Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/145/1 - 1916 - 1917 - Part 4

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
RCDIG1066645
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

34 others went slightly right Tot into our own barrage There was one illemenation of buistin shells & flares all roun it ws diffecult to Jadge Exactling of our barrage & whitcock D Lord & L Lukin wer to right, Lord ws killed whitcoek potents shellbole under our barrage waitin for our barrag to lift our banage ws not govg lif onr there white got to Frailine ork a neass of men straiht behind him tro, not waiting at objoe
35 at all. They hit the tranling a foua battery of deserted 5. 9 with one deep dugont they bombed the augout wrote te o Bn nave onth gans. There was some chalky stuff lyin about - put it on all four guns. The weaked be wld by todi abng the trawline but on patralling ahead eh better he four feets of fire ed be oblan ahead abt 5oyds. The fermans for side of id vi
36 were throwing flares I snepey ocasionally White moved thei men on to dis an 50yds ead- ground ws not so wack cut up by Shellholes- It abt 20 yds in front -a hedge. Opposite was te last house in th village -ared brick house, abt 20 feetd it still standing in parts. white put a strong post near the road in his truct. Tend weatly all bus in both
38 bryages were co up, apparently lost. There were 2 Vickers s of 15t Bde there. W. gave each instrus where to die extenden his line to right & left as 1st Bde us sowewhere to lep. It ws now getter twards day light haid wch were.C to get down. Snyre as getting worse. Reinfts ed be seen coming upto ermons nean Wendwell They were smpt from the old (what I call School House.
39 cutouba patiol of While of 15 Bn 4men & bayoneted (seigt Ssnpers. They also bomber some dejouts near tis place &return without camnoll The en who ere trip were y in front were hampered y supers i, but got were down abt 20 yds in front of trench Yws abt 4ft 6 deep bey were dijing alltinc inder w a cer in detacht to look over the top for
41 n C. attache the brunt falling on our right flank but his ws repulsed cheeft ts our artillery. The Vickers guns were in Centre & let flank of W.s section Every one we quite adgfor his attack. it seened to to back Pound norhern end of village, (12 Bn on Ws rt supers played from Poyceres viaje. C frther patrol sent out (9Bn) & sussen Derg &4aey) in getting
41 derjouts p 18p & cellars on the mann road. They wa bomb Allars& come out Abt he laterwe ever Saw afer a while handkerchief. treachery th Dears beckomed to him to come in o He secitated a long time bok hands in air adm by the brick Alds. Then he can across & 11others follo cluty 2 doctors both of whom wore gloves Eyegla one an
42 The doctors werevery the dressed & the senior an elderly man, exclaum in goot English Well, this is a bleving. all the prsoners were ry Elol at beig capturnd & were ofeny agaretly FDonoeners & Wanter stake hands wour men, one we very badly wd, & his mates cod not offer hem inunti DC dered D do So this we abt Bam Corth after aheavy shell from Jans & T.Ms began fwt trid, but
43 late, we hit the captd, in afternoon andter 25 go who gave themselves s to apetiol yoe wro Ivoilege. White kept on sending patrols two village, especilly ohe side As things were quiet in aft i numberdf scut tro villey unders I 6oki & brought back a lot of soooevers. Field glesses, revolvers Bocket knives, Iw Tho day rifbs. Duri
45 all Alt 80 between s were got by this part 6o 0 Themight t Tt wced was a He 2 wo 6foot deep. tbagged - not firestipps ups were put down or footholescut for firesteps. Bombs & Sard. Ledbe distributed Monday e Day stellen Leedy ontinued began to all day Abt 8p the whole line pasher thro the octag & dug in

25   34
others went slightly right
& got into our own
barrage.
There was one
illumination of bursting
shells & flares all round -
& it ws difficult to judge
exact line of our barrage.
Lt Ford & Lt Lukin ^& Whitcock went
to right, Ford ws killed;
Whitcock got into shellhole
under our barrage waiting
for our barrage to lift
& our barrage ws
not going to lift from there.
White got to Tramline
with a mass of men
behind him - straight
thro, not waiting at 1st objve

