Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/280A/1 - August - October 1918 - Part 3

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
RCDIG1066721
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

Fabe 29 Au Jnly asked for fire on Brie, 0,27, and 11.30 am Eastern eacts for 1 hour. 101 and Lad Stys ordered to fire 60 & 1ords respectively, intermitently CO interviewed 70C15 Inf Bde in 1.30 por treachsysten $31640 & from noteso intententions to force buidgehead, sent same Abback ordered to right group C.O. by runner for 5.30 pin 18 pdr btys ordered to dump 300 ords per fun 45 hows 200 rds per how done Brie Infy advised no further cooting 3 po Athies Wd Terridge 2 E of te mesnil & also 8ble abaut neach contd heavy guas I were feeldgins r o to 1oid Attack postponed indepinitely 530 pi 116 Werhe Btys of 1 Fadde withdrawn from line during tw1 Quema 2 night.
27 Aug 28 Aug. 29 Aug. 2 Fadle Ababt. 25pmn Lt W. Walson, 700 aryd with the cay edr in whom he was with and a banage I put down M21 central to M 27 central by 4th, 6t &102 ptys. Under cover to the inf advanced 1 M/ss in M20b 2530 Watson then and M20d5s held them ap. directed fire of 46t on to these & the advance proceeded without a hitcd until a nfsun away on the right checked the inby. But as our men were in 6 same wood, arty fire adnot be used to eradicate 6 musance - the wly did the job & then liaked up with the people centre attack & the vellage Foucancourt was surrounded + then mopped to tis i up od i Aah s mori i Ballde 1 Enenzarty fire was heavy during the attack From 7 to 8.30 pm Germans heavily cassed the area between our old front line W. edge Martens Wd. Harassnfere. Iafy contiaued push but cenable bcate caeny, watie late evening, Bde bevouached in MISb, NE of Martias Ad Ide moved forward to NSCC abt 2500yds Dmoe Canal. Ds pulled, during night to foo near Sailly Laurette.
1421 Set 1Dw. Arty returned to live in afternoon. (nder 3 dwarty Sept 11 Bdes 1 Fabde to Left Group (under ([oe. Stevenson, 3 talde) to positions in viciaity R.14.b & R15a 2id Fadde to Right Group (under HCol. Fibbons, 14hachEA) MESOR to k20c and K26a. ti n ii1 143 The 142 Edes rewforing depth on a/c of the 2En & YBn I gattacked between 10 and 1 a.m. and beenforced back 600 -800 yds int ar ai C.RA. IDw. took over from ChH 3 Dw. 10 am Fept 12 Cunder Dlel Tibbons 14 Ble RtA Right Broah 145 Anny Cle Rt.A. 13.12 2nd Ble, AA DaRiEyEN Left Gronp (under tolol Q.1. Stevenson, 3 Fadde) 3d Anny Ble AFA Thar 1st le AtA. Cilstens CL. ln Reserve Mall 5t Bde AtA 1 1 1 1 4th In afternon 2 A tadse relieved 144n Army Ade in live 15t, 20d, & 3rd Faddes then placed under be Stevenson Sept 13 Command regrouped as follows Ryhl group. (HCol ETDean) 1&2 A Taddes Left Froah (AoCol. G I Stevenson) 3,4.75 A Tadde. Ta x 8a takdes & 5 Anny Ble REA joined PDwaity 11576 lee
DwArty 15 7a, Sta A taddes & 5 Any Blekt A Sept 16/17 moved forward & occupied teir battle posns forthcoming oferi 18/9/8 60 Dw Arty Report Eight fieldarty boles employed. Owing to enemits occupatin heVerginer-Templene yur rning o LSA&B, & L9C impossible site all blys sifficently forward enable C. cany whole bariage without their coming under direct observn. necy 20 tlys o moved lud of propress banrage. this Sed Jfollows witos soned FT Li Bdeldrs is sabaltern per bly moved (wd, reconvortred posss & these blys. Attach Caunched btys selected vicinity arty start live. nntd orderlies sent back to bly wayonlines. guide up amonn wagions so ammum wd be ready these Alltlys poon at posss t blys arrived. hour 10 mens) during the halt penod, after attacnment first objective. Then continued the bangge & protective banage? Hall like to its final phase Enemy took 15 to 20 miss to reply to our initial banage. & then put down only a light & very ragyee banage along fod Tystem & in vicinity of Roesel Hervilly Bey 8.28 am. first blys noving fiod. At 8.45 the 367
