Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/228/1 - Folder - Part 12

492 

8.

then went straight ahead - as he should have done -
but the flank was quite open from Le Catelet to
Vendhuille. The 106th Infantry when fallen in on the
wrong side of the bank didn't flinch in the least when
the M.Gs. got on to them. The 10 whom Pasfield found
left at the end of this and went forward, at his
suggestion, to help some troops ahead.
This day was the hottest Pasfield had known as
far as slaughter was concerned.
Some of the Americans had been told while Pasfield
was there: "Don't mind the men - take the ground -
Someone else will do the mopping up - go as far as you
can".
"Don't be afraid" they said in one Coy, "the
Aussies are behind you."          

The Nek - 10th A.L.H. - August 7th.

Baby 700 (From Capt. Saunderson, 43rd Battery.)

*** Hand drawn diagram, see original document.

10th A.L.H. went out - in 3rd and 4th waves. In 4th
wave only 2 troops went out - the other 2 (B & A)
didn't get the order. The 4th wave went out 3 or 4
minutes after 3rd wave.
10th A.L.H. had marshalled behind the 3rd wave.
3rd wave had its feet on the pegs - (A Sqn) and 4th
wave (B Sqn was in the front trench just below them
when the wave went out. The men had all seen the
8th A.L.H. wiped out and knew what the job was. None
could be seen getting to the trench.
After the 2nd wave had gone  out Col. Brazier
wouldn't carry on the operation without written orders
(see Brazier about this).
The Chessboard had not been bombarded the day
before - about 2 how. shells fell there. This was
not in accordance with the previous arrangements and
was part of Brasier's justification.

493 9

9.

Brazier went back to see Antill at forward Bde.

H.Q. which was about White Lane - and was given

some sort of order).

When the 8th L.H. went over the Turks evidently

had some word of the operation - possibly through

listening sets. They were clearly waiting. From

the Chessboard the moment the first men jumped over

there was a rattle of M.Gs. and rifles, so that you

couldn't give an order. Most of the casualties

fell straight back into the trench - more than half

the casualties were just on the parapet or men who

dropped back dead or wounded into the trench.

There were a lot of wounded in the trench when they

got there first - being carried out, 8th L.H. Of

the 3rd wave a number fell back hit at once. The

fire had stopped for the time until the 3rd wave went -

then from dead silence out it broke again.

Saunderson (now 43rd Battery) was with the 4th

wave. They jumped out - and the Turks were 2 deep in

the trench ahead. The thing that struck a man must

was if he wasn't knocked in the first 3 yards.

There was at least one M.G. on the left and any

number in the various trenches in the Chessboard.

The men who were xxxx  going out were absolutely

certain that they were going to be killed, and that

they would not see another day. Not one man hesitated

a second - they expected to be killed right away.

The lines started from the front line, not from

the secret sap.

The 4th line was under Maj J.B. Scott (later

killed at xxxxxxx Rhododendron Spur). He was about

in the centre of the Sqn going over (in B Sqn). He

had a watch in his hand and was going to signal to

the other troop leaders and seconds in command when to

go. The right of the line which was just round the

bend was under Throssell - the right troop. The

next troop, C troops was under Lt. Les Craig who had

his foot shot off.

*** Hand drawn diagram - see original document.

The 3rd Line went out ahead and practically all

got wiped out. There hadn't been a sound - then

this roar of musketry so loud that you couldn't give

an order. They therefore arranged then that the

order should be given by a wave of the hand - Scott

would give it to Rowan and Rowan to pass it on.

Rowan told Saunderson as soon as he waved his arm -

that Saunderson should take the men over.

They were waiting for Scott to give the order

when the M.G. fire started again - a hell of a noise.

Scott shout: "By God, I believe the right have 

gone on." Saunderson looked at Capt. Rowan, and

Rowan waved at him to go. Saunderson of course

waved and hopped out and went for the T. trenches

as/hard as he could. Maj Scott must have counter-manded

the order for the rest of the troops/to go -

494

10.

