Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/133/1 - 1916 - Part 3

13
23 
They were also seen
from the Quarry
who had already
got on to them when
the runner arrd. The
runner confirmed
this. The G. reinfts
cleared - you cd see
the bomb coming. The
German Red X men
were around there
for some time after.
40 or 50 rounds-
as fast as could be
at 1st - in 4 or 5 mins.
Then kept up an
intermittent barrage.      

24
Diagram - see original document
(old Victorian shovel )
([shorthand] used in)
(Vic. at one time.)

Americans have
something of the sort.
Gs seem to carry only
shovels. 

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25
The L.G in 77 cd not
get high eno !
77 had bn made
up w a few bags
a pick & shovel
into quite a decent
trench. (The earth
is all broken with
shell fire - so pick
is scarcely necessary.).
Shovel is what is wanted).
There ws a fair amt
of shell fire & barrage
shortened as if the Gs.
picked up our line.
Abt midday a very
solid bombing attack ws    

26
S. thought at first in
/ morning tt / line had
probly bn estab by 29
but tt there ws a break.
He crawled abt a good bit
but only found a
few dead & wd.
After seeing Col. Forbes
he knew things must 
have gone wrong there

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27
going on in direction
of 12 - (the m.gs ^at 54 had
(N of the Farm)
been settled before
this). A patrol ws
sent out abt 10 to 11
(as soon as Sale
got back from Col.
Forbes) to find out
what was / positn
 on rt as Col. had
had no word from
there. One n.c.o. &
one man went out.
Both got back to 77.
They found a number
of our wd. in
 Zig Zag trench [[?enemy]]

13
28
& came up agst
a G. m.g. in the
mound, firing down covering
 the zigzag trench.
It fired at 3 Germans
appeared at 30 yds,
up to the waist, &
fired at them. They
got back – lay low
in some holes &
cleared back down
the trench after a while
ZigZag trench ws contd
only wd who had
straggled into it —
s.b.s. were working 

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29
there all day.
(I The mouquet
Farm bombing ws
later (abt 1 pm.) than
the reinforcing by Gs of
point 47.
Things quietened
down. The men in
pt 77 were able to
sit down. Sale had
a water bottle full
of Rum — Abt 12 
men were left in the
hole out of 16 or 18
originally. Point 77
was a crater in the trench  

30
At this time Skyline
trench ws unheld.
From 81 to 69 (junction)
in Skyline trench ws
dug out & occupied
by 21 Bn.

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31
linked up by cutting
thro' the crater rim
with two other shell
holes right & left
a few yards away
- abt 2 yds of cutting
to get into them.
This was revetter revetted at top
with sandbags to
prevent rim from
crumbling.
Sale went in
at 4 pm to find
out what ws happening.
From 77 you cd see 3
men in the road side
S. of 54 sitting in a hole – 

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32
they. S. waved to
them. S had one
man observing to
front & one to flank.
The L.G. ws kept
concealed in case
of attack. The
craters had set
not to be manned
in / afternoon.
During / night flares
were not & wd not
have bn thrown -
as / idea ws that
/ Germans did not 
know exactly where
/ post ws tho' they knew

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33
we were abt there.
The L.G. ws used
in / beginning agst
pt. 54. Sniping
ws going on from 54
77 all day. The
target ws 54 & the
rear of it.
The night ws
uneventful — only
shelling. No signs of
c-attack. He sent in
a guide at night
(as instr. at 4 pm) & 
relief came out abt
2 a.m. These were the
a 5 Bn.  After 4 pm. Sale    

33a
NZ movement from AB
to CD during day with few casualties

Diagram - see original document

& vice versa by 24 Bn) ws /
most extraordinary feature
in this attack. It had to be
done to get fresh men in
to make attack - was all
done thro front line - both ways

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34
didnt go out again.
Sergt. Mac Alpin ws
in charge from then on.
Casualties consisted
mostly of men hit
(sniped) when they had
their heads over the
top.