Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/254/1 - 1917 - 1933 - Part 4

4) Of the 4 iron ^meals rations carried, one may be eaten a warm
meals is to be ready↑ of 5th 10. am. ←on the morning
5/. Point of assembly for ^all the stragglers or relieved parts of the
Bn. at the Cr. Park, Waterdamhoek, where Lt d. R. Sohmeling
has will established a permanent guard and see to the the
guidance into Billets. New Billets must be allowed for
for the 5th/10.
Dress. Storm-dress as verbally ordered - if possible every
man big spades with shortened handles, steel helmets with
sandbags coverings.
Bearer troops (starting) of the companies only steel helmet
& haversack with Rations.
6/ The proportion of bearer troops for L & H H. ^light & heavy MGs during the

battle will not be altered by above orders. The Battle bearer carrier
troops likewise with steel helmets ^storm-dress and bayonets ^weapons ^arms - Coys. may
eventually count upon the passing ^assistance from men of the 2 M.W. Abty
as assist temporary carriers.- At the latest inst men
of the M.W. must be dismissed for to withdraw sick at the

latest from the point of assembly & where they are on service

along disposal, otherwise in case the 2nd. M.D.A. should be 
delayed.
7.  It is to be remembered to take 1 signalwerfer (signal thrower) for
the company, the Light pistols, Rocket pistols, wire cutters
Signalo horns (no Drums) Rockets, a flight aeroplane
cloths & hand granades. (Newspapers instead of flying ^aeroplane cloths.)

8/. It is to be remembered to carry writing utensils for company &
platoon leader, also blue & Red pencils, a compass (very
important!)
9/ Any prisoners or booty to be despatched with the smallest
escort to K.J.K front line H.Q.
10/. Any doubts to be at once brought under notice. — 
11/. Coy. leader Lt Sohmeling Vz fdw. Muller to appear at
Bn H.Q. today at 9 o/c in this evening at a conference.—

9/. The points at which ^either the 7^th coy or 5^th coys are to break thro'
are the group of trees in the enemy sector about 200 or
400 m. south of point 715. Ordinary compass bearing
exactly SW.
10/. The reserve-coys are to follow closely and to assist in the
breaking thro' by the II Battn. by every ^possible means. For 11/212
it may be necessary, according to circumstances to launch concentrate
an attack against advanced enemy positions between
Pond and "? Hedge", or also, in case of an enemy
flanking movement from the North, an attack in a
another direction, thereabouts about on the a platoon front brickfield (1000
m. North. 715.) especially if the adjoining coy. 7/212 south
does not move forward far enough ^correspondingly south of the front. -
For the 12/212 circumstances may bring into guestion the
necessity of wheeling against the South-East on the northern - 
most farm building of Molenaerlesthoek. -
11/. The last reserve Group must be absolutely determined upon the put in to 
gain the objective.- Nevertheless is it all the more all
the more there work Nevertheless since in spite of possible-slowed expected mingling of
units, a new formation reforming after the ^successful attack has been will be
launched necessary.
12/ Should the attack not completely succeed, under on no
account is ground to be given way. The ground won must
be held at all costs.

13/. Dressing stations are notified:
a) on the Moorsleede. Broodseinde Rd 
(I) in the quarry 400 m. east of Wegerterberg cavalry crossroad Broodseinde
(2) in the same street road 1500 m. farther on east of cavalry cross road
near Droegenbroodhoek.
(3) in the same street road at Moorsleede.
by (1)  At B.T.K (Jagerlager I on the reaching in approach road of the Bn.) 

about 200 m north of the cavalry crossroad Indesatr. -
(2) Further than the known dressing station in Waterdamhoek 

on the road to Moorsleede.
14/ Medical NCOs & stretcher bearers will accompany the Coys.
The 5 Coy will have detailed to it an extra stretcher-
bearer-patrol of 4 men from the Sanit'ots Coy 527.-
a spen at further patrols will be at hand at B.T.K Mitte. -
From previous experience the English respect the Red Coss
flag. Full use is therefore to be made of it to relieve withdraw the
wounded during a lull in the fighting.- No wounded
man should remain lying in the front line during at
time of a relief. -
15/.  The relief of the Bns will take place, in case of no counter-
order being having been given, during the night of 4^th - 5^th
X by the 5^th Gd Regt Zn Fuss. The coys may without further
advice return to Waterdamhoek, if they have been relieved
by Coys of the 5 G.R.Z.F. No troops, no man, may
return until he has been relieved. — Non-relieved
parties must under all circumstances carry on —

16/. Any doubts to be at once brought to notice — 
17/. In regard to equipment, rationing, march special written
or verbal order will be promulgated.
18. During the night of 4/5 X at 12 o/c the KTK of the 5

GRZF will take over the command. -
(Sgd)
Major & Bn Commander.

