Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/252/1 - 1918 - 1935 - Part 2

(2)
Two of them - playing in the square. The old M.C.C
Monday night band concerts were not in it.
Then Fritz started to drench the place every
night with gas shells; & Neil, who had fought in the
South African war & on the Peninsula with the
10^th Light Horse prophesied another big drive on our
front. This went on night after night, & Armentieres
reeked of the stuff - the troops billeted there suffering
severely; particularly a kilted regiment. The place seemed
full of gasping - blinded poor devils.
Then the 2^nd Division A.I.F - which had been in
rest behind us was moved South & shortly after the 
storm broke.
We heard the drum fire all night on the 7^th/8^th to
the South of us; & next morning Neil took the first
relief to Houplines as usual - I was pottering about
with reports when from my ^the second story window -
I saw the "silent" guns firing - not in the direction
in which they had been laid originally - but back
over our heads - a turn of 180^o.
This woke me up & I got in touch with the
C.R.E. by phone - & didn't I catch it. "Not 'arf"! "What
was I doing there"? "Why had I not reported to a
certain Bgde "9" &c &c" - suitably embellished. When
the gentleman (Temporary I hope - for his language
was certainly not that of a lady) stopped for breath
I explained that I had received no orders & in a very
meek voice asked "Please what shall I do?" Was told
to report with the section to a Bgde - either 101^st-2^nd-
or 3^rd - not sure which now - at Ercquinghem.
Sent a runner to Neil at Houplines with the order
& went to collect the other reliefs. While on my way to
the billets saw some M.G's building a sandbag
bay for their gun to command the bridge. Took
 

-3-
the M.G corporal - showed him the Champagne emplacement
& suggested using it. "Cant do it without orders Sir." "Where's
your officer"? "Don't know Sir"! After wasting precious
time trying to find him thought I'd better get on with
my own job. {Inter Alia - there had been a divisional
change & the new division apparently knew nothing
of these emplacements, (which commanded a wonderful
field of fire & ^^which only direct hits from heavy stuff could have
damaged) for they were never manned.}
Had had the men fallen, with iron rations, "the unexpended
portion &c &c," & all the ammunition we could scrounge
when M^r Campbell arrived - ordered me to take the
men to Erquinghem by the back road while he went
there on his motor bike by the road thro' Armentieres.
Erquinhem, at ^until this time, had been a neutral town
never shelled & not gassed. But that had passed. When
we got there Fritz was giving it merry Hell - pasting it
with all he had - houses burning - walls leaping at you
& thro' it all the unfortunate civilians trying to save
themselves & their possessions. Dead Civilians - Tommies -
horses - dogs all over the place. Poor Erquinhem - it
paid dearly for its long respite.
We got as far as the church without a casualty
& there met M^r Campbell - who told us Bgde knew
nothing about us & to report to the other Bgde in the
jute factory at Pont Nieppe. So "Bout Turn" & back
thro' the turmoil again. Again unscathed. The Devil
looked after his own that day. 
By the way - One of the Bgdes of this division
had been wiped out completely in the Cambrai stunt.
We reported to the other Bgde Hdqrs in the Jute
factory at P^t Nieppe & were told that they knew nothing
about us & to report back again to the other Bgde. We
decided that all this was rather silly & to have a meal. 

4.
After the meal Neil again went in to E. with a runner
a reported & they - still denying all knowledge of us - decided
to use us. So I look the section into E. again & found
Bgde Hdqrs in the church cellars. Things were much
quieter now - about 8 p.m. or 20 hrs army time.
After some delay were ordered to report to a Major Jackson
(a South Australian) who had a battalion of "cooks &
batmen" somewhere up the road.
We set off & eventually found them - by accidentally
stepping on one of the party. Neil had lost the sight
of one eye some time previous - & was rather blind
in the night. Were ordered to occupy some "pot"
holes on the flank of the battalion & did so.
The night of the 8^th 9^th passed quietly - we had
been told that we were occuping reserve line trenches.
Dawn broke - verry foggy & we found that our "pot"
holes formed a line at an acute angle with the rest
of the battalion & facing right rear. Something like
this
Hand Drawn Diagram - see original document

Old Front

3rd A.T.C Pot Holes Railway Hedge

House

Guns

Diurection of Fritz's Movement

River Lys.
As morning went on parties of Fritzies began to drift across
our front from left to right & some went into the house.
M^r Campbell had been made a Company commander &

