Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/137/1 - 1916 - Part 2

17       8
Many went over top as well as
thro commn trenches wh were not very safe.

		k.	w.	m.
1st fight	offrs	2	6
	o.r.

1st fight Total Offrs 8 o.r. 296

		k.	w.	m.
2nd fight	Offrs	x	7	3
	O.r.	23	144	145

	Offrs	Men
Total	18	608
	20	625	Total cas. during whole fighting

Nearest batty seemed to be within a mite.
Cd see many flashes at night.
Distant ridge 3 - 5 miles away.
Reported tt they cd see flashes 1st night
Next day they reported they cd see gun teams
coming down & taking away guns
These batteries were in cutting by trees
in 23c or thereabout. You cd see the
men shoulder high. Our men did not fire because
they did not want to give positions away.
[*abt 1500 yds 

away*].

17       9
On morning of Aug 6. 26 Bn moved
along to their proper frontage.
1st O.G.1. from R 35c.0.7. to R 34d.7.7. excl.
2nd O.G.2. from R 35c.0.9 to R 34d.69 excl.
Bn had lost a large number of NCOs
in 1st show & others in 2nd fight.
Not more than 10 of original Coy NCOs left.
Part of 25 in O.G.1. were 25 Bn.
    "   __________________  26 Bn.
and officer of 26 Bn.
Signaller who came down on July 28/9
ws named Rusche (25 Bn) - we got light.
Sd it was C coy. Col. Ferguson thought it
wd be C Coy 26. Told to consolidate light Had he touch w
D Coy on the right? Protect left flank (knew A wsnt in)
Signaller then came down & we found it was 25 Bn.
If you send back signal OK theyll
all come back
If you send signal H O theyll
hold on there
O.K. sent.
Lt Taylor ws / offr. (wd. in 2nd scrap)

17        10
They sd they had bn towards O.G.2.
& had bn bombed back. & cdnt now
hold on.
26 Bn got 2 mgs. next to deep
dugouts. Blocks were out. M.gs were
left there. O.G.1 ws better trench of
two. O.G.2 cd hardly be found in
places. Wiring in front of O.G.2.
ws deeper.
[*Signalling officer 

working 

these.*]
Aeroplane from groundsheet
signals on Aug 5. Got barrage in 1½ mins
Aeroplane signalled w exhaust
"I see you".
also w lamp. 
[*He sd. I got
your message
correctly
Periodically
during day he
kept coming
over. Fired at
chiefly w rifle
& mg.
He retarded with his exhaust
& advanced.*]

Diagram - see original document

In 1st c.attack on Aug 5 German
officer in front ws using revolver. -
ws shot by observer.
Barrage ws wanted
on left of
our 
positn.
Call came
from Col. Wilsons
trench