Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/228/1 - Folder - Part 16

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Near Quinconce Wood the Road runs through a deep
cutting over 6ft. Here they got touch with 56th Bn. which
was strung along the road ahead, and which was in touch
with 53rd. which were hung up.
The Germans had got into Mont.St.Quentin again.
55th Battalion then formed a defensive flank along
the railway line in 20 B 5.7 to 8.5 and thence to the road
where it enters the wood. From there they completely
covered the flat towards Mt.St.Quentin.
2nd Division withdrew, reorganised - and the worked
up through the trench systems again and attacked Mt.St.
Quentin. They could be seen dodging up through the houses &
were pretty firmly established. When this happened - it would
be about 4 p.m., 55th went out and took up a defensive flank
just W. of the Mt.St.Quentin - Quinconce Road. The road is
lined with old dump and railway yards - and 55th was in
position about 200 yds. short of it with a clear field of
fire to the road.
Wyllie went up after dark and found right of 2nd
Division about 15D.5.2. Their flank overlapped 55th Bn.
a bit, being in front of it.
That was the position at night; with 53rd just ahead
of the cemetery, then a Coy. of 56th, then 54th into
Peronne.
Sept. 2nd. About 2 a.m. orders arrived for a fresh
attack. There was just time to tell everyone what was going
to happen, and it was off.
This day objective for 55th Bn. was the high ground
in I35 B. & C. from railway up to the road crossing S. of
Doingt up to the ridge.
55th was following 56th. (53rd Bn. and one Coy (A) of
55th which was attached to them had had their attack on
afternoon of Sept. Ist from Cemetery).
56th Bn. moved through 55th (on railway) and took up
line on Road. 56th led - the road is on a rise from which
you then pass over the crest and down into the hollow
 

533.
by therailway to Sugar Factory.
55th followed when 56th went through. As on the
previous day the Germans had excellent barrages down. Our
Artillery was a preparation for 1/2 hour before Zero each day
and so by the time Zero came the Germans were also barraging
heavily. There was a barrage on the Mt.St.Quentin -Quinconce
Road. One platoon of 55th. lost most of its men, and Battn.
lost pretty heavily. They got down on to the railway bank
and formed rear Coy, of 56th still there. The first Coy. of
56th had gone over but there was very heavy machine gun fire
from Ramparts at N.E. of town. There was a terrific machine
gun fire on bank and flats ahead from there. 55th lay under
the bank for a time. Then Capt.Pinkstone's Coy (left) went over
to try and support 56th Battalion. They couldn't move on the
flat the other side and they had to withdraw again over the
embankment. Lieut. Inglis was killed there. The whole low
ground was also under direct and immediately Artillery fire from
the wooded hills due E. - at slightest movement this fire was
immediate and was there fore direct. Capt.Pinkstone was wounded
and most of his men. They withdrew behind the bank and went out.
The 55th Bn. then sent to the left to the Sugar Factory
which dominated the flank. B.Coy under Lts.Phillips and Elsmore
did this. They found Germans in it - there was direct machine
gun fire down the back of the embankmentfrom a machine gun there.
At this moment 59th Bn. got in behind the bank also, from
Peronne way. Scanlon saw Capt.Wyllie and saw how things were.
B.Coy 55th got in touch with 2nd Divn.(26th Bn) just
on the other side of the road. From the Sugar Factory sniping
tactics were then opened on the broken buildings across the
road - We hadfine cover in the Sugar Factory and they sniped
the Germans out of the buildings which continue down the road
to St.Denis. They then found that Sergt.O'Connor of 26th Bn.
had a little line out between S.railway and moat.
26th Battalion post was not in touch with rest of 26.
The Germans withdrew from the St.Denis Road houses, and
 