1ele. Wie telsin 10Ber (st Didity lft e had estab. 6 first obfective was touch C74Dw. An BD0 of Right Subhoup reported te )at L22c99 pishing pod 6th & S Stys were already newt At 9.35 IFable advised that 15t, 3nd, posss. 44, 64, 272, 10810 Ptys were in action new posss t a continuation? banage near Jeancourt all after the 70 mens, stay Protective thanage 2 First srinian sd no hoallisneh sgbnew objective blt me WIUL A that had to move fiod Clett grous 3 Fable reported at 10.30 am. all blys had estab 6 then new posss allt a continuation MNMI second part. Loe Nelligan (10cdty, on ought I Ble) reported I had definitety jaied the Oluefine & the Itabde dated (were arranging their SOI lines 600 yas E of this live Report 3 Tadde at 1210 p.m ? Idafade not quite on final blue line, but commanded the whole 6line) where (were, vc; ) 250 to300ya E. of the hed fie dity casealties very light. Apto 1130 pm the whole? 4 bdes of the Kyhthoup had only 2 guas & abt 6horses put 1 action, 4OR's slyatly wounded Stys I had remained oction 7 Halt & protective banage & Infy Halt Live were moved fiod Cc the final burrage & second objective had 67
Dw Arty & clased, & all boes were then in accord a instructions disposed depth ravges varying between 2500 to 5000yds or dufy dwarty Intell Sumary 18/19 o Sept. A 1 JMi At. 5.20 creeping banage commenced Consisted of 18 pdr banage 3596 starting 200 yes t of Inly forming up line & lefting at rate of 100 yas every 3 mins natie Infy Hall Lene reached. Then After this stationary protective banage C70 mins. barrage again advanced 100 yd lifts every 4 mins ustie final objective jaied, when protective banage of 15 meas put down. Dys ceased fine at Zers & 273 mers. 1I (10 During ruight 18/19 harassing fire id out. ur91 CG MTT li TEe an bas sinedo lire con OSEEA s InH aldsleys srow egoor dirird eor Io ai gaimon ad yd aldnob iis of Ing saw boo as snote sidt -MDEDDCROPh Iiol Hl Ighi aity war drary PDw. FriED acoribeot in Dind ncel bad Fiz lrgh saiz EngA to to n ot is Jo exabio our robnH I boselg bed timil lonD Ris Falf feel sood bad LrrgasI rods od aDody ii deel ro Deo 75 Aust Div - 74 Dw Duning early morning of Sept 21 esipno1 7l supportedaty hep hroup arty this two 18pdrs BOMSISE EH viaelt lo Jhan Rgntpout teft tronp then connited fourteen 15 pdrs. M Cit Dis O Brt A2DMI & seur howb Diversion ofern createe by remainder. Ryatgroup putting down banage on Right Du. subsector Intell. Summary At. 5.40 am barrage opened ap. Starting on the line G8A80 - 92C04 -A25d70 - A25d 45 the barrace. feft Groap after a stay of 3 mias lftea at the rate of 100 yds every 3 & 21yo Astook mins unti protective tanageline GSA80-62660. A26 d60 - A 26A24 was reached The remainder of right group wooperated by starling
21 Sept 2ySept. 1 Du Arty S creepey banage & line G15C 6035 - 6146 8005 98d 4000 - 98 cntrol and at gero & 10, plus 30 + plus 50 lifting 200 yas fivally ceasing fere at plus 53 The howstys - 7th (18 pdr) bty I left group simcultareously searched & swept Malak off Wd treach System in A 26A, B, & D high pound A27A & C sero 3ero plus 63 meas. Hostile arty displayed more appressive attitude than durag pevious ferod, eopec daylight Heavy tombeag by Gernan avimen during night 20/31 Sept. execially on bly areas in 119A, LI7C, L16c & L21 B - CRAUanst Dw & came under St lny ble witdrew 2 Field arty then regroused toittier exit As noisiz oi w Alo dise Right Eroup. Covering right bn, 590 American ttte) 1 and 2 A taddes (under DCol CTDean) Right Subknoup Guneer Roloe & a Dison 150 Annylde REA 150 Army Bde 84 1 Left Group (covering leftbn, 59 Amenican Infale 12 Army Ble AFA. nder Hly 65 " " REA Left Sab Group Cunder DCl He Riggall 4x5 A Fadles An SOssignal was reported on right on front at 5.18 am & btys putdown banage Signal againat 6.15 am, & banage until 5.35. put down till 6.58.
