Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/251/1 - 1915 - 1936 - Part 30

HN.
5th M.G. Coy at Hangard Wood.
82 Consett St.,
Concord West.
31st July 1935.
Capt. C.E.W. Bean
Official Historian,
Victoria Barracks, N.S W
Dear Capt. Bean,
With reference to your N^o9259
of 10th June, enquiring for recollections of the late
Lieut. Coolahan and fighting round Hangard
Wood, I am sorry that I have been unable
to supply the information earlier.
My personal recollection of that stunt are
rather hazy as I collected a "blighty" in
the head on the 15th May.
However, through courtesy of Capt. R.B. Ramage
of the Aust. Tank. Corps, who is hon. secretary of the
2nd Aust. M G. Bn. Association and who got in
touch with some of the members of Mr Coolahan's
gun crew at that time, I am enclosing extracts
from their replies, giving the salient features of
their information.
Should you require to enlarge on these
or to obtain any other statements. the
addresses of Heath & Ryan, mentioned in the statements

2
are respectively Afforestation Camp, Glen Innes, N S.W.
and c/o Bundeman Station Trangie. N.S W.
I might add that during rather disconnected
actions, such as the Hangard Wood stunt, our
sections were usually detailed, one to each battalion
of the brigade, to work under the C.O. of that Bn.
This was found to be the most effective way of
using the Vickers Guns and under such circumstances
the O.C. of the M.G Coy. had little to do with the
tactical movements of the guns.
Steve Coolahan was one of my best officers and
I would like to discount Cpl. Noble's remarks
about his inexperience as on all previous
occasions his handling of his guns was all
that could be desired
The 5th M.G Coy has not enjoyed much
publicity in any published histories of the A.I.F.
actions and in fairness to its ex-members
I would like to see it mentioned more
frequently. A better set of soldiers didn't
exist in the A.I.F. Their 'esprit de corps" is
evidenced by their muster on Anzac Day
and at their reunions. Their V.C. and other
decorations speak for themselves. They invariably
did their job and did it well. Usually they

3
were dotted along the line in small gun crews whose
actions were not spectacular but effective and were
not brought to the notice of Bn. or Brigade commanders
many a brave piece of work. going unrewarded
Any information you would like on
any action can be supplied by either Capt R B
Ramage (23 Macquarie Place, BW 5050) who was
orderley room corporal in the 5th A.MG Coy. or
myself UM7492.
Again expressing sorrow for the delay in
supply you with the desired information which
I hope will be of service to you. and hoping
you can see your way clear to give the
5^th Coy some of the mention it deserves
Yours faithfully.
R Hamilton
late O.C. 5th A.M.G Coy.
Enclosures.
2. Statements by Corp. J Coy
& Corp. J Noble.

TELEPHONE
K 332
Villers Bret,
Lurline Street,
Katoomba
26^th April 1935
Captain C.E.W. Bean
Victoria Barracks
Paddington N.S W.
Dear Captain Bean,
In reply to your
letter of the 17th April 1935 No. 9203
I certainly took the reserve Company
in at 'Villers Bret' and to make
Certain of this at yesterdays march
I had a check up with R.S.M.
Horwood who I understand made
the statement that Doig was in charge.
I might mention that I am still holding
the map of this sector with our positions
marked thereon.
Yours faithfully
Richard Gadd

9203.
17 April 1935.
Captain R. Gadd,
"Wodonga",
Coomonderry Street,
Katoomba, N.S.W.
Dear Captain Gadd,
I am finishing the chapter of the Official
History dealing with Villers-Bretonneux, 4 April 1918.
According to one account, Captain Doig was in charge of
the reserve company when Colonel Milne gave his first order,
but the records indicate that you took the company in.  I
should be grateful if you could help me with any light on
this little tangle.
Yours faithfully,
C.E.W. Bean
Official Historian.