 

25   35
at all. They hit the
tramline & found a
battery of deserted 5.9s
with one deep dugout -
They bombed the dugout &
wrote the 9 Bn name
on the guns. There was
some chalky stuff lying
about - put it on all
four guns. The men had
bn told by now to dig
along the tramline - 
but on patrolling ahead
he found a much better
field of fire cd be obtained
by going ahead abt
50yds. The Germans
on far side of rd

 

25   36
were throwing flares,
& sniping occasionally,
White moved the men
on to dig in 50yds
ahead - ground ws not
so much cut up by
shellholes. They were
abt 20 yds in front
of a hedge. wh ran
mo Opposite was
the last house in the
village - a red brick
house, abt 20 feet of
it still standing in parts.
White put a strong
post near the road in
his trench.  Men of
nearly all bns in both

 

37
Hand drawn diagram - see original document

25   38
brigades were coming
up, apparently lost.
There were 2 Vickers
guns of 1st Bde there.
W. gave each man
instrns where to dig extending
his line to right & left as
1st Bde ws somewhere
to left. It ws now
getting towards daylight
& men were digging hard
to get down. Sniping
ws getting worse. Reinfts
cd be seen coming up to
Germans near Windmill.
They were sniping
from the old (what I call)
School House.

 

25   39
White sent out a patrol of
(sergt ^of 1st Bn & 4 men & bayoneted
3 snipers. They also
bombed some dugouts
near this place & returned
without casualty.
The engineers who
were laying trip wire
in front were hampered
by snipers & m.g. but
got wire down abt 20
yds in front of trench.
Trench ws abt 4 ft 6 deep.
They were digging all time
w a certain number
detailed to look over
the top for enemy. 

 

25   40
Germans c. attacked
the burst falling on our
right flank but this
ws repulsed chiefly by
our artillery. The Vickers
guns were in Centre &
left flank of W.s section.
Every one ws quite
ready for this attack.
It seemed to go back
round northern end
of village. (12 Bn on 
Ws rt)
Snipers played from
Pozieres village. A
further patrol sent
out (9Bn) & succeeded
(Sergt & 4 men) in getting

 

25   41
18 prisoners from dugouts
& cellars on the main
road. They wd bomb
cellar & men came out.
Abt ½ hr later we
saw a German waving
a white handkerchief.
Fearing treachery they
beckoned to him to come
in. The other foll He
hesitated a long time, 
both hand in air, 
standing by the brick
bldg. Then he came
across & 11 others folld
him includg 2 doctors
both of whom wore gloves
& one an eyeglass.

 

25  42
The doctors were very
neatly dressed & the senior
an elderly man, exclaimed
in good English
"Well, this is a blessing."
All the prisoners were
very elated at being captured
& were offering cigarettes
& Souvenirs & wanting to
shake hands w our men.
One ws very badly wd.
& his mates wd not offer 
to carry him in until
ordered to do so.
This ws abt 10a.m.
Shortly after a heavy shelling
from guns & T.Ms began
for first time, but few

 

25   43
hit the trench. Later, we
captd. in afternoon another 
26 prisoners who gave themselves
up to a patrol going
thro / village. White
kept on sending patrols
thro village, especially
on other side.
As things were
quiet in afternoon
a number of our men 
went thro village
looking for Germans &
Souvenirs & brought
back a lot of souvenirs.
Field glasses, revolvers,
pocket knives, swords,
rifles. During whole day

 

44
Hand drawn diagram - see original document

25   45
between them all abt 80
prisoners were got by this part
o / line. 
During The night
was without incident quiet.
The trench ws 6 foot deep, 
sandbagged - not firesteppd
- Sandbags were put down
or footholes cut for firesteps.
Bombs & Sa.a. had bn
distributed. 
The next day - Monday -
a very heavy shelling
began & continued
all day. Abt 8p.m.
the whole line pushed
thro the village & dug in

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