Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/253/1 - 1918 - 1939 - Part 21

August 1, 1937  REVEILLE  43 
PENSION WIN FOR EX-IMPERIAL
Mr. N. Humble, ex-imperial soldier, of Weston Street, Weston.
N.S.W., whose pension claim had been persevered with by the
R.S.S.I.L.A. for two years, has now had the satisfaction of
securing a pension of 12/- a week from the British Ministry
of Pensions. "Without the assistance of the R.S.S.l.L.A.
would not have got this recognition," says Mr. Humble, who
adds that he will always de everything in his power to further
the cause of the League.
With the 4th at the Pine (From Page 37)
session of his revolver (he appeared to have no spare
ammunition), and we buried his body in the sandbag 
barricade There was no sign of any of his party.
While we were thus engaged numbers of the enemy
had taken advantage of the absence of firing to crawl towards

the barricade, but they were discovered in time, and
driven off by fire.
The trench at this point was about 9ft. deep, but had no
fire-steps on the side facing the Jolly. Setting the others
to cut fire-steps, I procedeed along the front line to 
establish touch with the rest of the battalion, and on passing
the entrance of a sap that the Turks had dug towards our
old lines, I heard sounds coming from the depths of it.
In case some wounded were there, I stood at the mouth
of the tunnel and beckoned to the inmates to come out.
But there was no response, other than a call which
sounded like "Testim, Testim." This, of course, meant
nothing to me, but, more convinced than ever that some
wounded were sheltering in the sap, I put down my 
revolver. Imagine my surprise when there emerged, not
wounded, but seven unwounded Turks, including an officer
or N.C.O. Disarming them after hurriedly regaining
possession of my revolver, I ordered them to precede me
towards where I anticipated the battalion H.Q. would be
located. We had not gone far before the whole pack
stampeded back on me; guessing that they had run into
some of our fellows, I called out, and went ahead of them
and met Sergt. Crawford. The prisoners were handed
over to Colonel Macnaghten, to whom I made a request
for assistance at the barricade, but, as the battalion was
heavily engaged with the enemy in the depression that
Dr. Bean calls "The Cup," no men could, at the time, be
spared to return there with me.
In the communication trench the Turks were becoming
bolder and apparently preparing to attack us, so I gave
my party orders to run from one fire-step to another, and
open fire rapidly, so as to engage them from as many
points as possible. This move quietened the Turks for
the time being. About this time the adjutant of the 
battalion, Lieut. Massie, visited us, and, after complimenting
us on gaining the position, said that he would endeavour
to obtain a machine-gun, which would be needed to repulse
any counter-attack, and also some reinforcements.
Towards dark, word was received that a gun was coming, 
but the message was incorrect, as only a gunner
arrived, without a gun. The enemy was now quieter,
but I ordered a strict watch to be kept, and myself 
proceeded up the support trench, some distance along which
I met Corporal Stone, who, unaware that we had gained
the end of the trench, had barricaded it at the point where
he was holding. Asking him to connect up with us and
with the rest of the battalion, I returned to the forward
barricade, to be met by a call from one of the men who
had recently joined us, that there was movement out in
front. On climbing up, it was discovered that a Turk
was within a few yards of our position, but after firing
a shot, no further movement was seen.
Towards dawn bombs were thrown into the trench. One
of them landed close to where I was sitting, and I made
a dash for the cover of a fire-step, but was too late.
Wounded in several places in the right arm, I was obliged
to seek medical aid, and so my part in the battle came to
an end.
Advertisements - see original document
 