534
there was a general movement of withdrawal noticed from
behind the Aziecourt Road and Darmstadt towards the woods
on the hill.
The fire from Ramparts had stopped. We were able to
move about very freely and thought the Germans were retreating. 
(As a matter of fact they had machine gun posts).
Wyllie saw 26th and 56th and decided to try and
advance so as to go well beyond St.Denis.
hand drawn image - refer to original 
They sent scouts out. As soon as these scouts got
over a bump of land E. of St.Denis they ran into German
machine gun pots. Neither side was expecting the other.
Lt.Elsmore and his platoon hopped in and got an
Officer and 10 Germans and 2 Machine Guns. He found himself
directly opposite a double post in a pozzy. They ran right
on top of these Germans - not more than 100 yds past the
road - the first man who fired put a bullet through the
officer's shoulder and that did it. We had 3 wounded.
They had to get back as soon as possible with
an officer and 10 men, 2 guns and 3 wounded men of ours.
They kept a line slightly ahead of the old line just far
enough forward to keep the German on the other side of the
Aziecourt Road.
The afternoon was well on.
The Company now had about 26 men. 58th Bn. had the
corner of the Mt.St.Quentin & Aziecourt Roads. The main
trouble now was artillery fire from the hilles - you
couldn't move now at all. 59 behind the bank had
casualties and other Coys. of 55th also.
Orders were then received for 55th and 56th under
Colonel Woods to take St:Denis Wood. Wyllie's Coy, was
 

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was now 26 strong and the others not very much stronger.
Next orders were received that 59th would relieve
them that night and they came from the bank and did so.
55th would have moved up to E. of St.Denis and straightened
line after dark - but was relieved.
Sept. 1st started rainy - ended better, Sept. 2nd
was pretty fine.
The German 106 fuse out in the open was very
dangerous - severed arms and severed limbs.
Killed. Inglis as above.
Hunt (when Coy.attached to 53rd) attacking
some machine gun posts.
Cotterill in afternoon Sept. 2nd in Factory
reconnoitreing to move up in evening to
fill up gap to 58, by shell.
Collis on afternoon of Sept. 1st following
behind 53rd.
Wounded.King lost leg.
Horne, on Sept. 2nd.
Nichols, wounded on Sept.2nd.

55th Battalion. BELLICOURT.
Major Stutsbury, Lieut.Chadwick, and 2 N.C.Os.
Battalion lay at Hervilly. Had to follow 30 Am.
Division and take a position between Estrees and Nauroy.
14th Brigade in support with other two.
Just W. of Villeret, they met the fog pretty thick and
were held up on the road by traffic. They were moving on the
black road. The traffic was artillery.
55  55
56  54
To go by Black Road independently to between Estrees
and Nauroy, moving either through or round Bellicourt (as
depended on fire). From Hervilly officers had been sent up
 

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to find a route round Bellicourt (that morning). Left
Hervilly about 8, constantly held up by traffic. 11 a.m.
held up W. of Villeret. Maj.Stutsbury C.O. Battalion went
on to W. of Bellicourt, and found Artillery coming back and
heard that attack had been held up. Then brought Bn. up
from Villeret to G 7D, trenches on hill W. of Bellicourt.
They reported their position and were ordered to take up
position in Skin trench in G 8A. 54th being on right in
Rope trench. Others in rear. There by 3.30or 4 p.m. The
barrage was very heavy just W. of Bellicourt in trenches
Battlion would have gone to.
While in Skin trench a regiment of Americans
(probably Battalion in 1/2 dozen waves) in lines of skirmishers
with fixed bayonets - who said they reckoned their people
were in trouble and they had been sent up to help. They
were going N.E. towards the Hill in A 28C. At 6.30 p.m. 55th
received orders to go through Bellicourt and take a position
in Le Catelet line G5 B. & D. They moved about 10 to 7 and
went by Red Road to Bellicourt. Bellicourt was being heavily
shelled so they decided to move round N. of it through the
line. They hadgot half way through the line about G 3 D 5.6
when they received a verbal order that the move was
cancelled. At 15th Brigade advanced Headquarters this was
confirmed.Battalion moved back again in rain and mud and
very dark and gas to Skin trench - very pleased! They had
the "donks" - 12 of them up right in the line (with
supplies, water, etc.) as they were still carrying out the
original plan. These were got by enormous efforts into
the Hindenburg Line except the big blackmule with the
A.M.C. material who refused to jump down on the right -
the man who was leading him was lying down. (They got back
with difficulty to Skin trench and settled down and then at
11 p.m. came an order to attend a Conference at 53rd Bn.
H.Qtrs. at 11 p.m. Got there at 1 a.m. trying to find map
reference in a black night (Brigadier just arrived). There
 

