Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/251/1 - 1915 - 1936 - Part 23

WOMAN'S BUDGET
JULY 17, 1920
"SAVING AMIENS"

Australia's Greatest Battle Picture
Showing the Charge at Villers-Bretonneux by the 9th Brigade on the
4th April, 1918, which is claimed to be the turning point of the War

3 DAY'S FREE ISPECTION
Illustration - see original document

"SAVING AMIENS"
(Painted by the great, War Artist, L. Matantia, R.I.)
The actual size of the picture is 26 x 18.

A copy of Saving Amiens" was presented

to General Monash, who described it as the

finest battle picture he had ever seen.

It depicts one of the most glorious incidents

in the history of the A.L.F. The Hun 

was within a few miles of Amiens. His Big

guns were bombarding Paris, and he, and all

the world, knew that the fall of Amiens could

only precede the fall of Parts by a short

time. It was the Allies blackest hour.

On the 4th of April, 1918, the 9th Australian

Brigade began their attack at Villers-Bretonneux

—the attack which Matania has so realistically 

presented, and the attack which

killed the Hun's hope, and started the last 

big retreat, which ended in his capitulation.
The painting shows certain episodes that
actually took place in the counterattack. A

Lewis-gun crew, having been put out of action,

an infantryman slung his rifle and worked 

the gun, while an unarmed Australian officer,

coming on three Germans, strangled

one with his bare hands, smashed the skull 

of the second with his tin hat, the third taking 

to his heels. He, however, did not succeed

in escaping, for at this moment the officer's 

batman, who is seen kneeling on the 

extreme left, picked off the man as he was 

attempting to jump down into the shelter of 

the railway cutting. The German machine 

gun on the bridge was blown up by a hand grenade.
The whole scene has been carefully reconstructed 

from all available official material,

and the personal narratives of exe-witnesses. 

All the topographical features shown will 

be recognised by these who fought through 

this desperate action. The little bridge, for  

instance, actually spans the railway line running

from Amiens and Villers-Bretonneux to 

Marcelcave, which is just visible in the distance.

At the moment depicted by the artist, 

the men were advancing towards this cutting, 

and the picture gives a very accurate idea of 

the number and positions of infantry when 

attacking.

It was felt that an event so important and 

an achievement so great should be perpetuated 

on canvas, as "Rorke's Drift" kept evergreen
the famous stand in the Zulu war. Accordingly, 

Matania, whose realistic war pictures
had been the talk of Europe, was commissioned 

to do the work. It was immediately
acclaimed his greatest success. Accurate in 

all its technical details, it has preserved the 

true atmosphere of the battlefield. But its 

appeal is not confined to soldiers. In the years 

to come, when the Australian children 

of to-day will want to visualise battles made 

famous by their fathers, it will be an invaluable

picture in every household.

The original painting was sold for £500. We

have been able to obtain a limited number of
reproductions, and these are now available 

for the Australian public. The actual size

of the picture is 26 x 18. printed in India tint

on finest quality board and well mounted,

measuring 34 x 24 over all.

The price has been fixed at a low figure, 

and as the supplies are limited orders will

be given preference as follows:—First, to Returned 

soldiers and their Wives; second, to 

Parents of Returned Solders; third, to relatives; 

and 4th, to the general public.

SEND NO MONEY

So confident are we that once you have an 

opportunity to see in your own home a copy

of this beautiful picture, and appreciate its

value, that we are willing to send it POST 

FREE FOR A 3 DAYS' FREE INSPECTION. 

Don't send any money. Merely post the coupon

or write a letter, and the picture will be 

sent you by return of post. All charges pre-paid

at our risk. If you are not entirely

satisfied, send it back at any time within 

three days after you receive it, and you owe 

us nothing. 

On the other hand, If you are pleased, as 

are, hundreds of others who have obtained a 

copy, send us £1/1/-, or four monthly instalments

of 5/6 each, in full payment. The

cash price is £1/1/-, and the price by instalments

£1/2/-.

You take no risk, and you have everything 

to gain, as the supply is limited, so POST 

THE COUPON NOW, before this remarkable 

offer is withdrawn. Address. The Sandford 

Fine Art Co., Dept. 32, 321 Pitt-st, Sydney.