L. F.Adde arty grouped for battle of 18 Sept as follows; Right Group Cunder BoeC Dean) conisted of Left Pub Group (WlolDean) - 1&2aFaddes Right Subbroup Chelee Cttiking) 7&8 A 7 Addes W1 Er2dn - four bdes Left Trap was under tobl G.d Stevenson Aletty of 1Fadde imposition 17 Sept 9.30 pim. 1Bty K30A3545 abty K23 b 60 50 30ly K23b 65.90 101bty K306 4565 Eveny Arty very quet during night 17/18 Sept. but hostile Acroplanes more active, than usual C 5130 Enem arty sinedown heavy banage in rear of gumping offline 5.40 Telephone lines all down ower to evemy fire 1864 7.10 am. Right Subfroup rdened to move forard pent Samuels 40,60 & 108 stys reported action fiod poons 8.45 am 500 with Mon 9.15 am 1and 2 Btys reported action fd poons sence & 15am IE Cl eai he Johnson SuuOs e 500 for Rest. nt asiotton n 10 11t0 Erebianenest Aee tsS or ison f ae HII with 1hn 2 9 bon 24 S Team &wagson of 8 table blown up by mene in L21B ceatral 19 Lept 710 pm SOS on 74 Dw front 4.15 pr Lt Samuel's reports 6th firing into G14c behind Buchine 20 Sept 4.20 F008 table. 6how dropping short onkedhine opp. 914 Lolol Nebgan (10Bn) reports road maning from Bellicourtto Spar Ha Nawroy absolutely blocked up with traffic De. Arty Hd. Corps HA & Right Subgroup exprened 2 Tadde ordered to fire 40 rds, per bty with every geen that can brought to bear road.
(Leloe DH moore) L Fadde Geens taken up obrought into adton near Hmelet Sept 11 Bde participated in a creeping banage abt 7.30 prn Relieved 14 EdeRtA near Hervilly K29 Sept 12 6en Dattery fired banase for infy, to advance a post Sept 17 LoWt Watson carreed out very successful shoot with 102 Bty gean outhat completely desroyed & personall chased with shell, during enpy consolidation the blys moved pod & took up posus Sept 18 on abl the dnfy starting line 3 casualties (wonnled) decreag move Barrafe opened 8.30 am but owing to tenrain & soft ground ltys were few miaute longer than expected comingup + did not open until 8.40, at 1t (joined life moment. Later during day 5,6, & 102 Btys ils moved further forward. sity detailed C expeoitation with 90Ber, moved almost to Bn H.Q.able carry some joodshooting, 10265 moved further forward to about 2000 yds & pontline, Sept 19 46ty moved into position vacated 102 Immed prior to move of 102ty Lt NJ Delany (102) and pent S.G Bell (4) killed on 102s posn. Gennan anman bombed heavily between 8 pm & midnight Sept 20. 2 menkilled & 6 wd 102 Bty One plane broult down near Jeancourt 5.40 am barrage Cmenor attacd Sept 21 1028ty, 2 nen keeled & 1 severely wounded by air bombs at night
Sept 18 inwed Motty T 4 Hable dary of nuest Cattached & 2Dw Arty 5A Fa Ede steady rain set in which continued for 2 hours after gero. The opening of the whole banage I not good. Acedg to the banage left opened least i minute before / due, ) the start I a little ragpedy but front the opening I good. Prior- attack enemy had heavily passed the valleys near forward blys! posns, but did not impide their opening. Enemy's retaliatory barrage, though severe parts, messed inpy arty. Performance 158t carls a special ettention. Te steady rain had bemired the stippery tracks, observn ) badH limited - 70 mins only I allowed suns between cease fire at 7.20 am and openny fire new foo nearly 3 miles ahead. However with loss only 2 horses killed (were alteen again at L8b 34 with 10 mias to spere. Posns at duish were 13Bty L2d 2020 14B1 (3d 4090 15617 18.630.40 105 Howelt L10a 2315 Re move Tastrain horses, for without help ) Dac, 300nds per 1x pdr 250 per 45how were at Aly posns before nyalface, & all ccastons were fill. Every praise due to drivers for the care Ctook their horses.

