Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/274/1 - 1918 - 1941 - Part 18

"Chuignes"
Dunning Ave, 
Roseberry.
Dec 26th 1934 

Dear Dr Bean.
I have been reading the A.I.F. in France, 1917 & on the
whole as far as the 3rd Bn,is concerned,it is fairly correct. You of
course I take it, was guided to a large extent by reports.There are
parts in the book, wherein the Bn, could have been shown to better
advantage. As I want to confine my space,I will continue the paragraphs
We do not get the mention we deserve at Hermies.We left Ribbermont,
early in April 1917, for Hermies, Velu Wood, being our final resting
place, We were here informed what the Action was to be, on my way up,
for the first time since Pozieries, for the last time while I was
an N.C.O. I was given an Officer,Lieut Shelly,a fine man. Before I go
any further,I want to inform you that I was never off a flank, at the
War. When we were told of the action,I went to the front line,to get
a view of the position,& if possible some mark to make for, as men
cannot go straight in the day,let alone night time.I made the 
acquainteance of the English, on my right, as they were not advancing.
I went back to the Wood, & informed my Sgt,Dowling, of the ground,he &
I again had a look at the position,I gave him his choice of positions
in the line of attack, he did not like the flank, choose the centre of
Platoon,& did not go 50 yards,I afterwards buried him at Beaumetz,
The orders I received were to go about 400 yds, wait for the barrage,
if I had of obeyed orders I,& my platoon would have been at Hermies-
in our graves, as the only barrage that fell was the Germans, when we
started, we commenced about 300 yds north of the Canal, this was to
avoid the excavations from the Canal, as they were about 20 ft high,
after we went Half a mile, we had to go half right, till I put my flank
on the Canal, then again turn half left, & go straight east, to Havrincourt.
When we turned half right, the remainder of my Company, went left
to Hermies, I lost all touch despite sending men back, as arrangements
were not going according to orders;I thought that the remainder og t
Bn,had failed to get up. After spasmodic fighting,I arrived on our
objective, the sunken Rd from Hermies to the Canal; at the bridge head
we encountered an M.G. which we captured, the whole of the crew.I ^said to
my men that we appeared to be alone, that we might have to fight our
way back in the night, as I thought that the Germans would be sure to
get in behind us. Cpl N.Lee. M.M. & myself killed the Germans
 

344
 When this gun fired on us,Cpl Tilbrook vho was on the road,had his foot
shot off right on tor of the boot,he then went on his knee,& engaged the
zao
from 15 yds,anburst hit him under the left ear, I burried him beside
ger
the road,I then turned our Lewis Gun, on the M.G. & under cover of it,
we captured the crew. I did not recommend Tikbrook, because I expected
ail of my men to do the same. Then daylight broké, we were consolidati¬
our position,I sav troops in Hermies,I sent up, found Mr Shelly, who
then joined us, we handed this position over about II days later.
You mention in the book, that Seuth-esst of the Villisge,German M.G.post:
held out till dark, I do not think that is correct,my platoon,covered,
with 4 poste,I had 66 men,from out in front of the quarry, or chaik rit,
to the bank of the Canal, In daytime we went 1000 yds across the Canal,
of course we did not go about waving flags, I do not think that there
were any Germans, west of the Canal in the daytime,I think that they
were in Havrincourt,I was out in NO mans land,with Col Miller,"B" Coy,
when he was taken prisoner, we hed both come from our H'ors, when ve
went through our ossI said that we have come too far,he replied'n"
After Hermies, we went back to Beaumetz, thence to Doignes, to assist,
where the Germans broke through, We were at Vaulx for the first Congerir:
Conscrirtion Vote, when we were informed that our Bn was loaned to the
7th Bede,one of whose Bns went to the English at Bullecourt, I went up
the Noreuil Valley,å releived adpart of the 20th Bn,in order that they
might join in the attack, After being near the Railway, about lam,I found
myself in O.G.2.heving releived portion of 6th Bgde,24th Bn,I think.
I was again on the extreme left flank;I was not in touch with the Ist
) Bn, on my left.when I went in the line,I was informed that a 60 pounder
was drorring short. I found that it was so.I saw,I think,Lt O'Rielly,
who said that he had been trying for hours to get them to lift.As the
Germans were at Bullecourt,& between the Ist,d ryself, around onary
front, before Reincourt, we vere not being shelled by them at all.the 6d
pounder was half mile short; eventually Reilly was killed by the gun,
After stand to, was over, the men were about to take a little rest.
te
On my platoons left,O.G.2. ran into a sunken road. I cut an observation
såd
Fad
rost, in this,behind a berracade, Immediately behind it,orly on tor,I
mounted a Levis Gan also A Cerman M.C. I found in the trench,we also
found over 12 doz esg bombs, which came very handy as they went further
than the Mills, After all the men had stood down,I saw about 150 Germans
gølidg baerm bue Frntibes dd aot kre gm Tile!
 

