Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/250/1 - 1917 - 1937 - Part 1

AWM38

Official History,

1914-18 War: Records of C E W Bean,

Official Historian.

Diaries and Notebooks

Item Number: 3DRL606/250/1

Title: Folder, 1917 - 1937

Comprises various papers on events of

November 1917 - March 1918, including extracts

of diaries of Pte J S Vartley, Sgt A L De Vine

and letters by Capt F P Bethune.

 

 

Notes of Nov - March, 1917 - 18. 250

1st SET AWM38 3DRL 606 ITEM 250 [1]

DIARIES AND NOTES OF C. E. W. BEAN

CONCERNING THE WAR OF 1914 - 1918

 

The use of these diaries and notes is subject to conditions laid down in the terms

of gift to the Australian War Memorial. But, apart from those terms, I wish the

following circumstances and considerations to be brought to the notice of every

reader and writer who may use them.

These writings represent only what at the moment of making them I believed to be

true. The diaries were jotted down almost daily with the object of recording what

was then in the writer's mind. Often he wrote them when very tired and half asleep;

also, not infrequently, what he believed to be true was not so - but it does not

follow that he always discovered this, or remembered to correct the mistakes when

discovered. Indeed, he could not always remember that he had written them.

These records should, therefore, be used with great caution, as relating only what

their author, at the time of writing, believed. Further, he cannot, of course, vouch

for the accuracy of statements made to him by others and here recorded. But he

did try to ensure such accuracy by consulting, as far as possible, those who had

seen or otherwise taken part in the events. The constant falsity of second-hand

evidence (on which a large proportion of war stories are founded) was impressed

upon him by the second or third day of the Gallipoli campaign, not withstanding that

those who passed on such stories usually themselves believed them to be true. All

second-hand evidence herein should be read with this in mind.

16 Sept., 1946. C. E. W. BEAN.

AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL

ACCESS STATUS

OPEN

? Correction Vol V p37

7 Victoria Avenue

Claremont Wa

10 Mar 37
[*HN. Concrete Blockhouses. Messines 1917/18*]

From Col. Nicholson (1937)

[* Reperation 
made in 
2nd Edn Vol V 
p 37 fn. 4*]
Dear Doctor Bean

I have been re reading your

history of Passchaendale and I wonder if I am

too late in bringing a later phase before you.

Your account shows graphically and as I judge

astoundingly correctly the fighting - but on

our being relieved when C.N.Q went to
Fletre a period of consolidation took place
from Kemmel Hill to Plougshael Wood which was
designed to hold that front.
After we went back to the Somme you
know the Germans broke through. I was rather
heart broken as under General Whites direction
a pretty good reserve line had been constructed
strengthened by a number of cement strong points.
However General White showed me a letter he
had received from someone in the British Corps
Staff stating that the lines had been quite
adequate and that in the writers opinion
should have been held.
If it is not too late I feel sure Genl White

 

could give you details -

In connexion with this a rather interesting

thing happened -

We found of course that the Germans

were much our superiors at cement pill
boxes during Passchendaele - Our engineers
were very keen to equal them and several
designs were tried out. The trouble with all
of these was they took too much material
and time.
B. Gen. de Lothbiniere called for designs so that
one standard could be selected -. At Fletre
a number of designs were submitted. It
happened that on my C.R^E Staff there were
two very brilliant engineers. Capt. G MClean
the adjutant and Lt John Healey my field
engineer.
MClean had done work at Cardiff Docks under
Brunel Healey was an architect - between them
they designed the semi-circular cement block
house which was adopted.
It was a great success and a British order
issued stating it had withstood repeated direct
hits from six inch shell and that it was

 

to be adopted in the whole army-

Both these officers did really splendid work

but strangely enough were never recognized -

I think in the change over from de Lothbiniere 

to Tooth their work was overlooked -
M Clean is one of the great coal owners in 
Staffordshire and Healey holds important
posts in London.

Capt J.C. Hogen

3MG Coy

Witton Road,

Indooroopilly,

Queensland.

7th November, 1934.

C.E.W. Bean Esq.

Historian

Victoria Barracks, Paddington, NSW

Dear Sir

I must apologies for delay in

answering your letter dated 19th October

but it was addressed to my brother's

residence and I did not receive it until

Sunday last 4th November.

The particulars you quote

regarding myself are correct.

As regards detail I think the

3rd Australian Machine Gun Company

was above the average unit for esprit

de corps and efficiency and I think

this happy position was brought about

by the blending of the influence of our

two great Company Commanders,

Major Alex Steele DSO, DCM., for

thorough training and hard discipline

followed later by the great and
[*P.S. I read Volume 3 with great interest and two returned
friends of mine could not speak highly enough of the trouble you
you must have been to, to supply as much accurate and interesting
detail. G.C. Hoge.*]

2

comradely leadership of Captain

T P. Bethune M.C., who never seemed

happier or more contented than when

leading the Company to the front

line or further on towards Berlin for

preference, and who was able to impart

a good deal of this spirit to those he led.

I believe this statement could be verified

by General Maclagan as regards Major

Steele and by General Bennett as

regards Captain Bethune and without

exception by as many officers and men of

the Company as you could get in touch

with. In justice to these two officers I would

like to see an appreciation of them in

your history as it would also reflect

credit on the unit they so capably led.

Just before the Germans retired on

the Somme in early 1917, I was with

(then) Lt Bethune one foggy night on

a slippery duck board track in the

forward area; I was flashing a torch

when somebody called out to cease

and I gave a cheeky answer. Mr Bethune

said Shut up Jimmy, I think it's the

3

Brigadier and so it was. He lectured me

about the torch and asked Mr Bethune

what he thought of the chances of the 9^th

Battalion's forthcoming attack to capture

Bayonet Trench. I believe they were

receiving double rations and special training

at the time for this operation, and as

though he were letting the Brigadier into

a secret, Mr Bethune answered "I'll take

it, Sir, any night you like, there's nobody in it,

Sergeant Scott and I were out there last night"

Captain Bethune would never own up that

Fritz could hit what he was aiming at, and

early in 1918 when Fritz broke through

near Hazebrouck Capt Bethune and his

Head Quarters men were stationed in a 

farm house which was being shelled.

It was near a Chateau and Beth said

to his batman "Brown, they are trying to

hit that Chateau, we'll go and live there".

Live there they did in fine style and the

Colonel said m to me later "That B-

fool Bethune has moved into the Chateau

and I am frightened to go near him.

With all best wishes

I am, Sir,

Yours faithfully,

James C Hoge.
 

Cambrai

Lee Von Moser's book

& German Official Monograph

 

Cambrai 1917
German account.
see Army Quarterly July 1930