Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/273/1 - 1918 - 1937 - Part 1

AWM38

Official History,

1914-18 War: Records of C E W Bean,

Official Historian.

Diaries and Notebooks

Item number: 3DRL606/273/1

Title: Folder, 1918 - 1937

Covers fighting at Villers-Bretonneux and

Monument Wood, April-July 1918 and includes

notes by Bean and A W Bazley, cuttings, note

by Brig Gen G W Grogan and comments on the 

British history by 51st Battalion officers.

GERMAN OFFENSIVE-April-July,1915. 273.

(SOMME) - Part II.

DIARIES AND NOTES OF C. E. W. BEAN

CONCERNING THE WAR OF 1914 - 1918

THE use of these diaries and notes is subject to conditions laid down in the terms

of gift to the Australian War Memorial. But, apart from those terms, I wish the 

following circumstances and considerations to be brought to the notice of every reader and writer who may use them.

These writings represent only what at the moment of making them I believed to be

true. The diaries were jotted down almost daily with the object of recording what

was then in the writer's mind. Often he wrote them when very tired and half asleep;

also, not infrequently, what he believed to be true was not so-but it does not

follow that he always discovered this, or remembered to correct the mistakes when

discovered. Indeed, he could not always remember that he had written them.

These records should, therefore, be used with great caution, as relating only what

their author, at the time of writing, believed. Further, he cannot, of course, vouch

for the accuracy of statements made to him by others and here recorded. But he

did try to ensure such accuracy by consulting, as far as possible, those who had

seen or otherwise taken part in the events. The constant falsity of second-hand  evidence (on which a large proportion of war stories are founded) was impressed

upon him by the second or third day of the Gallipoli campaign, notwithstanding that

those who passed on such stories usually themselves believed them to be true. All

second-hand evidence herein should be read with this in mind. 

AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL

ACCESS STATUS

OPEN

16 Sept., 1946.  C. E. W. BEAN.

Memo from Maj Farquhar 8 FCoy to CRE 5Div.

8 J 21/4/18.

GOC 15 Bde anxious that his right  flank in Reserve Line

be secured by a trench dug from present Support Line at

O 20 b 46 (approx) back to road at O19d central (approx).

As this wd also act as a C.T. could this be carried out by

Pioneers, thus allowing out present working parties from 

Res Bde to carry on with  front line north of river. C.O.5Pioneers

was with him this morning when siting this work and next location of

proposed trench.

CRE 5 Div to 8 Coy he will arrange for Pioneers, to dig the trench you mention speak of from O 20 b 46 back through

O 19d central. I had been in communication with GSO (1) re this, this morning.

CRE 5Div Lt Col Mather

21/4/18 With OC 8 Coy visited left flank of Aubigny Line

to arrange linking up with trenches in near area and also to consider

defence of rly embankment and cutting. Sheet 62D. OC2 O2C.

8 F. Coy Major Farquhar

5/4/18 Arrived Blangy 2.30pm.

Pontoon bridge erected over Somme Canal at N 16 C 8 2

by 9pm.

6/4/18 Pontoon bridge erected over Somme at N 17 C 6 3 and

3 small bridges leading to bridge site on S. side of Canal.

Great difficulty in getting equipment to site owing to boggy

state of track,

7-12/4/18 [3 sections employed in cutting & splitting local timber &

laying corduroy track leading to above pontoon bridges

[One section (under Lt Isaacs) moved to Downay & attached to 13 FaBde.

This section erected three bridges at - I29 a3 0 Pontoon

I29 C 88 Trestle

I29 C 59 (from local timber)

12-13/4/18 Permanent 3 span trestle bridge erected at I29 a 30 to take place of pontoon.

2

8 F.Coy.

13-20/4/18. Div Reserve line running from O27c to O 1 b ^ and O9a sited &

taped out & system of s/posts dug. These afterwards connected and

continuous trench made. Wired along whole front. M.G. positions

dug. Trenches dug, 3300 yds..

Switch line running from. O14b to O9a sited & work

commenced.

17/4/18 Continuation of Support line from O8d O5 to Aubigny has been sited &

taped out for Pioneers.

17/4/18. Section returned from 13 FaBde

18-19/4/18 Once section assisting 59 & 60 Bns. digging in O13a

21/4/18 Moved to Vecquemont (.Daours)

Owing to right divnl boundary being adjusted, Div. reserve line

 between O20 b 08 and O27 d 46 handed over

to 2nd FCoy RE (8 Div) at 9am.

8 FCoy

21-27/4/18 Work on Div Reserve System.

2160 yds of trench dug.

2855 yds of doubleapron wire erected

5 Breastwork S/P's constructed on swampy land N of Somme

Div. baths commenced.

etc

14 F.Coy Major Bachtold

5/4/18 Arrived Blangy 1.50 pm

6/4/18 Moved to Aubigny. Party engaged on erecting

accommodation for 14Bde HQ

7/4/18 Labouring RE stores at Fouilloy , Accommodation for Bde HQ etc

Reserve Line SP's P. 19b 68 & P19 d0 9 taped out

Informer 15% digging completed.

8-12/4/18 Commenced preparations for demolition of roads at O29c94,

O30c23 & O36a 4t 36 by tunnelling out from adjacent cellars.

Mines on cross roads in V/Bret. completed on 12th.

9/4/18 14 Bde supplied working party of 300 for SP's of Reserve Line.

10-11/4/18 Work on Res. Line continued. 14 Bde supplied 600 men on 12th

... . .. 300 " " 13th

13 100 Infrantrymen attached from 14 Bde - organized in 4 platoons, three out

digging, the fourth constructing dummy bridges.

14 Bd F.Coy. 2

14-15/4/18 14 Bde supplied 600 men for Reserve Line

Res Bde                        "           500 men "            "        "

18/4/18 Owing to 53 & 54 having large gas casualties, the reserve

bns supplied very few men for work today, & Res. Bde supplied only

300 instead of 600.

Two platoons of the special attached infny party on wiring, & two on dugouts.

19/4/18 Bachtold left as CRE 3Div. Capt ^SE Evans 15 FCoy takes

command of 14th F.Coy.

Res. Bde party only 200 strong - connecting up SP's on Support Line

Only small working parties available from 14 Bde owing to reliefs

20/4/18 Work in sector as far north as E&W line Through P.19 central

handed over to 490 FCoy RE (boundary between 5^and Div & 8 Div'n)

14 FCoy takes over from 15 FCoy as far north as P8 central.

Sections working in bn..sectors & switch line & on dugouts

14 FCoy

between

For weekending 6am 13/4/18 14 FCoy dug 952 yds of trenches

connecting SP's to form reserve line.

(see sketch maps in records)

21/4/18 400 200 Four infy parties each 100 strong available ^ from 15 Bde -

200 on left bn. support line

100 on Reserve line

100 on Res. Switch Line

22/4/18 400 men from Res. Bde and 200 from 14 Bde

23/4/18 100 men from Res Bde on ^ Res Switch Line

All deep dugouts going ahead.

6-7.30pm Billets in Aubigny heavily bombarded

with Yellow Cross gas.

Moved to La Neuville