Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/227/1 - Folder - Part 15

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open to contributions
Accession number:
RCDIG1066686
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Page 1 / 10

AU: AN 336. 17th En, was withdrawn when 24th En. went through. This was much later than dawn – probably about 9 or 10 a.m. 24th En. came through the trenches up to 17th Bn. position and went over from there during the morning. 17th Bn. then came back half-way to Florina trench and Florina support, and into these trenches at dark. Lieut.s. Small and Richardson, killed (as above) Lieut. Worthington, wounded in the advance on the lower slopes by M.G. Lieut. Mailler was also wounded about the same time by shell. Lieut. Flood was wounded in tho early stages: (M.c. for this for dasn in settling Germans in early stage. He k killed about 6 and was hit on the side of the head as he was going for a big Cerman). Lieut. Massey, wounded about midday by nosecap of a sholl. (Small was an original man, a Now Guinea man, commission ed after Pozicres; a great favorito and very choerful by disposition. It was ho who led tho counterattack at Morlancourt; a Sydney man.). Lieut. Flood M.C. this stunt. Croft got M.C. at Mont St. Quchtin. Capt. Manifield also got M.C. for this. It was Sergt. Dolan who was surrounded by Germans on the top of tho hill and ex broko away. Major Fussell commanded 17th Bn. in this. AUGUST Sth - 19th 34TTALION Col. Bateman took over on 3rd Aug. En. C.O.'s were told on 4th. Concral Monash's letter was read to Coys. at 5 p.m. in the Aubigny system behind Villers Bretonncux. Their J.O. line of 19th Bn. was on right of 20th. ent over right was on the road. Front about 1200 yds. with about 280 rifles - i.e., minors, signallers, etc. 7th Bdo. on right of 19th. This line was inside our old line. 24th En. hold a screen in the Abancourt line covering the assembly. They had instructions to withdraw half an hour beforo cero. /io 2/ Bn. came up round The assembly was very quiet. north of Villers Bretonneux past the big camouflaged H.Q. The line was and so xx in. They lay inthe open on tapes. sitei back a SW dircction in order to conform to the movement on the right. There was a very heavy fog. Each battn. had (76) tanks on its front - the right number turned up. The 19th MORI
21 Xxx IIX 337. Battn. objective was in the trench system 800 yds. west of Warfusee. The right Coy. under Lieut. Sell got 19 M.G.'s on its sector in posts along or beside the road, scattered very irregularly. The Boche could not see and they were right on him before he could fight. Any fire was wild and unaimed. The M.G.'s were well sited but the fog quite prevented them from being of use. There was no trench system - 2 or 3 M.G.'s and a little dugout for the crew in a short length of isolated trench. During the early stage it was exceedingly hard to keep direction - Coys. got mixed - in some cases the tanks came back towards our line completely lost. About 5.30 Lieut. Satchel, Sig. Offr., who took out a phone, wired that the was out about 1000 yds. east of Abancourt trench. All M.G. fire had ceased and the German was doing no sxxkkgg shelling. It looked as if the German were getting away the guns in the Warfusee Valley - and this turned out so; the Germans got most of those guns clear by the time we reached that place. 81 9. About 6 a.m. word arrived that both front line Coys. were on their objective, and 17th Bn. had gone through followed by 8th Bde: ------- D Coy. - Sells. A Coy. - Major Boyden. At 6.30 Bn. H.Q., which had been in front of the tapes in a Coy. H.Q., moved forward to a trench on the road just west of the objective. Battn, lost 42 altogether. Lieut. Griffiths was killed near one of the small German posts by the road - he evidently went straight for the M.G. and was killed about 6ft. from it; his body was almost in the trench. Major Boyden was wounded in the leg. Receipts were obtained for over 300 prisoners. 38 M.G.'s and 12 M'werfers were sent back to the transport lines. Supply tanks took up bombs and ammunition. As one of these was returning about 7 a.m. it went up on a land mine This burst the caterpillar and it ran at about 27D.8.7. off it. Another tank had struck a mine just south of this other one, near the road. There were two nests, 6 mines in a nest - and each nest was surrounded by a couple of strands of barbed wire. Inside this were in each case 6 things looking like jerosene tins with 3 or 4 inches sticking above ground. One tank had hit each of these and the effect was the same in each case - the caterpillar rolled off. An R.E. Sergt. was later on these to keep people off them. In the supply tank, which was full of Australians and crew, no one was hurt All scrambled out after a heavy explosion. Bn. stayed there that night. AUGUST 9th. - Next day, just before midday, the 19th. moved to support 17th Bn. in an attack on Framerville. 20004