[* 11 August 1918 *]
France,
13-8-18.
Dear Mr Parker
It is with the deepest regret that I am writing to you, as Officer
Commanding No. 16 Platoon, of the 19th Battalion, concerning the great
loss we have all sustained in the death of your son No. 6206. Pte,
R. J. H. Parker. He fell on the field of battle during our attack of
the 11th August, just as we had reached our objective.
I was not actually with him at the time of his death, as owing to
the dense fog, the Platoon was considerably scattered, but men who
were with him in the advance speak very highly of his conduct on
that occasion, and of his bravery in attacking German Machine Gun
posts which were holding up our advance. It was in attacking one
of these posts that he was killed.
I have known your son for a considerable time, first as an
Instructor on the Lewis Gun, before we came into the line, and
afterwards in the line as a No. 1 Gunner. I have had him under
observation all the time,m and have had him marked as my best Lewis
Gunner and one of my very best all round men, in fast, he has helped
me with advice on many occasions, and has been my right hand manm he
was most energetic, cool in time of danger, cheerful at all times,
most efficient in his work, and beloved by all with whom he came in
contact.
He was also very highly esteemed by the Officers of the Company,
and his death means a great loss to the whole Battalion.
I cannot write any more, except to express to you, on the behalf
of my Platoon and myself, our deepest sympathy with you in your
bereavement. The great consolation is that he died the most noble
death that a man can die for his King and Country.
"Then how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers
and the temple of his gods."
I feel that this is a very poorly put together tribute to the
loss of one of the best of men, but we feel that loss very much
more deeply in our hearts than it is possible to express on paper.
Yours sincerely
J. G. Vickers, 2nd Lieut.,
0.C. No.16 Platoon
D. Coy., 19th Battalion,
A.I.F.
 

Mrs Paine of Lawson's Creek, Great Yarmouth
has received a communication from
Lieutenant M. C. Toogood, M.M.,
with reference to the death of her
son Sergeant Ernie Paine. Lieut.
Toogood writes:—"As your son's
platoon officer during the recent
heavy fighting I wish to convey the
deepest sympathy and sincere regret
of my brother officers and all his
comrades for his irreplacable loss.
We all thought of him as a brother
and he was 'Ernie’ to us all. I was
alongside of Ernie in his last fight—
the battle of Raine Court. Fight!
He fought like a tiger using his
revolver right and left. He was
always in the front, leading his men
and setting a splendid example by
his conspicuous bravery., When we
reached our objective, just out of the
village, and were consolidating our
positions by digging in, in the
open a Hun sniper lurking in some
distant trees shot Ernie clean
through his forehead. His death, I
am thankful to say was instantaneous.
Lieutenants Moss and Gardiner 
were similarly killed by the same
sniper, and are all buried alongside
each other, crosses marking their
graves. Previous to the last fight
of Ernie’s I had the honor and
pleasure of highly recommending
him for conspicuous bravery, daring
in immediate action and magnificent
example in the taking of an enemy
strong point in broad light with
six men. Owing to his death this
award will not be granted, V.C's.
being the only posthumous awards.
Your son had been marked for the
past few weeks as the next N.C.O. to
be granted a commission for his tact
and judgement, which speaks for
itself. His personal belongings will
reach you in due course
[* This letter was written by
Lieut N C Toogood *]

[* Sgt E E Paine

20 Bn Killed 11/8 *]
 

Mrs Paine of Lawson's Creek, Great Yarmouth
has received a communication from
Lieutenant M. C. Toogood, M.M.,
with reference to the death of her
son Sergeant Ernie Paine. Lieut.
Toogood writes:—"As your son's
platoon officer during the recent
heavy fighting I wish to convey the
deepest sympathy and sincere regret
of my brother officers and all his
comrades for his irreplacable loss.
We all thought of him as a brother
and he was 'Ernie’ to us all. I was
alongside of Ernie in his last fight—
the battle of Raine Court. Fight!
He fought like a tiger using his
revolver right and left. He was
always in the front, leading his men
and setting a splendid example by
his conspicuous bravery., When we
reached our objective, just out of the
village, and were consolidating our
positions by digging in, in the
open a Hun sniper lurking in some
distant trees shot Ernie clean
through his forehead. His death, I
am thankful to say was instantaneous.
Lieutenants Moss and Gardiner 
were similarly killed by the same
sniper, and are all buried alongside
each other, crosses marking their
graves. Previous to the last fight
of Ernie’s I had the honor and
pleasure of highly recommending
him for conspicuous bravery, daring
in immediate action and magnificent
example in the taking of an enemy
strong point in broad light with
six men. Owing to his death this
award will not be granted, V.C's.
being the only posthumous awards.
Your son had been marked for the
past few weeks as the next N.C.O. to
be granted a commission for his tact
and judgement, which speaks for
itself. His personal belongings will
reach you in due course
[* This letter was

