Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/140/1 - August 1916 - Part 2

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open to contributions
Accession number:
RCDIG1066640
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

13 of toles fom too Place ws full W. bombs art & A fit place to bombs 6ok wrere never t & bayonets with The funation (A foms at t Close W75 as we held b never + ir ws right F of 2 by dugouts There were prof not the 3rd. under dugant Angout Pepma probl passages The in felty with came gat & beg boobs at close quarters are 45 boubs te used 6000 or Lewre sune 4 ed to riftr were eswere apohedc ond et as The fermans atater with flaps them we had allowed tel Ty also to to so toa before. but satthing their do & w. had 100 4 104 How re A day wt
Cop £ Sert the Co inA wd Bradley 2gbg on Far Soten wh abed. Harwood fot lo Blict a cpt D.C.M sot Here School Arm A henus Flebecourt at 16 45 Bwarry the prac walk stw aman. enha 10 c attack except that occasion of first annu on made ae t Pussian fuar 161 Bn apt as agst were retiev wo Bn being after 474 in days Bn tours ab & 700 Lasses o delails returning Abt 600 70 between two shows 4 V.C. Black sot. Croxx de suene ta 50S bar. PM. Cs a 7Dcms ms i 43
41 last Ang Harwo 8 Ang 17 2e w hour fom 10 9/10 Lahore Dens of barrage a wale of fie barrage were wikin soyds of mea His curtain all speak it were in TES. He fermans under H wilton The bambers The were with Thim bombers moved ap K. French 78 from take the Deoy had to wade B loy Circular get had to May. Black for wound this 8wa a In H fire plant. Agued to Bmgs. gos plact were said tbe 2 Here trees Te m.E. under the
18 thes probe scand bar. bit thre menaway Dat were otover 25 ae soon as the parspet. 30 mbes There were there fdeep dugants te new close on the were very 6 L8. the barrage it is have te confiding in wat hould to Bitich were cuy The Warfolks A connect at 78 6o the had that up com ws taken 78 moment bey 16Bm was the cleared out Ration French lived out into yds & teer left we even then forabt 3of The Norfolks came over t top a not o clear what the I is but tomonies did on 9/10 a company of theirs had fot into a section of Ration on night of 8/9 an ciolates
20.879 starty o8/9 Night of 19th/16t H Wadgr Capt. Mackeed abt hole pnoners out in get out ducking about trying bombardment way of our them 17 to M & W. went out they brought them in Toe plad to come onry to without were had no arig hats. waa there. t W. Where 1heton into wh At had to be trench existing for al ty ppo deepencd morning. There by worth were number of dead fair werea but only very many no7 the alive du a sapwd night of 10/1 on Coy 30as ford for M.a. to sweep the wallin 20 74e Saffotkes 2 Fection song out too tate failed (6 were afoer their barrage & this Section (Coy. but at up ftomences remained in away Ration Lon left The They were there Aty attacked On 16Bn 9110 on 16Bn went Du Aug10/10 d 661 fom 78. 89 99 of new Eon camnet of 500 ds bill Look Downan Woyer Si as pxac. non from 78 4 66 two Serman existet except for bombers. dugonts containing up someth These Conbers prt were wiches of a show but quickly 289 Aug 9/10)t Sert thir Holland wandered by daylisht quiticlose up betarm & wasn't firer on - (after the mists had resen-in bright day light)
121 Cph Woolton 8/9 night. This on extremg 3 cers 2 holde objee of 16 Bns t fermans 2 found trye 164 Dutflenk to or ranner came back from 12 pm. Abt Moore tayne wmoore) askin for recnfo. D Wadge (ws in Binds Rd 29. There were few men there. Capt snart of 15Bn ws in the tanck Tumpiny of 4 (Brindo Rd) f This time. He told W. to take abt 20 men 716Bn. wadge started t followed him. naxt hat an order from Connan that moove us to come back, Do be sent no more out. W. lost no one going across po bestuck, for a bit in He wire The fess runner who reached Moore ws abt day light (tilling him to retur) hen were gs in the bend me 7o where there wd a chimp of trees- but not (so faras to knew) on the road As. 67 Bn 4 18 Bn X 15 ws len tomoced (supotes the left t this night Touniers over t to W of 995 on pund. Rd. wh di i It ws the 78 go in Tommees te the the prob only wo cercular The The dn outpost. held by 62 tomes were shot down starlet. Ster they platoons Jast They were bit stow a 151 th last wave The 9 sde barrap tthe 6 too 156 te Johnson got Dombers The to le Co on were 22