338. Just before Col. Bateman left H.V west of Warfusee a message came that 2nd Div. would continue the advance at 11.30 a.m. It was thon about 11.15, but they were 2-3 hours march away from the Blue Line. Col. Bateman left Capt. McMeckin to bring Bn. on, and pushed up to a C.O.'s conference near Harbonnieres. The order for attack was then given by Brigadier at the crucifix in 5 C. NW of Harbonnieres. Zero hour was given as 4.30 p.m. 20th 18th 12th 17th Instructions to 19th were not to enter Framerville unless 17th Bn. were in difficulties. They passed through 8th Bde. Instructions to Coys. were not to get nearer than 500 yis. to Framerville. They formed artillery formation as they came out of Morcourt gully. They stayed 500 yds. west of Framerville. At about 10 p.m. 19th En. was ordered back from here to the Blue line in support to 17th and 18th Bns. Only 2 casualties this day. On Aug. 1l there was a further advance, and 19th and 20th took part in this. The J.O. position was just NE of Framerville. A line was taped in the Chateau grounds. Zero was 4 a.m. There was a mist early. There was a barrage. 7th Ede. and 20th En. attacked at same time. It was a good thick barrage but ragged. The German reply was heavies on Framerville and Vauvillers villages – not heavy on troops. The20th Bn. had a difficult job as their flank was open. But 19th Bn. had no great difficulty - 150 prisoners were They reached a line not quite so far as the taken. objectivo on the east side of the gully, in touch with 7th Bde. The 20th Bn. had a diffloult time, but by midday 19th En. linked with them - they were across on the west side of the gully. Rainecourt About midday runners from beyond t-reported that they were getting sniped from Rainecourt. A party of 17th Bn. was sent up there and hot a M.G. and 6 men. There were about 50 casualtles. The German machine gunners at this time seemed to be working differently. They would now hang on for a time and then drop back with their guns instead of hanging on to the finish. It was concluded by most of the officers facing them that they had instructions to inflict casualties and retire - typical rearguard casualties. Night of Aug. 11.- 19th Bn. was relieved by 22nd. and 24th Bns. The 5th Bde. came back to the Blue Line. Bn. H.Q. for this attack had been in a cellar in Framerville. The barrage was practically all heavy artillery.
339. 19th BATTALION: MONT ST. QUENTIN. 6th Bde, was holding the line on 28th Aug. Late in afternoon of 28th Aug. 6th Bde. definitely cleared the system SE of Frise. The bend of the river to north greatly increased the frontage. The 5th Bde. took over the part North of the grid between 19 20 21 22 to 24 and 25 - 30. 7th Bde. took over to south of this line. The grid E and W between 13 and 19 squares was the Bn. boundary - 18th to north of it, 19th to south; each Bn. having thus 1000 yards of front. 20th 18th ------------ ------ 17th 19th The Frise trench system was clear about an hour before dusk. If 6th Bde. could clear these 18th Bn, were to work along the river and try and get bridgeheads at Feuilleres and Omiecourt. There was more opposition at Frise than had been expected, and it was now late on Aug. 28. 18th Bn. went through and after dark worked through Mereaucourt Wood and reached the Feuilleres-Herbecourt road by about midnight. About midnight the Germans blew up the Feuilleres bridges. This was the position at dawn. At dawn on Aug. 29th 19th Bn pushed up from Eclusier quarry where it had been during the night, got in touch with the right of 18th Bn. and moved due east along the plateau towards Somme, 2 Coys. in front, l in support, l in reserve. There was no opposition until they reached the high ground overlooking the Somme. The German was holding Bazincourt Wood on the slopes down to the river - here the Bn, came under observation from the hills behind Peronne. Lieut. Cecil Healy, the swimmer, was hit here in the leg by a M.G. He got up and pointed out the position in which this M.G. was firing and was hit again through the neck and killed. The wood had to be cleared of several M.G.'s. It was clear about midday. The M.G.'s were captured. But it is thought the gunners swam the river. The next thing was to force a passage across the Somme. The only chance was the bridge near the junction of the Somme with the Canal du Nord. The arrangement was (Coy. Commanders knew) that if they could get the crossings they were to rush Mont St. Quentin next day, through Omiecourt and this southern crossing. They could cross the Somme canal by a bridge which had been partially destroyed - a wooden bridge. But on getting across you were faced by about 500 yds. of marsh. The causeway used by the Germans (a wooden construction north of the Nord Canal) had been broken in several places. It was later used by us for wagon affic. The Nord Canal bank didn’t exist. The Germans were in Halle and were pretty quiet - they didn't fire on our movement by the river. Next thing was - the engineers had to'bridge the marshes on the night of Aug. 29 to effect a crossing, while another was arranged at Omiecourt 17th 19th. --Halle 18th 20th. -------Omiecourt. Everyone thought this was going to come off, but by 3 a.m. engineers decided that they couldn't get a crossing at either place. They brought material down by the roads to the river, but the further they went the more difficultie
