Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/227/1 - Folder - Part 9

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
RCDIG1066686
Difficulty:
1

Page 1 / 10

276 The guns which fired on 15th Bn were the three When these were put out they got no fire suns mentfoned. from the north side of the river. While 15th Bn was in Dudgeon Valley they were shown by a Tommy officer how to Hire a 4.2 Howitzer. They turned them round and then all day long they were firing 402 shells on the Germans. They started on Bray and dengthened and shortened and were perfectly happy with them- selves. The German that day put some 5.9 shell into the Valley. On August 9 about 3 (7) a very fine barrage was f put over and the Americans advanced in a N.R. direction from Very heavy V.C. fire came from the direction Malard Wood. of Chipilly but the Yankees missed this and worked up to- wards Gressaire Wood to cut off the peninsula. All along the top of the Peninsula the German flares were still going up even after the Yankees had got to Gressaire Wood. Next morning, Aug 10, a Pn of 13th Bde (7) could be seen dug in a-long the east side of the cliffs and heights of the Chipilly Peninsula. CEAADGODODDL Lt. Shaw was killed. Lt. Hockan wounded lat in the afternoon by a shell when things were pretty quiet (may have been a piece of one of ours from Chipilly) -CCS -0 Before August 8, the Germans m de a daylight raid This on 15th Bn in the trenches taken over from the French. was beaten off. The account of the Bn 1.O. is with that of Bde I.O. with the War Diary of the Bde. In the day a Frenchmen never want over the top. They were very invisible. As soon as our people sot in They were out getting of course they could not be kept down. iron roofs from Cachy and so on. The Germans could not help noticing the difference. EEEDDDODDDOODDDD
XXX 45th BATTALION - August Sth -------- (From Col. Johnston) 45th Bn started from the trenches near Mouse Copse. They were for the Red Line. They moved St 5.30. as Col Johnston decided that thet this would bring then to move through the 3rd Division at 8 am. There was great difficulty moving up. This was owing to the fse There was a rule track as fara s the old front line - but after that then had to rely on compass and sense of direction (no barrage or anything to help.) After great difficulty they got to Accorcne Wood and struck the road in P.16 Central. The C.O. decided to Follow this road though it took him our of his course a bit for it was a guide. When they got through the wood the fog lifted a bit and saved things somewhat. They formed up in the position they were to hop off from, on the slopes in 17 E &D and moved in artillery formation to J.O. line - the road W. of Kate Wood and Thin Wood. The tanks were nor there till Lt. Vincent the I.O. who had sone earlier for them, brought them up from the slopes SE of Hamel. They woald not have arryved otherwise. About 5 minutes before the attack the 7 tanks arrieed. Everything was quiet at the J.P. trench. p just the ordinary stray whizzbang shots. At 8 am. our barrage lifted and 45th Bn-moved, 2 Coys in advance and 2 in support. The first Germans met were in Hamilton Wood and Lena Wood. They put up no fight 1 there were guns, M.Gs, A.M.C. and so on. They were sent back in small parties. The tanks were working with the scouts, with the leading skirmishers within 50 yards of them W. Sa. Sert. Ar. Scats. Po. They generally skirted the woods. The two rear Coys then mopped the woods up, coming through them. Only in odd instances did the Germans fight, One Section came on a post where an officer was sending a telephone message at the bottom of a dugout. He told the officer to stop hut he went on; so he shot him (in Susan Wood)? An odd M.G. would fire a few shots and then would clear. But when they got to about the edge of the big Morcourt valley the 46th Bn struck trouble on the main road at the red brick house. Our heavy shells were
178 60 were still falling on the valley and the opposits slope and the germans on top of the eastern side of the valley opposite the 45th Bn were firing on them acress the Valley. As soonas ta shells lifted Lt. Vincent and the acouts rushed down the slope into the valley about 300 yards north of Caroline Wood and got in amongst 200 The scouts and Vincent were armed with 4 stripped Germans. L.6s. and they fired these at the germans standing and wounded about 15. The Germans then kameraded and so did The tanks were at the back - the ravine those around. being too steep for them. -A couple of tanks had been The 45th Bn got across the ravine knocked before this. and the Germans in front of 46th Bn then gave up. 45th pr got to Morgan Wood without further trouble and reached Red Line at 10. 19 am. The Chimilly suns enfiladed them all the time they were digging in and caused casualties. The guns could be seen firing, They were on the chipilly heights. Then they ease They made it very hot for about three hours. eased by about 1 or 2 pm. 45th Bn was the first Bn on the objective. It was in touch with the 13th pn on the left, They dug in on the objective. and 46th on the right. And 48th Bn went through. Johnston told Perry all he knew of the situation ahead. They had the mark v Star tanks thichwere mot a success. (48th Bn tanks ming their advance up for. 2 or 3 hours) That night 45th Bn relieved 48th Bn in Bray line from main read of the hospital. They got the flag of the hospital and sent it. to the war becords. That Mr8 morning an officer went out (Lt. Potts with one man), poking around for over 1000 yards towards He cnuld see the Germans in the big houses the big dump. That night, Aug,9110 about 9 pr. orders were at Proyart. received to rush out to a lineraminkay running diagonally 88 of Proyart to the road Junction at La Flaque. This was a very hurried show - C.O. decided to two Coys should take 1t - one from the railway to the Road at 20C 1.5 and one from the railway to the Main Cross Road. There was no time to reconnoitre so tha C.O. went out with then and there was The The M.Gs. were very active indeed. a lively time. The scouts were out, also M.G.s were very active indeed. patrol. Coys then moved in file. They had to get down The acroplanes were dropping star shells every few yards. The left Coy had a brush with a M.G. post and had a couple of They got a British The germans got away. men wounded. escaped prisoner - in a terrible state) He got int through Therew as no opposition from the dump. They Proyart) located the germans along the main Foad from La Flague towards Proyart; and in trenches SW of Proyart. He had a M.G. screen. When they got to the cross roads the Germans just beyond the factory began firing with TyMs. 45th dug in without further incident - butrit was anactive night with the The German plahes did not drop bombs - only Gernans M.Gs. star shells. The position could not be approached in daylight. Meals had to go up by night. The night of August 89 the Bn had a very good ho The next night be fore going out they had a hot stew. 9110. stew again. Night of 10111 at Col. Morshead came up to relieve Cannam. Godard and Morshead were having a conference in the They were discussing the dugent when th Johnston left. proposed attack and noone liked it very much. On August 8th there was one of ficer slightly wounded - Capt. Ferguson. He was wounded at Caroline Wood He got a tetanus injection and came back again by a shell. Vincent did splendid work this day. He got a bar next day. M.C..D.C.K.
7. to his M.C. He 18 a Sydney boy. Bn got to the ped Line with 35 casualties, Shell and M.K. Total fer whole tour, about 60. Ht was a wonderfully successful fight. They got receipts for 370 prisoners (and really over 400) and 6.6 in. 5.8 Hows. Btv of 5. 2wo 4.2s and other 77s, 27 suns in all, 48 TMs. (many in a workshop in the Harbonnieres valley, 10 Russian ponies and some waggons. a canteen - about 40 M.Gs (See War Diary) The last phase Today in 15th and 16th Bns there was some Doc. trouble; the men coming to some of thier Coy commanders an saving that they would not parade, or that they thought the ought not to parade, owing to the shortage of rations. 15th Bn only had f of its gatien biscuit ration, I believe. Anyway it shows bow difficult out task would have been if t the germans had simply r etired more wuickly and further (The French instead of fighting and then collapsing. people say that there was noactual mutiny amongst the Their discipline had been noticeably slacker but Germans, the last few months. We cannot even now Feep up with them owing to th blow up of the railays - Our lorries have to go back to Le pateau and fetch the rations up here - and they cannot feed out men properly, or provide even enough candles (a lot of this diary has to be written up agatn in half light. I have seen no newspapers since that of November 28th nor has anyone at 12th Bde Hddrs.) We could never have kept up with the Germans if they had adopted this policy.
28 8. 52nd BATTALION - Dernancourt Capt Fraser who was reported wounded and misstig at Dernancourt was captured at-Bernanceurt wounded by the Germans and survives. Lisnt. L.C.BOASN who was also wounded after the great fight under the archany, was also captured. -00 CDDDUNOUU Fraser in this fight (writing afterwards from Germany) hng on at his position about 100 yards down from the railway crossing until he saw the ermans crawling across the line, when 5 diggets came back from the subway. He then dashed across with two others about 200 tards coming under very heavy M.G. fire all at once and was hit slightly. He lay in a shell hole for a while until the M.G. quietened He managed another 100 yards and had to and then started. This time the M.G. kept playing over take cover again. him. The German infantry were advancing in extended order and the nexy thins he knew was a bayoney through his over- He was later coat and a clout on the mead from a rifle. (when regaining consciousness) taken back prisoner. Poase was early knocked quite unconscious wound ed in ten places. He and some others had made several little attacks underthe bridge, using bombs and revolver. He was seen to fall and was believed to be dead (in one of these rushes) Several men spoke of Boase's work as maghificent. Fraser from Germany, thinking him dead, wrote as I desire to recommend the late Lieut. Boase a prisoner:k for a V.C.) ECADDBAAADDODD
281 9s 45th BATTALION -September 18th -------&00 Najor Loutit 45th Bn was in the railway line from before Vendelles to the Tomnies on the right; the 48th Bn ahead in their front line. As soon as 48th Bn moved the 45th followed them at 400 yards distance. Artillery formation of platoons. Adars in rear of C. It was diff cult to find your way owing to the drizzle and fog. You could see a man at about 20 yards 2 not more. They checked themselves argely by the sunken road running aboutn the centre of the Bn frontage east and west, and the Cambresiels (7) Wood. The worst part of the whole busines for 45th Bn really was coming up in rear of 48th Bn to their objective. The German barrage missed 48th Bn but ut fell on 45th Pn. shortening the whole way. While 48th was consoli- ating, 45th Bn waited for 14 hours on a previously decided position about 200 yards inrear of 48th pn in shell holes- Dehind banks and in sunken road. It was gettng lighter then. The ridge top is practically flat - the Germans could not see the, - the cover and the fag would prevent Germans froms eeing them, but they were in the German barrage. Lt. Hinds was killed there while reorganising his Platoon, by a Cerman sniper who was on the rar side of barrage The adjutant, Capt. Adams, was