Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/253/1 - 1918 - 1939 - Part 14

30 THE A.I.F. IN FRANCE [1917-18
[spearhead, the first of the series of clean, powerful strokes 
[*thrusts
 blows*]
which constituted so important a part of the second phase
of Third Ypres. Never before had the A.I.F. fought
with such effect. It delivered blow after blow with complete
success. But, when Haig endeavoured to continue that
brilliant series in the autumn rains and mud, desertion
increased. It was difficult even for the company officers and
N.C.O's to say how far the practice really went, but, during
the dreadful period that followed the Battle of Broodseinde,
53 cases were reported by the 2nd Australian Division, which
bore the chief strain, ⁶² and the true number was probably
larger. The offenders were men who, _^(as Birdwood wrote to
Pearce_∧), ^when their battalion was ordered into the trenches.
“quietly slipped away at night back to the rear,” where they
lay up for a few days and then reported back, either to the
battalion when it came out, or to its "nucleus” camp, or were
arrested.
It was difficult to distinguish some of these cases from
those of genuine “strays”; and, for conviction by courtmartial,
it was necessary to prove that the order to go into
the line had actually been given to the accused man. There
is no question that the action of a few worthless men constantly
burdened the lives of many of their comrades, caused
incessant trouble to N.C.O's and officers already weighted
with battle duties, and disgraced their regiments and their
nation. It was not the absence of these men from battle,
but their example to the younger troops, that was harmful.
Their absence was in some ways a definite advantage, but
the unfairness of allowing criminals to avoid the dangers, into
[which better men had to be forced, made their discharge from
the army an impossible penalty. They had to be caught and
[either hauled into the line or imprisoned. One result of this
[*/ effect*]
system was that the practice of suspending military sentences,
largely adopted in the British forces and those of the other
dominions, could not be so general in the A.I.F. The result
was that, according to a graph circulated in March 1918, nearly
9 Australians per 1,000 were in field imprisonment as against
I per 1,000 in the British force, and less than 2 in the Canadian,
"See Vol. IV, p. 890. 

31 Bn

Aug 8.
During 31 Bn advance between Red & Green Blue Lines
Sqn of the 5th Dragoon Gds. passed through in mass
preceded by scouts, but unfortunately ran into M.G.
nest near Vauvillers, & suffered severe casualties.
They retired a short distance & then set out again
& were lost to sight in rear of Framerville.
They, operating with armoured cars, proceeded to
round up the enemy to a depth of about six
kilometres & collected between two & three hundred
prisoners, . . . . . . . . . 

————————————————————
On arriving at Blue Line, it was seen that there
was a train with heavy gun & crew on the line
in X12 X1c, the rear end of which was burning
as the result of a bomb being dropped
on it by one of our contact 'planes.
The crew (including the 2nd in command of the
gun) were captured by the 5th Dragoon
Gds . . . . . . . . . 
The 28 C.M. _∧railway gun is the most important capture . . . . . . .
The battalion is extremely proud of itself inasmuch
as it has such an interesting trophy to its credit.
As here there seems to be some doubt as to the
claim of this battalion to its capture, it is only right to
say here that the airman who dropped the bomb on
the train was instrumental in its capture as well as the
cavalry. The actual taking possession of the gun
was carried out by an officer of this battalion . . . . . . .
 

