Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/148/1 - 1917 - Part 5

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
RCDIG1066648
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 6

46 The Vickers mys Caltocbet & 2 reserve platoons were sent up to I vell at ab 6 am. A Elenford the stroypoot line in posit. One m.P. was blown out by a shell 4 minor casualties tocrew. On one occision incus massed 500 men in Denicant but there were 12 (104.9. 2 Vickers) around villap on high ground a a good field of fre- live ws ffeet fe. night the Du duy the Text day
o 47 snow fell heavily they handed over on this live to 53 Bn. As 55Bn right Coy (D. approached Beetroat Factor ma keegy road on their right a small day life a kelpic we seen pumped ap from the stabble & yapped. He can on with the leadin oficer H Duprez, until they were almost outop Of Jrmans (whoed be seen moving - S5 thought they were 50Bn ahead then the dos starte to sowd in apto Germans started to powl It ws almost olaylight The right band cay as really ahead of 56 Bn who were 12 ar late in starting off D Coy we
48 a were i The it putl Re ect St the sap. He tew a w bombo dugont blew alefost erews b cp ree te Macewan near triped overa Bridge & water went ap were in air beside the blidge as if a shell had explade but not bridge. A boase we beside the poot MacEwan but on anthrs were there, also aness road o house w t blown ap That prob a & 49 lining on road beyond the Beatioo Factory, lying down The germans whom the dog roused fered a few shots. The St charged & the ferms botter- Ibose ano ran into dugouts were boubed, & some bayonete The ferms. then were met with by D Coy behind a hedge in port of Doynies (no hench). When charged they bothed. There as another stand believ another bank& hedge village - When they saw the other 2 coy getting round then right they rai Stertehbury tells me to the 2 let coys B& C, as they cdat get on with 15 Bn wh we held up, came
50 He Lies defended from attack from iz Beaw move to right & in 5 behind him. r & round 6 Fte 36 instead 5 of N reversal of plan but uite good eno. The germans at Seinken eda town (X) seem these coys coming round their eight flank, ran They mased afends, & were seen deping cn th rigl between Doignees & Hernees a rittle to tast 17D o 23 B
OX
Vaul E Green Sections to by defended b cogs- suffected gaudtn map DP- doublepat DOfficers t ve vcostent Fw. Fildwacke (Exctet. WPX pc Vorpest Konapag i yf Built in mI emplacement 42us hads E plitoon apte VPR19 PkEg Rad FwI haguicours Ma1 Senritz 160 440 421420 12/120 474 l i XFW FN 26RD. Oveane 2GRD Vex12/ 20 38J.D. wit my duary 148. Cas. Copy of German map showing depences of Norenit & Lagnicourt (taken by us on March 26 1917) 14 ms. 13 in hes.

28
46
The 2 Vickers mgs (attached)
& 2 reserve platoons
were sent up to / village
at abt 6 a.m. to
reinforce the stong post
line in point.
One m.g. was
blown out by a shell –
4 minor casualties
to crew.
On one occasion
Germans massed
500 men in Demicourt,
but there were 12 (10 L.G.
& 2 Vickers) around /
village on high ground
w a good field of
fire – & / line ws
perfectly safe.
During / night they
dug in.  Next day the

 

28
47
snow fell heavily.
They handed over on this
line to 53 Bn.

As 55 Bn right Coy (D)
approached Beetroot factory
keeping ^main road on their right,
a small dog like a kelpie
ws seen jumped up from
the stubble & yapped. He 
ran on with the leading
officer Lt Duprez, until
they were almost on top
o / Germans (who cd be
seen moving — 55 thought
they were 56 Bn ahead).
Then the dog started to growl
ran up to / Germans
& started to growl
(It ws almost daylight)
The right hand Coy ws
really ahead of 56 Bn
who were ½ hr late in 
starting off.  D Coy ws

 

48

There ws a wire across
the street. Runner pulled it
& 3 on xxxx  mines
went up. He threw a 
bomb & dugout blew
up. There ws breakfast
ready.
Pte MacEwan near
Bridge tripped over a
wire & water went up
in air beside the bridge
as if a shell had exploded
but not bridge. A house
ws beside the pool.
MacEwan hit on another
wire there , also across
road & house ws
blown up. That ws
proby a H.Q.

28
49
lining on road beyond
the Beetroot Factory, lying
down.
The Germans whom the 
dog roused fired a few
shots. The SJ charged &
the Germs. bolted. Those
who ran into dugouts were
bombed, & some bayoneted. 
The Germs. then were met
with by D Coy behind a
hedge in front of Doignies
(no trench). When charged
they bolted. There ws
another stand behind
another bank & hedge in
/ village – When they
saw the other 2 Coys
getting round their
right they ran.

Stutchbury tells me tt the
2 left Coys, B & C, as they
cdnt get on with 56 Bn
wh ws held up, came

 

50

Hermies ws
defended from
attack from
Beaumetz.

28
51
more to right & in
behind him. Ger & round

Diagram - see original document

S of 
village
instead
of N -
a
reversal of plan , but
quite good eno'.  The
Germans at Sunken
rd in town (X) seeing
these Coys coming round
their right flank, ran.
They massed afterwds, 
& were seen digging
in, on righ between
Doignies & Hermies, 
a little to East
17D or 23 B

 

75

(Book 148)
R28/43.

 

Diagram - see original document

With my diary 148. C.ew.B.

Copy of German
map showing defences
of Noreuil &
Lagnicourt
(Taken by us on
March 26 1917)

 

 

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