715 Br Saffolks (from Wadge who saw thim The paffolks, got out to left of road & M. 9. got out them as they were getting over. The suffolks were ovrr the 15 Bor - Their camnalties with were not doe to their being slower. a They were caught as soon as they fover a few on it 819 with 15t 1t across with Capt. ore.S at all to doubt There is no from con ere m gs (W ea there objective the MEloy. Bde therefore probable of the banag. le bt. ws watehing from Capt. Crryons of the saffolks starled at R erly the same time as Corsigans W. found abt 30 German & Bedois the same number of Aust (perh 6 more) in the Yt He tiks there ws a block on the left - on the st t an nothing but an empl +as may dead Jernens A day break they thought then ws a german C allack coming ap. ad a bedge really W. teok the 2 20 24 Brettingham Moore bombing on the did some left. Tey the gol ap on the right GermanY got across without difficulty some of the Gt Bde cay wend out & establishd in te lef right eloss on the No wausland 2d an the waysto Gernan abs of folle night The barray passed over them (they were & very deep very narrow. not huit the Carrag dis them the ferman attack Aug 11 behind put Leavy barrage of dif during night on started The borron Aug 10/11
35 a buyonet with him german lient. of wBr & went along i wan a lu way acrosss the road for where the bedg (or its remains ap then came back. When te was had theorder to return of back & moore was getting his recd ouofi men read carry the wd the They made 2 Lewis M. gs. Payne Mr govy back (wd. hit had one fist as reached 4 He rg as taken next might lietth oppracty so Permana were reall dowen out this first night. From tis you co not see for docin the slope. Wdoes at that You ed manjuet I am from see there ext the night 6 Just a beap bick ubbish thalk was attack Aug 11 on ap ab w function Bn 5 itit 26 It taste a wed day. abt were with The men Lours. 4 30 & so percins 4 Retion from to Bud bt sent back were (8Y26to 78 286 is as & remaind were into put for as possible inade us ba The 4 outs. Cattack. To anticipat Cabl 3nn Lays R reporte men t0 observ Mr. Farm Ciicmall out Cond coluan of 6-10 menion single fils & spreading fauwise forming 338 33a8/5 Quap into ring Fot ar K34 a 12/13 ns them (1. 95 from 16kn &t ont srecially send up The Fermans were not Bo thein barrage. after Iwich Ed Encing 61 the + 78 65 tied. ten a truety be began to as soon as panage ease this truch was lined a few camaltess occurred. The fermans came ag in Groups
44 81 i Th Dop top 1baug Or 188 101 129a 26 Bombe worked up trinchn 1/12 aug. ptis Vig419 38 34 357 34 55 8 Ouarry 50 Bn relievvd 16 n by daylighs. ay Bont bus V. Common Y theo Poqueres heavily shelle 164 day midught 12/1 adack. 13pn S R34a8- R34 a38 -R34 B. 96½ wel 50 Bu ws to pt. R336 96½ - R33655 - Quarry 81 13Bn got objve. s0 B reached 81 but not Quary or 85 & 13Bn had to repuse left to liak up got some empt by german duponts at B8.C.8t and R34627. Ouarr patrolled after aylight found unoccupie Sgory 4.9 as placed at R33 a8 At 4 Pm. 4 Bde handed over to fpsor. 14/13 at 10pr 50-13-515 Bno attackNR33a8) 648_27d.91-73-94_04 -980.03-24. 36-66-95 13 Br saund their objic but had to fall back Stanking Brs failing, tous in a little ada hat to They 12 40 of to withan woyds of 5 up Abt 40 gave themselves up when beckoned to Heaver were got onts eveny, who, under this fire, were seen bolting from Quarry & N. Fari 20 Aug. 0 lo o heed had Bn waist th t up HoebK 4 back C0 mid + Shish it was stick Cix Te Black and latoon Co on sith sicle nt Open in pon& (D. 48 Foad man us out there ever t3 lait had take been lear quite It 00 Lenus to pick up DS Bloys Job take M. Farm. Lour Wpon wt sero
The But it tokes dug I wort to first. at far ettled Wilin soon for settlen Comby acet a M 24 all not the barage WS al like at &not thoroagh Machine te oter bargage, a clarl as soon as Flares were we wovld tiue going op al t There ws $31 From 59 St flares I woundat from here a see be o there 454 in from M. G. fire chief casnatlie The R2 54 were from Blacks part As Maj. cane he saw a germans up hands come up over working lever ofa parapet have M.9 but he tooked first firls as his head came p shot him B. Stepe thmannd ap ont a couple of bullets put

