Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/140/1 - August 1916 - Part 6

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open to contributions
Accession number:
RCDIG1066640
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Page 1 / 10

2 boub sectus Of Comben plation under H Henderson were brought up if. He had heard from some o who were back of his scarce bombe were. Thy savid the situation (carrying 3o bombs each man They took over the board fight &n less than I mand had chased the sermt, 150 yd up y (Biist a beavy shower - te from tran to traverse). The germand then let us reture in peace, taken on German m.g. (therest desteoye those from 73 ets had be removed as we bobed up to thim man rifhs & searching dear papers etc. 76
Abf lost 78 were back abt perfecty just before daw unmoleati 3 BBN That doe Auy 15 sreluved Reach wire dark at lone men pretty well we kelled tear. Hentey at 1t Ave wa but first to last a aft ✓ 10 al offre exc one. Started in w Soffrs & nearly 2t5wen came out w 92 fo many 1 thee administiative, transpt etc. 1st attack made will abt 70 men. Last attack made with 8 coy att same.
monguet 4 th night an age Valley impleted relief 280 900 21 4 Thi we held think spellin 29/30 at Heaoy Shellin an menout 6 106 a th We held up posts H Coys objie a to edy 80 2 0 66 Co 68 29 tom as ttr Clost 52 Co two 74 80
d A 13 81 1locks were to be put at oyds N 73149 95 (NE The waves lep to descrete Towndrs. on wat by went in oe 83 11 ps t mus 24 suppits from at 13½ second barrage on 66 of in font of rest we Frech O3 did 6o 6 Exist. had lont te in coy boat heavil D lighl dirn ay
32 &in 8 wge Toms kept in foint 24 they cut Union 41 moo 76 n 84 ron 01 t 9 from les we so what the H5 b 4NGS were left in Tim of as rallyay points tin being drive back instrus to remain there Bente orders While cog ws mansed it we still under heavy fire from the 519 battery near Courcelitte One shell killed an extire cection omen near O) before they got out. This left 61 men for attack, 43 offs. the
83 Fen heavin falling two tlose dunny day were 8 of our 32 lost were abt tothem due 2 sectus of bombin platoon attached to were make 7 past bomt up Thwert be ablock m wtattack The Jermans regested heavity up this but Combin officer few ydso within 9ot block Here. placet went w1 barrag Therest when it opened Barrage gather high exc from Stopes funs. One gan ws to work up Stokes The other ws to pu Barrak pom 103673. This fll done we well bibt sender Bn
i 8 o4 pontal 24 sucaade from attack The losses were heavy. Out proportionatel left anwountd 2 were m an cleared. the whe we captuned at 94 One Mf. were so cloyed but Fifle escape. Notone other m be fined. rifte stayle funner fered Te fast tryin w e last stown when dra ower at a67 round the Two or There ws tited were to Lan i yth 84
8 85 fermas Slearing as beto te puise parts o of had o t bers 10 Bov Court en the still fec gust the 0 ch ound Estr 2 He in Ea ports 6 t of 60 me pa Bow on a wit whereves there to ws remfore an attack
1 Wp ti e for Ro Munay s al L 16 s. 87 of bombers. 10f were sent to left from tou w try Thy got abt 15Bn. loe Loyds along well past the were (wh wo 3o to woyds wereabaced 19 from 24 a ferman bombiry pty. germans threw 2d voubs (first blew one man's foot we khen) &hit second in Eye. Offr spiang ahead & jumped shaght ontop of german patrol who were euy on ound They umpedup & attacked him with Knobkerrie One bit him on the steel belmer & anoted hit at his revolves & hit he on rigtchest Heshot both. 3 others cleared. wills boub He knew a
9 88 w Ihelpa them wd man whose eye ws back to Srd man helpet the mea our In out went Before this patrot attacks Court there had ba2 near 04 +03 - across from NE. BHeavy showins but both were of boubs this beatur back By one time there ae only unwd of patrol from let. Sot As the 3rd attack abt 94 a back wo taking place & beatur (bombiny attact) back followed by anote on As touch cd not be either plank, oon of on were left unwod. my abt

20
76

2 bomb sectns of bombing

platoon under Lt.Henderson

were brought up trench. He had

heard from some o / men

who were back of how scarce

bombs were. They saved

the situation (carrying 30 bombs

each man). They took over the

bomb fight & in less than 5

mins had chased the Germs. 150

yds up / trench. (First a heavy

shower - then from traverse to

traverse). The Germans then

let us retire in peace, taking

on German m.g. (the rest

destroyed)- those from 73 etc

had bn removed as we

bombed up to them) man

rifles & searching dead for

papers etc. 

 

77

Abb 10 lost salvaging.

 

20
78

We were back abt 3.30

just before dawn - perfectly

unmolested.

stopped

That day Aug 15, 13 Bn

ws relieved x Reached wire trench

at dark. Men pretty well done

to tears. Henley ws killed

at 1st Ave on way out.

______________________

A Coy's losses, first to last, abt

105 & all offrs exc. one.