340. there were. 19th Bn, was to cross at 5 a.m. on Aug. 30. The whole scheme was called off about 4.30 a.m. 17th, 18th and 20th went at once back to. Feuilleres; 19th Bn. extended 19th Bn. had to hold whole Bde. front. from west side of Somme Canal in 174.4.9. down to about 24D.9.1. There were Germans in Omiecourt on 30 Aug. and in east Germans held Omiecourt bridge. of Clery also. As 20th Bn. passed through Omicourt bridgehead NE of Col. Bateman Somme the Germans in Omiecourt cleared out. on afternoon of 30th Aug., about 3 p.m., sent an officer and 30 men across the bridge over the Somme Canal at 174.4.9., and they worked along the timbered country south of the Somme and reported Omiecourt clear but the East bank held. The Germans were out of the marshes SW of the Somme. (18th Bn. had previously on 29 Aug. effected a crossing at the same bridge at 174.4.9., but met opposition in the woods south of the river The engineers undertook to have the Omiecourt bridge fit Col. Bateman did not at this time for traffic by 3.30 a.m. (on evening of Aug. 30) know that 19th Bn would be in the attack. He sent one officer from each Coy. to reconnoître the way down to the bridge in 174.4.9. The Int. Offr. (Lieut. Armit) had himself reconnoitred (before the patrol of 19th Bn.) down towards Omiecourt by himself. (The Germans offered a big reward - Iron Cross, 3 weeks leave and money for the blowing up of this bridge, and they did attempt it - Armit later got the papers). At 1.30 a.m. on Aug. 31st 19th Bn. C.O. got operation Typed order arrived at order by phone for the attack. It Bn. H.Q. was at the qua ry in 15D.3.2. 2.20 a.m. looked a pretty hopeless job. Colonel sent message for Coy. commander to come to him, but 2nd. in commands to get their coys. moved down at once to the bridge. They The Coy. Commanders got orders for the attack. Bn. H.Q. at 3.30 walking - pitch black. le The information was that 7A and C were clear and that they had to cross the bridge at Omiecourt and be in assembly position 7B at 5 a.m. Barrage was to fall on line roughly Halle, Park Wood and Pekin trench 5 - 5.30; lift from 5.30 t0 6 on anvil wood Gott mit uns trench, Mont St. Quentin and Feuillacourt; 6 - 6.30 to lift onto Mont St. Quentin wood. It was to stand there. 20th En to take Feuillacourt; 17th Bn. Mont St. Quentin; 19th Bn. to protect flank in Über Alles and Gott mit Uns 18th Bn. in reserve west of Clery. trenches. Bn. crossed bridge and got to assembly position - as close to bank of river as they could get. They got into position (D & A) under the big bank and the The four Coy. Commanders were the other two just inland. They had only ones who knew what the real idea really was. not time to convey it to the platoons, which were scattered. The commanders of B and D were both hit early in the fight. They got They pushed on - getting away about 5 a.m. touch with 17th Bn, and from there on the whole advance They made pretty well seems to have been at the double. straight for the objective - the left Coy. of 19th. and right of 17th Bn. seem to have met in the NE head of Über Alles trench. B Coy, was up there, D next to them; A Back along
341. Rothwell trench and Agram Alley, and C in Galatz Alley. The is was the place of the Coy. Coys. wore well mixed up, but th H.Q. They found Germans strong in the aviation ground, and a The whizzbang gun was firing point-blank from there. casualties were light in getting there - the trouble was in hanging on. If Gott mit Uns trench was occupied it can only have been the head of it. H.Q. moved across through Fouilleres for the quarry west of Clery. It was then about 5 a.m. The Germans clearly thought that the attack was from the river, for his artillery pasted the whole slope where It was not till later that he pasted the 19th En. had been. the western slope. Prisoners were coming down in droves after dawn - first lot about 6 a.m. 6.30. - Bn. H.Q. came up through village to near 20th 7A.5.0. A message had come that 20th En. was on Bn. objective (later in day they were driven back) in touch with 17th, who wore in touch with 19th About 9 a.m. Capt. Ronald, 17th Bn., came down to 19th Ho said the position was pretty anxious at the Bn. H.Q. The line was thinly Held, Germans were trying to front. get in between 17th and 20th Ens. and were trying to work round flank of 19th Bn. Col. Bateman went to Col. Forbes close by and tried to get touch with Bde. - lines were all down. 18th En, was then under orders to push through 19th Bn. and link up Mont St. Quentin and St. Denis and cut off Peronne. Forbes and Bateman decided that it was best to They saw Major Robertson hold onto what they had got. 18th Bn., and arranged with him to send 2 Coys. tn support They let Bde. know as soon as lino between 17th and 20th. possible. This action was confirmed. Thoro was nothing at the back between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. If Germans had attacked in strength it was very critical. 6th Bde. and l4th Bde. came As it was they hung on. through carly in afternoon around the river bend. About 4 p.m. the river bond was alive with troops in the trenches and the big bank - pouring in from midday to 4 p.m. The 19th were being sniped in the trenches from Mont Word was received that 6th Bde, was St. Quentin all day. relieving next morning. 23rd. Bn. went through 19th En.; 24th through 17th Bn. During the night the Germans had worked back and occupied Florina trench. 23rd Bn. went through and was held up by fire from Anvil Wood. 19th Bn. had been instructed by C.O. not to leave their trenches on the flank till the position was secure ahead. 6th Bde. made a second attack about 2 p.m. under heavy barrage on Mont St. Quentin wood. This succeeded. 19th En, was then brought back to Florina trench. H.Q. moved up there and they were in reserve. Lieuts. Napper and Plummer were both killed neao the wall at the head of Über Alles trench. Capt. McMeskin and Lieut. Pearce wounded. 19th Bn. lost 120 men here.

