Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/275/1 - 1918 - 1938 - Part 7

"Don" Coy proceeded to relief immediately
down the Bray-Corbie road. The posts
were isolated from one another, and
all fresh earthworks had been covered
with dried grass. The post marked "2"
was the one occupied by myself,
was shallow, it was not possible
to stand upright. This meant no
movement whatever during daylight
and conditions were very cramped.
The field of fire was very poor
indeed. During daylight hours, at
that time of the year, lengthy, no
communication could be held
between posts or Hqs. This led to
nervy irritableness and the usual
grumbling as to why Don Coy should
get the dirty work etc. The arrival
of a hot meal by Carrier after
dark each night was eagerly looked
for. While no actual fighting was
taking place & not even an shot
fired, as every endeavour was made
to keep one position secret, the sense
of isolation was very real, and the
impossibility of our position if
 

spotted by an enemy plane, weighed
on all after the first day.
Two happenings of interest occured
during the first day or so. At this
time the Bray-Corbie road remained
uncut either by our our lines or
the enemy, and on May 2nd. a
German Despatch rider on a Motor
Cycle came straight thru the German
line & continued on unmolested.
We were all too surprised to do
take any action & knew that in
any case he would fall into the
proper hands. On either the 3rd
or 4th May, two or 3 small
red balloons were released by
a German plane & they floated
away to our rear. We heard later
that each balloon had suspended
to it propaganda leaflets, but no
doubt there will be some record
of these.
This brings us to the night
of May 4/5^th. As far as I can
remember operation orders were
as follows.
 

"To proceed forward and lay tapes
for digging in & so push the line forward
by a series of posts. "Don" Coy was to act
as covering party to portion of "A" Coy &
3rd Divn. Pioneers who were to do the
actual digging in. Before dawn they
were to withdraw & "Don" Coy to occupy the
posts. I went forward & laid the tapes
where I considered the best position, allowing
for a short communication trench back
into a small wood or copse providing
good cover for daylight movement. It was
then that Genl. Rosenthal came out & said
that I was to move the tapes forward at
least 150 yards. I protested that this would
take us into a position actually in rear
of a post held by the Germans on the
left of the Bray - Corbie road, faced by
Lieut. Forbes. The position was as below:-

hand drawn map - see original document

The operation commenced late & the trenches
were dug during pouring rain. We lay in short
wheat or oats, probably stubble & the rain pelted
down. This was the only rain during the period
as the days were dry & warm. Before dawn
"A" Coy & the Pioneers retired & we took possession
 

of the posts. The trenches were only about 3 feet
deep & a short communication trench was had
been dug to the rear of each post. The country
between the posts and the wood was quite bare of
cover & it soon became obvious from activity
in the German post to the left that our position
would become untenanble once the new earthworks
were discovered. I sent a runner to Bn. Hqs.
outlining the position & asking permission to
take up a position in the wood. It was soon
daylight & I decided to make back for the
wood. This was carried out one man at a
time leaving last myself. This move was
carried out without loss despite some vigorous
sniping. I then signalled Sgt. Quinn in
charge of no 2 post to retire to the Wood. His
post was less exposed and the retirement was
successfully, carried out. I then posted men
along the edge of the wood and the usual
reliefs were carried out, while the men
in between got some very badly needed sleep.
The day passed quietly and the cover of the
wood & comparative freedom did much to
buck up everyone. When darkness came a hot
meal arrived & also a runner requiring me
at advanced Battalion Hqs. which had been
established at a map reference now forgotten. It
was somewhere about 10 to 10-30 pm when I
left for Advn. Hqs. On arrival there I was
instructed as far as I can remember as follows:-
"That the 35^th Battalion & "B" Coy 34^th Battalion
would attack north of the Bray-Corbie Road.
Zero hour was to be 12 midnight when
a barrage would be laid down on the
German line,  later lifting. With half of
"Don" Coy I was to attack south of the road
a strong point. After clearing the trench
 

we were and posting a covering & wiring
party supplied by "A" Coy under Lieut
Monfries we were to retire 60 yards &
dig in in a general line conforming to the
direction of posts dug on the previous
night 4/5th May." It was quite late when
I returned to our position in the wood &
there was barely time to detail the operation
to N.C.O's & men when the barrage was laid
down. The night was very dark & our way
was lit by the bursting shells. During
this advance I must make mention of the
work of Private James Ireland who several
times I sent off to keep touch with the
progress of "C" on my left. In the  most
difficult conditions he carried out splendid
liason work. Soon after crossing the posts
dug the previous night we came across
some German rifle pits, which apparently
had been occupied by single men, &
several abandoned rifles were found. We
crossed successfully some wire entanglements.
By this time the barrage had lifted. By the
light of the barrage then playing further
back we sighted the German trench x
lined with heads & they opened fire on
us. I got the men down in prone
position & ordered 5 rounds rapid on their
parapet. This had the effect of getting
the Germans below their parapet when
we rushed the trench. A short hand
to hand engagement took place & we
rounded up 20 prisoners and one light
machine Gun. (The figure 14 prisoners
 

