Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/258/1 - 1914 - 1927 - Part 3

-2-

I was on the left of the road level with Elwell when he

ordered to charge and was killed. I then saw Hill for the first

time. He told me he was Liet. Hill from the Yarra and we

consulted as to the next move. I agreed with him that as

Beresford had not sent the men up to look after the dead and

wounded, and as the Germans had surrendered, and as we had no

maps or detailed orders - Bowen was half unconscious talking to

me and seemed only to be clear about the Chinamen and binoculars

being handed back - that we return to Beresford to have the

surrender properly written - also we were hampered with prisoners

Thinking Hill was a permanent R.A.N. officer I did not ask him

his seniority and allowed him to command. It afterwards

transpired that Hill being a reserve officer like myself and I

was the senior and for not ascertaining that and taking charge

I "was hauled over the coals".

I might mention that details like that did not worry

me with my comrades dead and suffering around me but it influenced

recognition of my work on that occasion.

In conclusion I again say that the accuracy of your

description of the days work surprised me and what I give here

makes actually no difference. I was afraid foolish details as

given in the book " Australia V Germany" may have been reported.

Yours faithfully

Geo W Gillam

203.

July 21, 1925.

Lieut. -Commr. G.W. Gillam, V.D., R.A.N.R.,

"St. Ronans",

Bingle Street,

The Hill,

Newcastle.

Dear Commander Gillam,

In the account of the fighting at Rabaul

some difficulty has occurred in stating the correct time and

stage at which Captain Pockley was wounded. According to his

father he was tending Seaman Moffatt, who was apparently one of

your half-company and had been wounded close to the trench.

This would presumably be after Bowen was hit. We want to be

absolutely accurate in this matter, as far as it is possible.

Would you be so kind as to let me know when Pockley was hit,

indicating how far this is based on your own personal observation?

It is also stated that the report that

natives were firing from trees is incorrect, though it was generally

believed at the time. If this is the case it accords

with the general experience of France and Gallipoli where,

though snipers were often reported to be firing from trees, the

evidence is that this method was practically never resorted to.

Yours faithfully,

C.E.W. BEAN

Newcastle

25th July 1925.

Official Historian,

Victoria Barracks,

SYDNEY.

Dear Mr. Bean:

Your letter of the 21st instant referring to the day

of landing at Kabakaul to hand and trust my reply to your two questions

may be of some assistance.

(A) I am quite certain that no Armed Soldiers were up trees.

(B) I am quite certain that Brian Pockley was wounded (about 15?

minutes) before Bowen and (over 30')? before Moffatt were hit.

As requested I will give you my experience touching,

and the reason why I make those statements so definitely.

Signaller Moffatt's Pal (forget name) crawled to where

I was, shortly after Courtney was killed and requested to drop behind

to help Moffatt, whom he had seen double up wounded (my first knowledge
of this). He said he thought he was shot by a black Soldier whom he 
saw in a tree. I ordered to him to go back and shoot this man and then 
to advance. I later learned that as he was scrutinising the higher 
branches, the blackman grabbed his rifle from behind the tree, but after 
a struggle was shot when running away. Owing to the dense Jungle this 
incident is not so ridiculous as it might seem. He had meantime descended.

The Box Battery connected by a wire to the two iron pipes

filled with (British) Dynamite, laid as mines up and down the road, was

found either under this tree or very close by. The nigger had no rifle

and it is my belief that he was stationed there to warn anybody from

accidently injuring the Battery or severing the wire - perhaps to fire

it when signalled - a s harp upward pull of a handle being all needed to

do this. Although later it was general talk that shooting came from

tree tops, I expressed my doubt often, and gave the above incident as a

reason of how the rumour may have started. My view seems unpopular, but I
definitely state that I did not find one man who admitted ever seeing 
a Soldier in a tree, and I questioned many during the two following
 months.

After having advanced some distance following the above

incident Mid.Buller came up from behind and said that he had dragged

Bowen badly wounded behind a log on my right front, and that he (Bowen) 
wished to give me some information. Bowen was sem-conscious and snipers 
had the exact range and the patter of bullets a foot above and into the 
log did not make conversation easier. But this oft repeated remark 
now, may clear up your doubt Viz. "It was not my fault Pockley was shot for 
I both implored and ordered him from the fireing line but he would not 
go back". The blood on Bowen's face was dry and caked with dirt - he 

(2)

-he had been there some time, perhaps half an hour. Bowen was then

only about sixty yards from the Trench, but we did not know that when

conversing. I don't know what time it was but estimate it to be about

11:30 A.M. and that Pockley was wounded an hour previously and Bowen

less; Moffatt about 20' after Bowen.

