Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/273/1 - 1918 - 1937 - Part 23

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open to contributions
Accession number:
RCDIG1066711
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

t Direction N Advance Not A 3 -2- You might be able to put a few questions to me on the foregoing whereby I can give you further assistance. (59d.) N C. Hatton MLERS ORGTENNEUK aat B0is act 1Abbe a 61a 4 27a0 apo This is a rough reproduction cay TE manument 1e wead of the sketch he added to his report and if drawn from memory Start line Position held Enemy position 51 and 52 Bn. it is a jorly good picture. Am. 25½ AM. 25½ Hatton was not aware at the time counniter- atteck was made or 24/ tet the unit on our right (7th Bedford) did not nevr to fee ane rast on attaining their objection. I was not aneire inher when I received Bee opntion orders wal the right pank (British) Brfase was only required to ruch an otjective situated more or ress on the tie held priv to Serman attack on 24 Bul. We went in to the attack meting bet we wnets on our right would als to required to fiee gnot wher they cmrolideled. Hatton, of aen, nd not seen the Brigace operetin oner nor was he present when I gave atteck orders to Coy Emmanders. His Ot. Captain Wielmot) was miiled anly in the fifit s0 Hatton pced the morning right on 25 t fut bilieng wel oot sfecture to that of the Birhon Vattalim on his inful) was on a Norns &South time pein Earr. actully out execuor (13 Bae) van pu U6C5.3 due Earl to V6d 43 (slong ine o CAEHY-MAREELCASE Rod) Mence NE. through VIa and 6 to P.31 d 6.7. (approx) where our pank with 15 Inf. Bee was to join. I was unerine then the original Bution print where lie an b prio to Semanatteck or 24 Noril except on that portion of the objectuve cotted to 13 Ms Mitde bit thought it concided wnth the tine of teo run Monument Wood to Hangard Wood, (UCC 5.3) tugh W11 b andd. Thus I was in extreme doubt on mornyg of 25 April of the position of the British on our rifht & also where we memy wes o until I senw the risull of the whippit tinks reconmaosance mt apinoor). I nad no soubt then? SDt
HN. Y/3. Richardson Terrace Nicholas (82Bn) Daglish W. A Dr C C WBean Victoria Barrack addington NSW Dear Sir Sunderstand that you are seeking information for the purpose of writing up the records of Villers - Bretonnens ways one of the Original members of the 32 Btn which was formed in Egypt and Iheld the rank. platoon sergeant with the Btu in France. I am giving you a breef version of my experience at &t which may be of use to you Yours faithfully hicholas d N.
V.B.S1 Bn. Nicholas Page [ HN Willer Bretonnewr We were out on our usual parade, in one of the French fields, when a brigade runner came up to our commander with a message, the time being about I1 o'clock. The captain instantly gave the order to return to our billets, and get into fighting order. We were ready to leave about 11.30 and though the cooks reported that dinner was ready, we were not allowed to remain and eat it. As we marched along, we helped ourselves to the rations we had in our haversacks. We were naturally anxious to know what was doing, but could get no news from our officers. However we got some information along the route that Frity had broken through the Tommies line. It was a dull sort of day, with clouds flying very low, and while going across some fields; towards the line, a German plane flew down from the clouds, just over our heads, so evidently they expected an attack. We marched all the afternoon, and it was not until six o'clock that we halted, still waiting for news. About seven o clock our Battalion commander, Captain Kennedy called the N.C.Os together and informe us that we were to hop over at eight o’clock that -evening. He could not give us any information regarding the lay of the country, or what opposition we were likely to meet. This is the way he spake you have got to advance 3,000 yards in a North-
Page easterly direction, you have got to get there and get there a the best way you can. If I remember correctly, the village was on our left. Our battalion was instructed to advance in two lines, allowing about 150 yards between the lines. There were two companies in the first line and two in the second line. I was in C. company which was in the second line. The orders were for the first line to go right through, and the second line was to mop up all the prisoners and send them back. We knew that there was but little danger from gas attacks, as the wind was blowing from behind us: There was not much shell fire in our sector, not the nerve- wrecking, barrages of Pozieries and Moquet Farm, but we soon got into a barrage of of machine gun fire. It was rather a foggy night and illuminations by the verey lights sent over by the Germans were simply wonderful. The machine gun's soon told on our lines, and we could see the lines thinning out. How anyone could have advanced under such conditions was a mystery, as there was a continual ping of bullets whizzing past, A remarkable incident happened during the attack. We noticed phosphorus bullets being fired; out of a dugout immediately in front.
