Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/272/1 - 1917 - 1932 - Part 13

Forth, July 11^th 1931

Dr. C.E.W. Bean

Dear Sir

Re Battle of Messines, I may be able
to give you some useful information.
Unfortunately all my notes, maps and gear.
was burnt at our Bn Dump at Meteren
when the Germans broke through in 1918
so I have to rely on memory.
With the aid of your map I can recall my
orders and objective quite clearly
Two Companies of the 47^th Bn were to operate
to the right of Huns Walk and two on the left
one company in each case to attack the and
G take the German front line trench and
hold it, the supporting company to go through
and capture the enemy support trench.
I cant tell you now, from memory, what
happened to the two companies on the
right I believe they had a fair measure
of success but were held up before
reaching their final objective
My orders (C. Company] were to follow
our barrage as closely as possible, crossing

2

and making Huns Walk our right flank
take Oxygen Trench and continue on
to the German front line. (Owl Trench)
which we were to take, then the supporting
Company were to go through us and
capture Owl support which was to be
consolidated and held at all costs.
I believe the total distance from the our tape
line to the German support was about
900 yards; We also had several tanks to
assist us, and two Companies of the
45^th Bn were to operate on my left flank
with similar orders.
Our part of the attack went very well, one
tank got up close to Oxygen Trench
and then went back after shelling it.
We captured it with very little difficulty
taking a few prisoners; there was
considerable enemy shelling and machine
gun fire at this stage, however we pushed
on to the German front line which
we occupied and began to look for
the supporting Company to come up and
continue the advance; the 45^th could

3

be seen working up on our left under
Captain (afterwards) Major Allen.
Presently Lieut King from the supporting
company came up and reported that
the Company Commander was killed
and they had suffered heavy casualties,
he had only a few men with him.
I immediately gave orders for every man
to push on and capture the support trench
This was done at once Lieut King being
the only officer left with me at this
stage; there was some wooded country
in front of us also several hedges
and the Germans could be seen
running back, crouching, as we advanced
We reached our position without any
serious losses and commenced to dig
ourselves in; our right flank was up
in the air no troops being visible any where
The 45^th were in position on our left.
One of our planes came over, so we lit our
ground flares to signal our position
I also sent back to B.H.Q a runner
giving our position together with

4
other information.
Just after this Lieut King was shot
through the shoulder, leaving me
without an officer; I told him to make
his way back and tell the colonel we
were well set.
Some time later the Germans commenced
to get very active, their fire increased
and it looked as though they were about
to launch a counter attack, however
we were by this time well prepared
and awaited the attack with confidence
at this stage, someone in rear must
have sent up an S.O.S. for suddenly
a deluge of our own shells came down
on us causing a lot of damage. I was
in about the centre of our line. One
of my sergeants from our right flank
came running across and said the
men are breaking back I went across
to try and stop them but it was
impossible and while I was on that
flank the remainder that were left
also got back so I told the sergeant

5

to go also, I looked towards the
45^th and could see Captain Allen standing
up alone. The shelling had by this
time passed over us so I went to him
and told him the position, he was
in great distress and said the same
thing had happened to his company;
we decided to go back and pick up some of
our men; it seemed as if every machine
gun in Germany was sweeping the area
at this time
We found some of the men just in front of
the position the N.Z's had reached in their
attack and we started to form a line of
resistance there
Late in the afternoon our C.O. (Colonel
Finlay) came to us and ordered me to
collect all available men and push
up again as far as we could and he
would send parties up to reinforce as they
were collected. I started back with about
twenty men; we got as far as Oxygen
Trench and decided to dig in there, as
there was no sign of any troops on either

6

of our flanks.
Things were now fairly quiet and all
through the night fresh parties arrived
from all the other companies including
two officers Lieut Bird and Barnes
Early in the morning some of the
48^th Bn came through us and moved
up to the position we had captured in
our first attack, and found it unoccupied
In the evening I was ordered to take
over the front line from them
and held it for several days.
Our losses in this battle were very heavy
both in officers and other ranks; of
twenty one or two officers who took
part fifteen were killed or wounded.
The three other company commanders
were killed
I could give you a good deal of detail
and little incidents that occured during
the fight but I take it that is not
what you want.
In regard to the men breaking back
I would like to say that they would

7
stand all the enemy fire and shelling
you liked to give them and remain
perfectly steady, but they would
not put up with being shelled by
our own guns; they were perfectly ready
and willing to go forward again,
and did so, and held on through
some very trying days
I hope these few notes will be of some
use to you and am sorry I have
kept you waiting
Yours Sincerely
E.O. Williams
Capt

Map - see original document
 

7228.

31 December 1931.

C.J. Shang, Esq., D.C.M., M.M.,

215, Lake Street,

Cairns, Q'land.

Dear Mr Shang,
It has been with great difficulty that I have pieced
together the story of the Messines offensive, especially the
4th Division’s part in it. The records are vague and
conflicting. For example, in your own case one record states
that in the evening of June 7 you signalled from the front with
a flag, while another states that it was a lamp.
The chapter is shortly going to press, but, before
having it set up in print, I have sent the draft to a number of
officers who were present, asking them to advise me whether, so
far as their own personal observation went, it was correct. As
I understand that you were through the fight, I should be
grateful if you also would look through the extracts which I
send under separate cover, and would return them to me with
your comments as to their accuracy. In particular, I should be
glad of your advice concerning the signalling incident.
If you can remember what was your position at the time,
or the names of any officers near by, it would help me to work
in the story at its proper place.
Yours faithfully,
C.E.W. Bean
Official Historian.

215 Lake Street,
Cairns.
7th. Jan. '32.
Dr. C.E.W. Bean,
Official Historian,
Paddington, N.S.Wales.
Dear Sir,
With regards to draft manuscripts received from you,
I am very sorry to say that Mr. Shang has left on a business
trip, and is likely to be away for some indefinite length
of time.
Therefore, the best I can do for you at the
moment, is to forward by registered post, his three Base
Records which may help you very considerably in the matter.
As I am almost certain to join Mr. Shang
in the near future, I sincerely hope that you will lose no
time in returning his Base Records, as I would like to receive
them before leaving Cairns. Trusting that I have been of some
help to you.
I remain,
Yours faithfully,
Mrs C. J. Shang
The "Base Records" were ^merely letters of
advice from B.R. to Mrs J Shang (his mother)
concerning the awards of the DCM & M.M., with copies
of the recommendations.
Awd.