wounded here for the second tix by a shell. During the advance MaJor Loutit had been wounded just after the adjutant. Lt. Hill the signalling officer was Filled at about the same time, Lt. Hughes, int. Officer badly wounded - (died of wounds), adjutant wounded, and Maj. Loutit. The barrage was heavy - Lt. Horne O.C., C Coy was wounded at the same time, and Lt. Lifield, of D Coy wounded - The wire which was uncut (the the barrage was very good) was In places you had to Walk 50 yards to find a gap. a nuisance. There was both old British wize and German wire. After waiting 14 hours the barrage increased and The Enjust be fore moved to Within 50 to 80 moved forward. yds of it and followed it when it moved. As soona s 45th got through 48th, they met the Germans coming to counter aattack 48th Pn. They were actualy As the Bn got over the slope of the asvancing in wares. gentle crest they saw the Ger, ans coming up extended (not more than 100 yards away) from the lower ground where he had massed Our barrage caught him, and the L.G. fire of our men some of whom took up positions and got on to the Germans - others Firing from the hip. Those who were not caught by the barrage or L.C. simply threw down their rifles and walked right throus the 45thn surrendering immediately - this was about 8 am. and the sun was up - things were looking a lot brighter. There were probably 350 prisoners taken thre - this counter-attack would certainly be one and possibly two battalhons strong. The 45th Bn had 471 fighting strength exclusinve of officers. The Germans had light and heavy McGs with them. Probably they thought our advance had finished with the first
253 10. objective, and weremaking an immediate counterattack. Three officers were captured there, The aivance continued wi thout much opposition Two or shellfire tuill the final objective was reached. at 78. were captured just before reaching the objective, Red Wood: and on the objective a complete battery of 5.9 Hows with a cemplete staff of officers - 6 guns and As the battalion The horses were there. 4 officers. came up a W.97 near by opened. The battern personnel was seen attempting to limber up - with their six tamms there. One platoon 8 A Coy (Right) saw this and went beyond the objective and tookrup cover where with their L.Gs they could bring fre to bear on the her ses. Ris They shot all the horses except that of was spontaneous. They shot the crew of one of ficer who was captured. This gun was evidently the M.G. and got the gun later protecting the battery, (which was about 500 yards south of the centre of Samerville Wood. riust to the NW of Semerville Wood was another battery of 5.9s - when Pn got to its objective it simply walked on to these 1 the crews had previcusly fled. (Two 775.. twelve 5.9s) 7 officers and 474 men prisoners. This brought 45th Bn on to the high ground on our side of Ascension Valley overlocking the low ground to th The opposite line could just Kindenberg outpost line. be seen here and there and there were German transport There were sun teams pulling out all over the country, On the er. also German guns firing at extramely close range. cross roads in the centre of Pontruet village, for example, Our barrage was in a Btty of 77s cculd be seen firing. the village and all rounf them and they did not last long there These guns were firing on to the high ground where 45th Bn were - you could see the flash and thene ame the shells. Consolidation was chiefly troubled by this battery but was not sdifficult ewing excect for scattered f Lt. Deitz, a 1914 man, just received his com- shelling missions was hit diract by one of these shells. He was due to go back to Australia and would have gone as soon as 1at the Bn came out. He would have been left out, but as it was his first time in as an officer, he asked to go in. This battery was firing for wite an hour before the barrage shifted it. The Tomnies on the right - 13t Bn Suffolk Regt. who conformed with our movement and started with 45th Bn. They got the Tumlus in line with 45th B, but shortly after that point they were held up - and reached their final objective with the assistance of 46th Bn some hours later The fire from the right ffont in British area did not cencelidate constitute a serious obstacle to 45th Some undoubtedly came from there, but the German was Bn. so disorganised that our advance was not? delayed by it. The right flank of 45th Bn was absolutely on its boundary The 2nd right platoons wers flung back. on the objective. The left flank was in touch all the way with 13th pn, who reached objective with 45th pn. The 45th 46th pn went trhough almost at once. Bn hed gone out under the barrage and as soon as it lifted they went there and patrolled over ground which 46th Bn were They took a prisoners of the parties who to advance over. were wandering around. Bn had 477 strength captured 474 pr prisoners
Founded 383 11. The Battalion's total casualties were:- Lt. Hill Killed. signal of ficer. Lt. Horne, killd, as above Lt. Hughes, wounded, died of wcAnds, as above. Lt. Kines killed by sniper (as above) Lt. Dietz, killed as above. ---------0---- Majer Captain Young - wounded during reconnais- sance, day before the attack, by shell Major Loutat) Capt, Adams) wounded during advance behind 48th Bn. Lt. Fifield) Other ranks: - Killed 8 wounded 101 Total 8 officers 109 men. --------------
