Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/260/1 - 1916 - 1930 - Part 21

2.
western end of BOURSIES (J.11.a.1.8.) along the crest to
J.5.c.6.4., thence xinng northwest along the sunken road
which skirts LOUVERVAL Chateau wood on the north.
In this
fighting we suffered about 90 casualties, but accounted for
many of the enemy. The normal artillery programme was
maintained against HERMIES and DEMICOURT.
4. DISPOSITIONS FOR THE ATTACK.- The lst. Brigade held the right
sector from the Canal du Nord to the BAPAUME-CAMBRAI road
north of DOIGNES. The 3rd. Battalion was on the right and
the 1st. Battalion was on the left; 4th. Battalion in support
and the 2nd. Battalion in reserve.
The 3rd. Brigade held the left sector from the BAPAUME-
CAMBRAI road to C.12. central. The 12th. Battalion was on
the right, 10th. Battalion on the left, 11th. Battalion in
support and the 9th. Battalion in reserve.
5. ACTION AGAINST HERMIES. - The plan/of xx the 1st. Brigade for the
capture of HERMIES and DEMICOURT was to attack with the 2nd.
Battalion from the direction of DOIGNES, the right of the
Battalion on the DOIGNES-HERMIES road and the left of the
battalion directed on the N.E. corner of the town. The 3rd.
Battalion was to contain the enemy on the western and southern faces of the town and to press home when the 2nd. Battalion 

had reached the railway. To cover up the forming of the
2ND xxx.  Battalion the posts of the 3rd. Battalion which were
covering DOIGNES were pushed forward towards DEMICOURT.
The
4th. Battalion, less 2 Coys., was brought forward to the
vicinity of DOIGNES.
The 2nd. Battalion marched from HAPLINCOURT at 7.30 p.m.
on the 8th. and deployed under cover of scouts and patrols
without incident at 3.15 a.m. on 9th. Posts had been
established by 3rd. Battalion to cover the flanks of the
deployment. At 3.30 a.m. the advance to the assault
position began. The Battalion was formed up with one
company in front line, two companies in second line, and one
company in echelon on the left flank. At zero hour 4.15 a.m.
the assault was launched. The right company encountered
strong opposition in J.23.d., but rushed the position with
the bayonet and continued the advance. The left company
swung round through J.24. and the enemy was thus caught
between the cross fire of the flank companies and many of
them surrendered. The centre company was delayed by a
strong point at J.24.d.9.5. and more Germans were able to
escape than would otherwise have been the case.
Hard hand to hand fighting continued in the village anda
along the m railway line for an hour and a half, but by 6 a.m
all objectives had been gained and HERMIES was completely in
our hands with posts established about 200 yards from the
town around the eastern side of it. The 2nd. Battalion
accounted for 264 Germans, 1 officer and 172 other ranks
taken prisoner and 1 officer and 90 other ranks counted dead
on the ground. In addition the battalion captured one
machine gun, three automatic rifles, two telephones and much
equipment. The casualties suffered by the battalion totalled
8 officers and 172 other ranks.
The 3rd. Battalion on the right of the 2nd. Battalion
had the task of clearing the area between the railway and the
Canal and had to face the enemy's main defences. The
Battalion advanced on a two company front and moved at 3.45 am
from their assembly formation to reach their base of departure
by 4.15 a.m. Immediately after leaving the assembly position
they came under M.G. and rifle fire but they continued the
advance and reached the assaulting position at zero hour.
The left was unable to advance further owing to the wire and
the enemy's fire and many casualties suffered at this point.
When the 2nd. Battalion had seized its objective, the eney
enemy began to feel the pressure and his resistance rapidly
decreased. The right presses on and occupied the cemetry in

3.

J.36.a. and joined up their line with the 2nd. Battalion.
The 3rd. Battalion took 28 prisoners and 3 machine guns.
Their casualties totalled 63.
6. ACTION AGAINST BOURSIES.- The 3rd. Brigade was allotted the task
of capturing BOURSIES and the 12th. Battalion was detailed to
make the attack.
The village was covered by strong enemy posts on the
high ground to the N. and N.W. and it was essential that this
ground should be made good before the village could be held.
Fighting for this high ground began on the night of the 7/8th.
as already mentioned.
At 10.30 p.m. on the night of the 8th. the enemy launched
a d^etermined counterattack on the 12th. Battalion and succeeded
in gaining a footing in their line but were at once ejected by
a counterattack. The attack seriously interfered with the
preparation for the operation of the 12th. Battalion timed for
4.15 a.m. on the 9th. from the N.W. but was hung up by machine
gun fire from the left. Two platoons skilfully led by Lieut.
DADSON attacked the enemy trenches in J.5 central and captured
them taking two enemy machine guns with little loss to themselves. The captured machine guns were at once turned on the
retiring enemy.
From this stage until 12 noon very little progress was
made. By noon fresh parties had been organised to mop up the
village from the west to the south. At 2 p.m. the remainder
of the enemy’s garrison was driven out and fled back towards
the German main line.
7. ACTION AGAINST DEMICOURT. The 1st. Battalion was detailed to
cover the flank of the 2nd. Battalion in its attack of HERMIES
and to occupy DEMICOURT after the capture of HERMIES and
BOURSIES. The battalion was disposed with three companies in