20
13               
Place ws full of holes from 200

lb. bombs & arty.

A fight took place w bombs

& bayonets. B & C were never

joined up with A. The junction

of trenches running N & S w those

E & W ws never held by us. We

got 2 big dugouts on right &

not the 3rd. There were probly

dugout under dugout, &

probly passages. The Germans

came out & began pelting with

bombs at close quarters, we

used 6000 bombs tt night.

No rifles ∧or Lewis Guns were used at all.

Their rifles were choked w mud

The Germans let us go out

with flags & gather in dead & 

wd - we had allowed them

to do so the day before. They also

had 100 men out sorting their d. & w.

How men got over tt

day ws a marvel. A mere

 

 

14

Lt ∧(then Sergt) Bradley ws in A. Coy

wh got in on night of Farm.

Capt Harwood - also.

Black landed as

a Cpt. in Gallipoli & got

a D.C.M.

Here he got a D.S.O.


Lt. Linus At the Army School

at Flexcourt.

 

20
15                                                

walk to the Quarry prac.

exhausted a man.

No c. attack except that

on occasion of first innings

were reported ws made

apt 16th Bn. Prussian guard

were agst us -


Bn. ws relieved by

47th Bn. after being in 3 days.

           __________________

[16 Bn.

Losses on 2 tours abt 700.

Abt 60 or 70 details returned

between two shows.]

V.C.

Two D.S.Os           
Black got Croix de Guerre.

8 M.C.s & a bar (9)

7 D.C.Ms.

43 M.Ms.

________

 

16

Capt. Harwood

Aug. 8/9

 

20
17         
?8/9                                                                         
Aug. 9/10. 10 p.m. ws hour 

of barrage. Lahore Divns

barrage - a wall of fire 

- men were within 50 yds of

it & all speak of this curtain.
The Germans were in Pt 78.

The bombers under Lt Wilton

were with them. The

bombers moved up trench

from K. trench to 78.

D Coy had to take the

Circular trench & B Coy under

Maj. Black had to get

round this trench & go for 78.

Hand drawn diagram – see original
In Pt 78 was a
liquid fire plant,
gas plant, & 3 m.gs
There were said to be 2
m.gs under the trees - The
 

 

20
18                                             

barrage probly scared these -

But there were men under  ∧ hit

as soon as we got over

the parapet.

There were a number 3 or 4

of deep dugouts there.   The
men were very close on the

barrage (it is a gt. thing to

have the confidence in the arty).

British were supposed to

connect at Pt 78. The Norfolks

had to come up that. The

moment 78 ws taken they

cleared out. The 16 Bn was

lined out into Ration Trench.
for abt 300 yds & their left ws even there in / air.
The Norfolks came over the top.

It is not v. clear what the

[* ?8/9 *] Tommies did on 9/10. but the

A company of theirs had got

into a section of Ration trench

[* ?7/8 *] on night of 8/9 - an isolated

 

19

Hand drawn diagram – see original

 

Night of 9th/10th.
Capt MacLeod & Lt Wadge saw 3

prisoners out in a hole abt 2,

ducking about trying to get out o / 

way of our bombardment -

M. & W. went out to them &

brought them in. They were

only too glad to come. They

had no arms, & 2 were without

hats.

Where W. was there was the

existing trench ∧into wh 15th had bn - (it had to be

deepened & improved for all they

were worth by morning. There

were a fair number of dead

in the trench - not very many - but only

3 alive.

