Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/278/1 - Folder - Part 4

2

5 Div Arty 8 Aug.
1000 yds range, & the cavalry were able to withdraw to
^cover by the railway. While in this posn 18 pdrs engaged enemy horse & motor tpt.
moving along the road and also infy advancing in extended
order twds the road.
When the m/g fire became heavy, the section withdrew
to a covered posn S of Harbonnieres and from there
engaged enemy movement. and m/gs until 5pm. At this
time the section was subjected to heavy shell fire. and in
getting clear one gun was hit, 4 drivers and a gunner wounded
& 16 horses K or W. It was only by using stray horses that the guns
and firing bty waggons were withdrawn after dark by fresh
teams
Left Section
[*had orders 
to look out
particularly,
for anti-tank
guns*]
Jones's section moved off at 6 am. and took up
posn at P. 29 c 20 60 at 6.30. From there it fired
on and dispersed considble body of enemy in Q26a. This
section the moved forward to P29b central, and fired
upon parties of enemy in Q26 central. Then to
P 30b 80 60 & engaged transport in Q27d.
When infy passed green line the section folld close
behind and from Q32 a central fired into
Harbonnieres at the request of the infy. While here 30
Germans with 3 m/gs came out of some dugouts and
surrendered to the section. From Q30a an
enemy s/post was engaged. Then to Q35central -
infy then out of sight, but guns engaged movement,
reported by infy, in Framerville
This section was the first to more across the German

3

8 Aug
5 Div Arty
front line, which it did without difficulty. Altho frequently
under rifle and mg fire, there were no casualties.
After having fired 155 rounds Jones rejoined
his bty at 3.30 pm.
Remainder of btys
Since first objective reached, bty moved forward.
No diffy experienced in crossing front line. This was due to the
work done by the DAC and Pioneers in clearing tracks across
the trench and wire, as well as to the reconnaissance by bty officers
beforehand. Only one bty used a trench bridge.
each bty carried one
13 FA Bde
49Bty, at 8.4am came into posn. at P35 a 90
10.25a.m moved to Q.33 a 80 60 but as
situation obscure went on to Q 28a 35 95
so as to cover Blue Line
50 Bty at 8.20 a.m. took up posn in P22 d
9.30 am. xxx at P3 d 90 40
12.30 pm. at Q35 d 40 90
[1400 yds from front line]
51 Bty (less Jones's section) came into action at 8.18 a.m. at
P. 23d40.00, but commun forward cd not be
established owing to tanks cutting cable.
Later Moved to Q. 25  a. Then to Q27 b 40 90.

4
8 Aug
5 Div Arty
113 How bty Occupied posn at P35 b 10 50 at 8. 30 a.m.
Later moved to Q3 3a and then Q35 a 25 35.
The advance was fast over the F.O.O. to maintain
commun with bty and at the same time keep with the infy, but at the
request of the infr [after capture of Blue Line] enemy
parties moving twds R34 central and at X10
central were effectively engaged.
14 FA Bde
All btys moved forward to V4 c but Infy
advance was so rapid it was found necy to push forward and
btys came into action in W8 d.
In early part of morning mist and smoke made observn imposs.
Later it cleared somewhat but observn never good.
Owing to rapidity and depth of advance commun was difficult
to maintain, espec by btys to Bdes & Div Arty HQ
13 FA Bde found that visual signalling, whenever
ground rendered it poss, worked well.
14 FA Bde found that only practicable method of
commun. was by mtd orderlies.
Commun between Div Arty HQ and FA Bdes difficult.
Often out of touch, in some cases for more than 2 hours
At 8.20 six bdes of arty under CRA 5 Div.
and only 4 despatch riders available. Proper commun. cd 

5

8 Aug.
5 Div Arty
not therefore be maintained. At end of day despatch riders
were exhausted and their bicycles were out of repair
Water Watering of horses difficult. Only a few pools in
villages and wells available
F.O.O. parties were too heavily laden,
Pigeons cd have been dispensed with as by the time messages
reached bdes they were valueless.
The forward sections were able to carry out the tasks
assigned to them altho in future it would be more satisfactory
to have one forward section to which each assaulting bn.
The diffy of keeping touch with 2 bns would therefore be surmounted.
C.O.14 FA Bde ^(Lt Col J.P. Derham) experienced great diffy in
keeping touch with GOC 15 Inf Bde "owing to
migratory methods of the latter."
Ammunition. No diffy. experienced with ammun supply 

5 Div Arty.     8 Aug
Extracts from Telephone messages
5.40 a.m. 6.27 a.m.  From xxxxxx Capt Mellor. Observation
very bad. Can't see another 200 yards .
6.51 a.m. From 6 FA Bde.  Finished protective
barrage. awaiting orders. Major Parker is
with Gen Stewart.

