Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/228/1 - Folder - Part 1

AVM38
Official History,
1914-18 War: Records of CEW Bean,
Official Historian.
Diaries and Notebooks
Item number: 3DRL606/228/1
Tile: Folder, Folder
Comprises typed copies of items 3DRL
606/216/1 - 3DRL 606/225/1.
AVM38-3DRL606/228/1
 

1st SET

DIARIES Nos 316-225

AWM38

DIARIES AND NOTES OF C. E. W. BEAN
CONCERNING THE WAR OF 1914-1918
THE use of these diaries and notes is subject to conditions laid down in the terms
of gift to the Australian War Memorial. But, apart from those terms, I wish the
following circumstances and considerations to be brought to the notice of every
reader and writer who may use them.

These 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 be 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 takes 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 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 herwin should be read with this in mind.
16 Sept, 1946.

C. E. W. BEAN.

3DRL 606 ITEM 228 [1] 

N^o 1 Copy

N⁰ 228
NOTES OF INTERVIEWS
WITH

BATTALION OFFICERS &c.
This folio contains copies of

Books N^os 216 to 225.

Original of Book 219 (pp. 451-9) is missing!
 

386
23rd BATTALION
Mt. St. Quentin) From most
Herleville)surviving officers
Beaurevoir) and some N.C.Os.
20th BATTALION
Pozieres From McColl.

23rd BATTALION
15th to 18th August. Herleville

Took over from 26th and 28th Bn roughly on
the grid bwtwen 4 d and 5c and 10 and 11/ 23rd Bn was on

right of Bde junctioning with 14th Bn/ of Bde
On August 12 they pushed forard from there 

during afternoon into the old French System on the high
ground - patrols are sent first which got into the system
up Champagne Alley and then up north through the old French
system. The patrols getting in in this way the 23rd Bn
came oveland in artillery formation. This allowed 22nd Bn
to swing round its right flank and face Herleville with
its right flank junctioning with 23rd Bn about Hill 90 work.
It was then decided to attack Herleville and attack
eastwards. The ptrol had found isolated post in the old
French system - whom they bombed. In the following nights

there were three bombing fighrs at the corner of the hill

90 work when the Germans were holding strongly - the German
wqs in the Hill 90 work where it joins the old system. Not

much progress was made. On the night 16/17 Bn pushed out

patrols to the line from to Maam Wood.
On 17th, 14th Bn reported that one of their
patrols had got on in a trench south of Madam Wood. An 

attackwas then planned on Saurian Alley at the maze. This
was anticipated by the sxploitation done by 23rd Bn in
Saurian Alley om afternoon Aug. 17. (account with War

Diaries) In the fight Lt. M. Weir was killed. He was 1?0

of Bn. came away with 7th Bn I was at Landing, Helles,

wounded in Lone Pine - three weeks in Australia I got back
just in time to get to 23rd before 1st Pozieres, coming up as

batman to Alec Raws in order to get up quickly (He had been 

held up at Etaples. Went through both Pozieres fights. At
Bullecourt time he was sergeant and was at the O.C.B. 1 he

got back before Ypres and was through every other fight. He
had ben with Bde as I.O. but applied to come back to Bn
as the other workwas too clerical to please him.

Lt. Houldsworth wounded.

On morning of C Coy attacked the Maze at 4.15
am. and B Coy bombed up Saurian Alley to it.

Bn was relieved by the 2nd, Manchesters who were
next day attacked by the Germans and driven our but
regained the trenches later.
23rd En came out to Vecquemont.
QAugust 23rd moved by bus to Pooyart.
Bn in reserve.
Aug. 28. A Coy was lent to 21Bn to capture Frise.

They pushed through Frise and drove the Germans out. The 23
Bn drove through the streets of Frise with two men wounded.
21st was moving round east of Frise and getting the Germans
whom 23rd drove out of Frise.
Aug. 28/29, 23rd Bn relieved 21st Bn and 5th
Bde came in on left. Instructions were to push out and

take Herbecourt during the night and Flancourt. 

387

2.
This was done - the Germans had gone and we

could not catch up - only 24 had trouble on their right.