4-10-17   - 3a -      No. 30
72nd I.R.
Was sent into the line last night and relieved the 92nd R.I.R.
in the support line,
Dispositions. The 2nd Bn. of the 72nd I.R. relieved the 92nd
R.I.R. in the front line at 3 a.m. this morning. 1st and 3rd Bns.
were in support
Drafts. The whole of the 8th Divisional Recruit Depot, amounting 

to 160 men of the 1917 class, was drafted to the 72nd I.R. on
the 2nd October.
210th R.I.R.
Previously held the sector south of ZONNBEKE. Prisoner was
detailed as observer for duty in the sector held by the 93rd
R.I.R. and 212th R.I.R.
Dispositions. The 45th Res. Divn. is still the STOSS Division.
The 211th R.I.R. was in shell holes to the rear.
INTERROGATION of Prisoner, belonging to the 221st F.A.R.,
(Officer Aspirant).
The Regiment came into the line from rest at TOURMAI on the
26th September for our sttack,
Position of Battery. Prisoner’s battery -- a 10. 5cm. How.
is in position at E 7.b.2.6. The battery had 4 guns in the open,
no camouflage or pits, the men sleeping in elephant shelters by the
guns. These guns are of old type.
Casualties. In the battery had been great, and though prisonor 

would not give any figures, he admitted he was the only officer
left in his battery.
TRANSLATION of Regimental order of the 5th Guard Grenadier
Regt., captured in to-day's attack.
5th Guard Grenadier Regiment.  Regimental Battle H.Q.
8 p.m., 2-10-17.
REGIMENTAL ORDER
1. The operation "Hohensturm" (Hill Attack) is postponed to 4-10-17. A1l
orders come into operation on 4.10.17, failing alterations and amendments.
2. On the 3-10-17, as soon as the dawn permits, relief of front
line is to take place. F. Battalion will relieve I. Battalion;
I. Battalion then relieves II. Battalion; II. Battalion, after being
relieved, will garrison the sectors 9 - 12. Times and other details 

to be arranged between battalions. The relief must be complete 

by 12 midnight.
Proposed disposition and strengths to be reported by 12 noon on
3-10--17.
Complete relief to be reported by code word for "FRelief Complete.
The M.G. Coy, will relieve on the following night.
3. After the lst Bn. of 212th R.I.R. has marched through on 3/4th,
the H.Q. of 2nd Bn., 5th Gd. Gren. Regt, and 2 companies may return
to the "Alarm" quarters in the N. W. portion of MOORSLEDE,
4.  On completion of relief, 2nd Bn. will detail 6 guides for the
companies of 1st Bn., 212th R.I.R., who will guide the various detachments 

of the newly arrived companies into their support positions.
Only reliable men are to be employed.
5. In the mid-day report it will be satated whether hot or cold meals
were supplied during the previous night.
(sgd) SCHLEINITZ.

Wire from  4^th Guard Inf Div. 2
Oct^r 2. '17
As the attack yesterday by the 210 RIR failed on
the right flank - the attack of the 3^rd Oct. will not
intend Southwards beyond the concrete position 200 m north of HAVSKATHE.
The line south of this will remain unchanged.
Elements of the 3^rd Bn 212 RIR which will be thus released,
will be launched as second attacking wave behind the 2^nd Bn
of the 212 RIR under order of the C.O. 212 R.I.R.

Signed V Ludovitz

FOR WOUNDED OFFICERS AND N.C.Os. AND. OTHERS
RETURNING FROM THE FIRING LINE DURING AN
ATTACK.
Any information concerning the enemy and his defences etc.
which you may have found out during the attack in which you were
wounded, would be of the greatest value to those who have to carry
on the attack.
Will you please answer as many of the following questions
as you can:-
1.  What is your unit?
Where were you when you got wounded?
At what time?
2.  What portion of the German
line were you attacking?
3. How far do you think our men got?
On which side of the crest were they?
4. In what sort of strength were the
Germans holding their trenches?
5. What Regiment and Battalion did
they belong to?
6. Was there much rifle fire
or chiefly machine guns?
7. Did you spot any machine gun
positions?  Where?
8. State of German trenches?
How deep?
Any bombing blocks?
9. Dug-outs - deep?
Number and positions?
In what direction do the
entrances face?
10. Any wire?
11. What colour rockets did they
send up when you attacked?
12. Was our preliminary
bombardment good?
13. Did the Germans put
up much of a barrage?
14. When did it start?
15. Any isolated enemy strong posts?

Map- see original document

Map - see original document