I have always been of opinion that Pockley was the first

Australian hit, but only men of Bowen's party could give definite

information as to that. Until I met Buller they were always ahead

of my Company.

I also have a recollection that W.O.Yeo who returned

to meet and guide us up and before we came under fire ^said that both Pockley 
and Bowen were wounded, but am not absolutely definite on that point.

If this letter contains useful information I will be

pleased to answer any other questions to the best of my knowledge and

memory. It is refreshing to know in what thorough hands the writing

of this History is in, for No. 3 Company was, to use the mildest

term, unfortunate when the first reports of the landing was sent south 

and the fact that it took prisoner the men who signed the surrender and 
made it possible for the more spectacular handing over of the Wireless 
Station (under a White Flag) was overlooked. I promised those men (who 
were very sore because they were repremanded for carrying a number of 
dead and wounded back to the supports under my direction, that I would 
do my utmost to right things later - a Job I found beyond me.

Yours faithfully,

Geo. W. Gillam

P.S.

How long will you be in Sydney?

A conversation may be of value &

I may be down shortly.

219.

July 28, 1925.

Lieut.-Commr. G.W.Gillam, V.D., R.A.N.R.,

"St Ronans",

Bingle Street,

The Hill,

Newcastle.

Dear Commander Gillam,

Many thanks for your letter. I am writing

to Bowen for a check of some other facts. You attribute to me

more importance in the writing of this volume than I really

possess. Two accounts of the fighting at Rabaul will shortly

be published - one on our Haval volume, and another in the volume

on Rabaul. These two volumes are not written by me, but as

editor I have, as far as possible, to check the accounts and to

ensure that they agree.

As soon as I hear from Bowen I will send

you a final typed copy of the passage about which I wrote to you

-i.e., a portion of the passage that was sent to you before -

and would ask if you would kindly glance through it as a final

check. Your assistance is much appreciated.

Yours sincerely,

C.E.W.BEAN

P.S. I am now working in Sydney at the

Victoria Barracks, and should be glad to

see you any time you care to look in.

From Comdr Gillam.

Newcastle,

17th August 1925

Official Historian,

Victoria Barracks,

SYDNEY.

Dear Sir:

Your favour of the 13th instant with revised

chapters of Official History to hand, reached me Saturday night.

I hasten to reply with your request to return them immediately.

I regret not being able to go to Sydney through

illness, and To better explain what I consider will give you the

correct positions and happenings I have endeavoured to give them

in four Sketches. These of course are only from my own knowledge,

without the advantage of consultation with anyone else.

Some confusion seems to exist in the description

from the times the mines were passed. As the shooting which accounted 
for Courtney came from the right side of the road we extended on the 
left side, Elwell going ahead with the right half of the Company, and I
followed as supports with the left half Company.

When Buller advised Elwell (from Bowen) to cross to the

right side and after Bowen explained things a little to me, without

being able to consult Elwell or anyone else, I drew my men in towards

the road an pushed up to be on a level with Elwell's reasoning without

being in the same line we would easily shoot our own men.

This action brought the whole of the attacking

force before, and half round the whole of the attacking DEFENDING force 
(Sketch 4) in the Trench, of course with a certain amount of luck on 
my part, as when I first gave the order to "close on the left and

advance quickly" I had no knowledge of the Trench or its description.

Nor did I know Hill was there or see the White Flag hoisted to him

(on the left) until after he ordered cease Fire, and we walked out

towards each other.

Yours faithfully

Geo W.Gillam

(IV) 

Diagram - See original document 

Trench

Geo. W. Gillam 

Trench was longest on right hand side of the road.

Am hazy about times but would say 20' to 30' would

elapse between each position I have shown here. Also

a little hazy as to how that bend is [shortly?] in the road & I

lost the map I made at the time.

 

(III) Trench

Diagram - See original document 

As the place & time of

Pockleys foll is all assumption

gathered from others I prefer ^ not to say

more than I did in my previous letter on that subject.

I consider the position of all parties

was thus when ^I heard Elwell "fixed bayonets".