537
There was instructed that 53rd Battalion with 55th in
support was to attack from 28 B & D. N along the line of
the tunnel and the Le Catelet system. 55th was to move in
support of 53rd and make good Le Catelet line from the
junction with 15th Brigade at 28 B.6.5; 53rd was to
clear whole line; 55th was to occupy line and then push out
E. with patrols and gain ground towards the St.Martin
Estrees Road.
This attack to begin at 6 a.m. Conference ended
and Stutsbury got back to Battalion at 3.15 a.m. Informed
Coy.Commanders Battalion pushed off at 4.30. Looking up
aerial photos they saw a track through the wire and decided
to send I.O. to find it, and avoid Bellicourt. Lt.R.S.Morris,
M.C. Intelligence Officer found the track as he went,
leading Battalion at the head of the column through the wire
to Jumping off position in A 28C & D by 5.55 a.m.
Formed up on tick of 6. A barrage was supposed to
be down but only 2 or 3 guns fired.
Formed up in C.T. in 4 A & B. 53rd were a little
later in position. They kicked off from same C.T. Battalion
only had 2 Companies and pushed off.
A X B.
C X D.
Each double company about 90 strong.
Immediately after 53rd pushed off, 55th moved off
in artillery formation as above. They got about 200 to 300
yds. when they came under heavy machine gun fire from
Cabaret Farm, Bony system which was on high ground, and
up the valley ahead of them. The left was on the tunnel,
the fire was so strong that they all kept to the right of the
tunnel (3rd Divn. got well stopped there in an attempt
later). Tunnel protected left. They advanced till they got
to the trench through 28 Central. They found 53rd Bn. still
there and 58th Bn. still there.
Then 53rd Battalion which was there moved on. There
 

538
was a valley just N. of that trench. 55th covered them
as soon as they moved into this dip, seeing that they
were getting it heavily from Cabaret Farm. Lieut.Chadwick
C.Company then got in touch with Captain Goldrick,O.C.
C.coy. to left in same trench and he ordered them to move
round the trench to the left and form up on the railway
cutting in 28A near the tunnel so as to be in position to
attack E. at the original objective. Capt. Giblet of A. &
B.Coy, was getting into position at the same place for the
same attack. Just as they were about to form up for the
attack Lt.Diggs Hill of 53rd Battalion told Chadwick that
he had got into very hot water - a S.P. of Germans on top
of the tunnel mound - about 20 yds. past where they
railway crosses the tunnel, and then it was reported that
the Germans were coming in force up the top of the tunnel
bank to counter-attack.
Capt.Goldrick immediately ordered the Coy. to move
back to the trench running out of the communication trench
up the N. side of the canal Bank in order to deal with
these posts first before advancing. Half Coy, went along
the trench on top of mound (crossing it) - the Americans
held this. The S/P was 200 yds. out.The Americans asked for
information knew nothing of the fight. Lt.Chadwick then
went out with his batman to the railway cutting - crawling
along without being seen. He could see the machine guns
but no Germans at the moment. He came back to the trench
on W. of mound to get a Lewis gun and 4 other ranks. Just
as he got back Lt.Jackson and Sergt. Sullivan D.Coy. came up
and asked where S/P was. They told and crawled along W. side
of bank, and Coldrick's batman. They got along the bottom of
the bank till opposite the machine gun post. Just as they
were drawling up to attack they were shot dead by a machine
gunner about 20 yds. away on their left in a bit of trench.
This wasn't known to the patrol. Coldrick and 4 others went
out and got past the railway cutting towards S/P when the
 

539
same machine gun opened on the patrol and pulled them
up. They got out Lewis gun and fired on it,Lewis gun kept
the fire down while they managed to crawl round to where
Jackson and Sullivan were and found both dead. It
was impossible to get at this machine gun as some a
little to left covered it and fired on them. Fire also
came from along the mound and from Bony. They came back
and reported to Goldrick how things were. During this
time Goldrick had got the dispositions of 53rd from Capt
Johnston (53rd) and it was arranged that 55th should
connect across space to Nauroy line which they were supposed
to be holding to about 22 D 5.2.
Captain Goldrick gave orders for the Coy. to form
North of the Communication trench about 28C and advance to
join.Woods of A.Coy was in touch on the Nauroy line about
[*Grid*] between 22 and 28 just W. of the line. Coy.got
about as far as railway without much fire but as soon as
they got over the ridge going down the valley came under
very heavy fire from right along Canal bank, from Bony,
and from railway ridge - and close range light trench
mortars and whizzbangs on the far ridge - and light trench
mortars which they could see firing from down in the
valley. The Coy, was getting towards 22 C. and D. There
was no-one on left and Lt.Chadwick on tunnel bank was
trying to get some men to cover the left - and the Germans
were being passed on the left rear, W. of the tunnel.
When the order was given to get back, and into the trench
close under the E. side of the Canal bank. Capt.Goldrick
and Lt.Cohen had been wounded out there. The Coy. reported
that it was impossible to get out that way, so they moved
back to the trench. There Lt.Chadwick was badly blown up
by a shell.
Lieut. Pye reported to Capt Giblet. It would be about
10.30 then. There were a lot of casualties out there. The
Coy, stayed there for the best part of the day. Then about
3 p.m. half of the Coy. went down across to A. and B
 

