Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/250/1 - 1917 - 1937 - Part 5
8
German aeroplane activity commenced at daybreak, However no bombs
were dropped on this visit although several planes came down very low
over the town keeping it under constant observation We entrained at St Roch
at 8 a.m. & left at 9a..m Amiens being shelled all the while. We remained in the
train all day, getting a little sleep as we do not know where we will get the
next. We were told before we entrained that we will go as far as possible.
We hope to get as far as Hazebrouck , but probably the German cavalry will be
across the line somewhere which will force us to detrain, when we will go
into action wherever the outposts happen to be . Finally we arrive at Hazebrouck
at 9 p.m. detraining at 11pm and march straight off through the town. After
passing through the town we dump our packs in a field & get a battle
order. Leaving our packs behind we again get onto xxx the road , marching
straight through the valleys a Strazeele where we are told that the German
advanceguards are. However pass through to the crossroads in front of
Meteren. Meteren can be seen in the distance on our left only about 4
kilometres away. The church & many of the houses are burning very fiercely
all night. While making for the crossroads we saw many refugees
leaving the district as the fighting is now round about here. The Germans
have occupied Merris , the town in front of us, and we expect them push
on during the night or early tomorrow morning. So we establish a firing
line just where we are on the crossroads. There is no firing line in
front of us & we have not seen any troops yet. Scattered bands of English
Tommies are running about in a panic stricken state, not knowing where they
are or where they are going . They are apparently relieving themselves from the
outpost line without waiting us to come to them, nobody seems to be
in charge & every man does as he likes. All that they know is that the Germans
are still advancing but nobody seems to worry about resisting them. Things
seem to be in a terrible state. We collect many of them & hand them over to
the brigade, many hundreds of these Tommies are collected during the night
& are now temporarily attached to us. We dug three outposts during the
night – Nos 1, 2, & 3 platoons man their with No 4 in reserve behind us
in a barn, which serves for Coy H.Q. we dig in with our entrenching
tools, fortunately in a ploughed field which is pretty soft. We dig hard all
night, with a party lying out in front to give us warning in case the
Germans continue their advance , fortunately they gave us a quiet
night, thus giving us an opportunity to get well dug in .
13.4.18. Dug ourselves in by daylight. Very heavy mist this morning.
We are expecting to be attacked under cover of the mist; however no attack
developed on our sector. We are apparently in a a peculiar position , as we
seem to be isolated. We cannot get in touch with any troops on either
flank. An attack on Hill 40 on our left failed. The sun rose at
10 a.m. & the fog lifted. We managed to get only 2 hours sleep alongside a
hedge during the morning. — this is our first for two nights. We also get a
little breakfast as we have had nothing to eat. since tea time on the 11th.
We are camping out along the hedges as we expect Fritz to advance on us
at any time now, & we are constantly ready. There is a fair amount of
shelling from Fritz, otherwise fairly quiet. We do not get one shot in reply
from our batteries as all the forward ones have been captured, & those in
rear at the base have not yet been brought up. So if any attack develops
we will be entirely unsupported by artillery fire. During the afternoon
9
we occupied a line of trenches 200 yds in advance of the one we
now hold. This is now to be the front line. We spend the rest of the day
improving the trench , which was dug by the 3rd Canadian Coy of
Tunnellers. We had the trench fairly well completed by night. I was
out [[?]] in front of it all night; job completed by the morning.
During the night we have got in touch with our flanks — on our R
are the 5th Cameronians & on our L the Queens. In front of us are
scattered outposts of these regiments which will be eventually withdrawn
leaving us the front line in case of attack. Several farms in the
district are burning fiercely all night, lighting up the countryside.
The machinegun & artillery fire is continuous.
14.4.18 Sunday. Weather very cold. We have salvaged blankets
etc from neighbouring farms & make ourselves comfortable by taking
matresses, quilts etc to sleep on. There being any amount of beer,
wine & champagne to be got from the deserted farms & estaminets,
we have a pretty good time while waiting for Fritz to ∧make his next advance.
Our position is now consolidated & all barbed wire fixed up ready.
No Mans Land in front of our sector is very wide & contains a farm &
many head of cattle wandering about. We have salvaged may which
give us free milk. The pigs & chickens we cook for ourselves. The
farm was heavily shelled during the afternoon, catching fire & burning
fiercely at 3 pm. Rest of day quiet.
15.4.18. Very misty this morning. We expected a visit from Fritz, however nothing
occurred during the day which is fairly quiet. We are still salvagig anything
of use from the farms ......... During the night 6 farms are burning
around us at the same time.