This ref 284 12. NajoEMBUTIT (ThenLt. Eoutit) A Coy. 10th Bn., was in a destroyer and landed in a row beat south of Ari Burnes op- posite Anzac Gully. One man was killed on the destroyer by a bullet in the head. From the time they got off the destroyer into the boat they were under rifle fire and three menwere killed in the beat going ashore. They had one sailor in the boat who steered. The men rowed and did it well. You could just They landed with rifles empty. see the top of the hill. Flashes usee still coming from there and there were Turks still on the beach and in the scrub at the bottom firing at point b'ank range as they landed. when the boats got in (several of A Coy and others) these Turks cleared up through the serub (impossible to say how many Our men's rifles were not leaded nor bay- enets fixed till than. They got ashore, dumped packs against the bank, and fixed bayonets, and loaded rifles; shooting then was coming from Lirection of Caba Teps and enfilading the beach. (Hell spit) The 10th Bn rushed the hill abd from the top in the open looked down into Shrapnel Gully where the Turks were retiring in single file down a small track at the bottom of the fully and up the hill towards the head of wire They were shooting at these Turks from the top and gully. then ran down in amongst them while they were still in Shrapnel Gully. They three down their rifles and wanted to surrender, but thre are too many and wer shot. 75 (There were three or four tents by this path down from Plugges, the lamps Knside were wtill burning - they had been men'’s tents and our men went inside and came out holding up spuvenirs - watchs, kt, and so on.) Heceamecenestethen witt them As they were going down the hill they met Major Brand. He came on with them. They went on up to the head of Wire Cully - and down wire gully. As they got down Wire Cully they saw several guns. The party saw these gune from the head of Wire Gully and opened - but the ranke was too great and the guns got They could see the Turks put teame in these guns. away. They The teams were in, bn some cases, when first seem. Brand had only a few yards to go to get over the crest. told Loutit to keep going. He went back tothe beach. He had seen these guns. From there Loutit and Lt. Haif, (10th Bn) went on past where the guns had been (no dead Turks here) down the gully. At the bottom of Wire Cully a creek branched to the right. There was a stockyard there with some horses stil in it. This creek ran away down to Kaba Tepe. Thay crossed this creek, abroad sandy shallew creek, and came on to a hill in front of the creek: Very few Turks were about except snipers who were seattered everywhere and sniped from behind ] and everywhere. Loutit had 32 men with him, some his own, some They went to the top of this next 9th Bn. sone 11th Bn. ridge where which was covered with holly scrub - and stopped just ever the crest owing to opposition from Turks ahead. The Turks Caba Tepe was back over their right shoulders. were thick (when the party got to the crest) on another These Turke ridge of about equal haight 400 yards in front. They had lost stopped them there with rifle and M.G. fire. They could many men. A few were killed in this position, aee our man on the previous ridge, behid the gully they had xrossedp bh both flanks of them. some dinging in, some crups- ing round potting snipers - nothing very organised on both From there they their flanks, but no one on the same ridge. sent back to the party on their right rear on Johnston's Joll
RNK 285 13. and asked them to come up and form on their right flank. They did so and turned out to be Capt. Ryder with about one platoon of 9th Bn - and they got ap alongside on the right. In the meantime the Turks had worked to the left Tlank and were enfilading from about 400 yards on the 1eft. You could not dig in (even from the first - too hot 4 We wery lying behind the bushes firing through them.) Our 4t line was then forced to retire starting from the right. Ryder sent a message along saying he was going to retire. Soon after 6 and part of his men were seen goins back too their former position which they reached by going for all they were worth down the slope. Loutit then retired. The He 12ft a section and retired by snall partieslunder midital covering Fire thil they got to a small mcAnd about 100 yards on the Turk side of the entrance to Wire Cully. (On the top of the furthest hill the water of the Dardanelles was clearly seen) They thought this r must be a very long way in. Rhis was on the Turk side Cf of the creek (S.E.) The Turks followed occupying the ridge they had just le ft. There they met Peck. He went was unwounded - with a few men. They stayed there half an hour using their rifles - It was very warm. The Turks had brought ip one M.G. with them Peck was wounded slightly and was taken back by one of the men. From there they had to ccross the flat (about 500 or 600 yards of grass through which the creek ran.) As they got half way across the Turks reached the knoll they had left two minutes before and rade it very not. From there the party got up Wire Cully, taking up a positicn at the bottem of Wire Cully on the Johnstone Jolly side of it. overlooking the gully and the flat at the foot. It was then about 11 am. They then found there was a formed line about 80 yds in rear. By collecting strays in the gully the party (11 strong now) was rade up to 19. Afterards Lt. Frayne, 10th Pn, Joined. He had a few men on Johnstone Jolly and came down to them. They dug in there and held the there till relieved four days later by the Marines. Shnstons Laty The trench was at A. Maclagen was directly in left rear and Loutit could signal back about 300 yards to the Bde signallers there. Late on Sunday night when the Tun 5 pretended to be Indians some of them - worked up that gully amd establishe themselves at the bottom of the gully directly enfilading this poeition. They fired into the cutpost all night. There was no one in the gully. But on the far side was a post of 5th (7) 3rd (7) En. They would mutually watch each others side of the gully. On Monday morning as soon as it was light the Turks at the gully foot had to wor Cown the dully and across the same flat. They threw away rigles and kit and OR1