line. At 6.5 a.m. information was received that BOURSIES had
been occupied and 5 minutes later a report was received that
DEMICOURT was believed to be evacuated. The left company was

accordingly ordered to get in touch with the 12th. Battalion/in
BOURSIES and all three companies were ordered to push forward
patrols to DEMICOURT.
One patrol (Lieut. SAMPSON and 24 other ranks) from the
left company came under machine gun fire from the left flank
but by taking advantage of the ground and by covering the
advance of one part of the patrol by the fire of the remainder
Lieut. SAMPSON managed to work round the left of the village.
At 7.30 a.m. the attacking companies moved forward but
were held up by machine gun fire. At 7.52 a.m. it was
reported that the enemy had again occupied the village and
artillery fire was directed on it with good effect. At 8 a.m
the attacking parties again moved forward and at the same time
Lieut. SAMPSON's patrol mentioned above rushed the village and
manned a sunken road on the east of it. The enemy about 50
strong counterattacked but were driven off by the patrol.
The attacking companies moved up on the flanks, but the
enemy directed a heavy artillery fire on to both companies and
on to the village. The companies on the right and left of the
village fell back, but the patrol in the village held its
ground.
At 10.15 a.m. the right company reported the capture of
the sugar factory on the HERMIES-DEMICOURT ridge and at 10.50
parties from the left company entered the village. By 11 a.m.
our line was established east of the village and in touch with
the 2nd. Battalion on the right and covering with M.G. the gap
on the left.
By nightfall the new line was consolidated throughout as
shown in red in the attached map.
The Artillery of the 5th. Australian Division and 3rd.
Brigade (Army) xxxxxxxxxxx A.F.A. rendered most valuable
assistance. F.O.Os. rendered valuable service in sending
back timely information.

4.
The F.O.O. with the 2nd. Battalion, Lieut. R.B. DOUGHTY
went right forward of HERMIES and was able to give complete
information of the enemy throughout.
The operations resulted in the capture of three villages
all strongly held - 2 officers and 203 other ranks prisoners
7 machine guns, 5 automatic rifles, 2 bomb throwers and much
equipment. In addition heavy casualties in dead and wounded
are known to have been inflicted on the enemy. a 10 Officrs
and 90 other ranks were counted dead on the ground covered by
the 2nd. Battalion alone. Total casualties are estimated at
800 to 900.
Our casualties for the operation xnanxtaxtx total 497.
They are shown in detail in the attached statement.

FIRST AUSTRALLAN DIVISION.
CASUALTIES.
xxxxxxxxxx
in action against HERMIES, DEMICOURT, and BOURSIES 9/4/17.
BBBB
 

Officers   23
O.R.        464
                497

E.A. Situation Map
Diagram - see original document

F.L.4151

=======
5129.
8 November 1929.
Captain A. Laver, M.C.
Pambula, N.S.W.
Dear Sir,
I have been writing the account of the fighting
at Hermies for the Official History, and have been in touch
with members of "A", "C", and "D" companies of the 2nd
Battalion, but have no details concerning the action of "B".
If you would be so good as to jot down any recollection that
you possess of what happened within your knowledge during
that night and morning, I should be most grateful.
Yours truly,
C.E.W. Bean
[?]

FL.4151

Tel. xxxxxxxx
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.
HISTORIAN.
THE AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL TERRITORY

Via QUEANBEYAN, N.S.W.

VICTORIA BARRACKS, SVDNEV.
No. 5202.

29 November 1929.
Dear Taylor,
Next Wednesday will be O.K. I have looked through Mr.
Morgan’s diary and made a couple of useful extracts. With
regard to the Carlson incident, I should fancy that the account
given by Lieutenant Wharton, which Mann read to us, would be
fairly accurate, as he mentions that he personally saw the
incident. It may, however, be possible to get hold of Wharton
and test it. It is useful to have the names of the other
bearers.
I enclose herewith the account of Hermies received from
Laver. This is most useful. Incidentally it shows that Mann was
probably wrong in thinking that Paviour was the other subaltern
of his company who was wounded. We will have to put this right.
Yours sincerely,
C.E.W. Bean

[?]
F.W. Taylor, Esq.,
"Immarna"
Hawkins Street,
Artarmon.
[*Sorry I kept

Laver's letter so long

Mixed it up with my

other papers & forgot it

Taylor*]

[*H.N. 9/4/1911
[*Please return to:
Official Historian,

Victoria Barracks,

Paddington,

N. S. WALES*]

Ref. No. 5129.