On night of 10/11 a sap ws dug

forwd for a m.g. by A Coy so as

to sweep the valley.

 

20
20                                       

section. D Co The Suffolks

failed (by going out too late

after their barrage) & were

cut up but this section (1 Coy)

of Tommies remained in

Ration trench ∧away on left.

They were there when

16 Bn attacked on Aug  ?8/9  9/10.

On Aug  ?9/10  10/11 16 Bn went on

from 78, 89, 99 to 61, & dug

500 yds of new trench on summit of hill.

Looking down on Mouquet Fm.

from 18 to 61 trench ws prac. non-existent

except for two German

dugouts containing bombers.

These bombers put up something

of a show but were finished

quickly.
                 _________________

This morning (Aug ?8/9  9/10) the Sergt

Holland wandered by daylight quite close up towards

the Farm & wasnt fired on - (after the mists

had risen - in bright daylight)

 

21

This night -  ?7/8  8/9. Cpl. Wootton

& 2 or 3 sniper on extreme

left of 15 Bns holding objve.

They found Germans trying

to outflank 16th or

to

_____________________________

Abt 12 p.m. runner came back from

Moore (Payne w Moore) asking for reinfts.

Lt Wadge ws in Brinds Rd trench. There were

few men there.   Capt Smart of 15 Bn ws in the

trench Jumping off trench (Brinds Rd) by this

time. He told W. to take abt 20 men

of 16 Bn. Wadge started & they abt 6 followed him.

Smart had recd an order from Cannan that

Moore ws to come back, so he sent no

more out. W. lost no one going across tho

he stuck for a bit in the wire.

The first runner who reached Moore

ws abt daylight (telling him to retire)

There were m.gs in the ∩ bend near

78 where there ws a clump of trees -

but not (so far as W knew) on the road.

 

Aug  ?7/8  8/9

20
22                                       
 x A Coy 16 Bn ws

supporting 15 Bn. K trench ws

left to the Tommies (Suffolks)

the night.

Tommies took over to

W of 95 on Pounds Rd.

It ws the 3 m.gs in 78 wh did

the damage to the Tommies.

The circular trench ws probly only

held by an outpost. The

Tommies were shot down by

platoons just after they started.

They were a bit slow.

The last wave of the 15th

Bn got the German barrage

too.

Johnson ^15 Bn got in to the

German trench also. The bombers

of A Coy were called on by

 

 

23

7th Bn Suffolks (from Wadge who saw them)

The Suffolks got out to left of road &

m.g. got onto them as they were

getting over. The Suffolks were over

with the 15 Bn - Their casualties

were not due to their being slower.

?7/8 
8/9 They were caught as soon as

they got over - a few on rt

with 15th got across with Capt.

Moore. x

There is no doubt at all tt

these m.gs (W. says) were in front

of the objective,

& therefore, probably,  4 Bde M G Coy.

clear of the barrage.

W. ws watching from Capt. Corrigan's

H.Q. & the Suffolks started at exactly

the same time as Corrigans.

W. found abt 30 Germans Prisoners

& the same number of Aust. (perh 5

more) in the trench. He thinks there ws

a block on the left - on the rt there ws

nothing but an empty trench - w many

dead Germans.

At day break they thought there

ws a German c.attack coming up.

It was a hedge really. W. took the ↓

 

20                                                       
24

B Co Brettingham Moore

& did some bombing on the

left. They got up to the

German trench on the right, &

got across without difficulty

Some of the 4th Bde

m.g. coy went out & established

themselves on the left right

of the rd in Nomansland

abt ¾ ways to German trench.

The barrage o / follg night

passed over them (they were

very narrow & very deep)

& the barrage did not hurt

them.

 

On Aug 11 the German attacked

put heavy barrage behind &

on trench dug during night of

Aug 10/11. The barrage started

 

 

25

German lieut. with him & a bayonet

man of 15 Bn & went along trench

for a long way across the road

up to where the hedge (or its remains)

was & then came back. When he

got back the order to retire had

bn recd & Moore was getting his

men ready to go out of it.

They made the [[prisoners?]] carry the wd

& Mr Payne, & 2 Lewis m.gs.