Scott had mentioned to Saunderson that there was a

chance of the operation being stopped but they didn't

tell the men. The most that Saunderson hoped for was

that they mighthave got into the first trench and hung

on there- (they were for Baby 700). As Rowan waved

back (dead into the trench as Saunderson later found).

Saunderson knew he had command ofthe troop then.

The Rhodo bushes had been cut off with M.G. fire

and was all spikey.

Tor. Weston just on Saunderson's right (Saunderson

was troop Sergt) fell right beside Saunderson as they

got out of the trench - back into the trench. Tpr.

Begg also next him. Saunderson went all he could

for the T. trench.  Tpr. P.H. Hill running beside

him towards the trench was shot through the stomach

and spun round and fell. Saunderson saw the Turks

in front and looked over his shoulders. 4 men were

running about 10 yards behind - and they all dropped

at the same moment. Saunderson tripped over a Rhodo

bush and fell over a dead Turk right on the T. parapet.

The Turks were then throwing round cricket ball bombs  .

you could see the brown arms coming up over the

trenches - the bombs were going well over - only one

blew back and hit Saunderson slightly in the leg.

There were 2 dead men to the right of Saunderson

towards the top of the hill, lying on the T. Parapet -

they looked like the two Harper brothers Wilfred and

Gresley Harper (Gresley a lawyer - Wilfred younger

boy on a farm). Saunderson knew how badly the show

had gone and expected the Turks to counter-attack.

We had had orders to xharge without a bullet in the

breech. The Turks could have taken the Peninsula

Saunderson managed to get his rifle beside him and

clean it, and got the first cartridge from the full

magazine into it. He expected the Turks to attack and 

decided to get a few shots in if they did.

After about half an hour Saunderson looking back

saw Capt. Fry kneeling up outside the Secret Sap.

Saunderson waved to him. Fry saw him. Saunderson

did not know if the operation was going on or not.

The rest of the troop might have been coming over.

The Turks were not up at this moment because the Navy

had begun to bombard and Lyddite shells were whizzing

low over the parapet and exploding on the back of the

trench so close that they seemed to lift Saunderson off

the ground every time. Saunderson was sure that the

first shot would finish him. Major Todd came along

beside Fry and presently Todd shouted something which

seemed to be "Reture the 4th line first." Saunderson

looked around. There was no one beside him except

the dead. He crawled down towards the Secret Sap

towards where they seemed to be. As he got about

half way to the Secret Sap there was an 8th L.H. man

lying on his back smoking a cigarette. He said:

"Have a bloody cirarette - it's too bloody hot."

Saunderson told him they had to get back - and

keep pretty low, as M.G. were firing from across the

Chessboard and cutting the bushes pretty low. There

was a Lieut. of 8th A.L.H. there who had had some bombs

in his haversack. These had been set off and the

whole of his hip blown away. He was alive and they

tried to take him in.  He begged them to let him stay:

"I can't bloody well stand it," he said They got him

into the Secret Sap and he died there as they got him

in. InThe front of the Secret Sap were any number of 

8th L.H. The Sap itself was full of dead - every few

495

11

wounded. The ground in front of the trenches was 

simply covered.

 Saunderson went along the Secret Sap into the

front line and there was Capt. Rowan, Weston, Begg,

another Hill. Lieut. Turnbull (a Rhodes Scholar

from W.A.) just dying then.

Les. Craig was brought in by L/Cpl. Hampshire of

his own troop - the Turks never fired at Hampshire

when he went out. About 50 yards of line had not

a man in it except dead and wounded. No one manning

it. Sergt. Maj. Springall was on the parapet kneeling,

facing the Turks with his rifle in his hand. He was

shot just under his row of South African ribbons. He

went out immediately after Vernon Piesse (who had come

back sick from Imbros the day before on hearing of the

stunt). Springall was killed and stayed there.

