Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/228A/1 - June - October 1917 - Part 2

R31/2 

9      

The wood was cleared by 2 cos about. 3.45 am, as a preliminary to the
forward movement on the 3 village line.
The leading company of the advance formed line of platoons
in file protected by patrols & moved direct on the centre
village the second company lost its way and moved in the
direction of Lagnicourt rejoining the 23' about 6.30 am.
The 2 Cos eventually in support to the leading which it

reached about 6.00 am. At this same time the leading Co.
from the Bois de Vaulx reinforced the line opposite
Noreuil making 3 Cos in line, the 4^th less 2 posts NE xx & E of
the Boix de Vaulx forming a flank guard on the sunken
road to Lagnicourt.
In the meantime Pascos company (leading) had
reached its assigned position NE & E of t of Noreuil about
4.45 am practically unopposed. There were however no signs
of either the 21^st or the 23' reinforcement companies & 
the company was therefore withdrawn about 5.15 am.
to the South of the village forming on a line about 250
yards from it. On being reinforced by the 2 Cos above
referred to at 6 am an advance ws made to reoccupy
the pn but failed was discontinued as the enemy now brought heavy
mg fire from Longatte & Noreuil to bear. as well as
77 and 42 shelling.
23 ran a line from ^Bn H.Q. I 1 B Central to C21 C80. as a
report centre thence by runner. BN arrd HQ were at 21A86

During the early part of the morning the enemy set fire
to Noreuil & Lagnicourt (part only).

R31/2      

10

23^rd casualties chiefly in 5.30 attack on
the village then lightly held. believed so.
also from artillery.
(n.)
para 5
The wood ws cleared by 2 Cos. ^by 3.45 am as a preliminary
to the advance on the tine of the 3 villages.
Pasco's company moved off ^abt 3.40 from 21C. along the
high ground right on the water shed in line of platoon
in file the 2 front cos were still engaged in forming
up & the 4^th. Co. Paelles had not come up.
Of the 2 front companies Rossiter moved direct
on Lagnicourt & did not rejoin till 6.30 am the other
front co came up with Pasco about 6 a.m

R36/1
Fantasias and Overtures
The Silver Cross
Normanhurst
Trooping the Colors
Milltary Church Parade

Intermezzos and Au Varies

The Village Forge
Impromptu (O.P. 142
Salut D' amour

Serenades
J'es Vous Adore
 

36/1

12

Rags
Rag Time Soldier Man

That Mesmerising Mendellsohn Tune
Utopia
Phonograph

Diagram - see original document

R38/54        

13

REPORT ON OPERATIONS BY 52nd BATTALION ON 7th, 8th
JUNE 1917
On 7/6/17 the Battalion moved forward on to the Brigade assembly
line and was waiting in shell holes ready to proceed to the Jumping
off Trench, when the order for New Zealanders came round. We were

