Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/229/1 - December 1918 - February 1919 - Part 2

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
RCDIG1066689
Difficulty:
5

Page 1 / 10

have been very trying - I was never the ough a betterer day wet through with cott drivinyg, I got the ough the last ballation - Bt - on Dec 3157. whirled off the same day through Phillipville right away to the Mease valley near givel to See the 43rd Btyts Padfield, the officer ofthe R.A.A. who ws sdle have reached gonn w 1 American Aftir listening carefully to the stoyy am not suffieciently confident Of its trak to place any reliance in it – it is very raque; the vaquest I have had from any officer; & P cdn't tell me how our lines. I dot to caupe he fot back think much of the man & this manner ws not good. But what was work while was a lony jarn next day
with Saunders on, comined the B3rd Bty. who was in the fight at the Nek & reached 1 Turkish parapet - came back Tat day tted I reached Clarleroi & stayer with fullett; nex day vic Charleror, Quatre Eas, Watertos, Brussels, Hal. Ath & Tournai to Lelle where I stayed with Berdie & White; hew day to Bouloque where I stayed at the Rotel de France Cattack crossed but day & s wet me there; wilkins blew in from Cologne; al is to go to me to Callipoti; & Howe, an officer of BdBle, (B) who ws
on left at AuzacI first day & who is benyg allowed to come at my repect also. Wilkins says that Casey As in Colope also. He & Casey were so strack with the suilmess of the formans & I mildness of the rules laid down by British authorities - the ws So much to grated (for example, our own autorities are Employing British tabour battalious - British! - to swee the roads a few miles out of Cologue along which bbesides our own people) German farmers drive their carts! There are cafes all sorts of places in full
swing, very buight cnside, out of bounds to British troops? There are not enough places reserved at te Opera for British officers to book them if they wish to. For a fortnight the British authorities enforced the same ruleseg as to curfew (everyone to be in doors at Tren had in Belgium go as the fermans After a fortnight they relaxed or abolsher them Casy was convinced ket our men todnt stand this & advised to ty shd not be sent to fermar. and so bay are not going. On Jany to I sd goodly to Cuttack Fold Boddy - & with
Wellius & Howe crossed to condon. In London had very heavy work to get tho i time; but by Jan 18, when the was office had our passage Eventually fixed, managed to leave with the following compresing what we call the Austialian Historical Mission. C.E.WB. Listorian. Capt. G.H. Wilkins MC O official opapte Capt GW Lambert, official artist Lieut. A. Buchanan, top ographicil Expert. Staff Seyt G Rogers Aste Topo-Expert to idew Lieut. Ho. Howe- 17 positions reached on left on day of landin Lrent. J. Balfour - my assistrnt Staf Teryr A.W Bayley, was Records.
Jan9. be crossed from Sonthampton last night to Havot in tranpot Roona – the first bitish merchent ship to Entie Hambary or Bremen after I was to take off British released prisoners. Today in Havoe Jan 20. Last night in train to Peris. Lep Paris tonight for Modane. Jan 21. Arrived at Modane & changed to train for Genoa. AtGenoa found to our bagage cdnot catch I same train as we to Rome, all Jan 22. Reached Rome. Went to Carmen at Copera. Jan 2S. Bapags still not arrived. went round Rome today. Bayley has fallen ill with influenza.
Jou 24. Bagley went to the British troops Rest House & was left behint there to follow, probably to Egyst. My Gillette sagor we stolen out of my toilet bag in my haversack last night in the porters lodge of the Hotel. I bought andther Gillette today, I lockedit in my suit case togeties with partof my anzac diary & other truys. tonight the suit case, & Howes sait case were stolen from our seatin our railway compartment - certainly by the staff of the railway while We were at dinner. Howe is staying another night in Rome
to teack them if possible. We are going tonight to tarante Jan 25. Arrived at tarant at Aanchtice and were tansforred out to te Rest Camp 4miles outside. Very maddy-almost like France. Jan 26 today at I pm. we Embarked on H.M.S. Asphodel for Matta. It was very rough indeed & this ship is one to shake the bones out of your body Willims, who ws never sick before, was seasick almost at once. The std Chap went up & camped (as did Seryt Rogers) on top of our luggage. It shifted & stipted
durny the Evening until he must hear bu two feet lower than when he sterted. Lambest is rather the life of tis party. He has an untimited fund of stories which he tells exceedingly well; not quite such a bulliant brain as Dysons, nos so unassuming But a public spiriter man. wth his pointed beard& light horse rig out - Australian hat - & speers which he religiously wears on board ship – he tooks like a cavalies He likes above every tiig to feel himself a sowier. He him f. Aust. Toot is giving aday, I has guaranteed $500 for a picture of the Landin
Jan 27. Arrived at dusk in Valetta. Staying at the Hotel Sta Lucia – Gshellings a day inclusioe - far and away the cheapes & we have struck. Went to the Opera- odora. Jan 28. Today arranged our passages in Pincess Ene sailing Jan 30. In the aftrnoon I 9ot a car detailed to we &, suppestion at the ect of the autorities here, visited the Austialian graves at Pieta & Adolorata & Autarp Cemcteries. Jan 29. All day writing report for fer. White in our claim to a Shere in the Cavenia propls of the Was office Cinema Committee,

have been very trying - I
was never through a bitterer day
- wet through with cold driving rains.
I got through the last
battalion - 18th - on Dec 31st.
Whirled off the same day through
Phillipeville right away to the
Meuse valley near Givet to
see the 43rd Bty to see Padfield, the
officer of the R.A.A. who ws sd to
have reached Gouy w / Americans.
After listening carefully to the story
I am not sufficiently confident
of its truth to place any reliance
in it - it is very vague; the
vaguest I have had from any
officer; & P. cdn't tell me how
he got back to camp our lines. I dont
think much of the man & his manner ws not good.
But what was worth while
was a long yarn next day
9