16.4.18. Day fairly quiet, heavy fog & mist all night. Heavily shelled
at midday. Heavy attack on our left. The English troops gave way
& ran like rabbits. Fritz captured Meteren. We could see the whole of the
operations from our position which is on higher ground. Later C&D Corps
attacked & advanced 800 yds successfully on our R flank. Our L flank is
now held by a French division, they advanced at 8.30p.m. They formed
up in front of our line & on the signal to advance being given they got
off the mark in fine style. Our 1st [[?]] followed them up & supported
their right flank. No news of their success by midnight. Several more
farms are now burning.
17.4.18. We changed our [[?]] I am taking up the trenches vacated
by D Coy. at 9 a.m. a very heavy bombardment with HE. started
& we had several casualties owing to the exposed position we are holding.
We were later ordered up to the line to support C Coy. Under very heavy
shellfire all day. At 5 pm we saw the Germans advance & dug in
about 100 yds in front of our outposts. We expected a heavy frontal
attack which however did not come off. At 10 pm we were ordered up
to the outposts to relieve C Coy, ..... We Dug in our outposts all night, making
ourselves more secure by the morning. The night being calm & quiet.
No further advance by the enemy. Very raw & cold all night — glad
to dig to keep warm.
10
18.4.18. On outpost all day. Early this morning we took a prisoner. Very
rough day & terrible cold. Hail & snow fallig at intervals during the night.
Meteren is burning fiercely all night, no less than 6 new fires have
started ...... & are illuminating the country around. . . . . . . . . . . .
21.4.18. Day opened with the usual bombardment. Our post was barbed
wired last night ready for the expected attack. Very misty in the early hours
of the morning & bitterly cold with a frost . . . . . . Took my boots off today for
a rest — the first time since we left Amiens on the 12th. Rest of the day
fairly quiet with plenty of sniping.
22.4.18 . . . . At 10 pm we are relieved by the 5th Bn. We suffered a few
casualties from shelling we were being relieved & getting away
under cover of darkness . . . . . . marched to Borne Siding near Caestre
where we were billetted in the railway huts . . . . . . We all
managed to get a good sleep.
23.4.18. Today we had a general wash & brush up . . . . . . Visited Caestre
in the evening. There is not a single civilian left in the village which
has been completely evacuated owing to the heavy shellfire. The
village has been completely looted, dozens of barrels of beer &
thousands of bottles of wine, champagne, etc lying about. 4th Dn are
having a good time. Barrels of beer are being rolled & wheeled to the
camp, others are opened in the streets, where everybody has as much
as they want, all drinks being handed out by the pint mug. Many of
the boys have got into the houses & have put on the civilian clothes
over their khaki, & many others are dressing as women. During
all this time the village is being bombarded by the shellfire
which catch many of us. Fortunately I do not get touched.
Casualties are not very heavy despite the fact that the main street
is full of diggers . . . . . . . . . . . At night Fritz visited us with his
aeroplanes in two raids on the railway sheds. We were very lucky
he missed our huts each time, but one hit the railway lines . . . . . .
24.4.18. In camp all day. Plenty of excitement during the night.
Fritz made three bombing raids on our camp, securing a few hits on
the outskirts, not many casualties to us. After the raids a big gun
opened on the camp, causing a few casualties & a general scatter.
25.4.18. Very quiet today. . . . . . not even a drink, everything [[?]]
dry in the village. . . . . .
26.4.18. Bombardment opened on the camp at 3a.m., not much damage
done. . . . . . . . . . .
28.4.18. . . . . . Under orders to relieve the 12th Bn in the reserve lines in
front of Meteren. Left Borne camp at 7.30pm & reached our trenches at
10p.m. Not much shelling as were relieving . . . . .
29.4.18. Day opened with a bombardment of H.E. . . . . . Remained
under cover in our trenches all day. . . . . . . . .
11
2.5.18. All the coy on digging fatigue in front of our reserve lines. Very
dark night. Left for fatigue at 12.30 a.m. & we were back by 3 a.m. for
breakfast . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.5.18 . . . . . . . . We are warned that we are leaving for the support lines tonight.
Left at 10.15 & relieved B Coy of the 3rd Dn. Our B C & D Coys are in the line
The position here is pretty quiet if you keep under ground during the
daylight, as all this country is under direct observation. We are now in
front of Meteren.
4.5.18 Fairly quiet day. At night all the platoon on engineers
carrying party, carrying barbed wire etc to c. Coys position outpost. Several
shells fell near us as we were coming back at 3 am. This shelling
caught a farm on fire just as the party was returning, & the light from
the fire caused us to be observed. So we had to take cover in a ditch
full of water until the shelling ceased. But we had been seen by
their observation post, which only caused them to shell all the more.