Before I could get word to other than the few

men nearest me Elwell was shot & what seemed

immediately afterwards they surrendered to

Hill on right side of the trench. I having closed my men

in towards the road.

(II)Trench

Diagram - See original document 

(-) Log where Bowen sheltered wounded.

Buller gave Elwell information so he crossed

over the road. Immediately afterwards he

led Gillam to Bowen. Gillam first ordering left

half Coy to come up in line with right half Coy. Great

caution had to be exercised here in order to not 

shoot Bowens or Hills men in front. These were seen twice

by me (just a speck of white through the jungle. now 

So I ceased firing for awhile.

(I) Trench

Diagram - See original document 

So far not in sight of Bowens men

AM but clock time?

Courtney was shot about 15' to 20'

before this time.

NEWCASTLE. 18th. August 1925.

Official Historian,

Victoria Barracks,

SYDNEY.

Dear Sir:-

Following my letter of yesterday I forgot to

mention (you may not think it worth while) that the man who

shot the nigger who had descended the tree where the key

to the mines was placed, did not lean his rifle against the

tree. He was passing on holding the rile pointing out

from his body and looking upwards, when the native grabbed the barrel 
and the struggle ensued.

Yours faithfully,

Geo W.Gillam

Tel. - City 10900 - Ext. 81.

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

HISTORIAN.

TUGGRANONS. FEDERAL TERRITORY.

VIA QUEANBEYAN  N.S.W.

No. 271.

VICTORIA BARRACKS, SYDNEY.

20 August, 1925.

Lieut.-Commander O.W.Gillam, V.D., R.A.N.R.,

"St. Ronans".

Bingle Street,

The Hill,

Newcastle.

Dear Commander Gillam,

I am sorry to worry you further, but there is

one point which your notes still leave uncertain. This is due to

the confusion which invariably arises in records between our left

and right and the enemy's left and right.

In your account you clearly show Hill's main

attack proceeding against the portion of the enemy's trench on our

right front. Would you mind telling me whether this was Hill's

main attack: whether Hill himself was with it (on our right flank);

and whether the white flag went up in front of Hill in the (to us)

right-hand end of the enemy's trench?

I ask this because, in the official collation

of naval documents, Hill's attack and his own position are placed

on our left of the road. It is quite possible that the collator was

misled by mistakes in the interpretation of "left" and "right",

which I have found to be common in almost every account of fighting.

If you wouldn't mind jotting down your answers

on this paper and posting it back to me in the enclosed envelope, I

should be much obliged, as some of the small maps have had to be

held up until the matter is decided.

Yours sincerely

C.E.W.Bean.

[*All through I refer to the left or right as our left not the enemy's*.]

[*[Jose: This seems to show that 

Hill's troops & himself went on the 

left of the road but that some of Hells

men (probably) crossed over

to join Elwell - The account given by us, therefore,

appears correct.  C.E.W.Bean]*]

Newcastle
23/8/25

C.E.W.Bean Esq

Victoria Barracks.

Dear Sir

I regret I cannot definitely answer your

questions - with your other information this may help you.

As previously stated I did not see Hill until

after I had heard the order to "Cease Fire". I was on the left

of where the order came from & walked towards my right

& found Hill coming towards me. He was on the edge of the

road & must have been on our left side of it when the white

flag was hoisted. which but I cannot swear to that. The German

flag with the white flag was with Hill - the first I saw of that flag.

When I drew No4 rough sketch sent you it was

the only sketch on which I relied on assumption - partly

from what was written in the chapter you sent me which I took

to be definitely correct & partly from the facts I do know.

The whole of our attacking force advanced on

(our) the left side of the road. Just above opposite of where

the mines were the right side was practically impossible.

When I met Buller & Bowen I saw three of Hills men

(in white uniforms) in front of us & on the left (our) side of

the road & knowing I was then advancing quickly

& coming into line with Elwells & Hills men they naturally

crossed over & joined them, leaving me with the firm

impression that they were then all on our right & on

that side of the road when the white flag was shown. I

still think so. Anyhow I did not catch sight of one

after that.

I would again point out that the trench

was longer on the (our) right side of the road & the defence

would also be stronger. Also the centre would be on

the (our) right side.

All through I have written with the meaning

that the term "left" was our left - not the enemy's

Very sorry I found it impossible to see you

last Friday in Sydney

Yours sincerely

Geo W Gillam