Sergt. McBean and Capt. V.Piesse went out together.

They had been lying in a bit of hollow. Had to keep

heads down because M.G. bullets were just clearing

them (they were on the cap of the hill next to the

right troop). McBean said that he had a periscope

with him. He was looking through a periscope towards

the Trench T. trenches. Piesse was a man who always

thought of his men - he said: "I wonder how the rest

of them have got on" - and looked up and was shot

through the head immediately. McBean got in and was

killed afterwards at Hill 6p.

The Cheshires were in the support trench behind

and were to have manned the front line when 10 L.H.

went over. When Saunderson got back he never saw a

signe of them. Major Love in one of the support

trenches told Saunderson to get all the men he could

and get them back into the front line. Saunderson

at once got about the men to 8 or 10 yards - all he

could. Later they were strengthened by some of the

9th A.L.H. - they then held the left half od Walkers,

and 10th held the right.

The right (apparently) of the 4th wave had gone

through in order before its time from an officer who

was not conducting the attack.

Captain Vernon Piesse, Lieut. Turnball, Capt.

Rowan, Lieut. Kidd, Sergt. Saunderson, S.Maj. Springall,

and Sergt. McBean met and shook hands at the corner

of the Sap waiting for the front trenches to clear

after the first line had gone said "Goodbye" to one

another and shook hands.

                                   

10th A.L.H.

At Hill 60 - 10th A.L.H. had gone for a spell -

went round by night. They dug in next day digging in

(probably on Damakjelik Bair).

Gen. Godley came round 4 p.m. (?28th Aug.)

and Maj. J. B. Scott Sgt. Lieut. Saunderson, Capt. Fry,

Lieut. Kidd, Lieut. Arthur Leake (W.A. Lawyer, son

of Premier) and Capt. Roberts on (Duntroon), out

and told them that he wanted them to reconnoitre the
front line. They had to take the trench on the top

of Hill 60. The 9th A.L.H. had had a go and the Col.

had gone out and been killed. "I know you will get

it," he said "it's the hold that is the difficulty".

(Strength of Regiment was 148. Old Col. Brazier had

496

12.

been suspended by Anthill but he came found with his

Regiment, and was hit next morning August 28th by a

bit of spent shrapnel in the eye. He told the Turks

as usual what he thought of them). They reconnoitred

N.Z. in line which was very shallow. One part of

the trench was very shallow and some N.Zs. were lying

in it.

***  Hand drawn diagram - see original document.

Saunderson was bombing officer. He had got leave

to get 2 bombs issued to every man of Regiment - not

to team of 6 only - they were cricket ball bombs with

a match head - striking material sewn on to sleeve.

Saunderson had to go out and bomb a M.G. at x.

What was supposed by Russell to have happened to the
9th L.H. was that they got into trench XY and the

M.G. was fired into this sap (or" trap trench") from

there.

Saunderson had to go against this M.G. a few

minutes before zero. He got a big N.Z.M. Gunner

an Irishman to give him a leg out of the Zap. The

Irishman said he was coming with the Australians -

"Cow of a job - this", Saunderson told him he was to

stick with the M.G. as there would be counter-attacks,

It was about 12.45 a.m. (1 a.m. zero).  The N.Z. man

gave Saunderson a devil of a heave - right over a

strand of barbed wire on to his head - bright moonlight.

The other came out on their stomachs. Saunderson

went for the corner - they could see the line swaying

up in the moonlight on their left. Just before the

men got to the trench Saunderson and his bomb party

threw their bombs on the M.G. It was there all right.

They got it, and it's crew. The Turks had been quite

quiet - it was a surprise attack.

C Sqn. had a few casualties. Lieut. Burgess was

hit in the hand. This was by the M.G. which Saunderson

was going for. The gun fired about 10 shots and then

Saunderson saw it. The line on the left had given a

xheer as it went and the gun opened on to them at once.