in touch with the 49th Battalion on our Right.
At 1-40 p.m. the Battalion moved forward, crossing the
MESSINES-WYTSCHAETE ROAD at the two points we were supposed to
and formed up on the tape from O.27. Central to O.27.d.0.0. (which
had been laid out by the Intelligence Officer Lieut YORK.) in two
waves of 4 lines each A. & B. the first wave, A on the Right,
C. & D. the 2nd wave; C on the Right
The Battalion was in touch with the 49th Battalion on
our Right, but the 6th Lincolns failed to put in an appearance on
the Left and patrols could find no word or sign of them. At Zero
the barrage was 601 On account of the Left Flank being in the
air, the attached Brigade Machine Gun Section had instructions to
form a Strong Post protecting that flank at about O.27.b.8.3..
Ten minutes before Zero 16 Platoon was moved out to the left
flank of D Company to mop up as the barrage crept forward and to
prevent sniping on to that flank as the Battalion moved ahead.
At Zero the Battalion moved forward, the Right being
in touch with the 49th. "D" Company after the start was swung to
the left and came up on the left of "B" Company partly filling the
gap caused by non appearance. of the Lincoln's.
The 49th Battalion and "A" Company lost touch during
the advance, but as soon as the objective was reached this gap was
filled by "C" Company.
"A" & "C" Companies reached their first objective, "D"
& "B" companies went through and put posts in the 2nd objective.
The line as held by the Battalion as follows :- From O.28.a.9.2.
to O.28.b.0.4. (3 Posts occupied the trench) from O.28.c.00.65.
3 posts ran to the road at O.22.d.30, thence along the rear of the
road to O.22.d.03..55., and in a series of posts which bent back
to ODOUR TRENCH at O.22.c.55.50., along ODOUR TRENCH to O.22.c.45.75.
A patrol worked along to the left and found an English Battalion
behind ODONTO TRENCH , but no one in it for 400-500 yards to our
left arrangements were made with this English Regiment to form a
defensive flank to their right, thus linking the front line up.
"A" & "C" Companies had supports dug in from O.28.93.
to behind the enemy wire at O.28.s.8.3. to O28.s.8.5. and forward
through the wire to O.28.b.00.65.
Two Companies of Borders were found just behind our
front line and these were put in one at O. 28.a.Central along
the 40 Contour Line, and the other behind the junction of the
52nd and 49th Battalions. A Platoon of English were collected
near the Railway at C.22.a.24., and sent out to VAN HOVE FARM to
occupy it, a tank co-operating with them, thus protecting our
left from flank from the enemy. Two tanks were sent down to O.22.
a.8.3 to strengthen the valley there and support the posts in
front.
Soon after 8-0 p.m. our artillery commenced firing short
heavies on the left sector zaround JOYE FARM, and 18 pounders with
some howitzers on the right sector.
At 9-0 p.m. the O.C. Left sector got in touch with the
headquarters of the LINCOLNS and arranged that as soon as their
companies came forward a Company could be sent on to occupy from
O.28.b.00.65. to O. 22.a.9.5., and relieve our men of this sector
2/Lt BILSON organising the posts for them and connecting their fls
up.
The shelling of our artillery had become so severe that
on the centre and left sector the posts were withdrawn to ODIOUS
and ODOUR trenches, about 9-15 p.m., on the right the posts were
withrawn to the Support Line, and all troops except sentries
were kept absolutely down under cover; all work ceasing.
At 11-0 p.m. the enemy counterattacked along our Front
but failed to reach our trenches or get within bombing distance
owing to our machine gun and rifle fire. The rest of the night was
spent in consolidating.

R38/54        14
Sheet No.2
On 9.6.17 the enemy were kept down by snipers and
Lewis Gunners, and once or twice dispersed by our Artillery wh.
At 9-30 a.m. it was found that a large party of enemy had crept
forward by one’s and two’s and were massing in shell heles and
old emplacements from O. 22.c.85. to O.22.c.77., 20 bombers
under 2nd Lt. BOASE were sent forward to dislodge them. These
men bombed forward, got in touch with the enemy and outbombed
him, standing on the surface and chasing him from cover with
bombs, and when they broke and tried to retire our Lewis Gunners
and snipers cut them down. This continued until none were left.
In the afternoon a party went out and collected forty wounded
German prisoners, and estimated there were from 60-80 dead:
Three men of our were killed, and 4 wounded. The whole party
showed remarkable dash and bravery, especially as the shell holes
occupied by the Germans had quantities of bombs of every description 

in them. A prisoner who spoke English stated the whole Company
was killed or taken prisoner.. The attack finished any active
opposition the enemy gave us until we were relieved.
At 8-40 p.m. a barrage was put down by both sides,
the British troops in present and in the rear became very jumpy,
an S.O.S. even being sent up by the supporting troops.
An order was received for the Battalion to move back
at 9-0 p.m to Supports of the 49th & 51st Battalions.
"A" & "C" Companies moved through the barrage to time,
and wild rumours were very prevalent among the English Troops that

the Australians were retiring. "B" & "D" Companies were kept until 
the fire had slackened, and an Officer preceded the relief to
warn troops to warn troops at Headquarters of Battalions through
whom they passed of the relief, because the troops in the rear
were so jumpy that their steadiness was absolutely shaken.
No S.O.S. Signals were sent up by this Battalion
during the afternoon or evening of the 11th 8/6/17.
The Tanks rendered very valuable aid, and were
untiring in their efforts to help. They acted with the utmost
promptitude in going to the assistance of troops or accomplishing
any work asked of them. They dismounted their Lewis Guns and worked
them from the trenches and refused to leave the front Line until
everything was consolidated.
Major.
Tempy. Commanding 52nd Battalion AI