This caused several casualties in my party; was not touched
myself.....
7.5.18 Rained heavily during the early hours of the morning while we
were wiring in front of B Coy's outpost. We arrived back very wet by
daybreak.....
8.5.18. We Wiring in front of the outpost across the Meteren Road all night,
returning to our dugouts just before daybreak.....
10.5.18. Relieved at 12.30 a.m. by the 15th Bn of W. Yorkshire Regt.
(The Leeds Pals). After the relief we marched via Croix Rouge to Caest
Caestre where we found motor busses waiting for us about ½ mile
outside the village. We were all given a drink of cocoa by the YMCA.
The busses dropped us at Wallon Cappel, from where we marched
about 3 kilometres to a camp of tent near Sercus.....
18.5.18.....Marched off at 9.30 a.m. towards the line,
by 9.30 just outside Hazebrouck. Very hot today on the march. We
relieved the 11th Bn.
19.5.18. Very hot day.... Inspection in battle order at 10 a.m. We are
under orders to leave here at 7.30 p.m. We marched to Borne & were
billeted in some of the deserted cottages just outside the village. At
night a guide took us to our strongpost, which we are to hold in
case of attack.
20.5.18. Weather still hot. We have to remain under cover all day, as we
are under direct observation from balloons. At night we do
fatigues. This evening we are fatiguing for the Engineers at Strazeele
railway station siding building a support ling. The railway station &
yard about here are very badly bombed & constantly being & were not, the
line being torn up in several places. We had a pretty easy time
& were not interfered with, returning to billets in the early hours of next
morning.
12
21.5.18....Stand to 4-6am. & 8-10 p.m. the day again being
pretty warm. Save fatigue tonight to Strazeele Siding. At 11pm a
heavy bombardment commenced. Several large shells fell onto the railway
casualties amongst our working party. There were also several gas
shells tonight......
23.5.18 The day has turned very cold with a high wind. Usual fatigue
at night. While we were on fatigue 600 gas shells were
thrown over by
our gas trench mortars.
24.5.18 Very cold, rained all day....The ground is getting very
heavy for walking over as all the fields about here are ploughed...
The trenches are very muddy.
25.5.18. The morning was very quiet. During the afternoon there was a gas bombardment; All the officers & many of the men of B Coy were gassed.
The gas however, did not reach us. ....
26.5.18 Gas shells fell near us all the morning & at intervals during the
day. However we were on the gas alert & had no casualties.....
27.5.18 Brilliant sunshine all day, the weather is now clearing up.
We were relieved at 9.30pm by a coy. of the 11th Bn. We marched to some
trench just outside Borne near the railway siding, where we are
living in dugouts......
29.5.18. Parade 9.30 for rifle inspection.... whole coy on fatigues
tonight, diffing trenches etc behind the front line. Left for fatigue at 8.30pm
returning 3.30 next morning.....
3.6.18. Relieved today at 12.30 by a coy of the 8 Bn. We
marched to Sercus about 12 kilometres.....
5.6.18 Parade at 9a.m. Goodbye speech given by the Brigadier
(General Leslie) who is leaving of another division. Our new
brig. is now our Colonel J G Mackay. Three cheers were fiven for
Brig. Leslie before he left.....
6.6.18.....Warned that we are to leave for the forward area tomorrow.
7.6.18 Reveille 6 am. Packed up & left camp at 8 a.m. Marched to the same trenches that we left on the 3rd just outside Borne, arriving at 11 a.m.
We will be moving up farther tomorrow. Relieved A Coy of the 10th Bn.
8.6.18. Remained in our trenches all day. Packed up & left for the
front line at 10p.m. where we relieved a coy. of the 5th Bn. We are now
on the R. of Meteren which we can see in a hollow on our left.
The town is now very much hacked about. This part of the line
however is very quiet. Several gas shells fell during the night.
13
12.6.18.....relieved tonight by "B" Coy 4 we now have to spend four
days in support acting as fatigue & carrying parties to the line. We arrive
at our trenches just outside [[?]], where we find absolutely no
accommodation in the trench, so we set to & build ourselves
shelters.
13.6.18 Slept all day on the floor of the trench..................
14.6.18 Very cold & dull .................Detailed for wiring party in front of
the outpost line. Heavy bombardment opened up on left. Fritz
retaliated on our sector, compelling us to get back to the outpost for
cover as we expected a raid. Nothing however developed.
16.6.18 We Were not relieved today, as a big attack is expected.
Much aerial activity all day. One of our machines, suddenly,
without any apparent reason, blew to pieces, falling a little distance
from us. At night we relieved a platoon of "C" Coy, who were making a
raid. We returned to our trench at daybreak.