Minutes (continued):-    3.
by advancing money to park or playground trustees who were short of
money with which to improve their grounds.  The question at issue was
whether commercial sport or sport played by the lovers of it should
have the official encouragement of the State.  After discussion, it was
agreed that the Hon. Secretary should write to the Minister putting
forward these considerations and urging that the interests of amateur
sport should be safeguarded.
382.  Representative on Committee of Youth Movements for Leadership
Training.  In conformity with a request from the Secretary of this
Committee, Miss Muriel Swain was appointed as representative of the
Movement, with Mr. E.W. Herbert as second delegate if necessary.
The meeting terminated at 6.30 p.m.
A.W. Green, Esq.,
5 Julia Street,
Ashfield, N.S.W.
Hon. General Secretary,
Amateur Athletic Association
of N.S.Wales,
c/o Y.M.C.A.,
325 Pitt Street,
Sydney.
Hon. Secretary,
Metropolitan Hockey Association,
c/o Sydney Press Club,
5 Hamilton Street,
Sydney.
Hon. Secretary,
Federation of Parents & Citizens
Associations of N.S.Wales,
c/o A.S. Gerrand, Esq.,
Assembly Hall,
Wynyard Square, SYDNEY.
Mrs. L.M. Middleton,
Hon. Secretary,
The N.S.W. Federation of Mothers'
Clubs for Infants Schools,
"Leithcote",
Hanover Street, ROZELLE, NSW.
Secretary,
National roads & Motorists
Association,
3 Spring Street, SYDNEY.
Miss Rita Jones,
Hon. Secretary,
NSW Women's Baseball Association,
21 Wollongong Road,
ARNCLIFFE, NSW.
Miss Lorna M. Ellis,
Hon. Secretary,
NSW Women's Rowing Association,
c/o Messrs. Copeman, Lamont,
& Keesing,
70-72 King Street,
SYDNEY.
Miss M. Hayward,
Hon. Secretary,
NSW Women's Basket Ball Association,
51 Redmyre Road,
STRATHFIELD, NSW.
Miss Pearl M. Giffin,
778 Pacific Highway,
GORDON, N.S.W.
Miss D. Dobbin,
Hon. Secretary,
Naturalists Society of N.S.W.
Box 2178 LL, G.P.O.,
SYDNEY.
Hon. Secretary,
Wild Life Preservation Society,
Science House,
Gloucester Street, SYDNEY.
P. Keddy, Esq.,
Hon. Secretary,
Maroubra Junction Progress Assn.,
99 Gale Road, MAROUBRA, NSW.
Miss Ethel Mallarky,
Teachers' Training College,
University Grounds,
NEWTOWN, N.S.W.

Statement by Pte. (later Cpl.) J. Coy.
I was a member of a gun team under Lieut. Coolahan/at Hangard Wood,
the other members being Cpl. Noble, Ptes. Heath, Ryan, Meadows and
Callaghan. Capt. ? Porter of C. Company of the 20th. Battalion advised
Coolahan at Midnight on April 6/7th. that his company was to attack
Hangard Wood at 4.30. in the morning and that Mr. Coolahan with one
gun was to advance in rear of the attacking wave. Should the attack be
successful he was to select a position, consolidate the position and
be in a position to deal with any counter attack. The general impression
was that the attack was sure to fail as the Infantry had to advance over
800 yards of open country without any cover with the German holding
Hangard Wood in force.  We were to have 30 minutes barrage from the
French 75S, which however did not come off.  Instead Fritz opened with
Machine guns, of which he appeared to have unlimited numbers, just as
we hopped off.  Mr. Coolahan instructed Cpl. Noble to endeavour to bring
the gun up to a position about 50 yards from the edge of the wood and
after instructing that the gun was to advance in rear of the Infantry
attack went forward in company with the runner Callaghan, advising
that he would select a gun position and send the runner back to bring
the gun team up.  We reached the laying up position and remained there.
As daylight increased we saw that the Infantry had failed to reach
the objective and had apparently been wiped out for, with the exception
of walking wounded and others lying about, there was no sign of the
20th. Bn. while the Fritz were clearly visible on the edge of the Wood
while on a road at the rear large bodies of enemy could be seen making
their way forward to reinforce.  Then Callaghan appeared to come from
the back of the enemy at the right of the Wood and Noble went forward
to meet him.  Callaghan reported that Mr. Coolahan was lying out badly
wounded and had sent him back to bring Noble up to him.  Noble later
came back wounded and advised us that Callaghan had been killed while
he himself was wounded.  He then ordered us to get back to our jumping
off position and remount the gun in anticipation of a counter attack.
Pte. Heath then took charge and on reaching our old position
reported to Major McDonald (Bluey) who advised that the action taken
was the only one possible as C. Company had been wiped out and the
attack a failure.  Later Major McDonald sent over word that Mr. Coolahan
had been reported as having been sent out wounded.  We came to the conclusion that some of the 20th. had picked him up.  That night a small party
of C. Company under a L/Cpl. reached our lines.  They had reached an
enemy outpost and held on all day and apparently were the only ones to
get anywhere that day.  They were attacked several times during the day
but managed to hold the Fritz off with bombs and rifle fire.  Each time
theeenemy attacked we managed to get in some good shooting at them.
Lieut. J. Carmichael came up and took charge of the gun during the
evening of the 7th.
During early May , while at Esbart I think, word came back that
Mr. Coolahan was missing and an inquiry was held at Battalion Hd. Qrs.
when evidence was taken by Mr. Dunningham, I think) from Heath, Ryan
and myself.  Later we were advised that Mr. Coolahan had died of wounds
while a prisoner of war and had been buried at Valenciennes.
No. 322 Cpl. T.J.Coy.
Enlisted 18. 3.1916.
Machine Gun Corps reinforcements.
Now residing at Bendick Murrell N.S.W.

