Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/252/1 - 1918 - 1935 - Part 6

64
certainally badly enfiladed during most of the day
by rifle fire from Gutzes farm, but we did not
withdraw to the main line until most of my
platoon had been either killed or wounded.   It
was late in the afternoon;  about dusk as far
as I can remember.
I can verify that part of your
extract dealing with Corporal Turveys statement.
For a while I was observing from the top of the
ridge in front of my post, but from a position
further to the left than where Turvey was in
Gutzes farm.   I saw the German attack
develope and advance just as Turvey describes
it.   There would however be this slight difference;
the enemy reached my observation post before
they arrived at Turveys.   When Turvey was
firing into the massed German ranks from
Gutzes farm, my platoon was doing the same
thing, with rifles and three Lewis guns.   Early
in the morning I took two of these guns and
a large number of panniers ready loaded with
ammunition from the retiring British troops.
The 3 Battalion history (page 284) mentions this
incident but wrongly describes it as a box
of ammunition
I feel certain that my post and
 

65
Turvey with his Lewis gun at Gutzes farm
were the first to make close contact with the
advancing Germans;  we were what you
describe as Lieut Champions advance posts.
Although not dealt with in your
extract I might mention one other point.
I understand that in another account of this

battle it is stated that I was awarded the
Military Cross for works at a later date.
This is not correct, I was awarded the
decoration for work on the 14 April 1918, the
day of the German attack on Strazeele.
If there is any other point on which
I may be of some assistance to you please
let me know.
Yours faithfully,
D R Desbois

9845.
 

22 July 1936.
D. R. Desbois Esq., M.C.,
"Autum",
Muttuma. N.S.W.
Dear Mr. Desbois.,
Many thanks for your statement, which was of
considerable help.  My account was taken from the divisional
records, which said that there was a post in the old British
trenches which bombed and drove out the Germans.   I assumed
that this was yours, but I now think the divisional account
must have been mistaken as to the position.  I take it that
the British trench line was 200 yards in front of your
outpost, and that the troops from whom you took the Lewis
guns were the Tommies who had been ordered to withdraw from
those positions through our line during the previous night.
I should be grateful if you would confirm this.
Yours truly,
C.E.W. Bean.
 

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1st Copy
1st Aust Division - Hazebrouck  1918.
From Lt Col G F Wick

1918. 1st Divn at Hazebrouck.  When Wieck went to the 1st Division as G.S.O.1,
he says, the 1st Bde was much below scratch. Walker told him that
it was a long way behind the other bdes, and it had to be gradually
improved by careful handling before it began to pick up. (Yet
Moore -3 Bn - and Stacey of the 1st, were good men.   Hutchin the Bde
Major was little use and much hampered Lesslie, (no doubt).
The theory adopted by the 1st Div was to stand
and fight on its outpost line.  This was flatly in opposition to the
theory of the moment - that of retiring on a main line of resistance.
But W. says that the conditions of the divisions on the flanks (29 &
33) were such that if once a line began retiring it was difficult
to say when it would stop. (This also was the impression I received
in this state of affairs at V.Bret. on April 4).
 

[*Historical notes
Battle of Hazebrouck
1918*]
363.
16 September 1925.
Mrs. C. J. Prescott,
Newington College,
Stanmore.
Dear Mrs. Prescott,
It was only last night that I received your
letter enclosing the cutting about your son, Clarence.  The 

volume of the History dealing with the fighting in which that
incident occurred is still several years ahead, and I cannot,
of course, definitely promise either that I shall be here to
write it or that any particular incident will be included.  I
have, however, little doubt that this incident will be considered

worth telling and, if so, your son's name is practically
certain to be connected with it, since the policy, in the
history which I am writing, is to identify officers and men
with the deeds for which they were responsible.
I am sorry that I cannot be more definite,
but you may rest assured that your son's work and his name will
be brought before the writer of that portion of the campaign at
the time when it is being written, and his fine action will not
be willingly overlooked.
Yours sincerely,
C.E.W. BEAN
 

Newington College,
Stanmore, Sydney.
June 28^th 1925
Dear Captain Bean,
I have often wished
to ask you if you could mention the names
of our brave soldiers who earned distinctions
on the battlefield ^∧ in your history.   After so long it would
not do any harm, nor give away secrets & it
would be very gratifying to the relatives of those
who won these honours.
Our boy. Clarence was mentioned by you in
the enclosed cutting, which was in all the
Sydney papers & the London  “Times” &
yet no one in days to come will know who
the brave "youngster" was!
I hope you will not think ^∧ of me as a lover
of publicity, for I am far from being that a
vain person, but then I think of future 
days. I should like our grandchildren
& their children also to know that their
ancestor's brave action was recognised.
It seems to have been the custom to put
names in, after a time. in history.
We all felt so grateful to you for writing
so splendidly about our son's attack.
 

Newington College,
Stanmore, Sydney,
192
All of his fellow officers & men who have
become known to us since the war, have
told us that his M.C.  was a most daring
& gallant act, & that it did much towards
helping to arrest the dash of the Germans
for the Ports on the coast, during that dark
& critical hour.
We are all ^∧ glad to know that you have come
safely to anchor after all your hairbreadth
escapes.
Yours sincerely,
Anne E. Prescott.
(M^rs. C. J. Prescott)
P.S. I should like to have the precious cutting
back, if possible
A.E.P. 

Joynts patrol in port of Bullecourt
Right up to wire, along, d-
Diagram - see original document 

105
 Diagram - see original document