G
 

5
I got all the men to stand "to"t said dont fire till I tell you,I got
genne
alongside the Machine Guns, When thek were abo ut 40 yds away,I saw an
fellow shoot anjet of flame into the bank,I fired,e shot the flamen-
werfer carrier through the belly,my machine guns let them have it hot,
& strong,you could not see a yard for smoke, It was the first flame-
carrier,I had seen, there was a hole in the road,the man fell into it,
t sbout a dogen men on tor of them, they all appeared to catch fire, as
when my bullet went through the can,it eaught fire in the back, bombs
fell thick & heavy,this was where the egg bombs esme in,the nerest
Cerman reached 5 yds from the rost in the Rd,in your book, you state that
the 3rd Bn captured I,å killed 30,my platoon killed killel over 89 in i"
road alone,we counted them,
In this, by the shelling,from the time I
releived the 20th Bn,I had 12 men killed,k a number wounded, after this
attack had died, it was decided to bomb along towards the Ist Bn,
& while waiting,the 60 rounder blew down the zrados,& went through my
leg,so,! dont know anymore about Bullecourt.
I was only away for a feweeks,
when I ricked the Bn ur,at Bray-sur-Somme, before we went North for
Pologon Wood. AT Passchendsle on Nov 12th, I was on the Canadians right,
I hed 3 roste, was relieved by 66th Diy,at the releef I only had 3 men
for 3 Posts.
It was at Strazeele that I suggested to Capt Plunkett, that
we detain the English troors pouring through our lines,ss we did not
heve eny surworts,he agreed,I stopred,Colonels to cooks, till we had
nearly 1000,when Brigade took them over, we released all the aninals int
Barns,Our Bn was the pioneers of the daylight raiding;I was the C.S.M.
I mentioned In "Memories of Meteren" Reveille,Iune or July.
As I have stated ,I enly had an Offieer in Frace twieI never furniched
env rerorte,we did our job,my platoon proved in competition,the best in
the Coy,just as the Coy,did in the Bn,& Bn in Brigude.
I was LøCpl, temr Crl,Cpl,temp egt,Sgt-temp C.S.M.& C.S.M.M 2 Lt in the
one platoon,I3. when I was made C.S.M. I wes although 2nd senior in the
Bn,allowed to retain my platoon. I was never away from the Bn,when it
was ready for the line,I left it twice, after 2nd Bullecourt,& after
the last Attack Sert I8th. In this attack we esme from Tincourt, we were
on the flank of 74th Div, the attack proeeeded allright, there was a derge
for,the smoke from the barrage did not lift,we chased the germans till
 

0)
We were too tired to run, ve passed through Templeux-4 after deing so,
the Bn on my left was held up by M.G.fire, as we had rasses on,I diverted
to the left, got in behind the Germans, cartured 2 guns,d 32 men,I took
the English Officers nome,but I lost it,ve then proceeded to Hargicourtn,
where,just before, we captured 2 more M.G.'s,as we had to rush this rost
I recommended Cl, atan (He keers anbutcher sher, in Willoughby Rd
he was awarded the D.C.M.eftef about a hours halt, we commenced our nove
towards Bellicourt We crossed some very open country, the fire was severe
I had e enne eut in two twice by M.G.bullete, in the road aheas, some light
field pieces were firing direct,when we reached them, I observed that an
private of 1O platoon,hed bayonetedthe gunners,I also recommended him,k
he was rewarded,as we proceeded along the trench we captured several Red
Cross men,who said thet the gonners were eyond sid,I then Gart aman
on tor of an duz out,I asked how many men were in it,he said that he didn
not know,I ssid Geenade,he said No,No,I seid how many men,he said,5 Offic
Offieers 55 men,I ssid quiek,A Bn Commander & 5 offieers, 58 men ceme up
the Cormender said That I cwasas Gentleman, I gave these to Cpl Putrie,
whoI lso recommended,he was rewarded also.
C Coy on my right was held
Dr.es was Lt McDonzld, who hed got on to my left,there was nothing shead
of me,I could see where MeDenelds trouble was coming from, I had about 80
men,& was on tor of the ground,when I saw a young fellow about 22 yds
aheed of me,I was too shakey to fire the revolver,as we had been hurrying
I kept my eyes on him, felt for the hole I had lust sterred from, as I
stepred back, he fired, hitting me over the eye,k with this,after telling
the Corporal to continue on,I lost ail interest in the War.
I ages ouu t ite rads Anstaten bo otfäan the
a Ih pormit o voaull, benng avodsk ilegade
Grr 1716.

