Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/271/1 - 1917 - 1938 - Part 6

Bullect. 3 May 1917
2 Bn S/Bs
R. Morgan
31 Meadow Crescent
Meadowbank, Ryde N.S.W.
says: "Johnson ws wd . . . I attended to his wd.
in a Sunken Rd . . . Carlson was also wd & an
inmate o / same hospital as myself.
The white flag mentioned in the D.T.
is the first time I ever heard of a flag being
used. A. stretcher was first opened out in
/ trench & raised high in / air, / idea
being to convey to / German tps / intentn o /
pty. An unable to state / order in wh our
bearers emerged from / trench, but Jim Paul
was almost imdly killed by rifle fire
Private Ringland was k. also. Johnston
ws wd. Paul, Ringland & Johnston &
Carlson succeeded in getting some o / wd
in until 2 were k. & J wd. Carlson
persisted & rescued one or 2 more & was
wd himself. Of the 4 s/bs mentioned above
3 were k. in action (J. a few wks after Bullect)

5287.
19 December 1929.
Captain A. Laver, M.C.,
Pambula,
N.S. Wales.
Dear Captain Laver,
I hesitate to trouble you again, but I understand
that you took part in the fighting on May 3rd, 1917, at
Bullecourt. I found your account of Hermies was invaluable in
assisting to complete the narrative, and should be most grateful
if you could see your way to give me the benefit of your
recollection of the Bullecourt fighting.
With kind regards and all good wishes for this
season of the year,
Yours sincerely,
C E.W. Bean
[[Hist?]]

6671.
8 May 1931.
L. Wharton, Esq, M.C.,
Public School,
Forster, N.S.W.
Dear Mr. Wharton,
In dealing with the fighting of the 2nd Battalion in
1917 I have come up against a good many difficulties, but Captain
G.N. Mann has suggested to me that you might be able to help me
clear some of them.
The first is as to the officers who fought at Hermies.
Can you tell me whether in that attack Lieutenant Paviour fought
with Mann's ("D") or Laver's company?
(2) As the 2nd Battalion was entering the Hindenburg Line
near Bullecourt on May 4, the Germans counter-attacked on the
right. I understand that both Sergeant Telfer of the 2nd and
Captain Somerset of the 1st helped to beat off this attack, but
I should be grateful for any further information.
(3) There is a good deal of doubt as to the exact point
to which the 2nd Battalion penetrated in O.G.1 during the bomb
attack on May 4. I attach a rough sketch of the line, and would
be greatly obliged if you could give me any information tending
to show what was the point to which the 2nd held.
Yours faithfully,
C.E.W. Bean
Official Historian.

[*Write to Maddigan
Wilks, Rannard  )

Patterson            ) A Coy
Butcher Williams of 2nd
Put together mg at B'ct.*]
Public School
Forster
May 15. 1931
Dr. C. E.W. Bean
Official Historian
Dear Sir,
1  I am quite convinced that
Lieut. S. Pavior was in Captain Mann's Company
at Hermies. I am not clear as to the other
officers in Captain Manns Company
2. Sergeant Telfer and I patrolled up to point A1 in OG1
passing on our way dug-outs occupied by the enemy
when I returning we encountered opposition and
eventually were forced to leave the trench at
point C., where, covered by a machine fire directed
by Lieut. Norris, we entered the communication
trench at "D". at this point I organized
bombing and grenade parties and by
means of a caterpillar movement of
bombers and grenadiers we managed to
mop of up the somewhat feeble resistance
of its occupants, till we again reached point A1

Simultaneously O.G. 2 was cleaned up. We were
subsequently relieved by the 1^st Battalion, having
first established sentry posrts.
There was were I understand, at during that night, several
spasmodic waves of advancing infantry.
which again attacked from the same point
Throughout, Sergeant Telfer was my right hand
man
Trusting this may be of some assistance to
you
I am
yours faithfully
Leslie Wharton
I would point out that I am on the eve
of departing from Forster to Wallsend
School. Should any further communication
be deemed necessary, correspondence should
be addressed to me at Wallsend
LW.

Diagram - see original document

 TELEPHONE: FL. 4151.
Commonwealth of Australia.
No. 7106.
HISTORIAN,
VICTORIA BARRACKS,
PADDINGTON, N.S.W.
18 November 1931.
L. Wharton, Esq., M.C.,
Public School,
Wallsend, N.S. Wales.
Dear Mr. Wharton,
I should be grateful if you would look through the
enclosed account of the action of 4 May 1917 at Bullecourt, in
which you and Telfer took part. I know of one difficulty.
Campbell, the Intelligence Officer, tells me that when he visited
O.G.1 the Australian effort had slackened, and he thought the
position dangerous, and got Milligan to send up Captain Mann.
This was clearly after your effort had finished, and he tells me
that he thinks your company had by then been relieved by the
company which originally followed it, and that you were probably
resting. On one point both he and Telfer insist, that if you had
been there this situation could not have developed. I have
accordingly written it that way, but I should be grateful for
Your confirmation of both this and other points.
Yours faithfully,
C.E.W. Bean. 

C.E.W. Bean.

Vol IV Chap XIII p. 527A, 528.  & 520 A.
the bombing of O.G.1. was conducted
somewhat at along thes lines: Hand bombers
advanced under cover of a rifle grenade
barrage. At a prearranged signal
the rifle grenadiers ceased and directed
their fire two bays ahead. We had
little difficulty in proceeding by this
caterpillar movement nor were our
casualties severe.
Lieutenant Campbell was not at
the extreme easterly point of the
attack in O.G.1. I forwarded a report
back to Lieut. Norris that we
had bombed and were holding
th O.G.1 as far as the cross
trench (Communication) several spasmodic
efforts were made to recapture
O.G.1 from a N.E direction but
we were resting -, I, having posted
sentries at each bay. I handed
over the trench to O.C. of a

4^th Battn Off. 'Lloyd" I think it was
& can remember he was much
bewildered and he when he asked me, who
was in charge, and who had
posted the sentries in position
I curtly replied that I  was

responsible. He reprimanded me for
any abruptness - h my badges of rank
were not in evidence as I was
dressed like a private.
I reported to Norris when I was

relieved.
Telfer had left having been wounded several
hours before I was relieved. relief came.
Beyond an occasional sniper

shot - a shell now and then
there was no attempt to

dislodge us from our position
half an hour before relieving.
I'm afraid Lieut Campbell has
become mixed in his statements
Could he have gone up the
first communication trench. some
50 yds from pioneer trench.?
I would advise that you
write to Lloyd of the 4^th
I think it was he.
Norris too should know something
of the attack
Insufficient emphasis has been
stressed upon the occupation
of the deep dig-outs in O.G.1
These were all occupied when

 Telfer and I made our first
reconnaissance, We were compelled
to throw mills down them
when we returned we heard
voices below ^as we were first sallying
forth but thought it wise
to leave them xxxxxxx undisturbed
The of
Leslie Wharton
Head Master
Wallsend
Rural School