Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/254/1 - 1917 - 1933 - Part 3

3

Inception of the 1st Bn 5th GFG which remains

at the disposal of the OC 212 RIR.

Reserve Bns of the 5th GAR & 5th GFG are to

return to the Western side of Morslede to remain

at the disposal of the Division.

5th G^d. B^de are responsible for safe transmission

of orders.

Para 10 instead of 5 carrier pigeons read :-

Carrier pigeons will be distributed

1 & 2 Bns 212 RIR 10 each. (2 pigeons from each

Bn are to be handed to troops advancing on Hill 715).

3rd Bn 212 RIR. 8 pigeons

1st Bn 5 GFG.  6    "

Regtl Staff 212 RIR & Regtl Staff 5^th GGR 4 pigeons each

GOCRA 4 pigeons  Art Officer patrol 4

These to be transported by motor lorry to Regtl B.H.Q.

(Centn) - Waterdamhoek- whence they will be fetched

at 6 pm of the 2nd Oct. Above formations will arrange

to have their pigeons fetched.

The 3 Regts of the 4^th Gd Div will receive 4 pigeons

each at 2.10 & 3.10 pm.

(5) From 5 35 am to 6 a.m. all Divl artillery & M.W.

will commence open annihilating fire on the objective

4

To reach the point of entry - flanking Divisions

will fire put down ^equally heavy annihilating fire on their barrage sectors 

& [bon?] barrage on the flanks of the sector to be 

attacked.

From 6 to 6 10 a.m. the 4^th G^d Div will lift 

barrage about 200 m. - M.Ws will cease fire.

6.10 a.m. further lifting of barrage. To be maintained

in equal intensity until 7 a.m. when it will gradually

slacken off.-

6) On the night - gas will be let off into the Battery

nests X45-46. From 5.25 a.m. hostile fire will

be kept down by artillery of flanking divisions.

7) G.O.C. RA 4^th Gd Div will so allot his areas, that

in case of hostile attacks - barrage & annihilating fire can be

given at any moment.

8) For liaison with the artillery, each Bn of the 212 RIR

will allot one Art Officer patrol who will be supplied with

telephone - lamp signalling [trupp?] - pigeons & light pistols.

These officers patrols alone will have the right to signal

"Lift Barrage".

9) The Division will advise ^Zero hour to all concerned at 7 pm.

of the 2nd Oct. 

Signed

Count [Finchanstein?]

5th FGR (4^th G^d Div)

Regtl Order.  Oct 2 '17

Tomorrow morning at 5 - one Bn of the [Stoss-?] Div. probably

again the 3rd Bn 211 RIR, will move into position xxxxx occupied by

Reserve Bn. The Reserve Bn will move forward & take 

xxxxxxxx  & be in readiness in position occupied by 

Bereilschaft Bn. (Support Bn).

R.T.K will report within on completion of the movement,

& will send in a sketch of the distribution of the Coys

to Regtl Battle H.Q.

Signed [V Radowitz?]

Bn order of 1^st Bn 5 Foot Gds 2/X/17

1) The Bn is placed at the disposal of the 212 RIR

viz:-  3 LI Coys to 1^st Bn 212 RIR & 2^nd Bn. respecty.

4 Coys to left Bn (3^rd) 212 RIR.

Two Coys will remain at orders of Bn.

2) The 2^nd Bn 212 RIR will attack S of Bonnebeke

Lake on a front of 600 m. All four Coys. of this Bn will be in front a line

The 3^rd Bn will attack on the remaining S. sector - as far

as the sunken road P&W of Molenaarelshoek.

All four Coys will be in front line. The Coys (of 5^th FG)

will follow both Bns. as reserve.

3) The Bns of the 212 RIR will take up position in

the former Beristschaftsteleng of the Guards - but inside

their battle sector. This position must be taken up

by midnight of the 2/3 Oct.