5
& gone back to a position in our rear. I got anxious
as to the position between ourselves & the river - & took
a walk in that direction to find if there were
any troops on our right. While doing so a Fritz loomed
out of the mist strolling along with his rifle slung
over one shoulder & metaphorically speaking, his hands
in his pockets. Waited till he got fairly close & then
"Hands Up"! Puckaroed With lightning rapidity
he threw his rifle one way - his hat another & shot up
his hands.  Puckaroed him & sent him back with
a runner & note about the gap - to M^r Campbell.
Fritz then started to move towards us - but
we drove him back to the trees with rifle fire. After
some time the gap was filled by a batt. of Royal Scots
which had severe casualties before they got into the
prone position on our right
M^r Campbell then appeared & we discussed the value
of an attack on Fritz - to temporarily hold him up &
cause confusion. He was moving very cautiously &
had as little idea of the general position as we had.
M^r Campbell then left & shortly after - a batt. of
Suffolks - the 11^th I think came up & occupied a position
parallel to the Rly line. Unfortunately by this time Fritz
had brought a couple of guns to the position shown -
& they blew the poor devils to hell in no time  Why they
didn't move through 90^o - I know not. - for when the
guns turned their attention to us they got shorts & overs
but not a direct hit.
A sniper in the house had made my possy in
a hole too hot & after he had flicked the cover of my
wrist watch with one shot & plonked one into the
parapet (sic) in front of my dial - decided he had the
bracket; so got out, & made a moving target of
myself up & down behind the holes.

6.
Whilst so doing a runner came with an order - to evacuate
the position at 6 oclock & report to Jesus Farm. This was
addressed to M^r Campbell - but in his absence I opened
it - it was signed by Major Jackson. As I was reading
it - someone said there's M^r Campbell now - so took
it over to him - he read it & said in a doubtful tone
"I wonder if this is right - You hang on here & I'll go &
see about it"  He seemed to doubt the authenticity
of the order.
Fritz started to make a move from the trees. I went
back to the men - as I reached them a shell burst near
him & his batman Nunn-Pendle who was near me
said "He's down - No! He's up again." We then turned
our attention to Fritz. From that moment to this - Nothing
has been seen or heard of one of the finest Australians
that ever trod shoe leather. A gentle-man!
Fritz move came to “nought” as the Northcountry
man says & we waited for 6 oclock.
Six oclock came & the Suffolks & Scots retired as per
the order - & Fritz came also- in hordes. Pursuant to
M^r Campbell's order - I tried to hold my chaps - but
they started to drift off - till I found myself kneeling
behind a hole containing Corpl Smitheram & 3 men
When Fritz was about 100 yds away - Smitheram
suggested in good Diggerese that it was no place
for us - So we legged it - I was last out of the holes.
but not last home. It was then that poor old
Eugene O'Neill got his - shot thro' the head. Fritz shooting
was very wild - he should have got the lot.
We beat it to Erquinhem, collected the men sent
them across the river under Corpl Barsby & then my
batmen & I set out to look for Neil Campbell. As we
turned the comer of the street in which was Battalion
Hdqrs. - found Fritz had a M.G at the other end. 

7.
managed to get opposite Hdqrs - by dodging from doorway
to doorway - then left Ashford in a door & dashed across
the road & into the house - Nobody there. Came out &
repeated the dose - this time in the opposite direction.
Joined the section across the river by a pontoon bdge
just got across when Fritz lobbed two - one on the
bridge & one just at my tail - luckily the wind was
soft & all & I got was knocked over & covered with
stinking mud.
Reported to Jesus farm - to the 12^th Suffolks commanded
by L^t Col Lemeul Lloyd (an Australian) - a regular. He took
us under his wing & we formed his left flank at Wigan
Post. Sent an outlying picket down to the river to
keep an eye on Fritz - then had a wander along the
trench to our left- went about 300 yds & no sound
or sight of a soul - Reported to Lloyd - who ordered
me to build a block about 100 yds away & man it.
While doing so heard men coming along it -
challenged & found them to be Tommies. Reported to Lloyd
who ordered me to go down & withdraw the picket - did so.
Got back to get the news that the troops on
the left had dissappeared again. Reported this & went on
with the block. We stayed here some time till about
midnight - some of the lads sneaked off & souvenired
the Farm - my share was two raw eggs.
At midnight moved off in column - ourselves at
the rear. Marched till about three when we halted at
a village & ate someone's dinner - the first meal since
3 oclock the da on the 8^th. Rested an hour & off again
till daylight when we came to a village "Trois something
or other."
Here we wered ordered to dig a trench facing
N.E. - just got it finished when we were pulled out
& marched in a N.W direction towards a wood in

8
was old Fritz. The 12^th Suffolks went over in three
lines in open order - ourselves forming the third line.
The first lines got it in the neck - both officers becoming
casualties as well as most of the men
We took up a position in a fold of the ground
on the Right of a sunken road & facing the wood.
A party of (mainly) S.W.B's were on the left of the road
& nothing on our right. We stayed here all day &
managed by burst of rapid fire to keep Fritz from
debouching from the wood
A curious thing, which I cannot esplain, happend
here. First - 5 or 6 of "Our("?) black planes came
over very low & opened fire on us. When they had been
gone some time one of the same flight (apparently)
came back about 50 feet up - cut off his engine &
shouted something which I couldn't catch to me.
Circled round & repeated the call. Why he didn't
write a message & wrap it round a cartridge case
& drop it I do not know.
During the afternoon the men on our left - having
lost their officers started to drift off down the
sunken road - to be met by the S.M. - a real rip
roaring old army S.M. - & sent back to me - with
sundry fleas in their ears - so by about 4 oclock I
had the best part of a battalion lining the ridge
Lt Col Lloyd came to me just before dusk &
said that at dusk we were to retire thro' the 20^th
(or 29^th) Division. I suggested that I let the strangers
go first under their N.CO's & keep my lads as a
covering force. He agreed. & at the appointed time
I shooed them off - my chaps meanwhile keeping a
brisk fire on the wood. At "Two blasts of the whistle"
our turn came & we retired in open order - the lads
played up. & made it a real drill book movement