On morning of Aug 29th, 7th Bde came through and advanced

to the river.
Aug 30th 23rd Bn remaied north and west of
Flancourt - other battalions were near Mercourt wood.
Aug. 31. at 9 am, Col. Brazenor was called to Bde

whichw as in the quarry near Mercourt Wood. Orders were

to move via Boscourt, through Clery (transport via Clery)
- to move across river at 10.30 am. with orders to clear

up the map squares about Halle.
Bn moved in artillery formation of platoons

through Clery - Germans were shelling there - 23rd Bn was

leading.

The Bnc ame down east of the Somme still in

artillery formation - (about noon or 12.30 round the bend)
with the main peronne Clery road as the centre boundary for
Battalion.
xxx 
Diagram - see original document

They workd into the Park Wood without meeting Germans.
But as the aft of B Coy and C Coy came round the north of
the wood they were seen by Germans in Florina trench and

fired on at about 8000 yards range. The right of B Coy

coming through the wood the Germans did not see till it was

within 50 yards. B Coy had taken the road straight up three
through Halle. There was not a soul in Halle The Germa
ns not shelling Halle. The left Coys were getting heavy
M.G. fire from the small unnamed copse NW of Anvil Wood, on
the road (this is not shown in the map) This copse was

right on the road at Florina Trench where Florina trench

crossed the road.
Through this opposition C Coy had tocross over
to the right of the road where they got on the left of B Coy
A Coy went on into their support postion as ordered into
Kholm Trench and at got in without many casualties (under
Capt. Moss)/

C and B got into Florina trench south of the

road Thee were Germans in there using their rif M.Gs.

These were fired on with L.Gs from the right flank in

front of Halle. This allowed the coys to get into Florina

Trench south of the road.

D. Coy (Lt. H.C. Holland) worked down th

Florina trench towards the river. Here Florina
trench ends in Rege Padegonde trench which was an old fire
trench running parrallel to the Somme about 200 yards
inland of it. When they got to Radegonde trench a bombing

party was sent under Lt. Field up this trnch towards Peronne
They got 300 to 500 yds. There werenot Germans in this length
of trench. As they got on however they came into the field
of fire of a M.G, which was in the first house on the

right hand side of the village. This gun was firing from
a window down into the trench. One man was killed. Field

eaw was wounded. The party came back to Florina trench. A

post was aft at a small trench junction a little way up the
trench.

388
3.
It was to this post that two men of the

captured in the 21st March came in during the night one

of whom was bayonetted in error - they had escaped from
carrying ammunition and had no idea our troops were
within many miles.
(See Intelligence Reports for these men's Bn/)
This put 23rd Bn in Florina trench on the right

and the road with the Germans still holding the little

copse ahead. At this time the Bn still though it would
have to attack Anvil Wood.
They were in Florina trench up to the road at A
It ended there. They worked round (on getting there) up

the C.T. (A B) into Johannes trench and down, through as
far as where there was a shanty in the trench forming a

block of 200-300 yds down it. Johannes trench was very
shallow and enfiladed from the Copse. There was proably
nothing south of the block but you could not get round and

see on account of the M.Gfire from the copse.
Shortly after 23rd Bn got into Florina trench
a barrage of our 18-pdr was put down for a few minutes on

the trench (probably on orders to clear that square - they
did not know 6th Bde was there so soon)
xxx
Diagram - see original document
The wire in front of Johannes Trench was very thick and

right on the crest of the ridge. It was very thick also

between H.J. and Y.
From Johannes trench you could see the old buildig

south of Anvil Wood, where thére were dozens of M.Gs firing -
you couldnot raise a head to look.
The Germans in the Copse spotted 23rd Bn in

Johannes trench and this party had to withdraw soon after
getting there.
Lt. Elliott (I.O.) was up there and took back the

disposition report.

The intention was to attack south of the road so

A Coy was brought from Kholm trench into Prague Trench. 
his was abo7t dusk and was done after dark. The Coy
Commanders were at Bn HQrs in Lost Ravine then and instructions
were issued over the phone to the seconds in 2 in/Cs.
The decision to attack om this way had been come

to at a conference with General Robertson at Bn HOrs. The
Bn Commanders were there - a great a dvantage was that the C.Os
were all there together - the 23rd Bn was to attack towards
Peronne, including Anvil Wood. 21st and 24th Bns were to
attack north, taking in Mt. St. Quentin. 22nd Bn was to
be support Battalion.