R38/54    15
REPORT OF OPERATIONS on 10th 11th June 1917
The Battalion moved from BOYLES FARM at 8-0 p.m. with
guides from 50th Battalion, and went forward to take up a
position at 34 a. on a tape which was being laid out.
Owing to the early hour that the attack was commencing
it was necessary to move forward over MESSINES RIDGE in
daylight, and "C" and "D" companies came under a heavy barrage
as result of them having been observed by the enemy.
"C" & "D" Companies, after the barrage, were led by their
guides on to a tape which was some distance in the rear of
the correct jumping off place. "D" Company was drifted into
the line after the attack, and helped ^to work to a flank and get in
touch with the Battalion on the Right. "C" company which
had got out of touch with H.Qs in the smoke and barrage, were
instructed to remain where they were, as the line was consolidated 
by the time they had located themselves and reported
where they were dug in.
The two Companies which attacked on the 52nd Battalion
frontage started later and found the enemy wire uncut, a few
men managed to get through, entered the enemy trench and formed
up on the right of the 50th Battalion.
Afterwards as men were reorganised they were put into
the line already held, and worked to their right, forming
their right post at O.34.a.1.5.70.
Patrols then pushed out to the right and failed to get
in touch with our right Battalion.
During the night the position was consolidated and just
after dawn another patrol reported they had gotk in touch
with the 45th Battalion on our right.
As soon as it was light enough to see enemy were noticed,
moving back towards the road which runs through O.28.c & d,
O.29.3 &  O.35.s., in Officer’s patrol examined the house at
O.34.s.4.9. and found it to be a very strong concrete post
unoccupied; and with five or six German dead lying in and
around it, this post was occupied and the patrol then got in
touch with an Officer of the Right Battalion who later worked
down, and joined us at the road at O.34.a.8.30.
During the day 11.6.17 consolidation was continued with
sniping at enemy's snipers. machine gunners, and at their planes
which were constantly over our lines.
At dusk an outpost was pushed out to O.34.b. 75.15., and
an Officer's patrol went out and patrolled DECONINCK FARM
O.34.b.65.70., and remained there.
At 11-0 p.m. the relief commenced, an English Reginent
taking over on the left to the BLAU EXFWOORTSWEXK, and the 14th
Battalion relieving our right sector.
As the O.C. of the relieving Company of 14th Battalion
refused to occupy DECONINCK FARM the officer was ordered to
fall back but on this being reported to Lieut-Colonel SALISBURY
he refused to consider the relief of the Brigade Sector complete
and instructed the Farm be reoccupied by our Battalion. A party
of the 14th Battalion was then led out by Capt.MAXWELL of the
52nd Battalion, who first personally reconnoitred the road
running by the Farm to O.35.a.4.6., and then finding some
concrete posts at C.35.a.2S.60., placed the post in position
there. Capt. JACKA of the 14th Battalion accompanied the party
and was handed over the position which had been selected by
Capt MAXWELL.
The relief of the Battalion was then completed.
Major
Temp. Commanding 52nd Battalion A.I.F

R39/94     16
AUSTRALIAN
GENERAL GODLEY'S SPEECH TO THE 12th./INFANTRY BRIGADE.
LA CRECHE. 14th. June 1917.
General Robertson, Officers and men of the 12th. Brigade,
when I speak to you today I am not going to make a mistake which
I made on the last occasion when I addressed you, and when I
spoke of you, if you remember, as the 13th. Brigade. Whatever
I called you, there was one thing which & had in my mind and
that was the Brigade that fought at BULLECOURT - there was no
mistake about that this was the Brigade which fought so
gallantly at BULLECOURT. I have now come to thank you for what
the Brigade did in the great victory we have had over the
Germans at MESSINES. It has been a great victory and may have
very far reaching effects. There is no Brigade in the whole
of the 2nd. Army which fought did more to achieve that victory
than you did. You had a very difficult job. There is
nothing harder then to go through other troops to get to a
final objective so far in advance. It required great gallantry
to get it because you had to go over and down a forward slope
in full view of the enemy after that enemy had had time to pull
himself together a bit. Not only was there their gallantry
of the troops beyond all praise, but they knew what they were
about, and did it like experienced soldiers.
The Brigade will have the satisfaction of knowing that it
was they who got to our final objective and held it in the face
of very determined counterattacks. I can only say that I hope
that this Brigade will remain with me, and that I shall feel
that there is no Brigade which I would rather have with me;
and I thank wixt you from my heart for all that you have done
in this great battle.

