Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/145/1 - 1916 - 1917 - Part 6

62
23Bn turned up in
support 193 strong.
Rest on fatigues. 
Hand drawn diagram - see original document
25 

63
bombfight betw. Germans &
a patrol in front of his
trench, in [shorthand].
There were 6 posts sent
forwd, 1 L.G with each, 
with bombers & rifle bombers
- strength of each post abt
12. 
At 10.24 5th Bde
telephoned tt he ws pushing
his line forward at 10.20
At 10.32 the 21 Bn
reported from patrols tt
Below trench ws empty
but Below Support ws
occupied.
At 11.50 Bn 21 Bn
patrol returned - first to

64
Feb 24
25 

65
return - w / information
tt they had seen 12 of
enemy in Gallwitz firing
flares. They had bn
engaged with bombs.
On this informatn
it ws decided to
send 2 coys from each
Bn out to attack
Gallwitz trench. (^1/2 hr Previous
to this their supporting
coys had bn brought
up to their line).
They were ordered
to advance & occupy
Gallwitz at 1 am on Feb
25 & estab. telep. commun

66
Feb 25
25 

67
at once w / old line.
At 12.20 - 24th Bn
in Acid Drop camp were
ordered to send up 2
coys to carry bombs
ammn etc forwd (to trench
when taken). 24 Bn arrived at 2.15.

12.50 21 Bn advised
tt one of their patrols had
at M9d. 2.2½ met
a m.g. & were also
bombed from there. 
At 3.14 22bn reported
tt right coy ws held up
by wire in front of
Gallwitz & tt a slight
bombfight ws in progress.
They went across in

68
Forbes went up
at this time.
25 

69
extended order in waves.
They sd they were sending
back for duck boards to
enable / wire to be crossed. 

3.52 21 Bn report tt
2 coys entered Gallwitz with
slight oppositn.
4.6 21 Bn extending flanks
outwards to get touch w
troops on right & left.
Brigadier ordered tt
posts were to be estab
at M10 a 2½ 6
M10 b ½ 5
M10 b. 4.7
M11 a ½ 6 ½
M11 a 1½ 1½
i.e. 5 posts on the

70
Feb 25
25 

71
Warlencourt Rd.
At 4.26 the 22nd
reported. Gallwitz trench
occupied by them, &
touch with 21st Bn.
4.38am telephone commun
with Gallwitz from Bn H.Q.
(old coy H.Q.) so commn
existed from Bde H.Q. to
front Gallwitz.
6.50 am gained touch w
Bdes on both flanks in
Gallwitz trench (Left. a Bde
of 2nd British Divn)
7am. Patrolx pushed
out to reconnoitre Gamp
& Malt in order to
occupy them (Party of 10).

72

Feb 25.

25

73

Patrol returned after being 

fired on from Malt trench.

Party of 20 Germans tried to

cut them off from Little Wood.

9 am. 21 Bn report

that an officer w L.G. had occupied

Little Wood. 

11.25 Warlencourt

reported clear of enemy

& in our hands. (By 22 Bn)

Posts at M 11 a 6.3.

M 10 a 2½ 6

M 10 b ½ 5

M 10 b 4.7

M 11 a ½ 6½

M 11 a 1½ 1½

Another post at M 9B 5.6.

(i.e. along Warlencourt Rd)

25

74

Feb. 25 cont

In cooperatn w rt

Bde decided to push

forwd 2 coys of 21

2 coys of 22

& occupy & hold Gamp

& Malt. at 5.30pm

6.20pm. Heard that Malt

trench had been seen by

aeropl. to be fairly strongly

held.

6.45 Lieut Smyth & 

patrol of 20 men of 24 Bn

estab. in Gamp trench.

They cd not move up

to Malt on a/c of 

m.g. fire ^from M4d7.8 & bad state of trench.

That patrol left our

 

25

75

lines at 2pm. 

7.16 pm. 22 Bn report

occupation of Malt trench

held up by m.g. fire &

heavy wire.

They went at it in

waves over the top in

waves. (This ws 5.30 attack).

At 9.25 pm. 22 Bn report

unable to get thro wire

tho 12 men got in at 

one point but were 

driven out again by

m.g. fire.

Abt same time 21 Bn

reported entering Gamp

 

25

76

at M 4c.5.1. 

Unable to work up

to Malt owing to m.g fire

from Malt. Post estab

at M. 5.c.5.1.

________

At this stage it ws

decided - as these 2 

Bns had had two

goes at Malt over the 

top, it w to relieve

them both by 24 Bn.

This ws done before

morning.

Out post line ws (Coupe trench

at) Tank Trap Loos Cut

N.W. corner of Warlencourt

Howse Cut, to Divl

 

77

Casualties

noon 25 to noon 26

           k.       w.     m&w.

Offrs   2        -         2

o.r.     11        51      13.

 

25

78

Boundary. The 24 Bn 

now made this their

line, with outpost 

line at 

M 4 c 0.5

M 4 c 3½ 2½

____    6. 1

M 4 d 5. 0

M 4  c 5. 1

At 8.25 am everyone

ws in position, 24 Bn

holding front line.

At 6.45 & 7.30 the 

24^th sent for d strong

patrols to reconnoitre

Gamp & Malt.

Patrol reported