Pambula

19.11.29
Capt  C.E.W. Bean
Dear Sir
From memory, these few items concerning the 'Hermies'
action may be of assistance.
I clearly remember Sgts Harding & Kent being killed
crossing the first ridge by MG fire: it was there that "C" Coy came under
the same fire which put all their officers out of action — "B" Coy officers
Lts Donaldson, Paviour, Rannard with their platoons were in advance
& abreast of A Coy in a depression & so escaped. When A Coy
crossed the road, Donaldson & Paviors platoons moved into A. Coy
position followed by the rear platoon & Co. H.Q., myself O.C.
Rannard & his platoon had got out of position. The two leading
platoons boldly advanced passed by an enemy outpost.
which was dispersed by the rear platoon killing 1 of the Enemy &
driving the remainder to be taken prisoners by D. Coy. Donaldson &
Pavior carried their advance right through the village to their objective
meeting with little opposition (fortunately) as I continue my narrative you
will agree. . . . I missed mentioning portion D Coy had become attached to mine. When my platoon & HQrs reached the gun pits
at the first road on the outer edge of the town they were halted. I could
hear A. Coy to my rear & right putting up a big fight. . . Then
Rannard platoon joined me. . . We waited for about 15 minutes for
daylight during that period I explained the position to the men that
were with me to assist Millar Capt. by  attacking the rear of the
railway from where the Enemy were, in strength, when holding up
Millars advance. I gave Maddigan C.S.M. the job of bombing
his way up the railway assisted by about 20 men; myself
taking the Centre, Rannard the left Section. Maddigan & his team
worked wonders, dislodged the defenders, they retired from X
Roads in single file to come under Lewis Gun fire from Centre group
but for the return ? spring in the Lewis Gun breaking after a couple 
of rounds being fired, 70 of the enemy would have been dead instead of finally
prisoners of war. The retirement of the Enemy from railway Embankment
permitted A. Coy to advance & take up their position

allotted to them without further resistance. The 70 prisoners captured by
B. Coy are identical wth those heretofore mentioned. (This is where
Donaldson & Pavior come in) they the Boche retreated right into their hands &
were made prisoners they were cut off. Donaldson was my
S.I.C. he had these prisoners escorted to Bw. H Qrs and informed
Col. Milligan at the same time regarding the capture of the objective.
I wish to mention 2 men outstanding in this action
They are Lt. Donaldson Coy & Mjr. Maddigan everyone else pulled their
weight but these two men just a little more.
I appreciate you require only that of the actual assault
but one outstanding feature during the morning following to capture
of Hermies were the tactics of the Enemy to draw fire
I saw quite a lot of Service during the big Campaigns but
once only have I seen such bold tactics during daylight
Needless to mention it drew no rifle fire but the artillery had a
good days shooting.
I am
Yours faithfully,
Albert Laver

[*H.N*]

From Millar 2 Bn Bullecourt Hermies & Bullecourt (May 4 on)
Milligan ws Cold. (like H. Price.)
Hermies. All Coy commdrs Lieuts & v. young
after Robbins ws k. Millar (22 yrs) ws senr Coy commdr
Sgt J. Murphy 
Sgt Lachrey of C had plns in A Coy at [shorthand]
O'Connell took A Coy into Hermies
Lt Wilkes ws w him & did well (but felt 
the strain)
C.S.M.s Murphy & Newton were towers of strength 
in both Herm & Bullect.
A good Sergt. Howard of A ws lost at Bullect. & Patterson.
The junior N.COs of A Coy were v. good.
Basil Swain - quiet chap always ready - good soldier.
Tom Keith, Keary, Cleary, Rees, Butcher
(k. at Bullect) Williams - "all No 1 gunners tt fought their guns
& held on to them"
Also bombers Harry White & Swain & poor
Wyatt tt w killed.
Bullect. Butcher Williams at Bullect had his gun
hit - found anor damaged one & made a gun
out o / two, & "boxed" on under heavy fire.
C. Kenneth Millar
"Half Moon"
Nyngan
From D.I.T. ?Des Tomkins Oakfield "Goolguur" 2 Bn.
Hermies Sigr: The blowing up o/ big joint tt ws to be Hqrs.
They had a Fritz there & by his actions he let us
know tt it ws to go up. Hqrs ws shifted, & later
all tt ws left o /  business ws a great crater."
Bullecourt.
Pte Hurley, blown to pieces leading a carrg party, the N.C.O.
ws out of actn. (Hurley formerly a school teacher, got out of ^mility gaol
to make good, & did it).
Lewis - a timid man - got thro several times w carrg pties.