Av

2
 

Merglseurt, sst ich B6
In this last sctien the 3rd En was the left flank of 2 two
Divisien frert, the En dispesitien was "K" Coy, Gliften, left,
"Y" Shelly,richt, with "Z" MeDenald, supperting. in this Cey,I
teek up a pesitien an the left flank,immediately the setion
cemmenced,"X" Coy must have gone right off eur secter, as,
early in the piece I feund myself in the frent line of the
advance, and captured priseners etc, after abent 20 minutes,te
the finel ebjective,Minnew Trench.
W. waited at Hargiceurt Reod
fer ever an heur,te allow Jur barrage te figure sceording te
planI assie Enih Troeas riar to arriving at
Hargieourt, even during eur wait at the latter place, I did not
see "X"Coy,It was net tillI eressed Minnew Trench, eur secand
ebjeetive, that I saw Lieut MeDeneld,"K" Cey, whe was then in
difficulties. The latter part of "The last days ef the war.
fairly well explain my elatoens connection with this action.
Herewith are ineluded the duplicates of messages sent back en
Sert I8th. I rccommended several men,Cpls Grahom & Putrie,
amongst ethers, all of whom were rewarded.
P.Kinchingten.
Dr C.W.Bean.
Official Histerian.
 

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Aalekdens o tara
fom Glaxges M17128.
Ajun te danrättie oten a by m ad
fad o fthr. dane ig Ausd Grge 6 2 &. forddafr
Son. aftr 53 neling avkd
Bimobelänetein
Plango (ckoshad Peri lal.) h ses hrin.
de askt Raggess iht ko hen ankeud
a or Ba. Re suuf ot brag was
Pr meliig
drerim atlg all ad soan be
Apgashig ?
6 Kaadd,, delut he hünk Hat ko
Autnnng
deifft recomnend Trat I seanbüuerste nöt-
Auneis out. Plasgei sadd: i sten ang men
ander od dammets o crins os hri eges oft
de knovs Har he st mährs 1fanestnand for
he i tril frr it o Aures
t erml: a!
dik, kerih kag kte 5o . 6 okmnknd.
7 rebed i stang hri recomeidatt
Ihe nen hir tu Prlf di ade a enksy
ag
s beaks. Tonasd saåd "bk, fousesihee
or sometrig b tar effecl.
i gores ofmon-
kroraad å kase made ke reommenddksukencf, bud bomddll.
Stolls tok ousd hom J. nd. v piobakgg recommendd
tat komen te fardoned, bet Bautenren (Plesporrs Thuleg
Refnrid v beg Sened he senlenee. Gasgors dage bal ite
had gin vag he bomd hase had Eufties Braulle afte de
bomeilike.
 

67.
 

726 (AUSTRALIANS IN MESOPOTAMIA [June, 1917.Jan.1018
that both their arauies were to withdraw from Persia. The
Bolshevik Governnient was not universally accepted in Russia;
but it was clear that Baratovs army was becoming worthless,
and neither Turks nor Germans were Hkely to abandon therr
efforts to penetrate Persia. Moreover, in addition to German
propaganda, which was exceedingly clever. Bolshevik
propaganda was penetrating everywhere. The Pan-Turk and
other revolutionary movements were again Hanung up, and at
this stage the British Minister at Teheran suggested that
General Marshall should take over from the Russians the
task of protecting the Persian road. This, however, would
mean an extension of his communications by Soo muüles-twice
the direct distance from Baghdad to Basra. The project was
therefore impossible without a great increase in Miarshalfs
force- especially in his miotor-transport. Moreover as, at
this tme, the Russian peace negotations had thrown the
Alies upon the defensive, and reserves were needed to meet
the great Gemman attack to be expected in 1918, the (Var
Omce desired a reduction of it rather than any increase; and
in December the 3rd (Lahore) Division was sent to Palestine.
Sir VVilliam Robertson indicated that, for barring entry to
Persia, another-and a highly ingenious--method was being
adopted. Meanwhile early in January, at Baratovs request,
Bicherakovs group went on to Kermanshah in the hope of
rallying some elements of the Russian Army there. At the
same time a column under Lieutenant-Colonel Matthewst
of the I/Ath Hampshire (with "D” staton) was sent to
profect the near end of the road at Khanigin. From there
Colonel Matthews and part of his columm (wich an improvised
station "VIS" in Ford vans) went on to meet the now return-
ing "AA" wireless station, which had been so long cut off
wich the Russians. That station, originally at Oasr-i-Shirin,
had hadto accompany the Russians eastwards when they left—
and looted-that town, retiring before the Turks. In with-
drawing along the great road through the hills, the Russians
were raided by Kurds and suffered many casualties. The
Australian transport sergeant, S. J. Ryan took part in the
"Col C L. Mathews, D.S.O.; Durham Light Infy. Commanded :/Ath Bn.
Hampshire Regt, 19:6/:0. Otcer of Briuish Regular Army: b. Stoke Bishop,
stol. Eng. 27 Aug. 187
'Søt S. J. Ryan, D.C.ML. (NO. 14257: ust Aust. Wirgless Sig. Son.). Mai
contractor; of Armudale, N.S.W.; b. Dumaresd, N.SW. 15 Oct., 1870.