E40

Nov., 1917-Mar., 1918] WINTER CAMPAIGN AT MESSINES 41
opponents' own flares, caught sight of a German machine-gun
post behind "Hamp Farm." This appeared a possible objective [*stet seemed a possible goal for*]
for a raid, and the party was waiting to push round and
reconnoitre it from the rear, when they heard a German patrol
coming down the track on which they happened to be lying.
Their first intention was to capture the patrol, but it would
have been difficult to bring back the prisoners from that
distance over several belts of wire. Accordingly, after waiting
till the Germans, eight in number, were on them, they flung
a couple of bombs and opened with their pistols, killing or
wounding at least four. Flares immediately went up, and
parties of Germans began to appear in several directions; but
the Australians, being screened by the ground from the
machine-gun at Hamp Farm, searched the injured Germans
for documents, cut off the shoulder straps showing their
regimental numbers, and then, recrossing the wire by rolling
over it, came in with their information. "I see the 13^th
Brigade has too many officers!" was the comment of
Lieutenant-Colonel Bernard, then of G.H.Q., who chanced to
meet the commander of the 52^nd Battalion (Lieutenant-Colonel
Whitham) next day. ^ [*A hated raid xxxx
had been avoided.
A raid, always
hated, had been avoided.*]
It was claimed and believed by the Australian infantry
and by their commanders that before the winter ended they
had almost complete control of No-Man's Land, and it has
been stated that the practice thus gained went far towards
creating the confidence and proficiency which marked the
conduct of these troops later in the year. Yet the reader who
turns to the published histories of the German regiments then
opposing them will be surprised to find that several of these
make precisely the same statement with regard to their own
patrols. The 153^rd Infantry Regiment speaks of the period
as a fairly quiet one marked by "patrol undertakings so
well—and rightly—loved," through which, it is claimed, that
regiment’s fame spread "far beyond the boundaries of its
division and corps," The 72^nd Regiment states that the
patrolling of both sides was keen, and that, whereas the 72^nd
took fifteen prisoners,
our opponents, in retaliatory attempts, secured nothing, and merely left
machine-guns and prisoners in our hands. 

AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES.
VICTORIA BARRACKS.
PADDINCTON, N.S.W., 19.6.1934
Dear Dr, Bean,
I am enclosing herein a
brief outline of the story of the difficulties
experienced in bringing _∧out the 11 unit railway
[[fire??]] Captured by the Australians at
Harbonnieres on 8^th April 1918, to

use as you think fit.
Speaking to Sir Charles Rosenthal
some time as I happened to
tell him of some of the difficulties
& set backs I experienced in bringing
the trophy out & he suggested I
should send a short article to
"Reveille" as it would be of interest 

to the diggers. This I have done.
I thought you also might be

interested hence the attached
[[& creed??]]; to use as you think
fit, or otherwise.
I attach also some notes I made
at the time from official records,
handbooks etc. regarding this

[[fire?]] & the 15 inch Chuignes gun
etc. Though I presume you have

already viewed the originals or

photostats.

Yours sincerely 

G Manchester 

HISTORICAL NOTES AND WAR DIARY EXTRACTS HAVING REFERENCE TO THE
28 cm. GERMAN RAILWAY GUN.
On 3rd May 1918 towards evening a 24 cm. H.V. gun was located by the
15th F.S. Coy. at W 7 C 96 near Bayonvillers and Guillaucourt. In the G.O.C.
R. A. Diary on 20th May an entry appeared "Shelling by H.V. guns is still considerable. 

