Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/251/1 - 1915 - 1936 - Part 32

TELEPHONE Nos.
F 2597.
F 2598.
COMMUNICATIONS TO BE ADDRESSED TO
"THE DIRECTOR."
IN REPLY PLEASE QUOTE
NO.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.
"They gave their lives. For that public gift
they received a praise which never ages and a
tomb most glorious - not so much the tomb in
which they lie, but that in which their fame
survives, to be remembered for ever when
occasion comes for word or deed. . . . . ."
TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS
"AUSWARMUSE."
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL.,
POST OFFICE BOX 214 D.
EXHIBITION BUILDINGS, MELBOURNE.
12th June, 1935.
Dear Mr. Bazley,
Further to my letter of 27th May relative to the
Australian casualties along the front of the German offensive
during the period 21st March to 5th April, 1918, a statement
compiled by Mr. Keage and checked by Mr. McAllan, furnishing
the desired particulars, is now enclosed. As in the case of
the figures for the Third Battle of Ypres which were compiled
on a previous occasion for a purpose connected with the History,
the figures for the present statement have been extracted from
the Third Echelon records in Mr. Withers's possession. By
referring to a report on the subject of the casualties of the
Third Battle of Ypres attached to our letter of 15th March, 1933.
you will find that after careful consideration we arrived at
the conclusion that the statistics compiled by the staff of 3rd
Echelon must be accepted as being reliable. As advised in
the report mentioned, the 3rd Echelon figures, although compiled
mainly from Part II orders, were corrected from time to time as
information came to hand in hospital reports, etc., care
apparently being exercised to avoid duplication.
In compiling the statement, Mr. Keage has worked on
the basis that as soon as an Australian unit arrived in the
Third or Fifth Army areas, it was within the radius of the
German offensive, and any casualties occurring subsequently
have been included.
We are sending you only a summary of the information
which has been extracted. The statement was, of course,
compiled on a battalion or unit basis, and should detailed
figures be required for purposes of checking, we shall be
pleased to send them to you.
Yours sincerely,
[?????]
Mr. A. W. Bazley,
c/o Official Historian,
Victoria Barracks,
PADDINGTON. N.S.WALES. 

TELEPHONE Nos.
F 2597.
F 2598.
COMMUNICATIONS TO BE ADDRESSED TO
"THE DIRECTOR."
IN REPLY PLEASE QUOTE
NO 12/3/49.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.
"They gave their lives. For that public gift
they received a praise which never ages and a
tomb most glorious - not so much the tomb in
which they lie, but that in which their fame
survives, to be remembered for ever when
occasion comes for word or deed. . . . . ."
TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS
"AUSWARMUSE."
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL.,
POST OFFICE BOX 214 D.
EXHIBITION BUILDINGS, MELBOURNE.
4th July, 1935.
Dear Mr. Bazley,
When speaking to Dr. Bean during my recent visit to
Sydney about the casualties suffered by the Australians along
the front of the German offensive during the period 21st March
to 5th April, 1918, he asked me to let him have the detailed
figures for the battalions of the 4th, 9th, 12th and 13th
Brigades for 5th April. A statement furnishing this
information is enclosed. It will be noted that in his
enthusiasm Mr. Keage has, in addition to the Brigades mentioned
by Dr. Bean, supplied the casualties of the 10th and 11th
Brigades.
Dr. Bean raised the question of the possibility of
casualties occurring, say, on 5th April being included, owing
to delay in reporting them or to other causes, in the 3rd
Echelon figures for 6th April. Doubtless casualties were
occasionally recorded as occurring on the day following that
on which they were suffered, but it is thought that these would
be few in number. That there is justification for this
assumption will be apparent from the abovementioned statement,
in which we have included the figures for the 6th in addition
to those for 5th April. These figures make it clear that with
the possible exception of the 45th and 48th Battalions there
was no serious overlap on the 6th as the casualties occurring
on that date do not exceed the normal casualties of units not
actively engaged. The figures for the 45th and 48th
Battalions for 6th April are respectively fourteen killed and
four wounded and two killed and thirteen missing. The figures
are rather unusual for units which, although in the line for
part of the time, did not report any fighting, and it is likely
that some of these casualties may have occurred on 5th April.
Dr. Bean also enquired if wounded who remained on
duty were included in the 3rd Echelon figures. Mr. Withers
informs me that it was the practice to include these men, and
he assures me that we can rely on the 3rd Echelon figures
covering all casualties whether these were evacuated or not.
When speaking to you in Sydney recently, you requested
that two further copies of the statement attached to my letter
of 12th June should be furnished to you. These additional
copies are now enclosed herewith.
Yours sincerely,
[????]
Mr. A. W. Bazley,
c/o Official Historian,
Victoria Barracks
PADDINGTON. N.S.WALES. 

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