1 FA Bde
29 Aug
11.30 a.m. Infy asked for fire on Brie, 0, 27, and
Eastern exits for 1 hour. 101 and 2nd Btys
ordered to fire 60 & 100 rds respectively, intermittently
1.30pm   C.O. interviewed GOC 15 Inf Bde in
trench system O 31 b 40 & from notes of his
intentions to force bridgehead, sent same
to right group C.O. by runner.  Attack ordered for 5.30 pm
18 pdr btys ordered to dump 300 rds per gun
4.5 hows 200 rds per how
3pm  Infy advised no further shooting to be done on Brie
The ridge to the E of Le Mesnil & also Athies Wd
were contd heavy guns which were out of reach of our
field guns.

[*8 Bde attack*]

5.30p.m. Attack postponed indefinitely
Btys of 1 FA Bde withdrawn from line during
night. 

 

2 FA Bde

27 Aug  At abt. 2.5p.m Lt WT Watson, FOO
arrgd with the coy cdr with whom he was with,
and a barrage was put down from M21 central to
M 27 central by 4th, 6th, & 102 Btys. Under
cover of this the infy advanced but m/gs in M20 b 25 30
and M 20 d 55 held them up. Watson then
directed fire of 4 Bty on to these & the advance
proceeded without a hitch until a m/gun
away on the right checked the infy. But as
our men were in this same wood, arty fire "cd not
be used to eradicate this nuisance" —  the infy
did the job & then linked up with the
people in the centre of the attack & the village of
Foucaucourt was surrounded & then mopped

up.
Enemy arty fire was heavy during the attack.
From 7 to 8.30 p.m. Germans heavily gassed the area
between our old front line and the W. edge of
Martins Wd.

28 Aug.  Harassing fire.  Infy continued to push out

but unable locate enemy, until late in evening.
Bde bivouacked in M13b, NE of Martins Wd
29 Aug.  Bde moved forward to N36C abt 2500yds from
Somme Canal.  Btys pulled out during night to
posn near Sailly Laurette. 

 

11-21 Sept
1st Div. Arty

Sept 11.   Bdes returned to line in afternoon. (under 3 Div Arty)
1st  FA Bde to Left Group (under Lt Col. Stevenson, 3 FA Bde)
to positions in vicinity K14b & K15a
2nd F.A.Bde to Right Group (under Lt Col. Gibbons, 14 Bde RFA)
to K20c and K26a.
The 1 & 2 Bdes reinforcing in depth on a/c of the 2 Bn & 4 Bn
having been c/attacked between 10 and 11 p.m. a.m. and been forced
back 600-800 yds.

Sept 12  C.RA. 1 Div. took over from CRA 3 Div. 10 a.m.
Right Group (under Lt Col Gibbons 14 Bde RFA)
14th Army Bde RFA.
2nd Bde, AFA
Left Group (under Lt Col G.I. Stevenson, 3 FA Bde)
3rd Army Bde AFA
1st Bde AFA.
Reserve
5th Bde AFA
4th   "      "

In afternoon 2 AFA Bde relieved 14th  Army Bde in line
1st, 2nd, & 3rd FA Bdes then placed under Col. Stevenson
Sept 13  Command divided regrouped as follows.
Right group. (Lt Col ET Dean)
1 & 2 A FA Bdes
Left Group (Lt Col. G I Stevenson)
3, 4, & 5 A FA Bdes.
Sept 1415-16 7th & 8th FA Bdes & 5 Army Bde RFA joined 1 Div Arty

 

2.

1 Div Arty
Sept 16/17   1st, 7th, 8th A FA Bdes & 5 Army Bde RFA.
moved forward & occupied their battle posns for
forthcoming opern.

1st Div Arty Report  18/9/18

Eight field arty bdes employed. Owing to enemy's occupatn of
Le Verguier-Templeux and the spur running from L15A&B, & L9c,
impossible site all btys sufficiently forward to enable them to carry
out whole of barrage without their coming under direct observn.

It was therefore necy that 20 btys should be moved fwd during the progress of the barrage.
This was cd out as follows —
Bde Cdrs with one subaltern per bty moved fwd, as soon as
attack launched, and reconnoitred posns for these btys in
vicinity of arty start line.  As soon as btys selected 
mtd orderlies sent back to bty waggon lines to guide
up ammun. waggons so that ammun. wd by be ready
at posns by time btys arrived. All ^ these btys in posn
during the "halt"  period ^ (1 hour 10 mins) after attainment of first
objective. Then took part continued the barrage
from the protective barrage line to the Halt line to its
final phase.
Enemy took 15 to 20 mins to reply to our initial
barrage. & then put down only a light & very ragged
barrage along our fwd system & in vicinity of Roisel and Hervilly
By 8.28 am. first of our btys moving fwd. At 8.45 the 

 