Started in w 5 offrs & nearly 215 men.

Came out w 92, (& many of

these administrative, transpt etc).

1st attack made with abt 170 men.

Last attack made with 81 men.

B Coy abt same.

_______________________

 

79

Hand drawn diagram – see original

 

20
80

13 Bn Mouquet F.

Moved in night of 28/29 from

Sausage Valley.

Completed relief by 2 a.m.

in 90-^28c.01-21-4.1½.

This we held thinly to avoid

shelling.

Aug 29/30 at 11 p.m. attacked.

Heavy rain & shelling. (Post 32

men out of 106 in A Coy).

We held posts up the two trenches.

A Coys objve. ws 73-94-

to edge of 03.

B Coys: 03-24.-40

C Coy:  36-66

D Coy 66-95.

 

20
81

Blocks were to be put at

50 yds N of 73. & 04,

& 95 (NE).

The waves were left to discretion

of Coy Commdrs.

A Coy went in one wave;

B the same; C in 2 waves;

& D in 2 waves.

Zero 11 p.m. Bombt 3 mins

from 73-94-24 to gunpits

at 8.3½.

Second barrage on 36-66-95.

& in front of rest of objve.

Trench 03 to 36 didnt

exist.

A Coy had lost 32 in the day.

B Coy lost heavily. C & D lightly

during day.

 

20
82

B Coy, to prevent crowding

of trenches were kept in Toms

Cut, Union, & joint trench. They

moved abt 10 p.m. At 10 pm

A Coy massed from 01 to 91

to leave room for B Coy.

As A Coy ws so weak the

LMGs were left in Jumping

Off trench as rallying points in

event of being driven back w

instrns to remain there pending

orders.

While Coy ws massed it ws still

under heavy fire from the 5.9

battery near Courcelette. One

shell killed an entire section,

9 men, near 01, before they got

out. This left 61 men for

the attack, & 3 offrs.

 

20
83

Our own shells - 8 in heavies -

were falling too close during day,

& abt 8 of our 32 lost were

due to them -

2 sectns of bombing platoon

were attached to A Coy to

bomb up past 73 & make

a block. They were to so

conform w / attack.

The Germans resisted heavily

up this trench; but bombing officer

got within few yds of 73 &

placed block there.

The rest went w / barrage

when it opened. Barrage ws

rather high exc from Stokes guns.

One Stokes gun ws to work up trench

to 73. The other ws to put

barrage from 03 to 73. This

ws well done under Lt Roeburn. (spellng?)

16 Bn

 

20
84

C. Coy met heavy m.g. fire

from 42 & (3 guns) from 94

& 04 & 73.

The ^frontal attack succeeded from

04 to 73. The losses were

proportionately v.heavy. only

28 men were left unwounded

when the trench ws cleared.

One m.g. ws captured at 94

but rifles were so clogged tt

other mgs escaped. Not one

single rifle cd be fired.

The 94 m.gunner fired

to the last & ws just trying to

drag his gun down when he

ws shot w revolver at abt

3 yds. Two or 3 round the

gun were killed. There ws

no other hand to hand fighting.

 

20
85

Germans clearing as before.

M. cd recognise parts of / trench
wh 13 Bn had seen before

on 14/15 Aug.

within 15 mins.

Bombers at near 73 were

still bombing up. The men

in trench cd recognise the

Mills bombs. No one ws

hit by them & a message

ws sent round & touch

estab.

The defence ws organised

along 150 yds of trench in

7 posts of 3 men in each

& 5 men of bombing party

with a roving commission.

to reinforce wherever there ws

an attack.

 

86

 

14/15 Aug.

Capt. K Henderson C Coy. missing no record

Capt Fox "3."}

Lt. Meyer "B"} wd, prisoner

 

This was Murray's

account ^as given to me.

I found out afterwards

that he was the officer.

C.E.W. B.

 

20
87

2 men were of bombers, &

1 offr. were sent to left from

(73) to try & get touch with

A Coy 16 Bn. They got abt

80 yds along, well past the

wire (wh ws 30 to 40 yds

from trench) & were attacked by

a German bombing pty -They

Germans threw 2 bombs (first

we knew) blew one mans foot

off & hit second in eye.

Offr. sprang ahead & jumped

straight on top of German

patrol who were lying on /

ground. They jumped up &

attacked him with knobkerries.

One hit him on the steel helmet

& another hit at his revolver

& hit him on right chest,

He shot both. 3 others cleared.

He threw a Mills bomb

 

20
88

at them, 4, w / help o /

man whose eye ws wd,

helped the 3rd man back to

our men.

In meantime

Before this patrol went out

there had bn 2 bomb attacks

near 04 & 03 - across

from NE - A Heavy showers

of bombs but both were

beaten back. By this

time there ws only one

unwd. offr.

As the patrol from left got

back a 3rd attack abt 94

ws taking place & beaten

back - (bombing attack) -

followed by another on

73. As touch cd not be

got on either flank, & only

abt 16 men were left unwd.

 

 

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