Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/150/1 - April 1917 - Part 4

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
  • Shorthand
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
RCDIG1066651
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

allow it ad not att the write a letter. The Froom & aske to a coopt came they were 7 X do you have or. Te sd. there The youre here X what you He sd that dl no 7our people or your with otell t ere care vot 162
Bunishent oobt they have le yet te lie Th ta ls ofo 6 at wrote to British t o1 en o X we recd an him it ws to to tra on a ev
with e beted Rargmo 2 who of Berlin Sa son were more tenent. At marquion they got nothing ex- to night, for drink t a days, to toop of bread & cofee They seven had any blankets always pro The be prooe roteo ince th
it out of them). There get there French Frionees were had bo en who t I wouts. & they sent t Bapa (Ervetters) o Margnion. had bn split At hille they into parties 4 t0 were in -all anstratious buto
Brs. The Nas were made responsible for disciptive There were Newforad lander came in later - when Ienet so moved. totd t in The 240 were an as sections Sections 8 25 t der a sergt. The British Scottish were treaty exactly
Fcatlish Serpt major we act 1 and the ge an Sergt. Maj. The pros ad pick out 100 for the dump, loadly oanloadin, turn out 4.30. Copie at 4.45. Tate 8.150 march to Dump work till 1p 5 Coaf whole ration wh each a thes overauht eat them overnight &somety teywer a stew middey of tn t
hosseftest with a little barte used to count the grans l wer per day were to hosp. Kidney gettin week faces swetten ty ued to be rape, sting to go out t cat nettles, danditions souch polato p 2
peetings Stewart Tolo he leater Jerkin for a loafs bread & a mark to get l little food for the stunt. At the dung they were work tender shell fire. The shells tnocked the dump abt 9h the flood or Saw
& knocked out road one day the to wd take shetter duri The not keep refler sticking out shell fore + na D to go out The Commies afaraoon (had their skilly 2 & passed our workn hier 20 back. Each li low The fermans were anloading Lytlocor ae duckboard I dugont. patting it give unter- they were rlys light en
loading onto beevy rly the light Cocos, & cevent. He shells started to ebi awanpt the deimp - + it had to be cleared by Jame 5. The are cally down trees ad leave them 2 They were tokin down huts cust take dugont tember from They 6 A dump wd a wind tess ata The b at 16 a

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wd not allow it.
They alld them to write a letter.
A Corpl. came into / room & asked
if they knew what they were
there for. He sd: do you know
what you're here for!  They
sd no.  He sd that you may
write & tell your people or your
govt tt you are here as a

 

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punishment. 7 wks ago the
German govt wrote to / British
Govt abt / employmt of
German prisoners near / line &
they havent recd an answer
yet."  They told him it ws
a lie.
They were sent in a train

 

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to Marquion - with a better
Guard of Berlin garrison - who
were more lenient.
At Marquion they got nothing exc.
a drink that & tt night, for /
2 days, ½ loaf of bread & coffee.
They never ^had had any blankets.
(They were always promising
the men improved rations to

 

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get work out of them). There
were French Prisoners there
who had bn in Germany for
3 months. & then sent to
Bapaume (Ervillers) & Marquion.
At Lille they had bn split
into parties.  240 were in
this pty - all Australians but mixed

 

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Bns. The NCOs were made
responsible for discipline.
There were Newfoundlanders
came in later - when French
prisoners moved.
The 240 were worked [[lotd]] off in
sections of 25 men as sections
under a sergt. The British &
Scottish were treated exactly /
same.

 

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A Scottish Sergt Major ws acting
under the German Sergt. Maj. -
The Germs. wd pick out 100 for the
dump, loading & unloading. Turn
out 4.30. Coffee at 4.45. Fall
in 5.15. March to Dump. Work
till 1 p.m. (1/3 loaf whole ration
wh each man had issued overnight
& sometimes eat them overnight)
They were given a stew at midday of

 

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horseflesh with a little barley -
they used to count the grains.
4 men per day were going
to hosp. Kidney getting weak,
faces swelling. They used to beg
to go out to cut rape, stinging
nettles, dandelions - sometimes
potato peelings that was long used -
drawn out by the Germans - thereby get into the know for

 

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a while It took me all my time to get 23
peelings. Stewart sold his
leather jerkin for a loaf of
bread & a mark to get a 
little food for the stunt.
At the dump they were
working under shellfire. The
shells knocked the dump abt,
& the town. They saw blood on

 

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the road one day. & knocked out
gun. The German guard wd take shelter during
shellfire & just keep rifle sticking out.
The Tommies had to go out
in afternoon (had their skilly
earlier) & passed our working
pty coming back.  Each x
The Germans were unloading
Light locos. were duckboards
engineering ^dugout timber - & putting it
in light rlys; & they were

 

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loading onto heavy rly the light locos.,
& cement. The shells started to
get in amongst the dump - & it
had to be cleared by June 5. They
are cutting down trees & leave them
lying. They were taking down huts.
Aust; They had to take dug out timber from
dump. There ws a windlass at a
big bldg at W 16a 5.7.

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