540
Coys. and then owing to heavy machine gun fire into the
Le Catelet trench where A. and B. were.
At 4.30 p.m. the Germans could be seen massing in
422 A & B. in numbers massed in a sunken road, and in
advance of them apparently patrols. A barrage line was obtained
by Bn. from A22C1.6 to A22B7.2 to 422D8.6 so as to
protect extreme point of 53 at the bend of the trench.
Stuttsbury spoke to Giblet on the phone and he said he
would be able to deal with anything by Lewis gunners.
No counterattack was made. Germans cleared out very early
next morning. The only counterattack was that Germans tried
to bomb them out down the Le Catelet Line. Here Pte.Ryan
55th Bn. won his V.C.
The Germans were in the trench and also behind Ryan
in the W. of the trench (See description in V.C.award).
This attack had been made about noon when A & B.Coys.
were in the trench before C.Coy got in.
That night instructions were received to form an outpost
line from Canal at A2202.7 to A 22 D5.8 and keep
touch with 3rd Division and 54th Bn. on rightl This was
a case for patrols and Coys.after. They captured a few
prisoners. From there they sent patrols by daylight
right ino St.Martin's Village. In one of the houses they
caught a German patrol and the Sergt. an Alsatian gave
us good information as to German intentions.
55th Bn. was relieved there - on its line and
relieving units (6th Inniskillens) were able to get patrols
in country S. of Gouy and St. Martin where we were.
On 30 Sept. a Battery of 4.2s could be seen on Prospect
Hill firing just after Bn. had gone over the hill at
mid-day in the attack where they had to come back. These
guns later cleared out.
On Sept. 30 they knew very little as to position of
3rd Division on flank, and heavy fire was coming from
Bony and the heights there. 29 machine guns taken.
 

541
53rd Battalion, PERONNE. Aug.31st.
CAPT.SMITH, Lieut.BEVAN.
Aug.31. Battalion told of attack about noon. They
couldn't cross at Amniecourt at the 2nd Divisional Engrs.
on the bank informed C.O. that it was badly shelled.
These Engineers who were repairing the bridge had all their
men blown out and had to get away. They left an officer to
warn 14th Brigade about this. C.O. took Bn. round the
bank and they crossed at Buscourt. This crossing was
finished by 2 p.m. and Bn. then moved to Sq.7 where they
were to form up. C.O. on reaching Clery, as shelling was
heavy put Bn. in the re-entrant in I1, where it was
very steep. There they reconnoitred and found that 17 and
8 were full of 6th Brigade and secondly they would have got
very heavy casualties, going over the ridge in I7.
Waited there till midnight. Conference of C.Os at
Brigade Hdqtrs. at I17C at midnight. C.O. got back to Bn.
about 2.30 a.m. and had to arrange to relieve 23rd Bn.
in Florina trench, get Coy.Commanders together, promulgated
the scheme, waken the men and get them to Jumping off T.
by 6 a.m. The Bn. had a hot meal about 3.30 a.m.
They led off, C. and D. leading as they had furthest
to go. A and B. and Headquarters following.
B.  D.
A. C. 
They took the track along the railway. Guides of
23rd Bn. were to be for each Coy. One came for Bn. to
time. He wasn't too sure of the way so Major Murray had
to send out a patrol. This patrol found that Germans were
occupying Florina.
Battalion's route lay (as marked up the road to
Prague trench and then Coys. had to turn into it. C.Coy