Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/260/1 - 1916 - 1930 - Part 5

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
RCDIG1066696
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

23rd Battalion at Koreuil. 19th March, 1917 The assembly point for Battalion prior to attack was at C 21 Sheet 57 N.W. The attack was planned for the Coys.to go forward in two lines, A. Coy., Lieut. Hill, on the right with his right flank on the sunken road C 21 d 6.4. B Coy., Capt. Pascoe, on the left. C Coy., Capt. Rossiter, behind A Coy. D Coy, Capt. Moss, behind B Coy. The objective was a line from a point in sunken road to West of Lagnicourt C 17 d 1.0. to a point N.E. of Noreuil C.11 a 1.3. It was the duty of C. D. Coys. before assembling at the point for the battalion attack to clear the Bois de Vaulx at C.27. This was done but by the time the two Coys., C. & D., had formed up on the assembly point the other two Coys., A. & B., had already moved off to the attack. It seems that A. & B. Coys. kept touch but moved well over to the West and on reaching a point in the valley leading up Noreuil C 15 d. came under intense machine gun fire and were held up. D. & C. Coys moved off together and came under fire on reaching a point on the high ground in C. 21 b central. D Coy. moved as far forward as they could but the position was too exposed to go further forward and they too were held up. C Coy., however, owing to the fact that they moved more to the East and once over the high ground were not under fire, were able to reach the sunken road av 22 b 10.1. Colonel Bateman, the Battalion Commander, being advised of the isolated position of C. Coy. ordered their withdrawal to a point in the sunken road at C 22 c where the Coy. formed up and were put into the attack on Noreuil in which the other Coys. were still held up. On reaching the high ground in C 22a, the Coy. came under intense machine gun fire from the sunken road in C.17.c. and shrapnel fire from enemy artillery, and so were held up. The battalion was given the order to withdraw and form up on a line forward of Bois de Vaix to the East of sunken road leading to Lagnicourt. A line of strong posts was
- 2 - dug and supports put into position. The battalion remained in tis position till the night of March 19th-20th when they were relieved by a battalion of 7th Brigade.
245 Dldes Barada Vorender N. 7.24 Sfar Guekoan Ko0r Cotsuls o e Trorevanb oa ight o 16. 5. 4) Are, dofar ao Trug Tamoryg Bersa Tha, coruet Bn ufinahon gauad 63 Bugada, it nas dosumade Mat Trorennd nas Rohtl teld tylo eving on ko alfinvon o 19.3. 19 Aned if nao deindeds to geeirerind ha rillage on Shal zugdt . Rornghlg, Kro Hlan, has for Ho 23 Gatttr brgstdtlesk av Sdtesch ehong Bests on He begle glrnd Korth, Rorsh Zast and Eäl 9 Rormunl, iobedd Kil 210t Alse to gstatbett gernelan BushsW.Nn +N o,Roanl 2e 730 22 19 Okoo 10 Kändd upp HKorlk og Horeiil, Skios 6.5. 335 81nas Farlgzdrigtt Artegniennt on Ke mald o 19.34 3 U kefono Ho aslsekk nas orlielt Beaded on, ard delog Nascangsd G 2 ly (A) kinggpaganoke to abar Horg de Vaneg falo trøning b t g Hanrt Agerall Bverd, N oglarig (Stondanlg, Mor 21 Bu Nasnarake t catreg ant Kar fans aa oreginalt Arrangedd end geeacthaall a dersed atack on Koreul ueg made Haforaond Hhod Kig ndla ge nas ehoreglg told and ad dagleglg Le Loras unatle 10 adaanee, firfter ouing 15 Ko Rveratg 9 R 6 füre Kond regan 3 Hon o Terg Zue LZZ/A25 4445. B akingn
AUI 23rd Battalion at Horeuil. 24 19th March, 1917. The assembly point for Battalion prior to attack was at C 21 Sheet 57d N.w. The attack was planned for the Coy. to go forward in two lines, A. Coy.. Lieut. Hill, on the right with his right flank on the sunken road C 21 d 6.4. B Coy.. Capt. Pascoe, on the left. C Coy., Capt. Rossiter, behind A Coy. D Coy. Capt. Moss, behind B Coy. The objective was a line from a point in sunken road to West of Lagnicourt C 17 d 1.0. to a point N.E. of Noreuil c.!! a 1.3. It was the duty of C. D. Coys. before assembling at the point for the battalion attack to clear the Bois de Vaulx at C.27. This was done but by the time the two Coys., C. à D., had formed up on the assembly point the other tvo Coys.. A. à B., had already moved off to the attack. It seems that A. & B. Coys. kept touch but moved well over to the West and on reaching a point in the valley leading up Noreuil C 15 d. came under intense machine gun fire and were held up. D. & C. Coys moved off together and came under fire on reaching a point on the high ground in C. 21 b central. D Coy. moved as far forward as they could but the position was too exposed to go further forward and they too vere held up. CCoy.,however, owing to the fact that they moved more to the Kast and once over the high ground were not under fire were able to reach the sunken road aV 22 b 10.1. Colonel Bateman, the Battalion Commander, being advised of the isolated position of C. Coy. ordered their withdrawal to a point in the sunken road at C 22 c where the Coy. formed up and were put into the attack on Noreuil in which the other Coys. were still held up. On reaching the high ground in C 22a, the Coy. came under intense machine gun fire from the sunken road in C.17.c. and shrapnel fire from enemy artillery, and so were held up. The battalion was given the order to withdraw and form up on a line forward of Bois de Vaix to the East of sunken road leading to Lagnicourt. A line of strong posts was