389

4.
The stipulation was made at this Corps
that if it werepossible to get a battalion of 5th
Divn, Gen. Robertson would do so - for attacking where
23rd Bn was, as ad yp strengthen the attack against
Mt. St Wuentin The jobwas very big -tremendous front
and Germans sos trong. Bn C.Os had their O.Cs
Coys dowb there, waiting to find the disposition of
the attack when settled by Bde.
G.O.C. rang up about midnight and said 
that two 2 Bns of 5th Div would be available but would
not be able yo get into position until 6 am an hour
after dawn - (an hour too late)/
The alternative plan which had already been
vaguely decided wawthen abel to be crystalllised in
orders. That is to say - G.O.C. gave the 3rd Bn commanders
over the phone their boundaries.
23rd Bn were in trenches which 5th Div. would
have to start in about five hours time. 5th Bde were,
as far as Bn Commanders of 6th Bde knes, in Mt. S. Quentin,
A few had been met in Save Trench and 6th Bde thought this
was the most forward position of the 5th Bde troops. (Later

the remnants of 5th Bde were found in Elsa Tremch)
AOn account of the vagueness of position of 5th Bde
it was impossible to give the creeping barrage for the J.O.T.
and barrage was a ccordingly arranged to deal with enemy S.P.

23rd Bn had to get on to J.O.T. (Save Trench)
and yo dave a garrison in Florina Trench for 5th Div -
this had to be one before dawn.
Ont rying to move into Save Trench the 23rd Bn
founf yyat the Germand had come in along the railway line.
(On getting into Florina patrols were sent out
from Prague Trench into Save Trench (H.D.) were te 5th Bde
was expected to be. These were fighting patrols L.G and
10 men under N.C.O. They found no 5th Bde therejust then.
The Germans werein this trench having come down from the
wood by the 2 C.Ts shown on sketch D X, D Y and wee almost

down to H. The patrols (4 all told) had to come back from

about 320 or 30 yards across the road - there they met
barbed wire, andearthen blocks which were all held - This wa
after A Coy vame from Kholm trench but before the orderr
attack had been changed. The patrols were trying to find

out what wason their flank.
On getting orders that GD was to be the J.I.T.
Lt. Jenkins sent out another patrol; and they got in touch
with Capt Allan, 17th Bn who had a post with 8 or 10 men. (DH
was still held so they worked roud irm Kholm trench) Allans
post was (as far as Jenkins knew) at Z. The Germans were in
the same trench between him and the road. He also had a L=G.
pointed on to Kholm trench because he thought this was occupied
by the Germans.
The patrol (under Sgt-Warren D C.M.) reported

that 17th Bn post was at Z.
It was just getting dawn. There were about 20
minutes to get to the J.O.T. There were several little C.Ts.

from Florina trenchto Prague. The only way to get through
was to push the Germans out of D H.
B Coy which was lading (LtJenkins ( sent a stong
fighting patrol ahead of the Coy (The other three Coys were
close behind) As soon as the fighting patrol got aros the
road it met with opposition. There was also a M.G.

firing from the copse direct down the road.
(Pte Godfreys later shot a M.Gunner up a tree in
the copse. He had a platform)
The fighting patrol got about 50 yards up the trench

meeting withstrong opposition. There were several blocks in
the trench beyond this with wire. There were bombs and M.Gs.
both opposing.
 

390

5.

At this point (DX) there was a block. Pte.
Mactier - who was a runner - was with the patrol; Lt.
Jenkins was /at the head of the Coy about 10 from the
heads pf the patrol. The patrol-Cpl. Findlay leading with L.G.
was shot dead at very close range. Patrol started to shrink
Jenkins sent Metier to go forward and see what was holdin
them up. He rushed forward right through the fighting
patrol l he had several bombs and a revolver.

