Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/227/1 - Folder - Part 1

AWM38
Official History,
1914-18 War: Records of CEW Bean,
Official Historian.
Diaries and Notebooks
Item number: 3DRL606/227/1
Title: Folder. Folder
Comprises typed copies of items 3DRL
606/206/1 - 3DRL 606/215/1

 

1st SET. DIARIES Nos. 206 - 215
DIARIES AND NOTES OF C.E.W. BEAN 

CONCERNING THE WAR OF 1914-1918

The use of theses diaries and notes is subject to conditions laid down in the terms 

of gift to the Australian War Memorial. But, apart from these terms, I wish the 
following circumstances and considerations to be brought to the notice of every 
reader and writer who may use them.

The writings represent only what at the moment of making them I believed to be 

true. The diaries were jotted down almost daily with the object of recording what 

was then in the writer's mind. Often he wrote them when very tired and half asleep ;  
also, not infrequently, what he believed to be true was not so - but it does not 

follow that he always discovered this, or remembered to correct the mistakes when discovered. Indeed, he could not always remember that he had written them.

These records should, therefore, be used with great caution, as relating only what 
their author, at the time of writing, believed. Further, he cannot, of course, vouch 

for the accuracy of statements made to him by others and here recorded. But he 

did try to ensure such accuracy by consulting, as far as possible, those who had 

seen or otherwise taken part in the events. The constant falsity of second-hand 
evidence (on which a large proportion of war stories are founded) was impressed 
upon him by the second or third day of the Gallipoli campaign, notwithstanding that 
those who passed on such stories usually themselves believed them to be true. All 
second-hand evidence herein should be read with this in mind

 

16 Sept., 1946                                                                                               C.E.W. BEAN
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL
ACCESS STATUS
OPEN
3DRL 606 ITEM 227 [1] 

 

N^o 227 N^o 1 Copy

NOTES OF INTERVIEWS 
WITH 
BATTALION OFFICERS & C.

This folio contains copies of 
Books N^os 206 to 215
 

 

199

27th BATTALION - August 8th

Came up Pineapple Switch to Albert. They got 
there just before the barrage which was more on the right
and over.

After Zero before the Bn had gone 300 yards they 
were lost - at 8am. They had a guide when the sun began 
to get through. The sound of the barrage was the only guide. 
They got to the objective on time. A few posts had to be 
dealt with - isolated posts (one near four trees about 33 
Central.) There was a S.P. in the German main line in 33 
A - which a tank dealt with (fairly good trenches.)

As the advance got on they found it and very 
difficult to knw where they were. One party took out its 
M.Gs and struck towards Arafusee - knowing they should strike 
it - found the valley, went down it NE into the back of 
Warfusee so they rounded thm them up - the tanks were just 
coming into the town as this was done.

The S.P. at 34 B 7.1 to 7.4 was still holding 
out when the 5th Division came through having been missed 
in the fog. It was firing three M.Gs from there as the 
priosners came back along the main road. When the 5th Div. 
came along they gave in.

They halted on the objective. In the valley 
they took 9 77.guns which has been firing and were hot when 
they got there. A lot of prisoners were taken in this valley 
As they got down the gully a number of Germans in the dugoutss 
near the batteries put up a red flag and surrendered. They 
were in an advanced dressing station. This looked like an 
artillery group centre.
The trenches were very well camouflaged- with 
matting and grass and the guns were well camouglaged.

Lt. Bennett was lightly wounded and hung on.

50 causalties o.rs. One Coy had only one 
casualty going across. Chance shells were are- largely responsible. 
The German barrage at the start accounted for 
some. Three tanks were with them, each flying the Bn colours. 
One tank lost its direction at once, turning at right angles 
to the right.

At 3pm. that day they had a hot stew and some of 
the officers (loally gatgered) for dinner, 5th Divisin 
went through at time. At 11am. Bn moved south of Bayon-villers 
to the railway 1 and rested on the railway. C.O. who 
haf been to Bde came back there and explained to all officers 
what was to be done.
They got into the field behind the Crucifix and 
had lunch/ The show was wo be at 4.30pm.

The tanks came on fast and at about 4 pm. the Bn 
moved behind them and got into the old Amiens line, At that 
moment a number of German planes came on very low - 5 or 6 in 
one bunch.  There were as many more above.  25th Bn was on 
the right in the road through 12 a at this time.

At 4.30, 27th Bn moved out as front line, with 
25th pn right and 17th on left.

As soon as they started the German began to 
shell from Lihons way.  He could see the troops advancing 
and they could see the guns on the heights firing. There 
was no infantry opposition.