PROSPECTUS SENT FREE

Free Examination Coupon

The Sandford Fine Art Co. Dept. 32.
221 Pitt-st., Sydney.

Please send me by return mall, POST FREE, _________________ copies of "Saving of 

Amiens" (unframed), If I am satisfied with the pictures, I promise to send £1/1/-
by return post or to pay FOUR MONTHLY INSTALMENTS OF 5/6 EACH. If
decide not to keep the pictures, 1 promise to return same in good order within

THREE DAYS.

NAME (Mr., Mrs.) ................................................................................................................................

Address in full .....................................................................................................................................

W.B. 17.7.20                                                          State ........................................................

 

July 17, 1920.     WOMAN'S BUDGET.       39   

Printed page from broadsheet newspaper -  see original document

H/N
Lieut. Sayer's 35thBn V/Bretonneux.
Sayers tells me that the picture of his slaying
a German or hatting him on the head with his helmet is
wrong. What happened was:
First He hit a German on I head w a Germans steel Helmet
SecondlyThen he strangled a second German.
The third ran off as the picture shows.
I think Sayers told me to he had forgotten to take
his own steel helmet with him.
The picture of course gives too much day light. It was
nearly dark, a dusk.
 

Note for March April 1918
June 80, 1931

BRAVE OFFICER: 36th BATYALION
By Joe Maxwell, V.C.
1 think that it is engendered by a spirit of esprit de
corps—an outstanding trait among units of the A.l.F.
—but most of us, in moments of refection, are apt to
recall only deeds of superb heroism connected solely
with the unit in which, individually, each one of us
served.
But a deed which has always
remained green in my memory,
and one that impels my sense of
chivalry to record it, was performed

by Captain J. E. W.
Bushelle, M.C., of the 36th Bat-
talion. My association with this
officer during his lifetime was of
less than an hour's duration; yet
his conduct during this short period,

 and the manner in which
he died, have impressed me more
than anything else that I can recall.
Photograph of Capt. Bushelle - see original document
During the retreat in March,
1918, the 3rd Division had been rushed to a position
in advance of Willers Bretonneux, and on April 6 our
battalion—the 18th—relieved a company of the 36th
Bn., of which Captain Bushelle was O.C. The front
line consisted of a series of pot-holes; and, in the
drizzling rain, Captain Bushelle, in effecting the relief,
led me from pot-hole to pot-hole. Once we stumbled
into a hole containing three very young and miserably

cold Tommies, who, mistaking us for the enemy,
"surrendered."
Daylight began to peep through the enveloping
drizzle and mist, and, assisted by the improving light,
snipers were decidedly active. Bushelle strolled about
quite unperturbed, and appeared oblivious to the
proximity of the many death-dealing missiles. Several
times I glanced at his face, which was quite impassive,
and, in the circumstances, I did not have the heart
to mention my fears. A bullet kicked up the dirt
at my feet, and I leapt about three feet in the air.
Bushelle merely smiled, and remarked, "Damnably
close, old man!"
"Too bloody close!" 1 earnestly replied, "but there
is one consolation, you are a far better target than l."
Bushelle, by the way, was a splendidly built fellow,
and must have stood over six feet in height. I had
hardly uttered the words when I heard a dull thud.
Bushelle staggered a few paces and fell on his face
A bullet had entered his side, travelled through his
body, and out through his box respirator. in a minute
he was dead.
After days in the trenches, and regardless of his
own personal comfort, this brave fellow had remained
behind after the relief had been effected, merely that
we should gain the benefit of his experience in this
particular sector, and to facilitate our knowledge of
the position in every way.
A few days later, a party of his men returned from
their rest billets, recovered his body, and laid it reverently

to rest in the little cemetery just behind the
village—a splendid token of the esteem in which he
was regarded by his men. This was my first and
only front line association with the 3rd Division, but
from that day I always regarded our compatriots of
the 3rd as worthy to uphold the traditions and fine
record of achievement so nobly portrayed in Captain
Bushelle.
 