17.6.18 Heavy bombdt on Meteren during afternoon with a heavy gas
attack about 4pm. At 7pm (?9pm) Fritz retaliated on our sector
with a heavy bombardment for about a quarter of an hour,
We were relieved at 11pm by B Coy of the 3rd Bn & marched to some
trenches between Croix Rouge & ?Cault Croix where we are staying for a
few days. We are now much closer to Meteren & just behind the
position we dug in when we first came here from the Somme.......
21.6.18 Very bright day.... Relieved by D Coy who are to support the
2 Bn who are advancing 500 yds tonight ...... Attached to the 2nd & 3rd
are some American NCO's who are in the front area for the first
time getting a little outpost experience.....
24.xx6.18 Arrived in our new trenches at 1pm. We are just outside Borre,
midway to Badelles........
25.6.18 ..... Under orders to move by 3pm farther to our right across the
Borre Badelles Road. We are taking over B Coys position. We dig dugouts all
night as there is absolutely no accommodation......
27.6.28 Bright sunshine all day. Bombing aeroplanes visited us at
3am. They dropped a few bombs behind us, searching for the gun positions.
No damage done. We were relieved at 6pm by the 5th Bn. We marched
to a new camp in a farm between Longbrouch & Hondeghemamong
just before darkness.
28.6.18..... A Coy plays B. at football.....
3.7.18... Bn sports were held with a concert in the evening....
3.7.18 Short parade in evening. All packs dumped at the [?} Bn
transport. Warned to proceed to the line at 8pm. Fell in at 7.30 &
15
28.7.18 Church parade. Plenty of sunshine, camp drying up.
Wared today to proceed to the 2nd Army School of Musketry at
Lumbres tomorrow.
30.7.18 Started school routine. Parades 8.30 to 12.45 & 2 to 4p.m.
31.7.18 Settling down to the school routine. All parades etc the same each
day. No variation in anything.....................
18.8.18 Sunday. Left .... school by motor lorry which took us to
Eblingham to the 15th Caps reception camp ......
19.8.18 Left ..... for Longpre at 8.30 (am.)
20.8.18 Left Longpre at 8.30 & detrained at Pernois where we found the
1st Div wing reception camp.
21.8.18 Left Pernois at 6.45am. & marched to Vignacurt where we
entrained on a narrow gauge military railway. Detrained at
Daours where I managed to jump a lorry & joined up the
nucleus bn at Corbie.......
23.8.18 Weather has now grown very hot. We were shelled again during
the night by a heavy gun that is searching for one of our heavies
on the railway line.
24.8.18 Town heavily bombed & shelled during the night. No
casualties to us.
25.8.18 Still very warm ..... Plenty of swimming in the Somme.
Several large convoys of prisoners have passed through the town
during the last three days..................................
26.8.18 Under orders to march t the Bn today. Fell in at 11a.m.
& marched through Cerisy to Morcourt where we found the Bn.
We are camped in a field just outside the village..........
28.8.18 Very warm day. Changed our camp to a paddock outside the
village near a very large lake.....
5.9.18 Swimming parade 2pm, Very hot day. Swimming ^in the Somme
very enjoyable. Leaving here tomorrow.
6.9.18..... Fell in full marching order at 12. Motor busses were
waiting for us at Morecourt, which took us through Bray & Suzanne
to Cleny, the busses dropping us about 2 kilometres outside. xxxx We
marched.... to Peronne, where we occupied some billets in a brick
kiln just on the L of the city.....
7.9.18 The whole Coy detailed as a burial party to bury the men
of the 14th Brigade, many of whom are still lying about. We found
16
very many of the 56th Bn. We buried all of them in the cemetery by the
side of the camp. During the afternoon the whole coy was out salvaging.
8.9.18 Sunday. Left Peronne at 10.30a.m. & marched through the town
.....Many of the ruins are still burning..... During the march it
rained very heavily, thus laying the dust which is terribly thick, also
wetting us through. It continued all day. We camped in a camp
lately evacuated by the Germans... burnt before (they) evacuated.
The huts are smouldering yet & so is everything that would give us any
shelter from the wind & weather.... we are just outside the village
& to the eft of Courcelles. We fix ourselves up the best way we can for
a little shelter, using the hot sheet iron from the xx huts when they
are sufficiently cool to build a shelter with..... Aeroplanes paid us
several visits during the night, bombing (Courcelles & Peronne.....
Relays of aeroplanes passed over us during the night, bombing villages
etc.; but all troops are bivouacked outside villages in the fields for
safety. The bombing at night is the worst thing we have to contend
with on the front....................