(Many enquiries as to whether Green Line captured.
capture confirmed 8.53 a.m. by 2 Div Arty)
7.4. am. From 13 FA Bde. No success flares seen. Have
sent two btys forward and just  sending other two.
7.9 am From 2nd Div Arty.  Does not think success signals
cd be seen.
7.18 From 5 Div Arty to Capt Mellor 8" hows gone
forward on E & W road.
8.24 From 6 FA Bde.  May not move till he gets release
from Gen Stewart, & must then first refer it to CRA.
8.29 From Capt Mellor Observn. improved - Can ^just see Warfusee.
8.55 From 6 FA Bde Observn. officer has been on other
side of Warfusee
9.12 To 6 FA Bde. Move forward under orders of 14 Inf Bde

2

5 Div Arty  8 Aug
Telephone messages
9.57 am From 6 FA Bde. Staying with 14 Inf Bde.
unless further orders from 5 Div Arty.Not moving
11.12 am From Capt Mellor An orderly who at
10.10 am was at Q.29 a [crest] reported 30 Bn
on crest on right of road [Q35 c. Ashwell Wd].
4 Div. were on left of road. They were
following tanks. 12 on left and 4 on right
of road. Enemy then shelling Q 29 a
(high ground) with 77mm. He passed
4 supply and 3 ordinary tanks at Q.27.
Also saw tank burning in Q 23.
He passed 105 and 11 Siege Btys.
They had not then arrived in Warfusee.
He passed 51 Bty in Warfusee Vy at
9.45 a.m under m/g fire in Q2 9.
11.45 am 11.24 am From 5 DHQ 14 Inf Bde now moving forward
to Warfusee. 6 FA Bde reverts to 5 Div Arty
command.
11:45am. From 2nd Canadian. Manning 5.9 and 4.2
hows. in V11 b and c. Also manning
gun in V10 c
11.50 am From Capt Mellor A/T guns moving forward.
Big explosions with columns of smoke at Warfusee
and abt 6 O17 a and C

3
5 Div. Arty 8 Aug
Telephone message
6.5 pm 71^st Bty returned to H. Arty.
8.8 pm. Wireless message SOS W11 d 94
8.11 pm To H.A. Aust Corps Reporting S.O.S. they
have it & will down barrage well out.
8.15 pm To 5 Div reporting H.A. intentions.
Division want it beyond 1916 line
8.17 To 10 HA Aust Corps. Confirming -
keeping barrage well out. They are firing an
S.O.S. at 1000 yds beyond 1916 line.
Germans reported massing in woods NW
of Etinhem.
8.49 pm From D.T.M.O Two mortars 

in action at W6 b 88 and
Q36 d 70 15

5 Div Arty    9 xxx Aug
9 Aug
At 9 a.m. 2nd Canadian Div attacked on right.
15th Aust Inf Bde sent out / patrols to cover left flank.
A section of 53 Bty was pushed forward to assist
opern. but on a/c of short notice, by the time
commun was established the patrols had reached
their objective. The section moved on in close
support of the attack by the 8 Inf Bde at 11am.
First objective
At 11 a.m. 7 Inf Bde advanced to line X1 a 20 - X8 c 20 (approx)
Right Left Group Arty. The 13 & 14 FA Bdes (grouped under Lt Col H.O. Caddy) 
were to have covered this attack, but owing to 1 Div
being late 15 Bde, holding the line, attacked. At request
of GOC 15 Bde, the 14 FA Bde covered this attack.
The forward section of 53 Bty moved in direction
of railway at Rosieres owing to opposition there
and engaged enemy m/gs & infy
Btys of 14 FA Bde moved forward to W 11
and 18 and X 7 after finishing barrage.
From these posts hostile btys in R 23 and Crepy Wd
were engaged with observation and silenced.
Lieut. Jones the FOO with the infy was wounded by
m/g bullet in head.
[*The left 
group
was 6 A FABde
23 Army Bde
RFA
(under LtCol
HE Cohen)*]
Second objective
4.30 pm 13 FA Bde came under orders of 2 Div Arty.
14 FA Bde remained a defensive bde covering 5 Div. infy

2

9 Aug   5 Div Art
13 FA Bde 
Second objective 50 Bty engaged many targets, inclg an
enemy bty which limbered up and retired under a
heavy fire, and an anti-tank gun
the personnel of which surrendered to the infy.
51 Bty engaged party of enemy moving S
of Framerville, forcing them to retire.
Silenced a m/g gun holding up infy.
113 How Bty engaged infy advancing on
roads to W of Rainecourt.
at 12.30 pm 49 Bty moved to W 6 a 02;
1200 yds from front line. During this opern Lt N J
Brady ^(49 Bty) wounded, 1 OR killed 8 OR's wd.
Lt. J V Roebuck, (50 Bty), liaison officer with Infy,
died on 11 Aug from wds recd from the attack.
The forward section of 53 Bty (14 FA Bde) -
under Lt J C Doyle did good work in
silencing enemy m/gs and engaging infy

5 Div Arty    9 Aug
Telephone messages
12 22 pm From HA, Aust Corps Have been firing 3000
rounds an hour Have now recd permission
to slow down to bursts of fire.
11.55 am. From 14 FA Bde (air message) Columns
of arty seen moving West at S 26 c 27
1.2 pm From RA, AustCorps above arty broken
up by 6" long guns.
3 pm From 5 DHQ Guns & 1200 infy on road
from Chaulnes.
[5 Div Arty informs HA Aust Corps. which
had pushed forward section of 60 pdrs to
engage them.]