& had one hit going back (wd.

just as reached / trench.)

The trench ws taken next night

w little oppositn so Germans were

really driven out this first night.

From this trench you cd not see far

down the slope. W doesnt think

You cd see Mouquet Farm from

there the next night (Just a heap

of brick rubbish & chalk).

__________________________

The attack on Aug 11 was

agst abt junction of 16 Bn w

British.

 

20                                            
26

abt midday. It lasted over

4 hours. The men were withdrawn

from Ration trench - 30 to 50 percent

were sent back to Brinds Rd

[*?28 to 78*]

trench (& trench 26 to 78) - & remained in were as

far as possible put into dug

outs. The barrage made us

anticipate a c-attack. The

observers reported (?abt 3 men says Bde report) men

coming out of M. Farm (in small

columns of 6-10 men in single file & spreading fanwise forming

into line 33 a 81, Quarry, 33 B 55.

L Guns at R34 a x 12 & 13 got

onto them. (L.Gs from 16 Bn HQ specially sent up)

The Germans were not

quick after their barrage. From

Pt 78 - 61 the enemy cd

be seen & trench ws lined.

As soon as barrage began to

ease this trench was lined -

a few casualties occurred.

The Germans came up in groups

[* Only comparatively few saw

this attack. *]

 

 

27

Hand drawn diagram – see original

___________________________________________________________

Losses from 6-14 Aug. Offrs    K.      W.       M.       SS.       P of W.

                                                        5       39       4                         1

                                            0r     188    1294    111        20           1

_____________________________________________________________

Night of 11/12 Aug. Bombing pties worked up trenches

65 - 38; 34 - 35; 34 - 55; 61 - Quarry.

12th Aug. 50 n relieved 16 Bn by daylight.

Front line & Commn trench thro Pozieres heavily shelled all day

12/13 Midnight - attack. 
13 Bn. got R34 a 86 - R34 a 38 -

- R34 B 96 1/2 incl.

50 Bn ws to get R33 b 96 1/2 - R33 b 55 - Quarry 
- 81.

13 Bn got objve. 50 Bn reached 81 but not

Quarry or 55 & 13 Bn had to refuse left to link up.

They got some impt. big German dugouts at R2S.C.8 1/2

and R34b 1/2 7. Quarry ws patrolled after

daylight & found unoccupied. Strong Pt &

L.G. was placed at R33a81

At 4 p.m. 4 Bde handed over to Glasgod.

14/15 at 10 p.m. 50 - 13 - 51st Bns attacked R33a81 

- b48 - 27d. 91-73-94-04-28 c.o3-24-36-66-95.

13 Bn say they gained their objve but had to fall back

owing to flanking Bn failing. D ws in a little ahead.

 

20                                                
28

of 10 & 12 - They had got

up to within 100 yds of Pt 57.

Abt 40 gave themselves up when beckoned to. Heavies

were got onto enemy, who, under this fire, were

seen bolting from Quarry & M. Farm.

Aug. 29/30.

Bn had to come from head

of 1st Aus by K trench up to waist in

slush & mud. (coming back

it was sticking). xx

The line was

Maj Black

B Coy had got 2 platoons

into open on either side of

road in front (S) of 48.

Every man ws out there -

Tape had been laid by

Linus. It ws quite clear

to pick up.

B Coys job ws to

take M. Farm.

11 p.m. ws zero hour.

 

 

29

The Fm. ws firing at first.

But it ws soon settled. Wilton's

Stokes mortar bombs for settling

dugouts never reached the 

Fm

 

※ 

Hand drawn diagram – see original

20                                          
30

The barrage ws not at all

thorough & not at all like

the other barrage. Machine

Guns started as soon as

we moved. Flares were

going up all the time.

From 59 & 31 - There ws

a mound at 31. flares

were coming up from here

& there seemed to be

M. G. fire from pt 54 in

R27c. The chief casualties

were from 54.

※ As Maj. Blacks party

came up he saw x Germans

head hands come up over

parapet working levers of a 

m.g. The man cd have

fired but he looked first

& as his head came

up B. shot him. B. stepped

up onto the mound & 

put a couple of bullets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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