276
4.
The guns which fired on 15th Bn were the three 
guns mentioned. When these were put out they got no fire
from the north side of the river.
While 15th Bn was in Dudgeon Valley they were
shown by a Tommy officer how to fire a 4.2 Howitzer. They
turned them round and then all day long they were firing
4.2 shells on the Germans. They started on Bray and 

lengthened and shortened and were perfectly happy with themselves. 

The German that day put some 5.9 shell into the valley.
On August 9 about 3 (?) a very fine barrage was p
put over and the Americans advanced in a N.E direction from

Malard Wood. Very heavy M.G. fire came from the direction
of Chipilly but the Yankees missed this and worked up towards
Gressaire Wood to cut off the peninsula. All along
the top of the Peninsula the German flares were still going
up even after the Yankees had got to Gressaire Wood.
Next morning, Aug 10, a Bn of 13th Bde (?) could
be seen dug in a-long the east side of the cliffs and heights
of the Chipilly Peninsula.
 

Lt. Shaw was killed.
Lt. Hocken wounded late in the afternoon by a shell
when things were pretty quiet (may have been
a piece of one of ours from Chipilly)

Before August 8, the Germans m de a daylight raid
on 15th Bn in the trenches taken over from the French. This
was beaten off. The account of the Bn I.O. is with that of
Bde I.O. with the War Diary of the Bde.
In the day a Frenchmen never went over the top.
They were very invisible. As soon as our people got in
of course they could not be kept down. They were out getting
iron roofs from Cachy and so on. The Germans could not
help noticing the difference.

 

 

277
5.
45th BATTALION - August 8th
(From Col. Johnston)

45th Bn started from the trenches near Mouse
Copse. They were for the Red Line. They moved at 5.30,
as Col Johnston decided that thei this would bring them to
move through the 3rd Division at 8 am.
There was great difficulty moving up. This
was owing to the fog. There was a mule track as far a s
the old front line - but after that they had to rely on
compass and sense of direction (no barrage or anything to
help.)   After great difficulty they got to Accorche Wood
and struck the road in P.16 Central. The C.O. decided to
follow this road though it took him our of his course
a bit for it was a guide.
When they got through the wood the fog lifted
a bit and saved things somewhat. They formed up in the
position they were to hop off from, on the slopes in 17 B&D-
and moved in artillery formation to J.O. line - the road
W. of Kate Wood and Thin Wood. The tanks were nor there
till Lt. Vincent the I.O. who had gone earlier for them,
brought them up from the slopes SE of Hamel. They would
not have arrived otherwise. About 5 minutes before the
attack the 7 tanks arrived.
Everything was quiet at the J.P. trench. p
just the ordinary stray whizzbang shots. At 8 am. our
barrage lifted and 45th Bn moved, 2 Coys in advance and 2
in support. The first Germans met were in Hamilton Wood
and Lena Wood. They put up no fight 1 there were guns,
M.Gs, A.M.C. and so on. They were sent back in small
parties. The tanks were working with the scouts, with
the leading skirmishers within 50 yards of them
     
Diagram. See original document

They generally skirted the woods. The two rear Coys
then mopped the woods up, coming through them. Only in
odd instances did the Germans fight, One Section came
on a post where an officer was sending a telephone message
at the bottom of a dugout. He told the officer to stop
hut he went on; so he shot him (in Susan Wood) An odd
M.G. would fire a few shots and then would clear.
But when they got to about the edge of the
big Morcourt valley the 46th Bn struck trouble on the
main road at the red brick house. Our heavy shells were
 

 

278
6.
were still falling on the valley and the opposite slope
and the Germans on top of the eastern side of the valley
opposite the 45th Bn were firing on them across the
valley.  As soon a s ta shells lifted Lt. Vincent and the
scouts rushed down the slope into the valley about 300
yards north of Caroline Wood and got in amongst 200
Germans. The scouts and Vincent were armed with 4 stripped
L.Gs. and they fired these at the Germans standing and
wounded about 15. The Germans then kameraded and so did
those around.  The tanks were at the back - the ravine
being too steep for them.   A couple of tanks had been

knocked before this. The 45th Bn got across the ravine
and the Germans in front of 46th Bn then gave up. 45th Bn
got to Morgan Wood without further trouble and reached Red
Line at 10. 19 am.  The  Chipilly guns enfiladed them all the
time they were digging in and caused casualties. The guns
could be seen firing, They were on the Chipilly heights.
They made it very hot for about three hours. Then they ease
eased by about 1 or 2 pm.   45th Bn was the first Bn on the
objective. It was in touch with the 13th Bn on the left,

and 46th on the right. They dug in on the objective.
And 48th Bn went through. Johnston told Perry all he knew
of the situation ahead. They had the mark V Star tanks
which were not a success. (48th Bn tanks hung their advance
up for 2 or 3 hours)
That night 45th Bn relieved 48th Bn in Bray line
from main road of the hospital.  They got the flag of the
hospital and sent it to the war records.
That M.G morning an officer went out (Lt. Potts
with one man), poking around for over 1000 yards towards

the big dump.  He could see the Germans in the big houses
at Proyart. That night, Aug.9/10 about 9 pm, orders were
received to rush out to a line xxxxxxxxx running diagonally
SE of Proyart to the road Junction at La Flaque.  This was
a very hurried show - C.O. decided to two Coys should take
it - one from the railway to the Road at 20C  1.5 and one
from the railway to the Main Cross Road. There was no time
to reconnoitre so the C.O. went out with them and there was

a lively time. The M.Gs. were very active indeed.  The

M.Gs. were very active indeed. The scouts were out, also a
patrol. Coys then moved in file. They had to get down

every few yards. The aeroplanes were dropping star shells
The left Coy had a brush with a M.G.  post and had a couple of

men wounded. The Germans got away.  They got a British
escaped prisoner - in a terrible state ) He got int through