He threw a bomb over the block, rushed the block. got over
 

 Diagram - see original document

 

the other side - killed the crew (about half a dozen lay

dead) - captured the gun. The next thing those behind
saw was a light M.G. tossed over the top.
He rushed forward across the second block
about 30 yards behind the first -through a group of about
20 Germans who put up their hands as he went through. Behind
the second attack block which had very thick barbed wire in
front of it was another gun. He threw bombs and killed the
crew. He hopped ver the top in full view of the Germans as

the wire prevented him going on - and was shot there by a
German gun from very near by on the flank. He was after
another gun whichwas further up the same trench when he was

killed. He was not more than five minutes from first to

last.
The patrol immediately pushed forward under Lt.
Dixon D Coy rear and they mopped up the trencg 1 there were
a lot of dugouts and Germans about, and came on the Germans
he had aft behind him. They must have got 40 or 50
prisoners. 
Some of the Germans moved back towards D X. Lt.
Jenkins got on to them there with a L.G. and estimates about
10 hit and 30 or 40 getting away. B. Coy moved then straight

across on to the J.O.T with D following them.
C Coy followed by A moved down in rear of the

two others.
The movement of the men acros the road was very

hazardous -each man had to make a dash for it. Several were
hit there.
Within a minute after the two Coys got into their
J.O.T. they had to jump off - as soon as Lt. Jenking had got
his men together he pushed off.
The l4th Bde were moving in to Florina Trench
just as 23rd Bn moved off. They were there on time.
(Zero was at 6 am. in order to allow for this. The 
drizxle and dullnessof the mrning was a saving condition -
it was a good morning for the attack)
23rd moved up the slope at walking pace - without

many casualties toElsa Trench (B and C).
As they c ame over the top towards Elsa Trench
they came under M.Gun fire from the aerodrome - and sniping
fir from the Mount. This got hotter as theu got towards the

trench, and just before getting in they had to hurry. In
Elsa trench was a miture mixture of various battalions of 5th Bde - bit
of the 19th and 20th Bns. The 23rd Bn crossed Elsa trench -
keeping on - and round the right of the hospital (Lts Short
Addison and Jenkins were there) whichwas behindthe small wood
on the A.W. sideof the road. They were getting fired on
from the sugar factory and from the Mount and had to be withdr
drawn to Elsa trench.

391

6.

On the right were D and A with 14th Bde on
their right.
Part of the right Coy and support fought
their way to the aerodrome at I 21 A 7.4.
(The Germans had run out of the trenches DH
back with into the copse)
At the aerodrome they were stopped -about 11
am. It was accordingly decided to harass Mt. St. Quentin
with artilery fire -intense from 1 pm. to 1:30pm.
Teleohone communicationwas established into Elsa
trench soon after they got there (They got there about 6.30)
The rightof 23rd Bn came to about half way between.Gott
mit Uns and Uber Alles trenches. Ther was no sign of the 5th
30 Bde in Uber Alles or Gott mit uns. Gott mit uns was
strongly held but a slight dip had protected the two left
xxxxxx companies from this on getting into Elsa trench.
As companies went towards the hospital these two guns opened
but the cover was fia fairly good - the Bn had worked round
a trench. The main resistance, was from the centre of the
village, not from Gott mit uns.

 

Diagram - see original document

There were no Germans in the north part of Uber Alles trench
(but there were in the - who had got in by the railway as
above stated) The 5th Bde were holding Elsa trencg round 
to where Uber Alless trench joined it. They might have used
it the day before as a C.T. (because tgeir rations were sent
up and dumped at the south end of this trench and the Germans
got these 1 23rd Bn got some, Right of 23rd Bn was between
Uber Ales trench junctionw ith Elsa and the cross road from
Mt.St. Quentin to fatory and aerodrome. Gott mit uns was a
few paces beyond the road. The 23rd Bn when it crosed Elsa
trench got to the wall which was on the south side of the cops
There were a couple of cleared tracks through the copse and
these were covered with ?.Gs from the huts in the hospital/

Elsa trench was packed with dead of 5th Bde.
The orders ame up on phone from Bn that harassing
fire would be on St. Quentinfrom 11 amn till 1 pm and intense
from 1 pm to 1.30. The H.A and R.HA 13-pdrs (16th Bty) did
excellent shooting.
23rd Bn eas to attack the south half of the
village; two coys 21st Bn to work through north half. At the
same time 24th Bn attacked No. 1 village (but part actually-wo
worked through the north part of the vilage) The men took
very few prisoners. This atackw as made over the open by
three parties. They filed out of the trenches and went out
in artillery formation. There was no fire on the rightparty.
Before the road wasreaced on the le ft there were
Germans in the brick ruins S.W of the big cliff-like mound
of the mount. As our men got on to them they jumped up and
tried to surrendr or else boltedback into the centre of the
village. They had to cross the road and a lot were shot there
Across the N.E side of the road a lot of light
M.G posts weremet. 21st was going for the high part, 23rd
went to the right of this. On te top of the steep were a
number of Dugouts with heavy huns mounted. This was about
where 23rd met 21st. The Germans did not fight there. They
ran back through the village and the wood. In this attack
as 23rd went through the village the Germans seemed to swarm
back from the edge of thePeronne (the left edge) towards St.
Denis.
The right crossed the 3rd class track to Peronne
which crosses the top of Mt. St.Quentin - and reached Kotos
trench (the atack as shown on sketch - I 16 A 55,30 was the 

