Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/251/1 - 1915 - 1936 - Part 27

IV
SITUATION:- 3.15 P.M 5.4.18
1 Coy
Diagram - see original document 

V
SITUATION:- 5.15 P.M 5.4.18
1 Coy
Diagram - see original document

VI
SITUATION:- 6.0 P.M 5.4.18
1 Coy
Diagram - see original document 

VII
SITUATION:- 10 P.M 5.4.18
1 Coy
Diagram - see original document  

VIII
SITUATION:- MIDNIGHT 6/7.4.18
& as handed over to 7^TH A.I. BDE.
1 Coy
Diagram - see original document  

89
10/A
Dear Charles -
Herewith notes
for you - a bit
rough.
FMC

"A" Form

Army Form C. 2121.
(in pads of 100.)
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS
No. of Message. . . . . . . 
 10/A

89

Dear Cutlack,
I am sending you the
first report as promised.
Naturally, I do not
want any reference made
outside our own Bgs, to
the actions of Lieut Thompson,
since Died of wounds. I
thought it better to send the
whole report, and mention
my wish rather than
delete any portion of it.
Yours sincerely,
Geo F. Murphy,
Lt Col.

The above may be forwarded as now corrected.      (Z)
...............................................................................................................       ............................................................................................................................     
Censor.     Signature of Addresser or person authorised to telegraph     
in his name.
* This line should be erased if not required.
 

10/A

89
From B-Genl Smith, ColxxMurphy 17/4/18 (Notes of F.M. Cutlack)
5th Bde went in night 5-6th. sth of Villers Bretonneax.
7/4/18 19th and 20th Bns attacked German (eastern) half of
Hangard wood. Attack was by two coys and one platoon of 20th
and one coy and two platoons of 19th.
At 4.55 attack started (a.m.) Got thro wood without
difficulty. They were held up for a while by two m.g. and a
large number of enemy on edge of wood in 17b. Two officers
and seven men all with bayonets got the enemy in flank. One
officer crawled up and shot the man at the nearest gun then
all nine rushed them. They killed a few and the rest surrendered
---three officers and thirty-nine men. These prisoners
were sent in. Our party no casualties.
The attack got 200yds beyond eastern edge oof wood
but the undergrowth and grass was xxx very dense and they
cd not get a field of fire. After they had bn out there
two hours they were ordred back to a posn half way thro the
wood where they had a better chance, but during the day the
Brig. decided that it was not worth the casualties the posn
xx wd cost to hold and at night the men were withdrawn to
our original line between the two halves of the wood---the 1
line of the road.
Estimated enemy left three hundred dead in xxxxxx
Hangard wood and abt 150 south of it. We took 3 off. 63 o.r.
prisoners and two or three m.g.
Bde came into line night of 5th with all 4 bns. in
line. This lasted till 9th. Then 9th Bde came in (see under).
On night 5th 20th bn had to fight its way into some of the
posts they were supposed to relieve. At one past gave over
a lewis gun to Huns thinking they were British, then fought
the Huns killed the lot before they cd get the gun back.
On 12th 9th Bde out again and 17th and 18th Bns came
in, in that order -N to S. 11th next the French at Hangard.
N. boundary brigade was somewhere near Monument S of Villers.
On night 12th Essex Bn (10th Essex) and French counterattacked
retook Hangard and dug in about cemetery and around Copse to
N. of Hangard.
From Col Murphy 18th Bn.
He gave me copy on one report and said he would send
me a later one. Two reports attached.
Only one man unwounded got back from Cemetery Copse
Sgt Bishop. Saw Sgt Bishop and he said ----
In front of Cemetery Copse was a hedge and about
150 of the enemy living along it under waterproof sheets ^asleep. They
bayonetted or capptured a the lot. also bombed and shot at
them. Then on about 150 yds to Copse itself. Lt Frewin with
a part went round right of copse, Lt Roye with another party
round left. Sgt himself with remainder of the 50, about 11 men,
went through the copse. nThe copse was full of Huns also just
starting up out of sleep. They also had all been under sheets
and tarpaulins. Shot and bombed a lot of them, impossible to
estimate how many in all for it was dark. Remaindr of Huns
ran away. Two m.g. captured in copse and one under the hedge.
When the Sgt came out from the copse on the other side he
found the two officers and their parties already waiting for
him.
This was about 4a.m. The Sgt soon afterwards was detailed
to go to the right and meet the French patrol. Went alone as
none of the men wd go with him volunteer to go with him.
At abt 150 yds struck a post. Called out---Is that you froggy?
Men in the post opened fire on him. Saw from their heads that
they were Huns. This was abt half way between copse and cemetery.
Went back and reported to Mr Frewin. With Frewin and
an orderly went back to meet ammunition party in the sunken
road. On return journey with these saw flares going up---
green flares,--from left rear of copse left rear of copse
(he probably meant right rear) Frewin thought they were French
but the Sgt was sure they were German and he turned out right