17th Bn. was withdrawn when 24th Bn. went through. 

This was much later than dawn - probably about 9 or 10a.m.

24th Bn. came through the trenches up to 17th Bn. position

and went over from there during the morning.

17th Bn. then came back half-way to Florina trench and 

Florina support, and into these trenches at dark.

 

Lieut.s. Small and Richardson, killed (as above).

Lieut. Mailler was also wounded about the same time by

Shell.

Lieut. Flood was wounded in the early stages (M.C.

for this for dash in settling Germans in early stage. He ki

killed about 6 and was hit on the side of the head as he was

going for a big German).

Lieut. Massey, wounded about midday by nosecap of a

shell.

 

(Small was on original man, a New Guinea man, commission 

ed after Posieries; a great favourite and very cheerful by

disposition. It was he who led the counterattack at

Morlancourt; a Sydney man.)

Lieut. Flood M.C. this stunt.

Croft got M.C. at Mont St. Quentin.

Capt. Manifield also got M.C. for this.

It was Sergt. Dolan who was surrounded by Germans on

The top of the hill and broke away.

 

Major Fussell commanded the 17th Bn. in this.

----------------------------

 

August 8th- 19th BATTALION.

 

Col. Bateman took over on 3rd Aug. Bn. C.o.'s were 

told on 4th. General Monash's letter was read to Coys. at

5p.m. in the Aubigny system behind Villers Bretonneux.

J.O. line of 19th Bn. was right of 20th. Their 

right was on the road. Front about 1200 yds. Went over

with about 280 rifles - i.e. miners, signallers, etc.

7th Bde. on right of 19th. this line was inside our old

line. 24th Bn. held a screen in the Abancourt line 

covering the assembly. They had instructions to withdraw

half an hour before  [[Zero?]]

[*xxx*]  Chart showing location and movement of Battalions

 

The assembly was very quiet. Bn. came up round

north of Villers Bretonneux past the big camouflaged H.Q.

and so in. They lay inthe open on tapes. The line was

sited back a SW direction in order to conform to the

movement on the right.

There was a very heavy fog. Each battn. had (?6)

tanks on its front - the right number turned up. The 19th

 

 

 

 

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