Guns probably doing some of the shelling have been seen on the railway
from V 11 to W 7 at various times. Their practice is to fire a few rounds, and
to retire when engaged by our artillery."
On 30th a H.V. gun at W8 a 66 was engaged with balloon observation.
"One direct hit on the train was observed and two direct hits on the railway track".
On 4th June 1918 it was engaged by one of our forward 60 pr. batteries;
each time it opened fire it was neutralized. When this occurred five times it
moved off and did not reappear for two days, having fired on the 4th eight rounds
in all. On 6th June our forward 60 prs. again "harassed with most successful
results" this gun. It moved off on this occasion after firing three rounds only.
Twice subsequently it opened up, and after firing five rounds and two rounds
respectively it then moved away.
On the 9th in four attempts it fired eight rounds in all, each time
being successfully neutralized.
On the 10th it was again neutralized, a small explosion being caused.
On the 16th an entry says that H.V. guns on railway mountings firing
from V 12 and W 7 were successfully neutralized by forward 60 prs. (It is possible
that there was only one gun in action, the reports having been furnished from
divergent viewpoints.)
On the 17th at 5.15 a.m. it was engaged by 6 guns and withdrew after
firing five rounds. At 8 a.m. the same date it again opened up, and was engaged
by 6" guns and 60 prs. After firing only one round a direct hit was obtained on
the gun, and another hit on the engine, and another on some ammunition. (It is
more than probable that the hit observed on the gun was the engine or one of the
trucks, as there is no sign of the gun having been hit at any time.) This area was
then kept under fire. At 12-15 p.m. a new engine came up rapidly and withdrew
the gun. The engine was engaged without success by our batteries.
The damage done was evidently sufficient to keep the gun out of action
for several days. It made its reappearance on 23rd in V 12. (It is pointed out that this
is more or less the same area in which it has been operating all along. The gun has a
range of 26,000 yards. Amiens is 23,000 to 24,000 yards distant).
On 23rd and 24th it was again neutralized by our fire. (About the same time,
28th, a special shoot, using aeroplane observation, was carried out on another gun,
38 cm (15") firing from Arcy Wood, near Chuignes. This gun was subsequently captures,
having been blown up by the enemy some time before, either by a premature or by
enemy design; the carriage and gun being completely damaged thereby. This is
described in a special report. The distance of the 38 cm. gun from Amiens is about
34,000 to 35,000 yards, this gun having a range of 46,000 yards. Both the 15" gun
and the 11" gun were thus within range of Amiens.
The shoot on the 38 cm. gun was carried out by a forward section of 6"
guns, and after its completion these guns fired harassing rounds on the targets in
the vicinity).
On 9th July 1918 the railway gun in W 5 a was neutralized by our artillery.
On 11th July again it was in action and neutralized, this time firing
from V 12 d, W5 a and W 7 d.
On the 13th firing from W 7 and W 8 on several occasions it was successfully
neutralized each time, and again on the 16th. On the 19th a location at W 5 d 7365
was taken up by it and from which it shelled the vicinity of Allonville. It fired
only four rounds, including two airburst rounds. We engaged it with 6 guns with
balloon observation.
Capture of the 28 cm. gun.
On 8th August 1918 this gun was captured by the 3lst Australian Battalion, 

-2-
assisted by an officer - Lieut. G. Burrows, M.C., 14th Field Company Australian
Engineers - with two sappers - L. J. Strahan and J.H. Palmer, 8th Field Company
Australian Engineers.
The C.R.E. in 5th Australian Division War Diary, August 1918, states:
Lieut. G. Burrows, M.C., 14th Field Company Australian Engineers, with two
sappers - L.J. Strahan and J.H. Palmer, 8th Field Company Australian Engineers
on reaching the final objective with one of the assaulting battalions of the Left
Brigade, whom they were accompanying, saw a long range llzr gun on railway
mounting on a siding 400 yards beyond the front line. A locomotive with several
ammunition wagons and coaches, which were on fire, was also on the siding. Without
hesitation this party of Field Engineers went forward, and in spite of enemy
machine gun and rifle fire, raised steam on the locomotive, shunted the burning
coaches into another siding, coupled up with gun and ammunition wagons, and then
brought these well back within our own lines.
The R.A.F. bombed the railway line, cutting it with a bomb, thus rendering
the withdrawal of the gun to a place of safety from the enemy point of view
impossible, and incidentally bringing it to a standstill.
Salvage of the gun and train:
"A party of one section of sappers was put on during the night of 8/9th
to repair the broad guage railway in W 5. This necessitated taking up the damaged
sections of rails, and replacing them with rails taken up from between W 5 Central
and the Blue Line. Rails that would not fit were successfully out with one slab
of guncotton placed vertically with the edge of the slab in close contact with
the web of the rail, the slab being cut to fit. As the boiler of the locomotive
attached to railway gun was practically empty, 300 gallons of water were taken up
in a water cart from Bayonvillers during the night. Steam was raised early in
the morning of the 9th, but when starting the locomotive on the upgrade the train
ran back, with the result that the bogey of the guncarriage ran off the rails on
one side. Work was then commenced jacking up the carriage, and eventually the
gun carriage was replaced on the rails. Another 300 gallons of water were taken
up to the locomotive in the Company water cart from Bayonvillers during the evening.
Steam was again raised, and the gun and train moved back to W 3 d 28 during the
night of 9/10th August.
Early in the morning of the 10th August, Lieut. Malcolm, R.E., arrived from
Corps H.Q., with instructions to take over the gun and train. These were handed
over and a receipt obtained from him.
(Extract from 8th Field Coy., Aust. Engineers’ War Diary, August 1918).
Report by O.C. 8th Aust. Inf. Bde., enclosing report by O.C. 31st Australlan Battalion
re capture of 11.2" railway gun:
Report by O.C. 31st Battalion reads:-
H.Q. 8th Aust. Inf. Bde.
I have to report as follows in regard to the circumstances surrounding
the capture of the German 28 cm. gun No. 602921:-
On reaching the first objective of the 5th Aust. Div. (Red Line) at 10 a.m.
on 8th August last I saw a railway train steaming up and down a railway line
running north and south through X1 Ref. Map Sheet 62 D S E 1/20,000. I was with
my left front Company. On reaching a point about 800 yards from the line the
train stopped, and I then saw a large gun fire from one of the trucks. After
several shots had been fired, I noticed an acroplane (apparently a Sopwith
Camel) circling over the train, then moving slowly to the North, with the
evident intention of attacking it. A few seconds later the plane dropped about
four bombs close to the engine, which emitted a dense cloud of steam, and the
train stopped. The plane then circled round the train again, and dropped a
bomb on one of the rear trucks, causing a large explosion. By this time I was
within about 600 yards of the train.
I then gave orders for the final objective (Blue Line) to be taken immediately
At this time I saw a mass of cavalry about a mile to my right rear approaching
Harbounieres. My troops reached the final objective at 10.15 a.m., and some
half hour later they had occupied the Blue Line the Cavalry passed through. By 

