Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/261/1 - 1929 - 1930 - Part 3

9

Captain C. E. Bean,   15th May, 1929.
and being seen by his troops, "when a decisive moment is at hand"!
I enclose copies of letters which I received from time
to time the originals of which I am handing to Major Treloar which
may interest you at this stage of your work.
One from General McCay was a reply to a letter I sent
him when I knew he was suffering from the blame being put upon
him.
The others are letters from prominent people I have
been from time to time in close association with from early
in life to the end of the War.
Yours faithfully,
H.E Elliott
Enclosure:
P.S. General Chauvel having removed the embargo
placed upon my promotion by General White I am
once more serving. My old Brigade which I have officered
as far as possible with my old officers is coming to the
front again - as the best shooting Brigade in Vic - We held that
record in the 5^th Div.

Letter, received from Mother of Colonel Marshall
60^th Battn
Remuera,
Avondale Road,
Armadale,
28th March 1918
Dear General Elliott,
It seems a long time since I wrote to you;
things have not been very bright to write about and latterly I
have not been very well and went away for a short holiday. By your
last letter and cable you had not been well and were suffering from
gas poisoning. I hope that long ere this you have quite got over
that and ^are feeling a little more fit for the terrible ordeal that
even at this minute you and your brave men may be passing through.
I can assure you that many an earnest prayer from loving hearts
here goes up for you all that you may have strength and courage and
may be kept and brought in safely through it all. If this war is a
righteous one as I believe it is, surely the Almighty God will
fight for us and be with us all.
We had a very bright and cheering Meeting of the members
and friends of the 15th Bridade last night. It was our first
Annual Meeting, though we have been working for quite eighteen
months. We had quite a number of returned officers and men with
us and were very glad of the opportunity of giving them a welcome
back. Colonel Duigan was with us and was so pleased to see a number
of his own batt. and other friends. The Col. told us in the Meeting,
what none of us had heard before, that you had had the offer from
Genl. Birdwood of taking a holiday to Australia to restore your health
but for certain reasons you had decided to see this through. I'm
sure you more than need the rest and I know what a joy to your own
family it would be to have you back but we all breathed more freely
when we learned you were to remain in command. I know how proud my
boy is to serve under you and I'm sure so are all the others. It is
such a pleasure to see how keen all the women here are to work for
our boys and the fathers are quite as keen coming to our evening --

2
socials to hear news of their boys. The Chaplain, Captain Davidson,
who said a few words to us last night about his experiences in France
and the life there was very delighted to see so many of the men folks
of the boys with us. All over the Active Service age of course. The
conscription failure was a great but not unexpected result. The
present Roman Catholic Archbishop is doing his best to stir up
strife religious and otherwise in Australia. A pro German fire brand
I think he is. We are all anxiously waiting the result of the --
present fighting, the odds in numbers of fighting men is appalling.
Dr. Marshall, who is at present suffering from a severe cold, sends
greetings and heatriest good wishes for your health and success.
Ever with very warm regards to yourself and greetings to
all your officers, I am ever, dear Genl. Elliott,
Yours most sincerely,
Jean C. Marshall.

(Copy)
6th March Apr 1918.
Dear Elliott,
I have handed over command of the Sector to your
own Divn Commander and I am writing to thank you very much for
what your Brigade did for me. Your two leading Battalions arrived
just in time to restore the situation.
My Division were very proud to have the opportunity
of fighting alongside your splendid fellows and hope we may have
the chance again. Wishing you and your Brigade the very best of
luck.
Yours very sincerely,
N.E.W. Harman,
Brig.General
Comdg. 111 Cav. Div.

Copy
To General Officer Commanding
15th Australian Infantry Brigade.
Dear General,
On behalf of my Brigade I wish to thank you most
heartily for the generous support given by your Brigade to
our attack on the 9th instant. But for your action in attacking
simultaneously on our left, our task would undoubtedly have been
much heavier and our casualties proportionately greater. I can
assure you that this is well understood and appreciated throughout
the Brigade.
Wishing you continued success, and with kind regards,
Believe me,
Yours sincerely,
A.H. Bell
Brigadier-General
Cmdg., 6th Canadian Inf. Bde.
14th August, 1918.