written by Lieut

Toogood MM *]
of D Company 20 Batt. *]
[* Sgt E E Paine

20 Bn
Killed
11/8/18 *]

Extract from a letter written by Sgt. Brittain, 42nd Battalion,
concerning the death of Sgt. C. H. Goode of the same unit.
(Sgt. Goode was reported killed in action, 12/8/1918.)
"Cyril was in charge of a section of men pushing forward in
a daylight advance. He had not got over the top of one ridge
when the enemy started to resist. Cyril, seeing this, crawled
out to an edge in front of his men and started picking the
Germans off one by one with deadly accuracy. The Germans at
this period made a rush from either side, and the men hung on
till night when they went out to find him, but could see nothing
of him."
 

[* XIV

p 297 *]
[* Lieut King. 12 MG Coy. 8 Aug 1918.  HN. *]
Coolibah
River View Terrace
Indooroopilly, Brisbane
Nov. 2^nd. 1939.
C.E.W. Bean Esq. -
Dear Sir - In answer to
your letter addressed to my mother, M^rs. M. King,
(who has been deceased for some time) in connection
with my late brother, Lieut Claude Napier King.
I will do my best to give you any
information that you ask for -
Born, Charters Towers - Feb. 17^th 1891 - died Aug 8^th
in the victorious advance near Proyart. (Somme)
being shot in the head and dying instantly - he was
buried near the village of Proyart - Somme
15 miles east of Amiens - The following
being a description of the end of his career.
He was in command of the crew of a tank
which was directly hit and set on fire, Lieut
King, jumped out - carrying a machine gun &
cooly placed it in position, & mowed down 
the majority of a party of 50 Germans, who
were rushing at the tank
When the Germans were within a doz yards
of to tank, Lieut King was stuck in the head by
a bullet & killed. A private instantly seized

2
the gun and swept down the remainder of the
attackers - (This was first dated [[L?]])
as it appeared to the English papers before
the Australian news came out - & this
was also written & told me by his Commanding
Officer, Captain Allan F. Taylor - 12^th Australian
Machine Gun Coy, which after was dated
2/9/18 - A day after the battle.
My brother said he liked fighting with the
Americans, they got on well with the "Boys", said
they were very kea keen, & very earnest - & good
fighters too & very fancy.
Before my brother enlisted, for many
years, he was serving with the Water & Sewerage

board (Brisbane). & then for 3 yrs. 

was surveying in the Pacific Islands (Tonga)

under the Tongan Government & from there

returned to Brisbane & joined the army —
For some time previous to going to
Tonga my brother was with the "Light Horse
[[?]] in to Intelligence Corps. What

I believe was disbanded at the time of the late
war - my brothers enlisted from the
suburb - of New Farm _ Brisbane —
 

3
we have heard from various sources that
my brother had gained a Decoration.
but we have never officially been notified

of such — but we have received a
registered Memorial Scroll bearing the     
late Kings [[?]] & [[?]] Coat of Arms —
Hoping this will help you in
what you ask - & that I have
given you the information you 
require —
Believe me

Yours Faithfully
Dorothy Griffiths (Alias King)
My brother was the 3^rd son of the
late Dr. W. Moore King _ M.R.C.S. Eng.
and Baileci - W.Q.