Page1 Tkey were firing at the first line which had- just gone through. The voice of Lieutenant Rogers, our platoon officer still rings in my ears, when he yelted, I here they are boys, get them! Needless to say they did not fire any more bullets, and our attitude towards the German prisoners changed very much after that little affair. The front line was thinning out, and we gradually got in line with them. When we had advanced about two thousand yards the line stopped. I cannot give any reason for it. I only had about half a dozen men left of my own platoon, though the line was fairly strong. It was composed mainly of men from other -companies and battalions. I immediately endeavour to get in touch with some of our officers, but could not locate any. In walking along the line inquiring if there were any Austrolian officers about, I was halted by a young English officer wearing a gas mask. He asked me who I was at the same time covering me with a revolver. He asked me if the smoke that was coming from some German shells fired to the rear of us was gas. My reply was. If this is gas I would have been dead long ago. He then ordered his party of about two or three dozen men from some of the Midland Counties regiment
Page II to take off their gas masks. I could get no information from him regarding our position. I travelled further south, and after going a little distance I noticed a crowd retiring. Thinking that a German stry might have given the order Fran back, and found out it was the same English officer taking his men to some comfortable dug-outs further back I ordered them back, to the front line; which they obeyed. Still failing to receive instructions as to what to do, I decided to make for the village, but on my way there I received a bullet wound in the left arm. After wishing luck to the few that was left in the platoon, I got hold of some German prisoners, who were straying about, and took them back with me. This ends my story
CCo Asricultural Bank, BRUCE ROCK W.A. 11th July 1935 Dr Bean, Victoria parracks, PADDINC N.S.W. Dear Sir, 1 notice by a paragraph in the local press that you would like ex-members of the Glst and 52nd Battalions to write to you of their experiences at Willers Bretonneux. You will probably not receive many accounts from ex West Australian 52nd Battalion men, as I believe there would not have been more than one hundred of such left in the Battalion when the battle was fought. I am therefore sending you an account of my experiences, though I am afraid the are of too trivial a nature to be of very much use to you. 1 was an actual eye-witness to the death of Baron Richthofen, the German ace, and as there has since been much controversy upon his death, I am penning you my version in the hope it may be of use to you. Yours faithfully, Kemcolion REG. No. 3383 52nd BATTALION (H.O SCOUT SECTION) Encl.
LEnd BATTALLON AT VLLLERS BRETONNEUR The battalion had moved back from Vaux Sur Somme on 22nd April 1918 to Point Noyells. on the night of the 23rd April a very heavy bombardment could be plainl; heard which was rightly quessed as a forerunner of another German attack. In the morning orders came through that the battalion was to move up at once. The writer, who was attached to the battalion scounts was ordered with his section to report for duty without being given time for breakfast, though it was ready and would hot have taken more than a few minutes. A small thing in itself, but an augury that things were not too well in the line. 1f 1 remember rightly, the section was to act as guides but after proceeding to a spot within 5 or 6 miles of Villers Bretonneux, we were joined by the best of the Battalion. There was a heavy fog similar to that on the morning when the Germans smashed through the 5th Army: because of this it was not possible to see much of the country through which we were passing. The battalion was halted and rested some time. while thus halted, a German plane flew up and down the lines at a very low altituae, sathering information. An eighteen pounder nereby, opened fire, but without suc- cess, most of the shells bursting above the plane. To over- come this, they tried bursting a shell just beyond the muzzle of the gun but the Aviator must have seen the gun in time and turned aside, disappearing into the mist with the infor- mation he had gathered. He was a brave man but as we knew that his information was for the enemys Head quarters, we saw his going with regret. The Battalion moved up south of pois L.Abbe to its ob- Jective to the South West of Villers pretonneux with the rem- nants of the rrommys troops, whose job it was to clear the wood on their left. Battalion Head quarters were these of course, to the rear of the Companies, and I did not actually see the attack which if 7 remember rightly, was at nightfall contrary to the usual British practise of attacking at dawn. The position was very obscure for a long time and Bat- talion Head Quarters had some difficulty in locating the ex- act whereabouts of the Companies. Some of the original rommy. acfenders were holding isolated posts when our fellows arrived. 