R39/94         17

GENERAL GODLEY'S SPEECH TO 13th AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE.
CANTEEN CORNER.  June 14th. 1917.
General Glasgow, Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and
men of the 13th. Infantry Brigade I have come down here today to
thank and congratulate you on what the Brigade did in the great
battle of MESSINES which is just over. The Brigade had a very
difficult task in having to go through other troops to start
under rather difficult conditions on its attack. It had to
go through the whole battlefield, find its way under difficult
circumstances and over difficult country through other troops,
and then get under the barrage, establish themselves there and
eventually go on to our final objective. Now it was a g
operation a good deal more difficult than some of you may have
realised. It reflects infinite credit not only on the
gallantry of the Brigade, but on its discipline, training, and
experience. I was very glad to have an experienced Division
like the 4th. Division to do this difficult operation of coming
through the attacking Division and going on to the Green Line.
I had perfect confidence that, in the 13th. Brigade, who had
to establish touchwith the Corps on our left, we had a Brigade
which would do it well. My confidence was more than amply
justified. Nothing could have been better. So well and so
successfully was it done, that the left Battalion of the Brigade 
went even further than was intended and took over a good
bit of line on the left which was really allotted to the 9th.
Corps. Then, afterwards, a very awkward situation developed
in which a pocket of Germans held out in about 600 yards of
trench on the GREEN LINE. This had to be taken and Col.
Salisbury’s Battalion, and I should add, the 52nd. Battalion
did it and did it most excellently. It reflects great credit
on these two Battalions. You were counterattacked heavily,
perhaps more heavily than we knew; because the Germans themselves 

say that they counterattacked with at least two Divisions
in the particular place where you met them. You were mainly
responsible for repulsing that counterattack.
I am proud to think that my connection with the Brigade
dates from the time when you were formed on the SUEZ CANAL.
The Brigade promised to be a good one and its performances ever
since in Flanders and on the SOMME and here have proved it
second to none. You now have not only this battle to your
credit but also the fact that you went furthest and, together
with the 12th. Brigade, were the Brigade which was given the
final objective to be made, which you did with such conspicuous
success. We are now in front of GAPAARD FARM, and further
East almost on to WARNETON. To this Brigade as much as any
other in the 2nd. belongs the credit of having achieved that

result. We deplore your Heavy losses, but that is inevitable
when a Brigade of proved valour is set such a task as you had to
do. It is the result of desperate fighting against a
determined
and gallant xxxxx enemy. I am very proud to have you in my
Corps and to feel that I have a Brigade on which I can so
thoroughly depend in any further fighting that may be before you.

R39/94      18

GENERAL GODLEY'S SPEECH TO THE 9th. AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE
nearDoulieu. 15th. June 1927.
General Jobson, Officers, non-commissioned officers, and men
of the 9th. Infantry Brigade, I have come here today as Commander
of the 2nd. Anzac Corps to congratulate you on the part of which
all ranks of the Brigade played in the Battle of MESSINES, which
is still going on. The Brigade was the right Brigade of the
whole 2nd. Army, xxx and was the pivot on which the whole operations 

of the first day depended. If this Brigade had not only
done its job well, but also learned what to do and how to do it,
the operations of Knn an Army of three Axxx Army Corps might have
been imperilled. But it proved that not only you but carried
out its most difficult task. It is a very difficult thing to
pivot as you did on your right and swing round on to the BLACK
LINE: It was done in a way worthy of the best trained regular
troops. It was extremely well done, and that was because everyone’s

heart was in the job and they made a point of knowing what
to do and how to do it. They got on to the BLACK LINE without
difficulty. Then you came under a very heavy shelling - I think
the heaviest shelling experienced by any Brigade in the 2nd. Army.
I had many messages from all parts of the line, but from the right
I never had any message which showed the least doubt about the
result or about the right of the line sticking it. It was
worth more than I can tell you to know that the right was firm.
The Brigade was then called on to take a very intricate,
highly developed, strongly fortified system known as the POTTERIES
It was done admirably and could not have been done better. The
effect of all this is that we cleared the BOCHE altogether out
on the right flank... We are in possession now right down to the
line of the LYS, and have driven him back almost into WARNETON,
3,000 yards further than you were told to go or than you actually
went. Last night we got some more gains, about 70 prisoners,
and are within striking distance of WARNETON now. What is
going to happen in the future only the Higher commanders know,
but the 9th. Brigade cleared the way to this xxxx result.
This is the first big fight the Brigade has been in. It
has proved itself worthy to rank with any of the Brigades of the
A.I.F. or in any force in the Empire - with the Brigades that
landed in GALLIPOLI or fought in the SOMME. And I want to tell
you how proud the sister Corps, the 1st. Anzac Corps, and the
people of Australia will be when they hear of the performances of
the 9th. Brigade. 1 feel that I can confidently trust a Brigade
like this for any further operations which we may be called upon
to carry out.