10/A

89
2 
Veered to the left and found Mr Maxwell but two hundred yards
further on ran into heavy M.G. fire and cd not proceed.
It was about this time, according to Col Murphy
that the copse was surrounded. (6.25 a.m.)
Lt Roye was brought in wounded from copse, foot shot
off by m.g. fire, but Frewin was with the others there. He
also was wounded.
Another party endeavoured to get to the copse and
succour the people in it but were unable to do reach it.
Saw the lad aged 19 who shammed dead all day near crossroads
(see Murphy's report).
At 2a.m. morning follg the attack he got up from his
furrow to get hom. Walked without knowing it in wrong drection
and went about 500 or 600 yds down NML and then jumped into
sunken road. Strange to him. Was seized by the arm by a Bosch
who called out to his mates and tried to get a spade to hit
him with. Had Mills bomb on his pocket but cd not pull
the pin out with his one free hand. Wrenched himself loose
and ran. Ran back along his tracks towards the poplars (where
the cross roads are). From there walked the other way and
eventually got into our own lines.
From Brig-Genl Rosenthal.
On 9/4/18 0 9th Bde took over from 5th and held line
till night 12th. Order N to S 34th, 36th, French. On 12th
enemy made strong attack and took Hangard. French on immediate
right wavered for a time but 36th told them to box on and put
out lewis guns to help them and they dug in. That night the
French retook the village for the second time.
From Capt Gadd 36th Bn. i/c right flank coy.
At 5.45 a.m. on 12th heavy barrage on Hangard and
our own forward area well mixed with smoke shell. Smoke completely
prevented view of our men 20 yds in front of posts.
7a.m. shelling more pronounced behind on support posns and
12 noon heavily shelled copse U29a and posts. French S.O.S.
at 6.15 a.m. 7a.m. smoke cleared and large numbers enemy seen
moving obliquely across our front towards Hangard. They were
coming from U18 direction and looked like a divisional parade
--- long columns of bunches of men. At one place they were only
200 or 300 yds from our line and so close that our line cd
not see then all at once owing to contours. Artillery got on
to them and cut hem about severely. Lewis guns and rifles
also. Only small parties of thirty or forty seemed to be
left for the attack and these were driven off easily. Main
attack was on Hangard not on our Bn.
French were driven back to west side of village.
At 8 a.m. French came asn and asked for assistance in covering
further retirement. There was a French officer and a Sgt
interpreter. The Sgt in charge of the nearest platoon replied
NNNNx ---No tell him he's got to box on with us. We will give
them a cheer." They cheered the French on and rushed out a 1
lewis gun to s. edge of copse in U29a and the French dug in
and stopped the German advance. Between 7 and 9.30 that same
night French and Essex Bn retook village and out to Cemetery.
FMC

ACACIA AVENUE
LEETON
15.8.33.
Dear Bean,
First allow me to congratulate you
on your excellent volumes on the war,
Second - To enquire after your health,
Have you still the bullet in your thigh.
Third - I am enclosing a few notes
on the 9^th Brigades effort at Villers-Brett:
I gave the notes to a friend (ex AIF)
to type for me – he has coloured them
a little, so overlook any little
eccentricities. I notice he goes into raptures
over the MO's & Amc
There is a Sgt woods here who was with
the 35^th Battalion in Villers-Brettonneux.