(On getting out Saunderson had just been round his men -

a bombing party of 4 men, and A troop as well -

Bombers had about 10 yards start.

*** Hand drawn diagram - see original document

 

497

13.

Major Scott was in command of Regiment. Capt. Fry went

out with the men. The troops went straight on.

As Saunderson got to the trench a Turk fired a Mertini

Henry up at him. He seemed to be a man on duty -

about one every 4 yards - the others were just
scrambling up. The Turk's shot hit the revolver on

Saunderson's lanyard - the revolver flew out of

Saunderson's hand but the lanyard held - the Turk tried

to jump out the other side and Saunderson shot him.

The men were in at once with their bayonets and a lot

of Turks were bayoneted as they scrambled up _ they

had no chance.

As soon as they got in the trench Throssell's

crowd came in with picks and shovels. Saunderson got

the men putting the sandbags over the and putting them

on the far side. Saunderson worked to the right.

The M.G. there was smashed and dead Turks around it

and the men were building a bombing stop because the

Turks were bombing up the C.T. while the stop was being

built. The block was made where shown and Saunderson

and party were bombing across it. The 18th Bn. was

supposed to have taken the other part of C.T. but

weren't there.

Capt. Fry came running up along the back of the

trench to see how all the men were - the trench was

narrow and hard to get along. Saunderson shouted to

him to get down  - he was very game man. He then

got into the trench on the right.

The Turks were bombing up over the bomb stop. They

threw a big thing that looked like Peak Frean biscuits

tin over and blew the bomb stop down. They immediately

charged across from about G, as shown. Throssell was

there and took command being Senior Officer. (He was

a reinforcement officer - that was his second stunt).

A second block was then built at Z, and bombs were

continuously thrown into this to keep it clean - result

was Turks were in N also. 18th was supposed to get

S and P.

Lieut. Leake was standing beside Saunderson and

was shot dead through the back of the head. Several

men had dropped. It was then realised that Turks were

in N. also - and as the bags had been pulled down from

rear of xxxxx ^trench there was no protection. Saunderson then

put a row of sandbags (each man carried 3 and carriers

had more) on that side also - Throssell still bombing

keeping Turks back - while this was being done (this was

after the first counter-attack).

This was all in bright moonlight.

Then about ¼-hour after the first  counter-attack there

came on a very heavy bombing attack. The Turks came

across from G (to H also this time). and some got right.

up to the trench but they were beaten back with bombs

and rifle fire. The bombs were passed up to the right

because the left had no need for them - the fact that

everyone had 2 bombs there saved things until a C.T.

was got through on the left.

Just as thesecond counter-attack developed Capt.

Fry came up the trench and was killed by a bomb. There

were heavy casualties amongst our bombers from the T.

bombs - The Tirks from the corner heaved their bombs in

while the other charged under cover of it.

After that attack was beaten there was a lull.

The trench was very shallow and it was then found that

the Turks had buried men under the floor of it.

Saunderson detailed three men in every 4 to dig like hell

 - xxxxx  while the other man watched (as they would be

498

14

enfiladed from the right with artillery from 971).

They all wanted to fight and Saunderson had to dig

himself in order to get them to dig. They had to

dig round the dead Turks, pull them out bit by bit

 - The stench was horrible and the men didn't like it.

Saunderson had to do the job. A Turks leg would come

away in your hand. They got the trench traversed;

(they had previously built overhead bomb shelters -

a few - with Turk rifles and bayonets to reach across

the trench and sandbags on top.

They had xxx  got down pretty well. A man had come

up from the centre and told Saunderson that McBean had

got into the trench well ahead of his troop, shot a

Turk, chased another round the corner - and had met

the Turks waiting for him round the corner and been

shot full in the face - Tpr. Hunter following bayoneted

the Turks - and told Saunderson almost weeping.