-3-
then the train had been examined by many of my officers and men and souvenirs
obtained therefrom.
As the train was within 100 yards of my front line it was in my possession
and covered by fire at all times subsequent to the capture of the final objective.
No tanks reached the final objective until at least one hour and a half after its
capture by my battalion.
Steam was raised on the engine at 2 a.m. by engineers attached to me, and
the train (less several passenger coaches and damaged trucks) was brought into
our lines at about 3 p.m. The train was certainly brought to a standstill by the
work of the aeroplane, but I claim on behalf of the 8th Australian Infantry Brigade
the actual capture of the gun.
3lst Inf. Battn.
(Sqd.) N.W. Freeman, Lt.-Col.
C 484
Comdg. 31st Bn. A. L.F.
20/9/28
H.Q. 5 (Aust. Div. A.L.F. 8 1011951
5th Aust. Div.
22/9/28
8th A.L. Bde. No. C. 131649
2119128
Ref. capture of German 28 cm. gun on 8 Aug. report by C.O. 31st Battalion is
forwarded.
(Sgd.) C.H. Davies, Lt.-Col.
T/Cmdg. 8th A. I. Bde.
At Paris:
The gun and mounting complete were despatched to Paris for exhibition
purposes, and it was placed in the Champs de Mars, where it was viewed by thousands
of Parisians and others. Many of them were under the impression that it was the gun
that shelled Paris. At the time of its arrival there, it was marked, "Captured by
the 31st Battalion, A.I.F." This was subsequently altered to, "Captured by the
British IV Army", and this is till on the body of the undercarriage in huge white
letters.
There is not the slightest doubt however that the actual capture was made by
the 31st Australian Battalion and the Australian Engineer personnel attached thereto.
An Australian detachment which was told off as a guard during its stay in Paris was
warmly cheered by French soldiers and civilians.
The Prime Minister of Australia (The Hon. W.M. Hughes) subsequently asked the
High Commissioner for Australia if steps could be taken to have the gun exhibited in
London. The High Commissioner wrote to the Corps Commander, Australian Corps (Sir
John Monash); who replied that he knew of no difficulties from that side and that he
had no objections to its exhibition in London provided a definite assurance was given
that the gun would ultimately arrive in Australia and not get overlooked in London.
It was suggested that the gun should be mounted in Trafalgar Square or near
Australia House. (Owing to the huge weight of the gun and mounting and the absence
of a railway line in the vicinity of these places this was found to be impracticable.)
The gun and mounting complete with four trucks for personnel and ammunition
etc. were brought across to Richborough by train ferry from Dieppe. On the 5th October
1918 the War Office informed Major Treloar (O.C. War Records, A.I.F.) that the trophy
was about to be sent to England for experimental purposes. Steps were immediately
taken to ensure that such tests would not interfere with the gun as a trophy for
subsequent removal to Australia, that is, that no more damage should be done to it
than was absolutely necessary to carry out the tests, particularly of the recuperator
system.
The gun has an abnormally short recoil for a weapon of its size and capabilities.
On the 7th October a request was made by the Commandant, A. I.F. Headquarters, London,
for the trophy to be made available to Australian Headquarters for exhibition and
eventual shipment to Australia, and that the trucks accompanying it be made available
on arrival as they would not be required for experimental purposes. 