9.
keeping their alignment & distance like real soldiers. Lloyd
was as pleased as a dog with a tin tail - & gave us
the post of honour as rear platoon of the rear battalion
We marched all that night & a queer march it
was; sometimes on a road, sometimes on a lake,
(I have an idea that we crossed a corner of Belgium)
Fritz very lights going up on either side of us. -
at one stage we halted & lined both sides of the
road waiting for the attack which came not.
Eventually we came to Strazeele & there Col. Lloyd
told me to break off with my party & report to the
1^st Div. A.I.F at Borré. We set off back to Borré -
passed the 4^th Bgde of Guards going in to their
historic fight in Nieppe Foret - & the first person
wet met was the G.O.C. Division himself. - "Hookey"
Walker.
"Who are you"? sez 'e. "3^rd Aust. Tunnelling Co." sez I
"Never heard of you - what can I do for you"? Realising,
that at last we were with the A.I.F. & "Bulsh" being
the order of the day - "Rations & Ammunition" sez I.
(What we really wanted was a single ticket out of
it.) He handed us over to a staff major who attached
us to the 1^st. T.M. Battery - the first troops to come in.
We lay in reserve with them all night - listening to the
dogfight the Guards were putting up in the wood. Next
day we were transferred to the 1^st Field Co. Engrs & were
employed for the next six or seven days mining the
cross roads of the area.
We were then sent back to our own company & got
there just in time to meet Fritz's attack on the 51^st
& 53^rd Divs at Givenchy.
For his conduct in this affair - my senior N.C.O.
Corporal Barsby got the M.M.
JD.

9304.

2 July 1935.

J. Dow, Esq.,
305, Argent Street,
Broken Hill, N.S.W.
Dear Mr. Dow,

I am most obliged to you for your long and
interesting account of the fighting at Erquinghem and later.
In connection with the capture of that German, you must
have recommended three of your men - Sappers Muir, Watson,
and Nunn-Pendle - and not mentioned your own part in the
incident. I take it that you took them out on patrol.
I had mentioned the capture in the draft chapter, and would
be grateful if you would confirm this.

Your additional matter is very helpful.

Yours faithfully,

C.E.W. Bean.

106.
shelling the Loupart road, and Caldwell, while restoring order
among the scattered troops there and organising along the road-bank
a defence by the 26th and 27th, was killed.¹²⁸ Lieutenant
Lampard,¹²⁹ however, held the road-bank while Davies with a couple
of N.C.O's¹³⁰ and a "scratch" bombing party seized 300 yards of the
trench, Including three Ge rman posts, and, at the intersection of
Loos Cut, waited for daylight to make plain the position of the
5th Brigade.
That brigade earlier in the night had, by a well planned
stroke, captured 500 yards of Layton Alley. At 9.48, while the
enemy's position in the alley was being bombarded by trench-mortars,
and frontally attacked by bombers fr  of the 17th und[er]
Sergeant Pearson,¹³¹ another party of that battalion was led by
Lieutenant Lyons quietly across the open from the Bapaume road
under cover of mist, and entered the alley 150 yards farther
north, in rear of its garrison. The Germans, who heard this
¹²⁸The same shell killed Lieut. A.O. Lucas (of Adelaide).
¹²⁹Lieut. V.W. Lampard, M.C.; 27th Bn. Grocer; of Thebarton,
S.Aust.; b. Bowden, S.Aust., 1896. Killed in action, 2 Sept. 1918.
¹³⁰One was Sergeant J. Lockwood (of , S.Aust.), the
other "a fierce looking N.C.0." who, with a revolver in each hand,
led the bombing party.
¹³¹Sgt. H.J. Pearson (No. 661; 17th Bn.).    ; of
 , N.S.W.; b.
party approaching, but imagined that it was their own relief,
quickly bombed into surrender. The enemy farther up Malt Trench
made two attempts to regain the lost sector, but were driven off
by Lewis gun fire and were presently suppressed by the 7th
Brigade's attack, leaving the 17th Battalion to dig its advanced
posts in line with those of the 7th Brigade and with its own new
barricade in Layton Alley.
Thus before daylight Malt Trench had been captured except for
a short section on each flank of the 7th Brigade. The fog lay
thick, and a counter-attack was every moment expected. At 5.30,
just before dawn, a remarkably heavy barrage fell on the extreme
right and drove in two of the new posts of the 5th Brigade beside