The Bns. of the 212 RIR will advance in such a way

that on the 3 Oct by 3 a.m. they are close behind

the front line, & ready to attack in 3 waves.

Artillery & M.W. fire will commence at 5 25 - & at the

same time the whole of the 212 RIR will advance

with all 3 waves in close order over the present front

line - & will deploy on the whole front as far as 

our own artillery permits, towards the enemy.

At 6 a.m. artillery & MW fire will advance, & the

infantry rush forward without halting to the
final objective - which is the Southern edge of Bonnebeke

& the high ground south of it as far as the Western [Cnil?]

to Molenaarelshoek.

2

4) For the present Coys will remain in their present

sectors until further orders from Bns of the 212 RIR

or their own Bns.

5) Exact Zero hour will be given later.

6) First M g Coy will allot 1 mg. to each Coy. The 

remainder will be in reserve near the Bn.

7) Staff will for the time being remain in BTK

battle H.Q.

8) After the attack  - the line must be consolidated
so far west as to allow a free field of fire. Bn

The bulk of the infantry will dig itself in in 

2 lines on the Eastern slope of the Ridge.

Coys which have been in the front line of attack

will probably be withdrawn to reserve.

Signed Weizehupt

Note  The following signals ^flares will be in use on the Div^l.

sector from Oct. 3 4 a.m. to Oct 4 4 a.m.

At night S.O.S. barrage red & green rockets bursting into 2 double stars

By day Annilhilating fire "         "          "                 "             "            "

These signals remain in force the days before

& the day after operations, as well as the plain

coloured flares.

All ranks to be given informed of these signals.

Regtl Order 5 ^Foot G^d S

Oct 2    URGENT

1. Attack "Hőhensturm" (storming of heights)
   has been postponed by one day.
2. Commissions Instructions & orders remain as before - only
   24 hours later.
3. Two carrying parties of F Bn to be commissioned ordered detailed
   today.

Signed V Radowitz

Wire from 4^th G^d. Div. 3_10_1917

Addend to Operation Orders for the Hohensturm attack.

1) Troops of the 4^th G^d Div are to be brought up only in case of

necessity, e.g. "in the event of a c/attack."

2) Infantry must work its way up in the dark as close as possible

to the position from which the assault will be made, & before

drum fire commences - because experience has proved that

the more forward they are - the less exposed they will be to hostile

artillery fire.

3) Special importance is attached to the infantry following

immediately behind the barrage. The moment of surprise

can only be fully made use of it the infantry penetrate the

Enemy's line at the instant the barrage lifts from it.

To diminish danger of shell splinters, the artillery will

xxx delay firing the last shots.

4) ^One reason for The failure of the attack of the 210 RIR was that

our artillery fire was not well directed - That the 

troops got entangled in the Enemy's wire & were subjected

to exceedingly heavy mg fire & came up against unflinching

infantry.

5) The Army Group has given instructions that the

5^th Foot Gds & 5 Gd Grens are not to return to Morselarde

but are to remain in the present positions -

These instructions are to be considered in tomorrows practice.
Signed Radowitz

II/212 R.I.R.   Bn Battle H.Q. 2/10/17

Attack Orders

1) Bn. Attack Sector Right boundary,

the hedge leading to point 715.

Left boundary, from Marcherminost

farm of Molenaarelshoek in our

own line to Marcherminost farm 

of same place in enemy lines.

x Battle contact Flank Coy of direction 8^th Coy

2) Entrance to Assembly position A) on the

light Railway about 100 m. of the

main road Broodsiende-[In der Ster?]

(Map 1:10,000)

Order of Coys. rt. to left 8-7-5-6.

As support behind 8^th Coy the 1^st Coy

behind 5^th Coy "   " 12 "

As soon as starred to assembly position is occupied

report to be made to Coy H. Q. O.C. first line troops at 

point 716.

3) Starred to Assembly position B). The Coys of II Bn

will be led by guides ^at my orders into the
corresponding Coy. sectors of the 

line Bn. of the 5^th Foot G^d Rgt.