Proyart)  There was no opposition from the dump.    They
located the Germans along the main road from La Flague towards
Proyart; and in trenches SW of Proyart. He had a M.G. screen.
When they got to the cross roads the Germans
just beyond the factory began firing with T?Ms.  45th dug in
without further incident - but it was an active night with the

 Germans M.Gs. The Germans planes did not drop bombs - only
star shells.
The position could not be approached in daylight.
Meals had to go up by night.
The night of August 8 9 the Bn had a very good hot

stew. 9/10.  The next night before going out they had a hot

stew again.
Night of 10/11 at Col. Morshead came up to relieve
Cannam.  Godard and Morshead were having a conference in the

dugout when th Johnston left. They were discussing the

proposed attack and no one liked it very much.

On August 8th there was one officer slightly

wounded - Capt. Ferguson.  He was wounded at Caroline Wood

by a shell.  He got a tetanus injection and came back again 

next day.   Vincent did splendid work this day.  He got a bar

M.C.,D.C.M

 

 

279
7.
to his M.C. He is a Sydney boy.
Bn got to the ped Line with 35 casualties,
shell and M.E.
Total for whole tour, about 60. It was a
wonderfully successful fight.
They got receipts for 370 prisoners (and
really over 400) and 6.6 in. 5.8 Hows. Bty  of 5.9,
two 4.2s and other 77s, 27 guns in all, 48 TMs. (many in
a workshop in the Harbonnieres valley, 10 Russian ponies
and some waggons. a canteen - about 40 M.Gs (See War Diary)

                                                            

The last phase

Dec 3rd, Today in 15th and 16th Bns there was some
trouble. the men coming to some of thier Coy commanders an
saving that they would not parade, or that they thought the
ought not to parade, owing to the shortage of rations.
15th Bn only had ¾ of its ration biscuit ration, I believe.
Anyway it shows bow difficult out task would have been if t
the Germans had simply r etired more wuickly and further
instead of fighting and then collapsing.  (The French
people say that there was noactual mutiny amongst the

Germans, Their discipline had been noticeably slacker but
the last few months.)
We cannot even now keep up with them owing to the
blow up of the railays - Our lorries have to go back to
Le gateau and fetch the rations up here - and they cannot
feed out men properly, or provide even enough candles
(a lot of this diary has to be written up agatn in half
light.  I have seen no newspapers since that of November
28th nor has anyone at 12th Bde HdQrs.) We could never
have kept up with the Germans if they had adopted this
policy.
                                            

 

280
8.
52nd BATTALION - Dernancourt

Capt Fraser who was reported wounded and missing
at Dernancourt was captured at-Dernancourt
wounded by the Germans and survives.
Lieut.  L.C. BOASE who was also wounded after the
great fight under the archany, was also captured.
                                        
Fraser in this fight (writing afterwards from
Germany) hung on at his position about 100 yards down from
the railway crossing until he saw the Germans crawling
across the line, when 5 diggers came back from the subway.
He then dashed across with two others about 200 tards coming
under very heavy M.G. fire all at once and was hit slightly.
He lay in a shell hole for a while until the M.G. quietened

and then started. He managed another 100 yards and had to
take cover again.  This time the M.G. kept playing over
him. The German infantry were advancing in extended order
and the nexy thins he knew was a bayoney through his overcoat

and a clout on the head from a rifle. He was later
(when regaining consciousness) taken back prisoner.
Boase was early knocked quite unconscious wounded 

in ten places. He and some others had made several
little attacks underthe bridge, using bombs and revolver.
He was seen to fall and was believed to be dead (in one of
these rushes) Several men spoke of Boase's work as
magnificent.
Fraser from Germany, thinking him dead, wrote as
a prisoner:k "I desire to recommend the late Lieut. Boase
for a V.C.''
                                    

 