- 2 - dug and supports put into position. The battalion remained in his position till the night of March 19th-20th when they were relieved by a battalion of 7h Brigade.
FL.4151 eerver 4989. 15 October 1929. Major R.G. Moss, M.C., 8. Dene Avenue, East Malvern, S.E.5, Vic. Dear Major Moss, I am at present writing the story of the 6th Brigade's advance through Bapaume in 1917. and should be grateful if you could give me any details of the advance by the 23rd There is literally nothing Battalion on the night of March 19-20. in the battalion diary. It is not an easy fight to understand, and if you could see your way to assist me with your recollection I should be much In particular, I would if possible like to know who obliged. commanded each company during the fight, and where any parts of the battalion (within your knowledge) got to. Yours faithfully,
Tei 51. 4990. 15 October 1929. Captain P.G.R. Parkes, M.C., Murrabit West P.O., Victoria. Dear Captain Parkes, I am at present writing the story of the 6th Brigade's advance through Bapaume in 1917, and should be grateful if you could give me any details of the advance by the 23rd Battalion on the night of March 19-20. There is literally nothing in the battalion diary. It is not an easy fight to understand, and if you could see your way to assist me with your recollection I should be much obliged. In particular, I would if possible like to know who commanded each company during the fight, and where any parts. of the battalion (within your knowledge) go to. Yours faithfully,
4253. 5 March 1929. Colonel U. Brazenor, D.S.O., V.D., "Logierait' Sturt Street. allarat, Vic. Dear Brazenor, In writing the history of the occupation of Bapaume, I find fairly full particulars for the 5th Brigade of the events of 16-17 March 1917. but little for the éth Brigade. I am anxious to fix the times at which the German retirement was first observed, and would be grateful if you would let me have the benefit of any diary or notes, or from your recollection, on this point. s valuable, The help which you recently gave me wa as you will see when Volume III appears on April 22 next. Yours sincerely,
4554. 8 June 1929. Captain F. Sale, M.C. 430, Little Collins Street, Melbourne. Dear Sale, Have you any notes concerning the attack by the 6th Brigade at Noreuil? If you have, or if you could see your way to jot down what you remember of it, I would be very grateful for your assistance. Yours sincerely,
sALE a KEAGE ecyyvty REOERICK EAL. a.....A.(tooow).v... Feserefro Asehrteet vrf san 1079T. 1A NORMANBY CHAMBERS 430 LITTLE COLLLINS ST. MELSOURNE c1. June 14th 1929.92 C.E.W.Bean Esg Official Historian, Victoria Barracks, Paddington, N. S. W. Dear Mr.Bean, No.4554 - 6th Brigade at Noreuil. I enclose herewith a few notes on the above based on my original report prepared immediately after the action, the maps I used at the time, private company casualty list record and a somewhat de fective memory. You will pardon me if the matter contained herein is so extremely local and chiefly concerns the movements of my own company, but I know you realise better that anyone how limited is the knowledge of any commander in the line, of the action as a whole. I shall be very pleased to endeavour to answer any questions which may arise from these notes. I also enclose a copy of the original report above mentioned. I have just finished reading your last volume of the Official History. May I congratulate you !! I consider it a masterly piece of work. Yours faithfully, Sadrintf fale

23rd Battalion at Noreuil.

 

19th March, 1917.

 

The assembly point for Battalion prior to attack was at
C 21 Sheet 57c N.W.  The attack was planned for the Coys. to go

forward in two lines, A. Coy., Lieut. Hill, on the right with his

right flank on the sunken road C 21 d 6.4.  B Coy., Capt. Pascoe,

on the left. C Coy., Capt. Rossiter, behind A Coy. D Coy, Capt.

Moss, behind B Coy. The objective was a line from a point in

sunken road to West of Lagnicourt C 17 d 1.0. to a point N.E.

of Noreuil C.11 a 1.3.

It was the duty of C. D. Coys. before assembling at the

point for the battalion attack to clear the Bois de Vaulx at C.27.

This was done but by the time the two Coys., C. & D., had formed up

on the assembly point the other two Coys., A. & B., had already moved

off to the attack.

It seems that A. & B. Coys. kept touch but moved well over

to the West and on reaching a point in the valley leading up Noreuil

C 15 d. came under intense machine gun fire and were held up.

D. & C. Coys moved off together and came under fire on reaching a

point on the hight ground

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