C/o Wynn Roberts Lid.
14 Spring St.
Sydney
7th July 1932
Dr C.E.Bean
Victoria Barracks.
Paddington.
Dear Sir,
I notice in June issue of "Reveille"
a list of ex-members of A.I.F. with whom you are
anxious to get in touch. I am assuming that
your reason is to obtain information having a
bearing on the "Official History of the A.I.F" with which
you are busy.
Might I draw your attention to the
fact that Mr. AR Horwood late R.S.M 36th Battn.
& a personal friend of mine, is I believe in possession of
information regarding operations of this Batt. in April 1918
which might be of a good deal of value to you. when
it comes to the time for you so set down the events
of this particular period. I have many a time pressed
this gentleman to get into touch with you. but I believe
he has not yet done so. He has not been fortunate in
employment during the depression & probably has a lot
to occupy his time [[?]]. I know he would be only
 

to ready to give you all information he
posseses. if you were to get into touch with
him. As a matter of fact I have told him
I would report him to you. if he did not
get a move on, so your getting into touch
with him will not be altogether unexpected.
Mr Horwood is at Springdale Manning Rd. Killara
& is on the 'Phone.
Wishing you every success Sir. with the
very heavy tasks which still lay ahead
Yours faithfully
F.D. Cuddy
(late 412. 36th Btn)
But see Horwood's card.
He was reverted to Sergeant
by order of G.O.C. 3/5/18
 

7584.
 17 August 1932.
F.D. Cuddy, Esq.,
c/o Wynn Roberts, Ltd.,
14, Spring Street,
Sydney
Dear Sir,
I have to thank you for your letter regarding
Mr. Horwood, and for your interest in the Official History.
As I shall before long be dealing with the operations of
April 1918, I should be glad to receive any notes that he
could give me which have a bearing on them.
Yours faithfully,
C.E.W. Bean
Official Historian.
 

U.N.

V/B. 36Bn.
notes from acct written some months later by
RSN
F[[?]] AR Horwood RSM 36Bn. AP4 U/B
In morning B 'f'abbe' shelled in bursts- increasing.
Tps had to leave Btabbe. many cas^s
moved to w.end of wood.
              —————

Word, came Gs preparing to break thro'.
Noon:  Milve org^d move in ptns across open
Sofwood.
V. heavy going, carrg ammun & L.G. drums
over lately ploughed fld.
Abt 2pm bn halts near a chateau & moat.
Bn HQ w HQ of a RHA Bty in a small
chalk pit.
Intent - to supp 35 & small pty went
up to zero..
After 1½ hrs rest. expd att. had be launched
accompanied by a little arty fire, & in a very
[[?]] short time a no of disorgd Buffs came over
crest - some only w gas masks.
Sound of MGs showed go  asog.
Automatically (so far as H.cd see) the 36^th
drew bayonets & spread out along head of valley for C/a wh
they knew as a must follows, T asked retiring
His & wen to join in with them.
Abt 3.15 p.m  Milve arr from Bde, almost
breathless, & widly called for Coy cdrs at I double
 

2

& gave Iorder (wh Howd wrote down
soon after) to attack.
In a v. short time surplus overets
W PShals discarded & they went off over /
crest at a jg trot. The ground fog ws
in favour of surprise as you co see only 400^x.
Gs were reaching Chateau (Moat) & pom
its garden were fiirng a few shots on the
13 lbatteries to et of H.Q. Fired a few shots
at horse teams as these galloped up to
w wondeful alacrity & steadiness withdrew
1 guns.
Fs were A^bly surprd by 3 Corps
arty had ceased in th are as neither side
knew where tps were - a henceforth all
[[?]] & w.s.  on rt nigs- hidden in stacks
hampered adv. On l. reached posn pom
wh Buffs had returned. many heaps of
manuce an fwd - many men hit hiding
resting behind them
By 6 pm. had reached end of adv.
Twelve ws afraid of ammun running out.
∴ news u 5 G. wp were in good order & being used ws
necessay. Milve bates using his reserve Coy.
 

28/6/35  HW
Dr Bean

Capt, Coghill (35Bn) rang up this afternoon to
let you know something about the work of Dr Thomas,

then RMO, at VillersBretonneux — he forgot to tell

you this before.

Thomas, with his medical staff, had his

aid post right under the railway viaduct at V/B

and in between the Gernam onslaughts he was ordered to retire

because of the danger of being caught in a sudden onrush by the Germans.

Coghill told Thomas that while he (C) was out in front, Thomas