At breaking dan the Turks came over with fixed

bayonets (almost the first time they ever did it) from

the trench down below - from the direction of J.  

You could see the Turks very easily in the low shrub.

The N.Zs. gave a hand then. The N.Zs. saw these from their

position at K - and opened fire with M.G. and yelled.

This prevented Turks from taking us in rear. Throssell

was bombing like mad - and shouting. As the Turks

started to come from the front the boys jumped up on

the parapet and fired for all they were worth at good

targets. The ^One Turk threw his rifle away - he had got

close - and threw his hands up and ran into the trench

and was bayoneted (The men were rankling over the

Nek fight). Saunderson went along to see about this

Turk. Sergt. Hampshire was on the left there (he was

now a Sergt.) Saunderson had just passed Hampshire

and seen the Turk lying dead when a bullet passed

through his shoulder. He got up andasked Hampshire

what hit him - he went back towards the right and

fainted. They pulled him out and evacuated him.

at 1 C.C.S. was a Turkish officer with his arm blown

off by a bomb.

The Turks were firing a few shrapnel from 971 at

this time. Saunderson was 8 stone from 11 stone at

this time - mostof the men were the same.

 

3rd TUNNELLERS

Neil Campbell who was killed with the 3rd Aust.

Tunnellers at Nieppe was in the 10th A.L.H. at Quinns

and was shot in the 10th A.L.H. there in the lungs. He

came back to Egypt and transferred to the Tunnellers.

He had his eye smashed the first time he went in to

3rd Tun. Coy; when Germans came through Neil Campbell

Campbell  was in command of the detached section at

Nieppe. Some of the men saw him badly wounded working

a M.G. The Tommies had blown up the bridge before the

Tunnellers got back - and they had to swin the Lys.

(see 3rd Tunnellers about this.)            

499

15 

May 28th ? QUINNS

10th A.L.H. were in with 13th Bn. in Quinns.

Saunderson and MacBean (Sergts) were there with

Moseley and Vine Hall. Saunderson and part of the

troopn (D troop) were in with Moseley were in reserve

immediately behind the trenches in the kitchen when

the Japanese Mortars fired their first bombs. While

they had been in front line on duty they had heard

tapping and were convinced Turks were mining as they had

done mining, but a Tommy officer engineer said that it

was our men. When the 1st Japanese Mortar went off

it had such a crash that it sounded like a mine. It

was just before stand to. Saunderson jumped up and

stood the men to in the "Kitchen".  He then ran into

the trench and found Moseley and found all was quiet.

He went back to the men to give them stand down when

up went the big mine and big clods of earthwork came

down from a great column above. Saunderson made the
men stand in under the bank out of it. A heavy rifle
fire broke out at once. Saunderson took 6 men and

went up (all 10th A.L.H.) into the trench to Moseley.

The Turks were attacking very thick from opposite

Quinns. This troop was in 6 post A troop was in No. 5

with Vine Hall - and they were the ones who were blown

up - the mine blew just in front of the parapet and 

knocked it in on some of them. The Turks never reached
No. 6, but about 17 or 18 got in where the mine had
gone up, further right.

A M.G. was firing from Popes very close indeed to

our trench and tore the bags on the parapet. The

artillery also fired into us and behind us - and Lt.

Jackson (Adjutant) was hit by our own artillery in the

foot. The shells were bursting just behind and over

the parapet.

The Turks got in in a half moon - and were at once

cut off and bombed and surrendered and about 17 were 

taken prisoners.

The Turks on the left came on massed in this

attack. When a man was hit he seemed to scrambled up

on his knees hold his hands up like a man diving and

be shot so.

One Turk lying on our parapet would push his rifle

over and fire - you could see the bayonet coming and it

was easy to dodge. Cpl. Lynch, as soon as the Turk

had fired, jumped to one side and shot him.