Statement by Cpl. James NOBLE.
I was the Corporal in charge of a gun of the 5th. Machine Gun
Company (2nd. M.G.Bn.) under Lieut. S. Coolahan from April 5th. 1918
to April 7th. 1918 during th Hangard Wood operations.
On the night of the 6th. April Lieut. Coolahan ordered me to go
out with him to investigate a haystack which was on our right.  On the
way I discovered two young Germans in a shell hole who where later
handed over to Section Hd. Qrs.
On the morning of the 7th. Coolahan instructed me to detail a
Runner as he desired to investigate a position on the edge of the Wood.
I detailed a man by the name of Callegan or some similar name.
On reaching within about 50 yards of the objective Mr. Coolahan
was wounded and instructed Callegan to bring me up to him.. On reaching
Mr. Coolahan I was under the impression that he was dead.  I was then
wounded through the right wrist and in company with Callegan made my
way back to the gun position.  Almost immediately Callegan was killed.
On reaching the gun I was bandaged by Pte. T. Heath and reported to
the C.C.S.
Hangard Wood was a hornets nest andwe could see the Germans massing
for two days.  I reported this on many occasions to Mr. Coolahan.
In my opinion Coolahan was very game but inexperienced and his
rashness was responsible for him losing his life.
Cpl. J. Noble.
enlisted 30. 5.1915.
embarked 6. 6.1915. H.M.A.T. Kanowna. with 2nd. Reinforcements. 20th.Bn
Now residing 17 Gunnedah Street,
Sunshine Victoria.

9251.
4 June 1935.
Captain V.B. Portman, M.C.,
Arkell Road,
Mount Reakill,
Auckland, New Zealand.
Dear Captain Portman,
I have been writing for the Official History the
account of the fighting on 7 April 1918 at Hangard Wood, but
am much troubled for lack of any sufficient record.  I see
that you were the only officer eventually left, and would
be grateful notes of any recollections that you could give me.
Was it xxxxxxx Major McDonald's company that attacked?
If you could tell me when and how the other officers were hit,
it would also be of much assistance.  I understand that
Coolahan of the 5th Machine Gun company was wounded and
captured.  Did you see him?
The chapter will shortly be finished, and I should be
greatly obliged if you could find time to write to me at an
early date.
Yours faithfully,
C.E.W. Bean
Official Historian.

14.
consolidate, 852-5, 856, 857, gains second objective, 859-61,
consolidates line by system of posts, 866-7, Ger. c/attack
fails, 868, casualties, 876n, Ger. account,872; Battles of
Passchendaele, 901, 934, to raid Celtic Wood, 9 Oct., 885,
raid fails, 899-900, relieves 4 Divn., 24 Oct., 932, 12 Oct.
26 Oct. attack,  ;  total casualties, 1917, 684n; see
also 1st 1st, 2nd, 3rd Inf. Bdes. (below)
--2ND DIVISION, 19n, 22n, 60, 62, 63, 64, 66, 67, 75n, 78, 96,
128n, 256, 414, 416, 417, 562, 731, 734, 735, 947; Gen. Smyth
commands, 24-5; on Somme: to capture Butte de Warlencourt, 26;
5 Divn. relieves, Jan., 27n; Gellibrand commands, 24 Feb.,
72; its role, 25 Feb., 77; to attack Malt Tr., 89; established
task in Loupart Wood attack, 98, establishes posts on Loupart
bastion, 105; approaches R.I. line, 2 Mar., 112; extends line,
112; to attack R.I. line, 115; Smyth resumes command, 4 Mar.,
115n; xxxing advances beyond R.I. line, 12-13 Mar., 117;
patrols encircle Grevillers and approach Bapaume, 13-17 Mar.,
119; during Ger. retreat to Hindenburg line, 17 Mar., 132x
132; advance held up, by m.g's, 152;
proposal for offensive by, overruled, 123, 133; forms advanced
under Gellibrand,
guard,/17 Mar.,152, composition, 152; progress of Gellibrand's
column, 161, 162, 163, 164, 166n, 173, x174-7, occupies
Favreuil, Sapignies, Bougnatre,12 Mar., 174^Vaulx-Vraucourt, 18 Mar., 174, 175 German dispositions,
17-18 Mar., 175, captures Vaulx-Vraucourt, 12 Mar attacks
Noreuil and Lagnicourt, 20 Mar., 178-88, 7 Bde. relieves, 20-21
Mar., 188; 4 Divn. relieves, 208; relieves 4 Divn., 13 Apr.,
360; Germans break through its posts near Noreuil, 15 Apr.,
364-5, 374, 376, 379-81, 382, 384-7, 390-2, Ger. account,
398-9, casualties, 393n; Second Bullecourt, Bullecourt:  plans,
413, 420-5, 428, arty. allotted to, 414n, 2nd Bde. attached to,
414, 430, preparations, 415, 419, 420, 425-6, 429-30,
additional m.g's, 422, 1st Bde. attached to, 430, the attack,
3 May, 433-46, 453, difficulties in maintaining supplies, 473-6,
5 and 7 Bdes. withdraw, 480-1, 6 Bde. holds on, 482-6 487,
1 Bde. relieves 6 Bde., 487, maintains advanced sector, 507,
5 Div. relieves 8-9 Mayxx May, 527, casualties, 543n; in