281
9.
45th BATTALION - September 18th
Major Loutit

45th Bn was in the railway line from before
Vendelles to the Tomines on the right; the 48th Bn ahead
in their front line.   As soon as 48th Bn moved the 45th
followed them at 400 yards distance.
Diagram. See original document
Artillery formation of platoons.
HdQrs in rear of C.
It was diff cult to find your way owing to the
drizzle and fog. You could see a man at about 20 yards & 
not more.
They checked themselves largely by the sunken road
running aboutn the centre of the Bn frontage east and west, and
the Cambresiels (?) Wood. The worst part of the whole busines
for 45th Bn really was coming up in rear of 48th Bn to their
objective. The German barrage missed 48th Bn but ut fell on
45th Bn. shortening the whole way. While 48th was consoliating,
45th Bn waited for 14 hours on a previously decided
position about 200 yards inrear of 48th pn in shell holes-
behind banks and in sunken road. It was getting lighter then.
The ridge top is practically flat - the Germans
could not see the, - the cover and the fog would prevent
Germans froms eeing them, but they were in the German barrage.
Lt. Hinds was killed there while reorganising his
platoon, by a German sniper who was on the near side of barrage -
The adjutant, Capt. Adams, was wounded here for the second time
by a shell. During the advance Major Loutit had been wounded
just after the adjutant. Lt. Hill the signalling officer
was killed at about the same time, Lt. Hughes, Int. Officer
badly wounded - (died of wounds), adjutant wounded, and Maj.
Loutit. The barrage was heavy - Lt. Horne O.C., C Coy was
wounded at the same time, and Lt. Lifield, of D Coy wounded -
The wire which was uncut (the the barrage was very good) was
a nuisance. In places you had to Walk 50 yards to find a gap.
There was both old British wire and German wire.
After waiting 1¼ hours the barrage increased and
moved forward. The Bnjust be fore moved to within 50 to 80
yds of it and followed it when it moved.
As soona s 45th got through 48th, they met the
Germans coming to counter aattack 48th Bn. They were actually
asvancing in waves. As the Bn got over the slope of the
gentle crest they saw the Ger, ans coming up extended (not more
than 100 yards away) from the lower ground where he had massed
Our barrage caught him, and the L.G. fire of our men some of
whom took up positions and got on to the Germans - others
firing from the hip. Those who were not caught by the barrage
or L.C. simply threw down their rifles and walked right throug
the 45thm, surrendering immediately - this was about 8 am. and the
sun was up - things were looking a lot brighter.
There were probably 350 prisoners taken the re - this
counter-attack would certainly be one and possibly two battalions
strong. The 45th Bn had 471 fighting strength exclusinve of
officers. The Germans had light and heavy M.Gs with them.
Probably they thought our advance had finished with the first
 

 

282
10.
objective, and weremaking an immediate counterattack.
Three officers were captured there,
The advance continued without much opposition

or shellfire tuill the final objective was reached. Two
77s. were captured just before reaching the objective, at
Red Wood: and on the objective a complete battery of
5.9 Hows with a complete staff of officers - 6 guns and
4 officers. The horses were there. As the battalion.
came up a M.G.? near by opened. The battery personnel
was seen attempting to limber up - with their six teams
there. One platoon 6 A Coy (Right) saw this and went
beyond the objective and took up cover where with their
L.Gs they could bring fire to bear on the horses. This
was spontaneous. They shot all the horses except that of
one of ficer who was captured. They shot the crew of
the M.G. and got the gun later. This gun was evidently
protecting the battery, (which was about 500 yards south of
the centre of Somerville Wood.
Just to the NW of Somerville Wood was another
battery of 5.9s - when Bn got to its objective it simply
walked on to these 1 the crews had previously fled. (Two
77s.. twelve 5.9s) 7 officers and 474 men prisoners.
This brought 45th Bn on to the high ground on
our side of Ascension Valley overlocking the low ground to the
Hindenberg outpost line. The opposite line could just
be seen here and there and there were German transport,
gun teams pulling out all over the country, There were
also German guns firing at extremely close range. On the cr.
cross roads in the centre of Pontruet village, for example,
a Btty of 77s could be seen firing. Our barrage was in
the village and all rounf them and they did not last long there
These guns were firing on to the high ground where 45th Bn
were - you could see the flash and then c ame the shells.
Consolidation was chiefly troubled by this
battery but was not sdifficult ewing excect for scattered f
shelling. Lt. Deitz, a 1914 man, just received his commissions
was hit direct by one of these shells. He was due
to go back to Australia and would have gone as soon as 1at
the Bn came out. He would have been left out, but as it
was his first time in as an officer, he asked to go in.
This battery was firing for wute an hour before
the barrage shifted it.
The Tommies on the right - 1st Bn Suffolk Regt.
who conformed with our movement and started with 45th Bn.
They got the Tumulus in line with 45th B, but
shortly after that point they were held up - and reached
their final objective with the assistance of 46th Bn some
hours later
The fire from the right front in British area
did not censolidate constitute a serious obstacle to 45th
Bn. Some undoubtedly came from there, but the German was
so disorganised that our advance was not delayed by it.
The right flank of 45th Bn was absolutely on its boundary
on the objective. The 2nd right platoons were flung back.
The left flank was in touch all the way with 13th Bn, who
reached objective with 45th Bn.
46th Bn went trhough almost at once. The 45th
Bn had gone out under the barrage and as soon as it lifted
they went there and patrolled over ground which 46th Bn were
to advance over. They took a prisoners of the parties who
were wandering around. Bn had 477 strength captured 474 pr
prisoners
 

 

283
11.
The Battalion's total casualties were:-
Lt. Hill Killed. signal officer.
Lt. Horne, killed, as above
Lt. Hughes, wounded, died of wounds, as above.
Lt. Hines killed by sniper (as above)
Lt. Dietz, killed as above.

Wounded
Major Captain Young - wounded during reconnaissance,
day before the attack, by shell
Major Loutit )
Capt, Adams) wounded during advance behind
Lt. Fifield       ) 48th Bn.
Other ranks: - killed 8
                           wounded 101
Total 8 officers
109 men.
 