Bn got too far to the right and going past
 

 

200
2. 

Champagne Alley found the Germans - practically a battalion 
of them - going back with packs ahead of them.  The Bn 
skirted the north side of the village and took a 4.2 howitzer 
there; and Framerville was to be Bn left flank - Vauvillers 
its right flank.  The right Coy worked to left with 25th Bn/ 
The left Coy and a half swung left and passed the 5th Bde 
objective right out where Lane's Coy of 18th Bn was. The 
three tanks of the 17th Bn were making that way - towards 
the main roaf .  As the tanks got close to the road an anti-tank 
gun (or 2 or 3) possibly at 28 D 3.3 suddenly vlazed out 
at them and hit all three.  The crews got out and tried to 
mount their Hotchkiss guns. but the Germans were creeping up 
behind the main road and were right on top of them and they 
had to give themselves up - they were practislly in the trench 
attacking it when they were hit. One man black with oil, 
and soot, made a bolt and did get back.

It was terribly hot there - Lt. Horwood was 
there. Lt. Harris (wounded there) Lt. Newman (wounded there) 
Lt. Devonshire. Lt. Willis. Lt. Ferguson.  They dug in as best
they could and hung on till dark - they withdrew to the road. 
reorganised and came back through Framerville to the Bn. (te 
(They had though that Rainecourt was Framerville)

The left of the Bn's objective was taken by Col. 
Chalmers and HQrs. who were left in the gap and went to about 
10 A 6.8 (HQrs was in three sections - and came in in file. 
The german artillery as soob as it saw the tanks switched on 
to te them which cleared his barrage for to some extent from 
where HdQrs advanced.) As none of the Bn was seen. Col. Chalmers 
went on past objective into the op of the long gully. There 
was a steep bank opposite. The C.O. went straight into a 
dugout which was there and hopped in and out came three 
Germans.

Capt. Brice - Lt. Hughes and party was with 25th

As the 25th Bn came up Champagne Alley it tool a 
small number of prisoners there.  When the party with Hughes 
got to 15th 15 B 9.5 droves of Germans were going over the 
hill north of 16 Central they could see these Germans clearing 
out (with others from the trenches ahead) in the direction 
of the high ground E.S.E.  But when the attacl stopped they 
began t come back in open order abd got into trenches, probal l 
in 17 A and C.

There was an aeroplane down over the trench where 
Bcce's party reached and the Germans started to shell it at 
once and set the plane on fire.  This party dug in about 16  
2.4 - 0.8.
Lt. Reid's party got to an orchard S.E. of Framerville 
- then gt a direction from a tank.-(they could see 
a party digging in in front of the orchard in Framerville and 
ing fired on by a TXM. from N.E. just south of Rainecourt)  W 
tank told them of position in ruht right they wnet up to a 
cutting about 4 c.4.4 cokmanding the valley - where they coul 
see the Germans for a mile N.E. in the valley and were snipin 
them.  (They too with HQrs were ahead of xx their objective)

In the evening 2/Lt/ Degenhardt was going out in 
frony reconnoitring that night.  The C.O. was out there iik- 
with him, and advised him to crawl back   Degenhardt came 
back walking straight up and was sniped.

Lt. Horrocks was killed with B Coy when the Germs 
barrage switched on to them near Vauvillers. He died of woun 
Lt. McCann was wounded in the post beside the 25th.

27th Bn adjusted its post. Bn HQrs went to the 
sunken Y road behind the fron in 9 B.  The orchard beside it 
was plastered very heavily.by our own heavies on August 10th. 
(The German Red Cross Flag on Framerville tower was a mark fo 
miles around)

26th and 28th Bns moved through on the morning 
Augst. 11.  Very foggy that morning.

 

 

201
3.
That night 11.12 27th Bn moved back to the 
hospital.  They were bombed that night (when 6th Bde 
took over) and every night this used to happen.  Two men 
were wounded that night - the planes did not drop flares.
Stength then 16 officers 250 o.rs.

They went back to near the crucifix.

On 9th August casualties were 100 - including 
6 officers.

Bn was neat Froissy Dump - On August 28 moved 
about 4 pm. to this position which had been vacated by 5th 
Bde.)  They remained in readiness to move at half hour's 
notice.  Left L 34 B 67 at 5 am. and passed through 6th Bde 
at 7.30  About Herbecourt (27 Central ?)  Germans were shelling 
and a bit of M.G. fire but all the artillery was east 
of the Somme.  One prisoner was taken.

On the right there was opposition to B Coy - 
Capt. Brice was rushing a M.G. and got within 10 yards when 
he was shot grazing the eye and nose by this M.G.  He lost 
the eye in hospital

Lt. Rollins took over te Coy and pushed posts 
on to the Canal bank/  Bice was hit near Beaches down the 
slope.
Capt. Willshire M.C. was killed near Canal wood 
by the explosion of a shell.

Bn pushed through to Biaches and got posts on to 
the Canal Bank.  As they ca,e up a train pulled out of 
Peronne.  Quarter of an hour later the engine 
came back and pulled out another.  During the night the footbridge 
to Radejonde was blown up - and the other duckboard 
bridge acros the cananl further north.  They were blown up 
in the marshes.

From after onwards and all next day Biaches was 
heavi-y strafed.

A patrol was sent to have a look at the Canal 
du Bord which was supposed to be dry.  As the patrol went 
along and got on to the canal but could not get as far as 
the bridge at the other end.

On the right the patrol found a German on one of 
the footbridges.  He pulled the plug of the mine as they came 
up/  They got the L. G. on to him and he went up with his 
mine. No other efforts had to be made to cross.

Lt.  Church was wounded on Aug. 29

27th Bn stayed where it was.
(On August31 when 5th Bde attacked they could 
see they Germans getting out of the trenches near Prague and 
Florina and running back towards Anvil wood - along the 
road - could not see our men)

On Sept. 1 Bn moved to left around to the Omiecourt 
Bridge.  The Germans had seen the Engineers building 
the bridge and were shelling it - the shells splashing in 
the water and sending up spray.

Along the bank on the otjer side wee hundreds of 
Australians - part of the 14th Bde crossed just after the 
same afternoon- it was afternoon - cookers, etc. under the 
bank there  Prisoners came down in hundreds carrying stretchers 
with our wounded.

Lt. Ossl Oswald was killed there by a shell that 
night.
As soon a s  Coys crossed they moved into Pekly 
Trench and the trenches behind it.  Major Roper was in 
charge. That night about midnight C.O. was sent for to Bde 
(at this time Bn thought it would-nee be there 24 hours 
before attacking)  He came back about 3 - Coy Commanders 
waiting for him from 2 a.m. and gave verbal orders for an
 

 

202
4.

attack at 5.30am.

It was a Bde attack.

Diagram - see original document

The objective was cut along the Aziecourt Road 
(St. Denis' extreme right for Be)  27th Bn had to attack 
with i s front parallel to the Bapaume road and at right 
angles to the canal as fas as Haut Allaines - and then on 
claring E side of it turn due E towards objective - to 
make a flank for 74th Division.  The arrangements were very
hurried owing to the attack

being unexpectedly soon.
There was no reconnaissance.

Diagram - see original document

The first opposition came from Tortille trench 
(the river was a trickle)  That was easily crossed.  In 
Allaines rhe opposition was heavier.  The troops got 
ahead of the barrage which was ragged/   Brunn trench brought 
a very very heavy enfilade fire to bear on the troops getting 
through Allaines. (it was a smashed up village of the old 
Somme days) Capt. Hosking jo ned in the sunken road south 
of the village facing Brunn Trench with Bloy and some 
details;  they tackled Brun trench They got an officer, 
60 prisoners and a number of M.Gs. The prisoners got to 
the road and the German officer formed them up and marched th- 
them back to our line)   Going acros the open east of Haut 
Allaines the other Coys had very heavy casualties largely / 
from a couple of batterie one near Aziecourt and one east of 
Square 30. Capt. Hosking had 28 men hen heto to 5 Central. and 
Lt. Rollins. From these they went on and had to pull up at 
about I 6 B 9.7 under M.G. fire and direct whizzbanging fire. 
There was an old camouflaged pest there.

At this time the Gerans could be seen retiring in 
pat front of the 74th Division (who did not get forward of 
Scutari Trench)  They wer retiring in an orderly way, and 
when they got up to the batteries at 3 O Cntral they reformed 
and took up prepared ositions.   They had also cleared up the 
valley from Allaines in the direction of Moislains. There 
was a German barrage on the slope of the valley ahead of the 
British.
This left flank our flank open for 2000 yards.

Bn H.Qrs coming along to the sunken road N of 11 
Central found a number of our men in it but could not get 
touch with Capt, Hoskings or aby of he Coys.   A patrol was 
sent out but all the officers of the Coys, except 2, had 
been kiled or wounded.
(Pyke a runner came back from this patrol on a 
captured bike.)

Eventually a man was seen coming across from the 
front into Brunn trench,  this turned out to be Lt. Rollins.

Four Coys of a Bn of Royal Sussex which were to h/ 
have vone N of Haut Allaines got over south of it.

Major Raper had his HQrs in Brunn trench then. 
One Coy of them was sent to the sunken road north of the 
Central; one was kept in Brunn trench/

 

 

203
5.

A few details of 27th Bn were also in Hera and 
Althene Trench.  Two companies of the Tommies were sent to prolong the line from Hera Alley to the Canal.

Diagram - see original document

The following day four posts were established 
along the Antigoine Alley by one Coy of 28th Bn.

The Tommies on the left were in posts at 
29  c  1.3 and 29 c. 7.3 by midday (This was a sort of continuation 
of Hera Alley)

At night fall when 74th Division would not 
come up Hosking's post at 6 A 9.8 was withdrawn into Hera 
Alley and the 28th Bn had a Coy in the continuation of Hera 
Alley between Hoskings left and the Royal Sussex Bn post at 
29.c.8.3  The line now formed a pencil point.

Hosking had a couple of M.Gs with him. Two men 
in the sunken road covering the side of the hill and the 
whole front N.E. Four were mounted (in pairs) in Brunn 
Trench covering the front and flanks.

One Section of L.T.Ms in Brunn trench. R.A.P. 
was established in a German dugout in I 11. A 00.30.

The entrance to this setation was frequently spl plastered 
with M.G. bullets during the night, but no one was injured

Most of the prisoners today were taken in Brunn trench 
(about 60) and a good many in Haut Allaines.

 

	Capt T.Major wounded	)
	Lt. Lampard killed	)
	Lt. Mitchellwounded	)
		)	These were mostly hit by
	Lt. Woodwards wounded	)	enfilade fire from Brunn
D	Lt. Arthur wounded	)	Trench
	Lt. Leake died of wounds	)
		)
	Lt. Panell wounded	)
C	Lt. Willis wounded	)
	Lt. Coombs	)

 

Bn was relieved on night of 5/6 by British 
troops. The line had been then extended in a N direction 
through C 30 Central the British on the left having moved up

 

204
6.
27th BATTALION - October 3.
27th jumped off from a NNW and SSE line
practically through 24 Central - a little E o it.
They had to pivot on their left. Objective from extreme
south of Mt. St. Martin to read WSW of Larmissett. (The
northe end of he objective was extended at the last minute
to the road of trench junction on WNW of Larmisett.
Just as they were getting into position Fritz
dropped a barrage of 5.9 and 4.2 They got into position
with a few casualties.
On the left a few men had to advance NW to cover
the left pivot. They were held up by M.G. fire from the
village. The officer in charge, Lt. McLean called on a
tank to blow these out. The tank went between them but
did not fire - did not see them - and the guns started again.
They continued firing till our men on the rightt were well
across the gully and swinging round - the Tommies had
started them and these gunners cleared. When the Battalion
started it was not known that the Tommies were attacking.
Left of 27th Bn was held (after going about 400 yards) by
the barrage for the Tommies. When the barage had lifted the
left went on and dug in on the bank without opposition - the
Tommies had avaned advanced so B Coy (Capt. Beddon) dug
in on the road bank E of the Canal about 13 A 4.3-6 without
opposition - facing NE. They remained here till they were
ordered to move to Mushroom Quarry in the afternoon to support
26th Battalion who were expecting a counter attack.
They dug in in the Beaurevoir line north of the Quarry (where
there was a good supply of German rations)/ They were relieved
by a Bn of Manchesters at 10.pm. and returned to the
Camp they had come from in G 11 D neay Nauroy.
Lt. Maclean was wounded by a M.G. bullet in the
neck from the M.G. in St. Martin - and also by a shell.
The actual front line Tommies on the left never knew our
troops were attacking - these didn't anyway.
The Right Coy pushed off from the tram line
a bit ahead of J.O.T. and met
no opposition till met the Copse
in 13 C where our artillery was
firing short and there were a few
stray bursts of M.G. 
Diagram - see original document
After passing the copse (no one in it) they were
again held up by our artillery; they found some Germans
running NE up the road towards Lormissett. They cleared
out these Germans who fired some shots and cleared again.
At the road corner at 13 Central they saw a
number of Germans lining the sunken road to Gouy and firing
M.Gs towards the British advance 1 about 100 Germans. They
put a L.M.G. on the road corner (together with 25th Bn) and
about 30 Germans were found there later wounded.
Just after this they saw the Tommies moving up
the hill towards this road - 27th at once went down the road
and took the Germans just as the Tommies got over into the
road.
A German M.G. had been firing from the Beaurevoir
line N.W of Lomisett. As the 27th and 25th got back to
the Beaurevoir line and attacked up it, these Germans cleared
out up the line (which was better dug on the above then lower

 

205
7.
down). The 27th Bn put a post on the next road at
13 B 5.8 (their objective) and one further down the
hill.
A platoon had been left about 13 C Central
Later, when the fight was going on ahead Pellew tried to
get them dug into the sunken road from 13 Central to Gouy;
but the German at once shelled this road in enfilade from
N.W. and this post had to be dug in again N of the copse
in 13 C where they could use their guns if necessary.
The platoon which had been in the sunken road
since grabbing the Germans there was brought into the
Beaurevoir Line W of Lormissett. 
About 11 pm they were relieved by a company of
a Manchester Bn. and came back to the Le Catelet Nausoy
Line. 27th Bn went in 210 strong bayonets and lost 70/
B Coy lost 50 per cent.
Oct. 5
When 6th Bde attacked Montbrechain 27th Bn was
moved up into support S of the Roman road about 28 C 8.4.
In the morning about 10 am D Coy was sent off
to cross roads at H 6 A Central to help 24th Bn.
Lt Read went round to the W of the village where a line was
being formed abd found that there were sufficient troops there
So D Coy came down to the sunken road in H 5 A and B. Later
they returned.
B. Coy was sent about 11 am to the same place -
Capt. Beddon found that they were not needed and so put them
in the railway cutting in H 5 B 9.6 They stopped there till
relieved- Reid came back to say that the troops were not
needed when they went (both Coys) back to the Quarry.
The work which Lt. Reid did there was exceptional.
The line was not known, He went out with Lt. Clough 24
Bn and helped to fix the line W of the village.
About 10pm they were relieved by Americans of
30th Division who had left everything behind at Nauroy.
27th Bn marched back to between Templeux Guerard
Hargicourt arriving 2.30 am. a long march (Look up distance
of this)
There a big German gun killed one man of the
27th - the last casualty the Bn suffered.
One man was wounded on October 5th by a bullet
from an aeroplane - the only casualty. 

 

206
8.
2nd PIONEER BATTALION - MONTBREHAIN
Had had two companies in the 29th Sept. fight
anf following days. They were near Bellicourt; and two
near Templeux had been standing by.
On October 3 the whole Bn got into trenches
south of Nauroy becoming divisional reserve.
On morning of October 4 C.O. met Gen Rosenthal
who said he thought he would have to use them that day
He was glad he had not had to as they were technical troops
and it was a bit of a waste. However on evening of Oct. 4
they were ordered into the line to take over from 38th
British Bde relieving two Bns. C.O went up to reconnoitre
They relieved on night of 4/5 in the front line around the x
front of Ramicourt. Their patrols that night took one
prisoner. 
C.O. got Coy Commanders together at Nauroy
just before the reconnaissance. and gave them verbal notes,
confirmed later. They were bombed on the way up - but no
one was hit - (the same the night they went up to Nauroy)
Relief was complete before midnight and all
Coys patrolled.
T.O. Tape was laid on a straight line NW and SE
From 12 Central to 5 B.c.7 21 on right and 24 on left formed
behind this; Pioneers fell back behind it 15 minutes before .
Zero.
Diagram - see original document
The orders were to pivot on D.
Three Companies to swing so as to
establish their left on the right
of 21st battalion at I.2D.b.g.
(N.W. of Doon Mill)
A Company to mop up cross roads and trenches
in H.6A and B and send small parties through the streets.
Finally to take position at Quarres near road which runs
NE through H 12 B (i.e. to support right. This Coy was
eventually used on left as that was the danger point later.

D Coy had some casualties through shelling.
They swung out in front (SE) of the railway line and got
hold of five Germans M.Gs which they got working. The
Germans made one definite attack against them in which the
M.G. but did not make any headqay ( this was from SE over
high ground, about 11 am. They tried to advance in skirmishing
order with a smoke barrage but Vickers and L.Gs drove
them back. Our patrols later went out 200-300 yards and 
found no Germans but it was decided to keep line obtained
as field of fire was good and right had not advanced. D
Coy was under Major King.
C Coy (under Capt. Ahlston) met the Germans on
the sunken road cross road and Quarries and the railway
running to Nevill's Cross. They advanced in skirmishing
order with one platoon in support. This Coy got beyond
the final objective - and the Germans came at them from
both flanks. This was early in the fight. Lt/Murrell
seeing this brought his platoon down the right of B Coy
and covered the withdrawal of the left of C Coy, but the
platoon commander Lt. Peacock, had his thigh wounded and was
captured. Murrell found a party of British cyclists about
this time and got them to dig in on his line. They had got lost.