The leading men guiding to be carried out by

companies and must be completed 

by 3.00 am. Report to Coy. H.Q. O.C. front line troops

The support Coys to follow up close

on the Coys of II Bn.

Strictest silence to be maintained.

4) From 5.35 am ^onwards all Coys to be pushed

forwards towards the enemy position

as far as possible in accordance 

with our own artillery fire

5) Attack to commence at 6.0 am

It is absolutely necessary to penetrate

into the enemy positions immediately

our own fire is lifted.

To facilitate this, shortly before

6.0 am our own artillery will

obscure (fog) the enemy front

with retard ^delay action (Verzőgerung)

in order to decrease the splintering

effect. The foremost waves must

push through without delay to

the ordered ^directed line, i.e. the summit line

opposite. Fighting to the first line, escorting of prisoners

etc. is the duty of the third wave, ie. the reserves.

6) White Very lights will be fired off to signal arrival
of at the objective.

7) The orderly officer, Lt der Reserve Branfsd is detailed

to the 8th Company along with some runners & medium signal

outfit. A receiving station will be established by the above

mentioned officer on the road to the north of the O.C. Front

line troops. On the right flank of the 5th Coy, an artillery

officers patrol with runners, pigeons & telephone apparatus will

take part in the attack. This officers duty is to control our

artillery fire & see after all matters to do with the artillery,

e.g. targets.
The telephonists of the battalion will take part ^in the attack of the 6 Coy with the

runner personnel of the battalion & the artillery officer, in the front

line of the 5 Gren. R. along with Lt. de. R. Pagendarm or Lt Tomm

The 8^th Coy. will receive two pigeons besides with for immediate use.

They will collect these pigeons at the assembly place in Waterdamhoek

Urgent Attention is again directed to the importance of making reports on the situation

of the battle.

8) Battalion Battle station at point 716 on the Broodseinde-In de Ster road (O.C.

front line troops in the middle of the 5 G.R. Z.F.

Translation,

I/212    Battn. Advanced H.Q.  3rd October 1917

Special Orders

for the undertaking of "Storming Heights".

1) The Battn will starting be re in readiness [9'?] this evening 11.00 o'cl. on the road B. St Qu - Waterdamhoek

in column of route to march off into the line. Order of companies

is column: 8, 7, 5, 6, light MG waggons, 2 M.W.A with 2 supply limber waggons,

2nd MG Company with rolling stock limbers. The Coy. leader on horseback mounted, the

end rear of the Battn on the B. St. Qun. The advance guard will lead off be made under 

the guidance of Lt d. R Bansee thro' Waterdamhoek on the road to In de Ster to B.T.K, where actually leaders of guides for Companies will be detailed .

2) A ½ hours ferme halt in Waterdamhoek, where issue of light MG and 

distribution of heavy MG's will be made to the Coys. Commencement Reception of carrier 

pigeons etc. The limbers of the MG Coys, the light MG waggons, the

teams of the M.W. Waggons ^and the riding hors chargers will return from there

to the late quarters. Before mentioned horses & vehicles will stand

again in readiness at on the 5th/10 am in in the morning before Hellengaden daylight under command of

Vizefldev. Műller, N.E. of Waterdamhoek . Vzfldev Műller himself

at Pi. Park Waterdamhoek.

3) At the latest at 12.15 pm ambulation of the march ^of the Bn will be resumed. Order of route:

8.11.7.5.12.6. Coys. At the rear of the Bn. Lt. Malo, {Gen. Alilfeld?]

with 1 cyclist. The bearers carriers of each company will accompany this

column up to the place point of assembly B. From there return of 

the bearers carriers to Waterdamhoek, and dxxd quarters will be detained there under

the leadership of the oldest N.C.O. at my disposal disposal. I desire Lt F. R.

Schmeling to remain in Waterdamhoek during this transfer. -