 

284
12.
Major LOUTIT (Then Lt. Loutit) A Coy. 10th Bn., was in a
destroyer and landed in a row boat south of Ari Burnu
opposite Anzac Gully. One man was killed on the destroyer by
a bullet in the head. From the time they got off the
destroyer into the boat they were under rifle fire and three
men were killed in the boat going ashore. They had one
sailor in the boat who steered. The men rowed and did it
well. They landed with rifles empty. You could just
see the top of the hill. Flashes were still coming from
there and there were Turks still on the beach and in the
scrub at the bottom firing at point blank range as they
landed. When the boats got in (several of A Coy and others)
these Turks cleared up through the scrub (impossible to
say how many) Our men's rifles were not leaded nor bayonets

fixed till then.
They got ashore, dumped packs against the bank,
and fixed bayonets, and loaded rifles; shooting then was
coming from direction of Gaba Tepe and enfilading the beach.
(Hell spit)
The 10th Bn rushed the hill and from the top
in the open looked down into Shrapnel Gully where the Turks
were retiring in single file down a small track at the
bottom of the gully and up the hill towards the head of wire
gully. They were shooting at these Turks from the top and
then ran down in amongst them while they were still in
Shrapnel Gully. They threw down their rifles and wanted
to surrender, but there are too many and wer shot.
[*This refers to the tents in Owens Gully*]

(There were three or four tents by this path down from
Plugges, the lamps inside were still burning - they had been
men's tents and our men went inside and came out holding
up souvenirs - watches, kit, and so on.)
He came on at them with them
As they were going down the hill they met Major
Brand. He came on with them. They went on up to the
head of Wire Cully - and down wire gully.
As they got down Wire Gully they saw several
guns. The party saw these guns from the head of Wire Gully
and opened - but the range was too great and the guns got
away. They could see the Turks put teams in these guns.
The teams were in, in some cases, when first seem.
They had only a few yards to go to get over the crest.
Brand told Loutit to keep going. He went back tothe beach. He had
seen these guns.
[*Morlan ridge*]
From there Loutit and Lt. Haig, (10th Bn) went
on past where the guns had been (no dead Turks here) down
the gully. At the bottom of Wire Gully a creek branched to
the right. There was a stockyard there with some horses stil
in it. This creek ran away down to Kaba Tepe. They crossed
this creek, a/broad sandy shallow creek, and came on to a hill
in front of the creek. Very few Turks were about except
snipers who were scattered everywhere and sniped from behind
and everywhere.
Loutit had 32 men with him, some his own, some
9th Bn. sone 11th Bn. They went to the top of this next
ridge where which was covered with holly scrub - and stopped
just over the crest owing to opposition from Turks ahead.
Gaba Tepe was back over their right shoulders. The Turks
were thick (when the party got to the crest) on another
ridge of about equal height 400 yards in front. These Turks
stopped them there with rifle and M.G. fire. They had lost
many men. A few were killed in this position, They could
see our men on the previous ridge, behid the gully they had
xrossedm, on both flanks of them. some digging in, some cruising
round potting snipers - nothing very organised on both
their flanks, but no one on the same ridge. From there they
sent back to the party on their right rear on Johnston's Joll
 

 

285
13.
and asked them to come up and form on their right flank.
They did so and turned out to be Capt. Ryder with about
one platoon of 9th Bn - and they got up alongside on the
right. In the meantime the Turks had worked to the left
flank and were enfilading from about 400 yards on the 1eft.
You could not dig in (even from the first - too hot 4 We
were lying behind the bushes firing through them.) Our 44
line was then forced to retire starting from the right.
Ryder sent a message along saying he was going to retire.
Soon after he and part of his men were seen going back to
their former position which they reached by going for all
they were worth down the slope.
Loutit then retired. The He left a section
and retired by small parties under mutual covering
fire till they got to a small mound about 100 yards on the
Turk side of the entrance to Wire Gully.
(On the top of the furthest hill the water
of the Dardanelles was clearly seen) They thought this m
must be a very long way in. This was on the Turk side of
of the creek (S.E.) The Turks followed occupying the ridge
they had just left. There they met Peck. He went was
unwounded - with a few men. They stayed there half an
hour using their rifles - It was very warm. The Turks had
brought ip one M.G. with them Peck was wounded slightly
and was taken back by one of the men.
From there they had to ccross the flat (about
500 or 600 yards of grass through which the creek ran.) As
they got half way across the Turks reached the knoll they
had left two minutes before and made it very hot.
From there the party got up Wire Gully, taking up a position
at the bottom of Wire Gully on the Johnstone Jolly side of
it. overlooking the gully and the flat at the foot. It was
then about 11 am. They then found there was a formed line
about 80 yds in rear. By collecting strays in the gully
the party (11 strong now) was made up to 19. Afterwards
Lt. Frayne, 10th Bn, joined. He had a few men on Johnstone
Jolly and came down to them. They dug in there and held the
there till relieved four days later by the Marines.

Diagram, - see original document
The trench was at A. Maclagen was directly in
left rear and Loutit could signal back about 300 yards to
the Bde signallers there.
Late on Sunday night when the Turks pretended to
be Indians some of them - worked up that gully and established
themselves at the bottom of the gully directly enfilading
this position. They fired into the outpost all night.
There was no one in the gully. But on the far side was a
post of 5th (?) 3rd (?) Bn. They would mutually watch each
others side of the gully.
On Monday morning as soon as it was light the
Turks at the gully foot had to work down the dully and
across the same flat. They threw away rifles and kit and
 

 
Last edited by:
GeorginaGeorgina
Last edited on:

Last updated: