Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/226/1 - Folder - Part 19

177.
to the congestion of troops and the fact that 42nd was  
support Bn., Capt. O'Brien withdrew them to a support
position. In this bomb-fighting Jolly lost several men.
Jolly and Wood had been there because of the order to attack
up North up the trenches - and Warry was there also for the
attack. When the attack was countermanded the order did
not reach Warry but did reach Jolly and Wood. The Bn. was
away back and subordinate officers had to take a lot of
responsibility - the running was very heavy indeed on the
runners.
Col. Woolcock was at Bde. H.Q. (as well as Cannan - ?
who had just returned).
(N.B.- This information is all from memory from Lieut.
Tardent, who was at the front as I.O.; but the battle
narrative is detailed and accurate).

178
1.

2Oth BATTALION
Mont St. Quentin
20th BATTALION
Beaurevoir
18th BATTALION
August 8.
18th BATTALION
August 9. (Framerville)
12th BATTALION
Landing
5th BRIGADE
Bullecourt
[*205*]
20th BATTALION
Mont St. Quentin
(Capt. Anthon. Major McDonald)
The C. O, found while the Battalion was on the way
up that therewere still Germans in the S. E. end of
Clery. The 1Oth Brigade thought that this was clearbut
there might be Germans still there. For this reason
the Battalion went round by EXXX Elen Alley. Another reason
was to get tge Battalion as far as possible without
being seen - 3rd Division had been seen heavily shelled
previous afternoon west of Clery.
When the Battalion got through in 6.c A Company
which led; found that the trench had been used by the
Germans for horse standings. They had to break these
barriers down - mostly timber and ruberoid: all the time
they were getting heavy M.G. fire from about Berlingote
trench (which was higher (on a ridge) and from the extreme
S.E. end of the village. The trench was low and they
had to crawl
About 50 yards west of the junction of Elen Alley and
Lt. Gonds trench Lt. Anthon with the leading platoon of
A Company which was well ahead, got a M.G.  A German
fired on them - and they had to get out of the trench
under M.G. fire from the knuckle ahead, flank the gun and
got 7 Germans and a M.G. It was about 1 p.m. in the
day. This gun was only about 20 yards away in the
bend of the same trench - he had opened a little bit
short - and they got out and behind him. He turned it
on them - without a bomb.
They got into St.Gond Trench and got several Germans
in a huge dugout there. They were in the dugout and were
taken when it was examined.
The back of this trench was open to M.G. fire from
the Germans in the extreme end of the village. They trained
their M.Gs. on this gun and the 3rd Division came in from
behind and took these Germans. 20th Battalion had
passed by them through the 3rd Division outposts.
20th Battalion found it could not go across the main
road as there was a thick nest of 8 German M.Gs. in the
pocket between the road and the railway at 12.B.3.7.
These were covering the Omiecourt Bridgehead. There
were also two M.Gs. in Avion Trench.
Lt. Elliott went up the C.T. to Avion Trench and
bombed these two M.G. posts killing 8 Germans and taking
several prisoners. They then tried to get across the