After that this Sqn. was relieved. Sqn. had

Littlegow rifles - after 25 rounds they jammed. Saunderson

had 4 rifles going per man - as soon as one was

passed down a man was there to slosh oil on it and pass

it out into the air current to cool and then pass in

again. The bolts weretoo tight - no room for expansion.

The rest of the Sqn. was coming up the valley as

the troop went out. The Turks had a barrage on the

valley. There was a great friendship between 10th A.L.H.

and 13th Bn. after that.                

*** Hand drawn diagram - see original document

(Write to Tom Kidd, Geraldton W.A.

Major, late 10th A.L.H.)

500

16.

Colpitts attack. We had been badly bombed from

somewhere and it was reckoned that this was from the

crater the Turks had Blown. Colpitts and about 4 men

was sent out to occupy it. They got in and were

badly bombed. All sorts of rumours came back about

them - fighting very hard and cut off. A request came

for 6 men to volunteer to go out and relieve Colpitts

(Kidd had gone over against a Sap at the same time as 

Colpitts went against the crater). Kidds party however

had come back from the Sap (? on the left of the crater)

and just as Saunderson was going up he heard that both

parties were back. The relief was stopped for the
moment but they went out into the crater at dawn -

nipped over the top. There was nothing doing there.

They had orders to do nothing. Next night Turks walked

close past and they could have bayoneted him but had to

let him pass. They were all in the bottom of the crater

which was about as big as asmall room.

Our people dug through to this party in the crater

tunnelling and it was handed over net day to N.Zs.

*** Hand drawn diagram - see original document

 

43rd Battery at LAGNICOURT.

On Apl. 15th, when the Germans were coming towards

Noreuil Pybus had his guns about the curve of the Ecourt

EcourtRoad. When the Germans come over Pybus

couldn't get his guns on to them as he had the deep bank

of the road on their right. The guns were on the crest

so that they were almost under under view and Pybus was

advised not to fire at night. When the Germans came

over he pulled his guns out (to B) pulled them up on to

the back from where they could see the Hindenburg Line.

The Germans had balloons up and couls see him

direct. They put a very heavy barrage down - Pybus

501

17.

kept every gun in action. Men were being knocked -

guns put out of action as crews were knocked but others

took their place. Dump after Dump went up beside the

guns - and every xxxxxxxxx round that remained was fired.

Only then Pybus ordered them all back behind the road

crater 400 yards behind the battery. Pybus saw almost

all the men off and he and Lt. Clark were just  starting                   

to get away when a shell killed Pybus and wounded Clark

who crawled into a dugout and died there. A medical

orderly Freeman went up and brought Pybus' body to the

crater. He brought some of xxx Pybus ' papers running

back to H. Q. 11th Bde. and this was the first Bde. knew'

of Pybus death.

41st, 111th and 42nd all turned their guns round

and fired but were not under observation. Saunderson

went up as Adjutant fromBde. - there was a tremendous

barrage round the guns and Padre Stevenson was there -

they had to keep round the outside of the Bty.

                                

Chipilly - August 8th, 1918.

Lt. Lintoff, Commanding Sectionb 38th Bty., was

supporting a Bn. of 4th Bde. He found that it was

impossible for the guns to go into action owing to the

fire of 2 guns from Malard Wood.

*** Hand drawn diagram - see original document

The fire was all from Malard Wood - you could see

the guns firing. The Germans had several batteries

there, but 2 guns were firing over open sights at the

fore edge of the wood high up on the hill.

The Bty. had been attempting to go into action on

the fore slope of the hill facing Easau Wood - but it

was impossible owing to fire over open sights from

German Artillery in Malard Wood. Lintoff took his 2

guns into action on the right of the right just opposite

the building on the shoulder S.W. of Cerisy (or W. of it).

He fired 2 shots from one gun and 2 from the other and

the Germans put a shelll straight into one of the guns.

It was wonderful work of the German guns at 1,200 yards.