
Our barrage at 3.45.
the Germans had put down

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