-4-
In a subsequent letter to the War Office, 23/11/18, after the cessation
of hostilities, the Commandant, A.I.F. Headquarters, strongly urged the War Office
to use one of the other guns of the same type, which would be handed over under
the armistice terms for this purpose, thus making this gun immediately available
for Australian War Trophy purposes. This was also forcibly expressed by the Prime
Minister in a letter to the War Trophies Committee.
Owing to the necessity of bringing guns, etc., requiring repair at
Woolwich etc. over from France, traffic by the train ferry from France to Richborough
was greatly congested at this time, and the trophy did not arrive in England until the
15th February 1919.
Richborough:
From the main broad gauge (4' 8½") line at Calais the gun, mounted in
its travelling position on its carriage, was moved directly on to the main ferry
and run off on to a siding at Richborough.
Richborough was the famous "Hush" port used during the last 18 months
of the war for transporting to and from England to France the more urgently required
munitions of all sorts. The British Prime Minister is credited with the idea or
at any rate with giving effect to the establishment of this Base. It was built
almost entirely by the Royal Engineers, who dredged a huge area of swamp, diverted
the course of the river, built 1½ miles of wharves, and laid in sidings etc., about
25 miles of broad gauge lines, and in addition a jetty with special construction
to obviate the effect of the rise and fall of tide, thus allowing loading and un-
loading at all times, day and night. About 20,000 men and women were employed at
this Base, which before war broke out was quite unknown; in fact, even at the end
of the war it was known only to a very small percentage of the population and was
most carefully guarded by military and civil police.
It is thought that some of the enemy bombs dropped by enemy planes at
Ramsgate, Margate, etc., were probably intended for Richborough, but owing to the
thick mist which rises from the sea towards evening the location of the objective
by the enemy planes was faulty.
At Richborough the trophy was in charge of a Sgt. -Major Artificer Marshall,
of the A.O.C., Woolwich. He had been with the trophy almost since its capture,
and he subsequently stripped all the small parts from the mounting before its
removal to Woolwich. Owing to the fact that the top gauge of the trucks had an
abnormally big overlap, thus making the passing of traffic on the opposite line
dangerous, it was decided to leave the trucks at Richborough. The gun when mounted
on its carriage is about 13 ft. 7 inches above the level of the rails. The loading
gauge (height) of the tunnels on the South Eastern and Chatham Company's railway
lines between Richborough and Woolwich is 13 ft. 1 inch only. The gun had therefore
to be removed at Richborough from its mounting and transported separately on bogeys
to Woolwich. It was taken into the Gun Inspection Room at Woolwich and measured
up and carefully examined. It was found that the gun was too worn to carry out
firing tests. (See also historical notes). The stores belonging to the gun and
mounting were removed to Woolwich in British trucks.
Cost:
An estimate of the cost of removal of the gun and mounting to Australia
was made out in conjunction with the brokers of the Commonwealth Shipping Line.
figure of £1,500 to £2,000 was arrived at. It was considered that this expenditure was
rather excessive. However the handsome nature of the trophy, and the fact that it
would be of considerable educational value in Australia, having been an object of
great interest at Paris and also at Woolwich, where it was continually being viewed
by military officers of all ranks, and it being the wish of many of the A.I.F. that
it should be sent to Australia, the Minister of Defence (Senator the Hon. G.F.
Pearce) decided on June 6 th 1919 that as some of the vessels of the Commonwealth
Line of steamers were leaving with partially full cargoes, and the cost would be
after all merely one of bookkeeping between two Commonwealth Departments, the expense
would be justified, and he gave orders for the transport of the trophy to Australia,
without the trucks, which were of a bulky nature and presented many additional
difficulties in the way of shipping and railway movement.
Many difficulties will be experienced before the gun is finally emplaced
in Australia. Some of these are due to its size and weight, and others to gauge
and other such limitations in Australia and England.