 

with Sanderson, commdg
the 43rd Bty. who was in the 
fight at the Nek & reached
/ Turkish parapet - &
came back.
Next That day Fullwood I
reached Charleroi & stayed
with Sid Gullett; next day via
Charleroi, Quatre Bras,
Waterloo, Brussels, Hal,
Ath & Tournai to Lille where
I stayed with Birdie & White;
next day to Boulogne where
I stayed at the Hotel de France.
Cutlack had crossed that
day & stayed wit met me
there; Wilkins blew in from
Cologne; he is to go w me
to Gallipoli; & Howe, an
officer of 3rd Bde, (11 Bn) who ws
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on / left at Anzac /
first day & who is being
allowed to come at my
request also.
Wilkins says that Casey
ws in Cologne also. He & Casey
were so struck with the surliness
of the Germans & / mildness
of the rules laid down by /
British authorities - there ws
so much tt grated (for example,
our own authorities are
employing British labour
battalions - British! - to sweep
the roads a few miles out
of Cologne along which
(besides our own people)
German farmers drive
their carts! There are cafés
& all sorts of places in full
11

 

swing, very bright inside,
out of bounds to British troops!
There are not enough places
reserved at the Opera for
British officers to book them
if they wish to. For a fortnight
the British authorities enforced
the same rules eg. as to curfew
(everyone to be indoors at 7pm)
as the Germans    & so on ; had in Belgium.
After a fortnight they relaxed
or abolished them!
Casey was convinced
that our men wdnt stand
this & advised tt they shd
not be sent to Germany.
And so they are not going.
On Jan 4th I sd goodbye
to Cutlack & old Boddy. - & with
12

 

Wilkins & Howe crossed to
London.
In London we I had
very heavy work to get thro
in time; but by Jan 18, when
the War Office had our passage
eventually fixed, managed to
leave with the following comprising
what we call the Australian
Historical Mission:-
C.e.w.B. historian.
Capt G.H. Wilkins M.C. official photographer
Capt GW Lambert, official artist
Lieut. H. Buchanan, topographical expert.
Staff Sergt G. Rogers Asst. Topo. expert
Lieut. H.V. Howe - fxxxxy to identify positions
reached on left on day of landing.
Lieut. J. Balfour - my assistant.
Staff Sergt R.W. Bazley, war Records.
13

 

Jan 19. We crossed from
Southampton last night to
Havre in transport City of Poona - the
first British merchant ship to
enter Hamburg or Bremen after
/ war to take off British released
prisoners. Today in Havre.
Jan 20. Last night in train to Paris.
Left Paris tonight for Modane.
Jan 21. Arrived at Modane & changed
to train for Genoa. At Genoa
found tt our baggage cd not
catch / same train as we to 
Rome.
Jan 22. Reached Rome. All went to
Carmen at / opera.
Jan 23. Baggage still not arrived. 
Went round Rome today. Bazley
has fallen ill with influenza.
14

 

Jan 24. Bazley went to the
British troops Rest House
& was left behind there -
to follow, probably to Egypt.
My Gillette razor ws stolen
out of my toilet bag in my
haversack last night in the
porters lodge of the Hotel. I
bought another Gillette today;
it was stolen I locked it in my
suit case together with part of
my Anzac diary & other things.
Tonight the suit case, & Howe's
suit case were stolen from
our seats in our railway
compartment - certainly by
the staff of the railway while
we were at dinner. Howe
is staying another night in Rome
15

 

to track them if possible.
We are going tonight to Taranto.
Jan 25.  Arrived at Taranto at
lunchtime & xx were transferred
out to the Rest Camp 4 miles
outside.  Very muddy - almost
like France.
Jan 26.  Today at 1 p.m. we
embarked on H.M.S.
Asphodel for Malta -
It was very rough indeed
& this ship is one to shake
the bones out of your body.
Wilkins, who ws never
sick before, was seasick
almost at once.  The old
chap went up & camped
(as did Sergt Rogers) on top of
our luggage.  It shifted & shifted

 

during the evening until
he must have bn two feet
lower than when he started.
Lambert is rather the life of
this party.  He has an unlimited
fund of stories which he tells
exceedingly well; not quite
such a brilliant brain as
Dysons, nor so unassuming.
But a public spirited man.
With his pointed beard &
light horse rig out - Australian
hat - & spurs which he
religiously wears on board
ship - he looks like a cavalier.
He likes above everything to
feel himself a soldier.  The
Aust. Govt is giving him ₤3
a day, & has guaranteed
₤500 for a picture of the landing
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Jan 27.  Arrived at dusk in
Valetta.  Staying at the
Hotel Sta Lucia - 9 shillings
a day inclusive - far and
away the cheapest we have
struck.  Went to the Opera -
Fedora.
Jan 28.  Today arranged our
passages in Princess Ena
sailing Jan 30.
In the afternoon I
got a car detailed to me &,
at the request suggestion of the authorities
here, visited the Australian
graves at Pieta & Addlorata
& Amtarfa Cemeteries.
Jan 29.  All day writing report
for Gen. White on our claim to a
share  in the Cinema profits
of the War Office Cinema Committee.
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Loretta CorbettLoretta Corbett
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