(Copy)
1st Cavalry Division,
7/4/18
Dear Elliott,
The 1st M.G. Squadron has returned from the line
near Hamel. I am writing on behalf of them and also of the
whole 1st Cavalry Division to express my thanks to your brigade
and especially to the 59th Battn. for the kind and generous
assistance they rendered to our machine gunners. They so much
appreciate the courtesy of the C.O. of the Battn. in seeing them
march off this morning and his words of encouragement and thanks.
Yours sincerely,
R.L. Mullens

(Copy)
Headquarters,
5th Australian Division,
8th April 1918.
My Dear Elliott,
I enclose a letter which I have received from
General MONASH, Commanding our 3rd Australian Division, I
congratulate you and your Brigade on the great praise accorded you
by General MONASH, which I know thoroughly well you all deserve.
It is a source of personal satisfaction to me that you and your
gallant men should have been instrumental in earning such golden
opinions from both our 3rd Division and the 3rd Cavalry Division
which you were assisting. Brig-General HARMAN, commanding the 3rd
Cavalry Division was most enthusiastic about you, when speaking to
me a day or two ago. I believe he wrote to you expressing his high
appreciation of your services.
With very kind regards,
Yours very sincerely,
J.T.Hobbs,
Brigadier-General H.E. ELLIOTT, C.M.G., D.S.O., D.C.M.,
Commanding 15th Aust. Infantry Brigade.

(Copy)
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
Divisional Headquarters,
5th April, 1918.
My Dear General, -
Will you allow me to convey to you and through
you to the 15th. Brigade my very high appreciation of the splendid
assistance which this Brigade has rendered to me during the few days
which it was under my command. - Nothing could have been more
splendid than the prompt action and excellent initiative of the
Brigadier and all his staff and Commanders. - The Brigade helped
me over a very difficult period, and its very presence protecting
the line of the river on my Right flank greatly heartened all my
troops who were engaged in resisting a considerable pressure from
the enemy from the East on my line, which runs across from the ANCRE
to the SOMME and about 2000 yards West of MORLANCOURT.
I greatly admired ELLIOTT's quickness of grasp and
his resourcefulness in dealing with every situation as it arose;
and also the promptitude with which he established most useful
liaison with the troops, and the situation, South of the SOMME.
I am glad to know that there is some prospect that
you and I will again be next-door neighbours, as I understand
that your Division is likely to come into the Line on my Right.
With kindest regards. -
Yours very sincerely,
John Monash
Major-General Sir J.J. Talbot Hobbs, K.C.B., V.D.
Commanding Fifth Australian Division.

(Copy)
1st Cavalry Division.
10.4.18.
My Dear Monash,
I was hoping to have come to see you, when the
battle allowed, to thank you, your Brig. R.A. and your Brigadiers
who were alongside of my Division for your most valuable and --
encouraging support and assistance, especially on 30th March when
we had a hard fight to keep the Bosche out of our position. I was
very much struck by the courtesy of your officers in coming to see
me personally and for your own and their keen desire to do everything 

in their power to help. - As you know we had a curious --
collection of units to deal with, and it was a very real relief
to know that I had your stout-hearted fellows on my left flank and
later also on my right flank, and that all worry was therefore --
eliminated as to the safety of my flanks. Your order for the placing
of your heavy guns and batteries so as to cover our front was of
very real assistance, incidentally they killed a lot of Huns, and
was much appreciated by us all. - Will you convey to all concerned
my own appreciation and that of all ranks of the 1st Cavalry --
Division. It was a pleasure and an honour to be fighting alongside
troops who displayed such magnificent moral. - I only hope we may
have the chance of co-operating with you again and under more  --
favourable circumstances. We have been kept on the move and very
busy trying to re-fit at the same time, and have left your area for
the moment or I should certainly have been myself to tender you our
thanks and congratulations.
Yours sincerely,
R.L. MULLENS.
(Major-General R.L. Mullens C.B.
Commanding 1st. Cav. Divn.)

(Copy)
1st Machine Gun
Squadron,
1st Cavalry Brigade.
186
To/
G.O.C.
15th Australian Infantry Brigade.
Your very kind letter of appreciation received today,
and I have communicated the same to all ranks of this unit.
We are all very greatful for the great consideration
shewn to both officers and men by all ranks of your Brigade,
most especially in the matter of reliefs of sentries and carrying 

of ammunition, etc.
After the experiences of the 24 hours previous to the
arrival of your men, it was a real pleasure to fight alongside
men whom one could rely upon.
We all hope that, in the event of this Squadron being
called upon for Trench Duty that we shall be able to serve
under you.
Yours sincerely,
Chas. H. Reid Captain,
Commanding 1st Machine Gun Squadron.
9.4.18