General Sir William Birdwood, G.O.C., A.I.F., wrote to Major-General
Napier, Director of Artillery at the War Office, on the 16 th June, asking if the
War Office would have the gun, mounting and stores moved to Chatham, where it could
be loaded on to an Australian freight ship, and also supply artificers to strip
off small parts, in order to reduce the weight and stripping space as much as
possible; also to supply 10 rounds of amminition complete, rendered safe for
transport beforehand, and for R.L. designs of the same. The intention is to
distribute the ammunition in Australia between the School of Gunnery and the
Australian War Museum and the several museums in the State capitals.
Chatham:
Owing to the depth of water at Woolwich, combined with sharp railway
curves there, making loading at that port impossible, Chatham was decided on. The
Secretary of State for the Admiralty was asked to permit the loading taking place
at Chatham Dockyard, and on 28th June 1919 the Secretary to the First Lord of
the Admiralty stated that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty would give
permission for the gun to be loaded at Chatham Dockyard, provided the trophy was
delivered under the crane at Chatham Dockyards. This concluded generally the
main arrangements at this end.
Unloading difficulties in Australia:
But one great difficulty had yet to be overcome, viz:- the offloading
in Australia. The mounting being designed for 4 ft. 8½: gauge at once postulated
the necessity of taking the gun off in a State in which the gauge railway was in
use. The weight of the several parts involved further restricted the unloading
port to such as had suitable cranes, combined with the 4 ft. 8½"   gauge line along
side.
At Sydney the only crane which would take the weights of the individual
lifts, viz: 80 tons, exists at Garden Island. The objection to Garden Island
for this purpose is that after having been unloaded at Garden Island it would
still be necessary to transport those weights to the mainland to put them
successively on a broad gauge (4 8zr) line. This would be a very delicate and
expensive operation.
At Melbourne a crane taking weights up to 70 tons exists, but gauge
trouble (5' 3") would render lifting off there useless. In addition only 17 ft.
draught of water exists. At Adelaide 25 tons is the maximim that can be arranged,
earried out by the shipping company concerned, no floating or land cranes being
available. The disability of gauge exists again. Fremantle permits of 25 tons
lifts also, under the same conditions of gauge. At Brisbane the greatest lift by land
crane is 15 tons, but the gauge difficulty again crops up.
The only port where suitable facilities exist both as regards draught and
lifting possibilities with 4 8½" gauge accompaniment, is at Newcastle. At this
port the Broken Hill Proprietary Company have a wharf with suitable crane and
draught facilities to take the weights involved.
Off-loading at Newcastle.
The General Manager (G.M. Delprat, Esq.) was fortunately in England on
26th June 1919 and a request from the Minister for Defence asking for this Company
to do the work at Newcastle was acceded to, the Company placing its appliances at the
disposal of the Minister for this purpose.
The original idea was to lift off the bogeys, then the undercarriage with
central pivot in position, and then place the cradle and gun and breech hood in
position, thus completing the whole exhibit, at the wharf at Newcastle.
The total height of the trophy thus mounted is 13 ft. 7½" which will
pass through the tunnels and other similar bridge structures between Sydney and
Newcastle, but another difficulty appears that has not yet been finally overcome,
viz: the possibility of the bridges, particularly the Hawkesbury Bridge, between
Newcastle and Sydney, taking the axle loads if the trophy complete is moved to
Sydney. The axle load with the whole gun and mounting complete is 18 tons; without
the gun mounted it will present no difficulty - 11 tons.