392

7.
block) For right flank it was requested that one Coy
22nd Bn should be established in Gott mit uns trench.
This was done. The Germans had cel cleard from there in
this attack - these Germans fired ont he right of the
attack which got three light M.Gs out of this trench
and shot a few Germans.
xxx

Diagram - see original document

About 10.20 a mine was blown up near the N.
of theaerodrome and Gott mit uns trench. It was at the
time thought that it had blown some men up l it was
probably on the light railway.
-----------------------
-Weunded - Lt./W.J Claydon - A Coy. killed in the village -
sniped during the afternoon.
(died of wounds)
2/Lt C. H. Ledward, B Coy (just arrived from

Australia) killed by a shell in
the vilage during the afternoon
(died of wounds)
A Capt. Moss during first advance on right towards
Anvil Wood
Lt. H. Field 31st August (as above)
Lt. Griffin (with Moss) (same time as
Lt. Love (with Moss) (Moss
Lt. O'Connell - in afternoon in the village.
Lt. A.F.H. Gabriel - in morning with right
towards Anvil Wood.
Lt. Holland - organising for imediate attack.
Capt. Addison - R.O.D.

____________________

The right had been brought back (after 53rd Bn
went through) for the afternoon attack from Elsa trench.

Holland was wounded on the way up. O'Connell took his
place and was afterwards wounded in the attack in the
afternoon.

In the morning going up the 53rd and 54th Bns
halted to pick up their gides in the Lost Ravine. They came

in for a very heavy barrage there. The Bns came in for a y
very heavy time and Lt. Shearwood (Intelligence Officer of one
of these bns, late 21st Bn) was killed standing in the doorway
These dugouts were all known to the Germans and
both this place, and the dugouts in the Quarry south of Mt.

393

8.

Quentin and the quarry NE of Anvil Wood were heavily shelled
by the Germans.
In onjective, 6th Bde was heavily shelled with
gas shells, especially 24th and 21st on top of the hill.
The Germanw as for the first time in these Battalions'
experience exploding gas shells in the air - 77s. They

exploded lke shrapnel. He was using other shells as well.
(The Germans used them in this way in order to vaporise
better) The men had to wear masks a great part of the time.
On September 2, the 7th Bde went through.

After 6th Bd settled down there was flat ground 800
tards between there and the road. The German was
occupying St. Denis. There was a trench system beyond
the raod from where there was very intense M.G. fire. The

Germans held a little copse beyod this road, and also the la

line of the road and trees itself. The 23rd went down 200
or 300 yards down Koros Alley. Gemans held the lower end
of this trench.
When 26th Bn went through at dawn on 2/9/18 

they got very heavy M.G. fire from the trench system round

St. Denis and from the road (not from St.Denis itself.)
26th Bn attacked (as shown on map) they were very badly

cut up goingover the open. They got in well at the

end of Koros Alley near the road; and a post of one of their
battalions (28th?) in St. Denis sent back to Jenkins to say
that they were established there but needed support from

the troops in Koros Alley on the left, if it could be given
them. Of course it was too difficult for any attempt to be
made to help them from there. That triangle was very deadly.

__________________________

The whizzbang gun in the aerodrome by Anvil Wood
had been firing on Florina Trench the day before. When 23rd
Bn was in Florina this gunwas shooting there. This fired
right up till the morning.

At the time when the 23rd Bn was under the wall
at the hospital it could not have seent he Germans mustering
for counter-attack south of Mt.St.Quentin where the 53rd Bn
fired into them with this whizzbang. Sore hedges on their
right front would shut this completely out.
 -----------/---------------