179
2.
road at the pocket (through Avion trench) but M.G.
fire from the pronounced height about 7 A.4.2 had-
them. The C.T.s and the road were thus all covered
by separate guns. The rest of the En. then came
up in rear and occupied St. Gond Trench and Lt.
Balmeno and Sergt. Welch D.C.M., M.M. crossed the
road and went along the railway line. They got 14
prisoners and 2 M.Gs. from the pocket. They
crawled in on their bellies and threw a bomb - one went
for each of the two different posts. This cleared the
pocket.
The Bn. them waited till dusk in St. Gond Trench
Anthon's Coy. had taken 60 prisoners. At dusk
D, C, B, A followed round. in that order filing out of
St. Gond Trench on to the main road keeping under the
cover of the high bank beneath which the road runs.
They followed the road to the high bank which crosses it
(running N.E.) The hill rises like a bump from the
bank.
A Coy rushed into the gully made by that bank,
killing several germans - Lt. Elliott A Coy went bombing
up Slant Alley and Lt. Enthon A Coy up St. Didier Alley
The Germans ran in droves from the far end of the alley
up over the hill on the sky line.  Anthon saw Elliott's
L.G. firing on them (heard the noise of the L.G. and
saw the sparks) Anthon put his L.Gunner up and cross
fired. There were lots of Germans killed there.
From the cross trench which cuts the end of these
trenches they got 4 M.Gs. and 84 prisoners.
They then passed backwards for reinforcements and
the remained of the Battalion came forward - B Coy.
occupying Slant Alley to form a defensive, flank - the
rest taking a position ahead in the unnamed trench
facing the front, and awaited further orders.
During the night the C.O. came up and gave thei
them their instructions. There were only 11 officers and
246 o.rs. in the Bn. - total strength and so it was a
very windy prospect. Out of these 8 men of A Coy had
been killed - 2 of C. Coy and a few wounded. The A Coy
men were killed in Avion Trench.
As the afternoon got on he barraged Elen Trench
very heavily but just missed, over and short.
On the night of 28/29 they stayed in the quarry at
Cappy. (They arrived there that afternoon from Froissy
area) That night C.O. had 3 hours sleep - men would
get more and started at 5.30 a.m. on the road - Going
all day through Frise to Sunken Road S. of Feuilleres.
No sleep at all that night 28/30. That day got 10
minutes doze.
-----------------------------------
20th BATTALION - 29th August
(Col. Forbes)
The men in the bank S, of the Somme E. of Boscourt
were very heavily shelled. The fire was no doubt
directed from Clery which was then held by the Germans
The orders for crossing the Somme on 29/30:- Col.
Forbes moved into Salvart - 18th Battalion were supposed
to have patrols working up the peninsula to Omiecourt
during 29th. That night, on their reporting the Causeway
clear, 20th Bn, was to follows them on and attack
Mt. St. Quentin. The Coy. Commanders were called back
to Salvert Trench to get these orders from the C.0. while
waiting for them in the watery dugout the C.0. fell
asleep but they woke him when they arrived. From then
on there was no more sleep till after 6th Brigade had
passed through at Mt. St/ Quentin. But for a time, when

2a
180
※During the night Anthon on orders from
MoDonald sent patrols in front. One Sergeant got a
German coming down to the river with 22 tin dixies for
water.
Could not find 3rd Division on left. Parties
of 3rd Division which had been passed in Elen Alley the
day before had said that they were supports and that the
front line was in Bontemps Trench - but it was found
later that Germans were in Bontemps Trench.
C.O. came up and established HQrs at the
junction of Slant Alley and the gully - in Major
McDonald's advanced HQrs in a big dugout. The Coy.
Commanders met him there. The C.O. gave verbal 
instructions for the attack and the objective.
The objective ran from the cross-road in the middle
of Feuillecourt to the bend of the main right (S) They
realised that they would have to fgkt fight to get to the
J.O. position and decided that it would be a fight all the
way. There were Germans in the trenches just south. The
17th Bn were given the job of clearing this right flank.
They went along the road past 20th Bn. sentry (who was there
to warn Anthon when they passed) at corner of Trench and road.
The Bn. was then waiting for the barrage g which
was to be area shoots) As soon as the barrage came down they
started. Major McDonald took the left and Lt.Anthon the
right. Capt. Barlow(who was wounded that day) was in charge 
of right.
The Coy was divided in two in the half hour before
the barrage. They gave the men a nip of rum in the half
hour. The men had no breakfast - the dry rations came
up during the night (by McGill) Lieut. Elliott took his
platoon (A Coy was two platoons away) and followed Slant
Alley and the trenches leading out of it, bombing all the
way, until he struck the canal. Lt. Anthon took the other
platoon and went on to the road. He went down the road
towards Freckles Wood and assisted Elliott bn bombing a
M.G. post in Nich Trench (He had troubled them all night
and they were going to get him during the night but they let
him stop till the morning. The Germans were thick throughout
these trenches, but the noise of the attack seemed to
stagger them and the majority threw down their arms and ran
for our trenches.
The Germans in these trenches were so much surprised
that they could not fight. This raised the spirits
of the parties greatly. Capt. Barlow and HdOrs section (all
parties ware in fide) went on alongthe road. Anthon went
over from Nich Trench over Maros Trench. As he crossed this
trench Lieut. Elliott and his platoon came into the long C.T.
across Maros Trench. He waited there till Capt. Barlow
extended the rest of the company and they advanced in 
extended order with their right somewhere N. of Brasso Trench.
Elliott joined with his platoon extended as they passed him
and they made in line towards the rest of the 20th Bn. objective.
The Mount guided them. It was a clear morning -
and as soon as they got to the top of the ridge on which they
had been all night - it could be seen outlined against the
sky. It was a clear morning - no moon - cloudy. As they
were advancing the dawn broke behind the Mount and it was a
great guide all the way - it was their salvation in making
this movement .The Colonel had given them this idea, and-
as the jumping off position was so impossible to get tp.
The splitting up of A Company was decided on by Barlow,
Anthon and Elliott because they knew the pocket just SE
of them contained several German M.Gs. and it would be fatal
to come at them over the top - and the best way would be to
work round them anf get them from the back. This nest was ke
known owing to it having fired all night - and our patrols
had been out and given an idea as to the location of the
M.Gs. That plan worked. The noise which the men kicked

181
2b.
up (they had been told to make as much noise as possible
to give the Germans the idea that there were many more men
there than there really were - it is an old man with 20th
Bn.) Anthon's platoon consisted of 14 men at this time; -
(8 lost day before) Elliotts 22
Capt. Barlow 15.
The plan had been adopted knowing that the other
Coys would come through on the left. As they advanced, the
day was breaking well. They got about 500 yards, looked
round, and could see 19th Bn coming up on their right from the
river. (Had seen 17th Bn as 20th Bn passed down the road,
going in to mop up a pocket of Germans behind them.)
This plan had etan shut in most of the Germans
behind the 20th Bn. As the day broke the Germans could be
seen running up the hill from the trenches of the Gottlieb
system. You could see Germans on the right and left of the
Mount but not on the hill itself. Presently Germans seemed
to be running from the whole country on the bus front and
flanks. They would get up and clear 500 yards away. The
Bn. had expected fighting here and this was a most welcome
surprise - the ease of this stage of the fight.
They continued to advance to Oder Trench - an old
German trench. Germans were being picked up all the way in
pockets who had run until they could not run any more - too
out of breath and frightened to speak. The Bn. sat on the
edge of Gottlieb Trench - not in it - until the barrage
lifted from the objective. The men all took out their
cigarette cases and lit their cigarettes. The advance so
far had beenat the half double - the men trying to get at the
Germans, andtaking occasional pot shots. Two or three times
whwre a number of Germans broke together the L.Gs were put
on them for a burst. The men welcomed the rest at Oder
Trench.
At this time two or three M.Gs. opened from the
Mount itself - but shooting high - the bullets whizzing overhead
Ten minutes after gettingthere (they had never
expected to catch the barrage) the barrage lifted. They
walked on to the objective. The road then was about 30 ft
high - it turned out a first rate ranging mart. The men
started at once to make a sort of shelf on the top of the
bank so as to shoot over the road. They sent forward patrols
Sergt. Simpson and two men into the northern part of Mt. St.
Quetin village and brought back 14 Germans. The 17th Bn was
not there then. The patrol on the Mount met no opposition and
was not fired at - and they could see the Germans running away
down the slopes on the far side.
A complete German A.M.C. dugout was found in a
tunnel under the road - no other dugout s.
The first report of contach with 17th Bn came from L
Lt. Small of the 17th Bn. A sergeant and a runner who had been
sent up by May McDonald found this party E of the road at
about the third tree S. of the bend - Small said that he
was in touch with 17th Bn. and they were in touch with 19th
Bn. Later he was killed by a T?M. on the roof with 2/Lt.
Richardson. Later Anthon went up the road under the bank
and had a talk with Croft who was them on the E side of the
road about 200 yards from where Small was lying killed.
Croft at that time did not know exactly where 17th Bnwas but
thought they were in the top of Agram Alley (not Elen Trench
He had sent out a patrol to see.
At a stage before this parties of 17th Bn. had
been seen working through beyond the village from the main
wood across the open to a little wood beyond. The could
be seen going over the open between the two. Later they
came back.
D Coy supported A - about 80 yards behind and had
joined in about the Cabal. Lt. Noble was killed at the bank
 

182
2c.
of the Canal sniped through the head. The right were not
fired on at all from rear. Capt. Broadbent was in charge
of D Coy. He got separated with about 20 men and got
mixed up with a shell and reached Gaol Trench on the right.

182
3.
Battalion was ordered to withdraw to Frise it
looked as if rest were ahead. The C.0. was instructed
to report to Brigade for a conference and
as soon as he got to Frise was warned of the further
operation at 10.30. There was only time for a
shave wash and bite and off they were again -
Night of 30th no sleep.  Night of 31/1 had two
hours' sleep after 6th Brigade had gone through in
the morning. Night of 1/2 had gone through in
Halls broken by gas-shelling. ※ Quarter of an hour
before zero Col. Forbes received word from-O.C's
Coys that 18th Battalion had reported the Causeway to
be blown up. It was a stone causeway - solid.
he Canal where it formed the
Night of 28/29 they stayedin the quarry at Cappy.
Tthey arrived there that afternoon, from Froissye area)
That night, the C.O. had three hours! sleepl - men
would get more - and, started at 5.30 am. on the road.
Going all day trough Frise to Sunken Road south of
Feuilleres: No sleep at all the night 20/30. to That
day got 10 minutes doze.
As soon as they got back there they had breakfast
and the men washed their feet. They had arrived
there about 8 am.
At 10.30 am. they started again. This time they
moved via Canal Bank to Feuilleres where they crossed
the river and came up the lower main road to Christiana
Trench - thence to the bank where Col Forbes was already
established.
At 5th Bde Col. Forves had been told that Clery
was clear.
At the Bank he met General McNichol of 10th
Bde who had a sort of forward HdOrs there. He reported
Clery as being clear except for two houses in the N.E.
corner of which a Company had gone through to mop up
some time before.
20th Bn. was sent on with instructions to stick
to the trench system all the way round in order to
keep their movements quiet and because C.O. was not yet
sure that Clery was clear. (10th Bde thought they
were in Berlin Wood)
The 12th Battery, meanwhilem under Major Sinclair
did some magnificent shooting in 7 c. (N.W. corner of
Square) observing from 20th Bn H.Q. Sinclair's Btty was
attached to 20th Bn, for thisoperation and crossed the
river with them and were with them to the end Right
through they did the most magnificent shooting.
At 1.30 am. Col. Forbes received by phone the orders
from Bde for the attack on Mt. St. Quentin. He took
these orders up himself to the Bank at 7A 1.4 where there
was a bit of a hole where Major MacDonald was. The Coy
Commanders were to be there by 1 am. and they brought
along those of their platoon Commanders whom they could
get.
The Objective for the 20th Bn was from the Canal¬
Bapaume Rd/crossing down to Moineville Alley just S of the
Road Bend.
When they went off they had nothing to guide them fe¬
for forming up. It was pitch black. They moved ENE about
to Gottlieb when the barrage opened - and they swung
round into line on to the objective. In that way
they scooped up an immense number of Germans them
Once they got on to the road they say they could
have gone on for ever had they had the men. The
Germans were running everywhere. But they were getting
trouble from Anvil Wood or Johannes Trench - M.G fire.

183
3.
Battalion was ordered to withdraw to Frise it
looked as if rest were ahead. The C.0. was instructed
to report to Brigade for a conference and
as soon as he got to Frise was warned of the further
operation at 10.30. There was only time for a
shave wash and bite and off they were again -
Night of 30th no sleep.  Night of 31/1 had two
hours' sleep after 6th Brigade had gone through in
the morning. Night of 1/2 had gone through in
Halls broken by gas-shelling. ※ Quarter of an hour
before zero Col. Forbes received word from-O.C's
Coys that 18th Battalion had reported the Causeway to
be blown up. It was a stone causeway - solid.
he Canal where it formed the
Night of 28/29 they stayedin the quarry at Cappy.
Tthey arrived there that afternoon, from Froissye area)
That night, the C.O. had three hours! sleepl - men
would get more - and, started at 5.30 am. on the road.
Going all day trough Frise to Sunken Road south of
Feuilleres: No sleep at all the night 20/30. to That
day got 10 minutes doze.
As soon as they got back there they had breakfast
and the men washed their feet. They had arrived
there about 8 am.
At 10.30 am. they started again. This time they
moved via Canal Bank to Feuilleres where they crossed
the river and came up the lower main road to Christiana
Trench - thence to the bank where Col Forbes was already
established.
At 5th Bde Col. Forves had been told that Clery
was clear.
At the Bank he met General McNichol of 10th
Bde who had a sort of forward HdOrs there. He reported
Clery as being clear except for two houses in the N.E.
corner of which a Company had gone through to mop up
some time before.
20th Bn. was sent on with instructions to stick
to the trench system all the way round in order to
keep their movements quiet and because C.O. was not yet
sure that Clery was clear. (10th Bde thought they
were in Berlin Wood)
The 12th Battery, meanwhilem under Major Sinclair
did some magnificent shooting in 7 c. (N.W. corner of
Square) observing from 20th Bn H.Q. Sinclair's Btty was
attached to 20th Bn, for thisoperation and crossed the
river with them and were with them to the end Right
through they did the most magnificent shooting.
At 1.30 am. Col. Forbes received by phone the orders
from Bde for the attack on Mt. St. Quentin. He took
these orders up himself to the Bank at 7A 1.4 where there
was a bit of a hole where Major MacDonald was. The Coy
Commanders were to be there by 1 am. and they brought
along those of their platoon Commanders whom they could
get.
The Objective for the 20th Bn was from the Canal¬
Bapaume Rd/crossing down to Moineville Alley just S of the
Road Bend.
When they went off they had nothing to guide them fe¬
for forming up. It was pitch black. They moved ENE about
to Gottlieb when the barrage opened - and they swung
round into line on to the objective. In that way
they scooped up an immense number of Germans them
Once they got on to the road they say they could
have gone on for ever had they had the men. The
Germans were running everywhere. But they were getting
trouble from Anvil Wood or Johannes Trench - M.G fire.

184
4.
They dug in along the road, made themselves comfortable
took this equipment off. Everyone was smoking cigarettes.
But a big gap existed between them and 17th Bn on right.
As a result of this two Companies of the 18th Bn in
support were ordered into Moineville Alley. Another two
were sent down to take up a position in Uber Alles Trench.
They did not get to either place.
Third Division (44th Bn) was to come up on 20th Bn's
left but they did not. They were wsomewhere in Majdan
Trench. An officer was sent to their C.O. and he said he y
would send a Company up. This company did not come.
from Poinsot Trench to the Canal at the rear of Feuilla.
Early in the afternoon the Germans found this gap and got
court.  The 20th bn had to withdraw to Oder Trench and
Gottlieb Trench - (Bn. took over 600 prisoners and 65 M.Gs.
Regiment opposite them was the Kaiserin Augusta Regt, of
Guards. They had come in the night of 30/31
September lst. 6th Brigade went through after dawn
their zero was 6 a.m. - too late to do good.
Some of the wounded in Feuillact had to be left in
dugouts on the road.
The Germans treated these men well. He gave them
hot coffee etc. and said that their comrades would attack
again in the morning and get them back again. The 6th
Bde attack seemed to be a rushed affair.
The 20th Bn. was withdrawn ro near Halle and Prague
Trench. They stayed there till Sept r as reserved to 14th
Brigade.
They then came back to Frise.
(On the right of this attack the troops - Platoon
Commanders of 19th En never got real knowledge of their 
objective owing to the Coy. Commanders having so far to go for their
orders and being unable to tell platoon Commanders. The Coy 
Commanders were mostly hit and 19th Platoon Commanders only
knew that they had to take Mt. St. Quentin - nothing about
the flank protection. Part of the 17th was having a fight
in Parkwood in the morning so 17th Bn went at the hill very
weak.
The earliest troops of 6th Bde would be coming round the
Somme bend about 6.30 am. on August 31.
One of the finest incidents of the campaign was: A
Brigade of English Field Artillery came up into the little
triangle formed in the bend of the Somme by the steep bank
and the two roads - this is a hollow.They came in there
about 9 a.m. Their observation officers went out on horses -
selected positions - and the guns were soon in action.
Maj, Sinclair of 12th Bty rode his horse up to Mt. St
Quentin - said it was too warm - came back, shifted his Bty
into a better position and went on firing. His Bty came in
to 7 L Central, early in the morning.
One shell got a couple of horses of the English
batteries
The Germans shelled the Omiecourt crosing very heavily
with 8 in. One batch of 29-30 German prisoners was knocked
by a shell in their midst.
At 6 a.m. a German M.G. was firing from about Boutle
Alley straight into the bank where HdOrs was  Several German
prisoners were hit by this gun as they stood in front of Hors.
This gun was subsequently silenced by an Australian forward
Observation Officer and runner, the Observation Officer being
badly wounded in the process. (He was an Australian with
the 17th Bn.- He went up and bombed it) (Col. O'Callagher
was C.0. of group and would know his name)
Before midday five wagon loads of M.Gs. and captured
material were cleared from that Bank (collected from the
trenches around - M.G.s forward could not be brought in for
lack of men.) 

185
5.
When they started they made such a noise
and kept it up sp well, that they bluffed the German.
Lt. Noble was killed about the start - on the
way off at zero.
Capt. Barlow A Coy was wounded
wounded
"Jimmy One Lung'
Liet. Elliott wounded
20th BATTALION - Beaurevoir
Oct. 1st.Marched up from Villers Faucom to Villeret.
C.0. had a walk up tp see the country. About 5.30 pm. 
Brigadier told C.O. they were to take over 15th Bde - Could not
say where Pompey's HQrs were Having seen the ground by
daylight C.O. saw the only way was by the plank road. He took
them by a track to strike the plank road near the bottom by
Bellicourt.  C.0. went up to find Elliott. Elliott said he
would have guides at his rear HQrs to take the Bn in.
Front to take over was from Mint Copse to the
Cemetery. Elliott's guides met 20th Bn but lost the way finally
near Nauroy. Col. Forbes guides (at relay stations)
lost him. Eventually he stumbled on the Bn. He decided that
best thing was to put a bold face on it and to advance toward
the flares in what he thought was the direction. When they
got to G.6 D the guides decided they knew where they were.
It was now 11.30 pm. There were a few shells; also it
was pitch dark/ (Pompey's forward HQrs was at other lamp
signal station.)
Colonel then found that Bn HQrs  xxxx which he
was to relieve was in the sunken roadin G 6 B and the road to
Folemprise Farm was well delined. The guides took Bn. up.
Col. Forbes took over from Col. Denehy and Col. Scanlon.
Their line was a bit short of the sunken Road NE. of 
Folemprise. Col Forbes' instructions were to take over the road.
The20th Bn got into the road easily - any Germans that were
there ran.
At the Cemetery there was some trouble in
getting touch with 19th Bn.
Oct 2.
Next afternoon an officer was coming back from th
the line beyond Folemprise to HQrs with his batman in order
go to a school, when a low flying German plane came over and
after trying to machine gun him dropped a bomb at him He
took cover from the M.G. behind a telegraph post, keeping an
eye on the plane. He saw the bomb leave the plane -
judged where it would drop, and ran the other way. The bomb
dropped within 10 yards of the telegraph post behind which he
had been sheltering. This was Lt. Bardus, D.S.O. (at Hangard
Wood)
All this time we handed over to 7th Bde for
Beaurevoir attack. 20th Bn was withdrawn into the sunken
Road in B 25 D,S of Folemorise Farm ese in B 25 D. In addition to
ordinary rations, while waiting for the start, they had hot
stew which was taken on packhorses right to them (by Lt.
MacGill, assistant Transport Officer)
19 were for Beaurevoir Line, 20 were to mop
up Lamotte Farm andtake Beaurevoir. 7th Bde on left.
19h Bn for some reason - unknown to 20th Bn.
officers failed on 1st objective - 20th Bn. took the Beaurevoir
line and went on to the outskirts of Beaurevoir. They