Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/134/1 - November 1916 - Part 3

21
Hand drawn diagram - see original
Germs
were abt
30 yds
from E Yks.
14
22
than one battery of 5-9.
There were abt 10 casualties
in front trench up to time
attack started.
At 4.30 in half light
without intense bombt there
began a bombing of left
of E Yorks. Immediately
the bombing started the E. Yorks
started to crowd the Australian
trench & some made back
overland to the supports. They
had a  bombing post at
their stop - with plenty of
bombs - but they left this
altogether - without a fight
as many casualties.
(They had a sandbag stop). The

 

14
23
Germans were using
stick bombs.
At the same time the
Germs. made a weak
frontal attack. Brown
immed. sent up 2 sets
of SOS signals at 3
min intervals (finishing
all the Signals he had
with him) when our
arty (wh had bn firing
all the afternoon intermittently)
stopped firing altogether
They never fired another
shot.
The Germans cd be seen
coming up in extended

14
24
from supports towards
front line - They were
abt 200 yds away
when seen. Some may
have got to 100 yds
but attack dwindled
away into nothing. 3
Lewis Guns (in trench)
were turned onto
them & attack dwindled
to nothing.
By this time the German
bombers
were past the
Sunken road & up to
our left where for 

14
25
abt ¼ hour we held
them. We only had 2
bombs per man, wh
were on the men
along / trench & were
difficult to collect.
B. left instructions
with Barber (new up
from Cape) tt he ws
going going to get E Yorks
& make a c-attack
w them & some of our
men. If the Germans
came along bombing
the Australians were
to get out aft 20

14
26
yards into shell
holes (as they were short
of bombs) & let /
Germs. come along,
& then rush them with 
the bayonet.
B. went out & got
the E. Yorks who were
in shell holes (he cdnt
get the ones who were
in the Support line)
They followed easily
-two _∧ of their officers were part
past our dressing stn
still going , & all they 

14
27
wanted ws a lead.
B. got 50 of them in
some sort of line between
the two trenches within 50 
yds of German trench.
(There were 1 m.g. from
each flank & one from
German centre - all
behind German front
line but near it -
probly in shell holes).
B. kept with the
E. Yorks. They got abt
20 yds - and within
20 yds of German (old
East Yorks) trench, when

14
28
Germans opened a
m.g. wh they had got
up in position there
(a 4^th Gun & that
wiped out practically
the whole attack.
Brown got one thro' the
neck & the next he
remembers is being
carted out by a
wounded E. Yorks
Sergt. on his back
-it was immed. after
he ws hit.
B. had to leave his

14
29
men in charge of the
next senior officer as
the E- Yorks had no
offr & the 28^th had
not enough men to
make the c-attack.
(end of Brown's narrative)
Lt. J. M'Intyre who ws
in charge of right
Coy in this trench _x
No attack ws made up
this trench from the right.
( A.d. Gun detached with
5 bombers ws holding
this right flank beside
the 3 L.Gs wh beat of c-attack

30
& it ws so light
(abt 4.30 pm)
14
31
Barber ws in the centre
Coy. Browns instructions
were direct given to
Barber (when he ws
getting E. Yorks together.).
First order cam from
E Yorks to B. & M' I.
"stand to." McI went
along to right to look
after flank for wh
he ws responsible.
There had bn so much
shelling to the rear ^X tt they
did not think an attack
ws possible till bombs
were heard

14
32
Just as bombs burst
McI noticed men (E.Y.)
running out o / trench on
the left. He sent a Sergt
to see what ws doing
there. he got part o /
way up when 3 of the
E.Ys jumped into / trench
& worked right down to
McI. on right. the
Sergt brought these men
back. (there were two
dugouts in the trench) - One
sd he ws wounded & looking
for the Commn trench. The
other 2 sd they were
reinforcements McI