9.9.18 Fell in at 8.30am & marched through Tincourt to Roisel.
We approached the town from the outskirts, having marched across
country, meeting the town at the large dump on the railway line,
which had been fixed before the Germans were compelled to evacuate
the district. The huge dump, which extended over a mile & a half along
the line, was burning fiercely as we marched through it. We had to
march through the centre of the dump, burning fiercely on each side of us
.......................We occupied dugouts & shelters some little distance from the
dump, which during the afternoon was under heavy artillery fire.
the Germans keeping up the bombardment to prevent us salvaging
anything of value, also tom keep the fire going. The firing line is only 3
miles away. The town of Loisel is continually being shelled all day in
the hope of catching some of our troops in it; but all troops now pass
around the town for safety.....
10.9.18 Several showers of rain during the day. The ground is now
getting very muddy. Intermittent shelling all day of the town of Loisel, & the
dump which is still blazing fiercely.... During the day orders arrived
for us to leave here at 8pm for the front line. Left camp at 8 & marched
into the line & relieved a coy of the 40th Bn. During the night we received
orders that we are to advance 1000 yds & dig in, in the early hours of
the next morning. The night is very quiet, all shells passing over us.
We are now holding a part of the old French original front line.....
11.9.18 We started our advance at daybreak under a very weak
artillery support. We met no opposition until we gained our objective
which was a rise just outside the village of Templene, in front of the
Hindenburg Line. On this side of the village on the rise itself, Fritz
have constructed several sunken outposts commanding a good view of the
country around & protecting the village. We had no idea of this
defence & did not find them out until we were right up to them, when of
17
course we found rifles & machine guns shelling at us from all
directions. "A" Coy was very badly cut up, as their fire was withheld
until we were right onto them. Then they opened at point blank range.
My platoon was nearly wiped out; the officer being early wounded left
me in charge of nearly half the coy. So I had to carry on as best I
could & with the men that were left I rushed the post in front of us &
slightly on our left. I was very fortunate in getting right up to the post
& jumped in while Corporal Johnstone took the sheet iron from the roof
to try & bomb the interior & drive the garrison out where we were waiting
for them. As they came out in a rush we got several of them. Finally
I was the only unwounded man remaining, the remainder having been
sniped while dealing with the few Germans that were left. One of
them must have got behind me unnoticed, & shot me through the back.
I realised that I could not line in then outpost as it was not taken.
All the attacking party were now either killed or badly wounded trying
to take it; their numbers were too many & their protection too strong.
Cpl Johnstone, while trying to bomb them out, was shot through the
thigh on the opposite side of the post to me, so I did not see him.
Eventually he with a few others were taken prisoner. Fortunately I
managed to crawl out of their post as I was not hit in the legs, and
crawled into a shellhole some little distance away, hoping that
another coy would attempt to take the post & so find me. However
things were too hot just here. It was hopeless to expect to take such a
strong post from the front and their machine guns swept the ground all
around. Fortunately I lay in a shellhole & so escaped the shots, which
passed over me. I remained here all day. The Germans brought
up other troops & counterattacked about 8a.m. & made some progress
as only a very few isolated men were now left with some wounded,
who could offer very little resistance, so the Germans made some
progress, taking a few prisoners including some of the wounded & Cpl
Johnstone. Fortunately my luck was still sticking to me & they missed my
shellhole. While they were searching over the ground they were exposing
themselves to our coy in support (D Coy) who picked them off, so offering
our wounded some protection. That can be the only reason why they did
not visit my shellhole, otherwise I would have gone with the rest. The day
dragged on wearily. All the time shells were falling round about
and the ground being swept with machine gun fire. Being wounded in
the back I could not dress myself. I was in a helpless state & blood
was trickling down my back all day. After my shirt had soaked
through & would hold no more it must have eased up, so I laid on
my back trying to press the sides of the wound together & hoping to be
found by the patrol at night. During the day there were two light
showers of rain which freshened me up considerably, keeping me from
going right out from loss of blood. I had nothing to eat & only a little rain
water to drink all day to keep me together. Later in the day at 5pm. the
Germans counterattacked again. I could hear them coming & talking in
German, & as I had been lying in there from 5 a.m. & feeling myself fast
getting to weak to stand up if necessary I decided not to be taken
prisoner if I could help it; so I dragged myself over the side of the
shellhole to make my final dash. I could now see the Germans
advancing in open order, & I realised that I was well in front of our
Sam scottThis transcription item is now locked to you for editing. To release the lock either Save your changes or Cancel.
This lock will be automatically released after 60 minutes of inactivity.