1 was told that some of these opened fire and Killed some of the Slst pattalion under the mistaken impression that it was another German attack. During the advance, the shelling was heavy, but afterwards was not specially in evidence. 1 believe there was somewhat of a sap between the 52nd Battalion and the French on our left, and from my observations at the time, one of our vshippet tanks made an incursion into No-Man’s-Land to inspect the German trench much to the alarm of its occupants, who opened heavy rifle fire and sent up many flares: however as it was about midday when the incident took place, the flares did not show up in the sunlight and the German artillery could not have picked them up, as there was no answering barrage. The German Soldiers could plainly be seen and were in force shoulder to shoulder, which made it appear that they had contemplated a counter attach; this to the inquisitiveness of the tank, they however o he tenk, after its inspection, returned to did not srastite. our lines without worrying about returning the Gemman fire.
The writer was chiefly engaged in guiding up ration parties and taking messages back during the pattal- ions stay in the lien. the Battalion was relieved on the 26th April moving back to Blange Trouville. Part of our line was taken over by French Troops clad in green uniforms instead of the customary sky-blue: these consisted, 1 believe, of Zouaves, Foreign Legion, and Russians serving with the Franch. It was noticeable that the zouaves dug in all over the place and seemed to have an aversion to occupying a continuous tranch. The 52nd moved to Bois L:Abbee on 27th April and into Villers Bretonneux on the 9th May. On the loth Mc) the writer was evacuated with Trench fever. I believe the front was held by one man to every 12 yards - a magnificent bluff: had Fritz attacked, he could not have helped going through. Tt was the last appearance of the Battalion as a unit of the A.T.F. As you know, there were not sufficient reinforcements to build up the Battalions wastages and ex- tinction followed. It still leaves a bitter taste to this day. The writer was transferred to the Glst and soon afterwards to the Cadrey in England.
A HA PATENT OFFICE, MELBOURNE. 6th February, 1928. Captain C. Bean, Official Historian, Australian War Memorials Committee, CAR Dear Captain Bean, The enclosed letter from Major-General Bruche, which is self-explanatory has caused me to forward attached copies of letters received from Major van Strawbenzee who commanded the Chestnut Troop, Royal Horse Artillery during the War, and was our Anti- Tank Defence during the 1918 Somme. Strawbenzee is now Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Woolwich School of Artillery. Any further particulars you require in the matter could be had from Major-General H. E. Elliott, who commanded the 15th Brigade during that period. With Kindest regards Toure rery Sincerely, sapon Cmon. Late C.O., 58th Battalion, A.L.F. S. Watson

- 2 -
You might be able to put a few questions to me on the foregoing
whereby I can give you further assistance.
(sgd.) N. G. Halton
Hand drawn diagram – see original
This is a rough reproduction
of the sketch he added to his
report and if drawn from memory
it is a jolly good picture.
Note 'A'
Halton was not aware at the time that counter-attack was
made on 24th that the unit on our right (7th Bedfords) did not
have to face [[?]] on attaining their objective. I was not aware
either when I received Bde operation orders that the right flank (British)
Brigade was only required to reach an objective situated more or less on the
line held prior to German attack on 24 April. We went in to the attack
believing that the units on our right would xxx be required to face East when they
consolidated. Halton, of course, had not seen the Brigade operation order or
was he present when I gave attack orders to Coy Commanders. His O.C. (Captain
Wilmot) was killed early in the fight so Halton faced the morning light on 25 April
believing that our objective (& that of the British battalion on his right) was on a North
& South line facing East. Actually our objective (13th Bn) ran from U 6 C 5.3
and East to U 6 a 4.3 (along line of CACHY - MARCELCAVE Road

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