in the notes sent me, is probably accounted
for by the fact that I sent a message
back to Hqs. that I only had 14 men left.
Some of the men had lost their way but
turned up later.) I sent the prisoners back
after searching under the escort of a Private
Davis who had a flesh wound in one
leg. It was impossible to spare another
man & the prisoners appeared docile. At
this time Lieut Monfries reported with
some men of "A" & I think one coil of
barbed wire & several corkscrew uprights,
& no picks or shovels. A few more men
of "Don" Coy also turned up, but in the
darkness & confusion both myself & Monfries
had lost men. After posting a Lewis Gun
team we retired the requisite 60 yards &
commenced digging in with Entrenching
tools. At 2 am it was reported that the
Germans were back in the trench. This
meant that our Lewis Gun team was
cut off and that the trench could not
be a strong post but a continuous
line of trench. Lieut Monfries & myself
conferred & decided to immediately
attack. This was carried out swiftly
& we quickly became masters of the trench
again. On investigation we found that
but for a short break the line was
continuous, as:-
hand drawn diagram - see original document
 

Lieut Monfries then took up a position in
front of the trench with his covering &
wiring party, & I proceeded to break down
the Gap & sent Sergt. Denny Quinn with
a small party to fill in the trench further
to the right & form a bombing block. I
then sent a runner to Hqs. with a message
as to my strength, to the effect that the
strong point had proved to be a continuous
line, what action I had taken & suggesting
that "A" Coy in reserve be brought up at
once to take up position on my right as
the position could at that time be
gained with small effort. I then crossed
the road to where "B" Coy has established
itself & reported the position to Captain Cains.
We questioned a German Sgt. who spoke English
but got no useful information. I returned
to "Don" Coy & it was soon after this
that as daylight was appearing the covering
party was withdrawn & although I appealed
to Monfries under the circumstances to
remain & stiffen the line, he withdrew his
men down the Bray-Corbie road. It was
immediately after this withdrawal which
they must have noted, that the German
attack developed principally along the
trench. It was very sudden & definitely
succeeded in the element of surprise. I
contend that the bombs were not rifle grenades
but the usual stick bombs used by the
Germans as several burst near me & I
 

was quite familiar with their particular
detonation & concussion effect. The men
began to retire toward the partly dug
post began earlier but being anxious
to protect "B" Coys flank I rallied them &
got them into position on the "Bray-Corbie"
Road at Right angles to the German line
& also to "B" Coy. This provided cover of
from 1½' to 2'. There were a series of
drainage pits dug along the edge of the road
& I got the men into these & immediately
made plans for counter attack. I placed a
Lewis Gun in either flank pit with instruction
to sweep the German parapet until a given
signal (a single revolver shot fired in the air)
when the Lewis guns would cease fire & the
men would rush forward to the attack.
It was while on the roadway completing
these plans that I was wounded by an Anti
tank bullet. I intended to carry out the
attack but an officer from "B" Coy crawled
across the road & relieved me. I can not
remember this officer's name but after detailing
my plans to him, I crawled back along
the road. I went to advanced Bn. Hqs. &
reported the position to Major Percy & after
having my wound dressed proceeded to
Bn. Hqs. & reported in detail to a/Lieut Col. Fry.
This covers my own personal experiences
& I can not tell of what other Coys were
doing or other posts.
I notice that in the notes of the
 

night 6/7th May, you say the Pioneers were
digging a post ^which seemed to be in rear of the Pothole line.
This would be where we attempted to dig
in the previous night according to
original plan. Below is a sketch of the
position as I remember:-

hand drawn diagram-see original document

I trust this is clear although definitely
out of scale. The time I was wounded was
about 4a.m. & I left the Coy about 4.30 a.m.
Cannot be accurate about the time. It
was definitely light when I left, because
I stopped in crawling back along the
road to stop & see if the Counter attack
was developing, when I almost collected
again from a sniper. The enemy was
very alert. As I passed through the
small wood on the way back he
was raining gas shells on it.
A. Baillie
 

89 The Terrace
Wellington
20/7/37
Lt. TB Norman
34 Bn
Morlancourt
May 1918
C. E. W. Bean Esq.
Official Historian A.I.F.

Dear Sir
I must apologise for not answering
your letter of 6^th May. I was away for
a few days just after receiving it & on
my return forgot all about it.
I am afraid I cannot add much to
the information you already have as
I was only in action on the night of the
5^th & was releived on the afternoon of
the 6^th in order to attend a Lewis Gun
School
However I will endeavour to recall what
I can of the affair.
On the night 5/6 May I was in charge
of half of A Company 34th Battn. which with
B Company 34^th under Captain Cains