1st Div Arty    3

left Bde had estab. themselves on the first objective & was in touch with 74 Div.
An F.O.O. of Right SubGroup reported he was at L 22 c 99
and pushing fwd.  6th & 8th Btys were already in new
posns.  At 9.25 1 FA Bde advised that 1st, 2nd,
4th, 6th, 27th, 108th Btys were in action in new posns
near Jeancourt and all in time for continuation of the barrage
after the 70 mins, stay on the Protective Barrage of the First
objective.
3 FA Bde ^ (Left group) reported at 10.30 am. that all btys ^ that had to move fwd had now
estab themselves in their new posns. and all in time for continuation
of the second part.
[*?Lt Col. Wilder Neligan
10 Bn*]
Lt Col Nelligan (10th Bty, on right of right Bde)
reported that they had definitely gained the Blue Line
& the 1 FA Bde stated they were arranging their SOS
lines 600 yds E of this line.
Report from 3 FA Bde at 12.10 p.m. that the 1 Inf Bde
not quite on final blue line but commanded the
whole of this line from where they were, i.e., from 250 to 300 yds
E. of the Red Line
Arty casualties very light. Up to 1.30 p.m.
the whole of the 4 bdes of the Right Group had only 2 guns
put out of action, 4 OR's  ^ & abt 6 horses slightly wounded
Btys which had remained in action during the Halt on the
protective barrage of the Infy Halt Line were moved
fwd as soon as the final barrage to the second objective had 

 

1 Div Arty    4

ceased, & all bdes were then in accord with instructions
disposed in depth on ranges varying between 2500 to
5000 yds from the Infy.
1 Div Arty Intell Summary 18/19/ Aug. Sept

At. 5.20 creeping barrage commenced. Consisted of 18 pdr barrage
starting 200 yds E of Infy forming up line & lifting at rate of
100 yds every 3 mins until Infy Halt Line reached. Then
stationary protective barrage for 70 mins. After this
barrage again advanced 100 yd lifts every 4 mins until final
objective gained, when protective barrage of 15 mins put
down. Btys ceased fine at zero & 273 mins.

During night 18/19 harassing fire cd out.
1 Div. Arty war diary

Sept 21.  During early morning opern of 1 Aust Div and 74 Div
supported by our Left Group arty, plus 2 1 two 18 pdrs of
Right group. Left Group then consisted of fourteen 18 pdrs
& four 4.5 how. btys
Diversion to opern created by remainder of Right Group
putting down barrage on Right Div. subsector
Intell. Summary  At. xx 5.40 a.m. barrage opened up. Starting on the line
G 8 A 80 - G 2 C 04 -A25 d 70 - A25 d 45 the barrage
after a stay of 3 mins lifted at the rate of 100 yds every 3
mins until protective barrage line G 8 A 80-G 2 b 60 -
A 26 d 60 - A 26 A 24 was reached.
The remainder of right group cooperated by starting
[*Left Group
& 2 btys of
Right Group*]

 

1 Div  Arty 5

creeping barrage from the line G 15 c 60 25 - G 14 b 80 05 -
G 8 d 40 00 - G 8 central and at zero + 10,
plus 30 & plus 50 lifting 200 yds finally ceasing
fire at plus 53
The how Btys and 7th (18 pdr) bty of the left group
simultaneously searched & swept Malakoff Wd - 
trench system in A 26 A, B, & D and high ground
in A 27 A & C from zero to zero plus 63 mins.
Hostile arty displayed more aggressive attitude than
during previous period, espec in daylight

Heavy bombing by German airmen during night 20/21 Sept.
especially on bty areas in L19 A, LI7C, L 16 C
& L 21 B
21 Sept  5th Army Bde withdrew, & came under CRA 4 Aust Div
Field Arty  then regrouped

24 Sept.  Right Group (covering right bn,  59th American Inf Bde.)

xx 1 and 2 A FA Bdes (under Lt Col ET Dean)
Right SubGroup
150 Army Bde RFA   }  under Lt Col F A Dixon
84    "          "        "       }   150 Army Bde
Left Group  (covering left bn, 59 Amercian Inf Bde)
12 Army Bde AFA.     }
65   "         "     RFA      }  under Lt Col HW Lloyd
Left Sub Group
4 & 5 A FA Bdes ( under Lt Col HW Riggall
An SOS signal was reported on right bn front
at 5.18 am & btys putdown barrage
until 5.35.  Signal again at 6.15 am, & barrage
put down till 6.58.

[*Two of our
balloons brought 
down during
afternoon*] 

 

1st  F.A Bde

Arty grouped for battle of 18 Sept as follows:-
Right Group (under Lt Col ET Dean) consisted of
Left Sub Group (Lt Col Dean) - 1 &  2 AFA Bdes
Right Sub Group (Lt Col GHM King) -  7 & 8 A FA Bdes

Left Group  was under Lt Col G I Stevenson – four bdes

17 Sept. 9.30 pm.  All btys of 1 FA Bde in position
1 Bty K 30 A 35 45
2 Bty K 23 b 60 50
3 Bty K 23 b 65 90
101 Bty K 30 b 45 65

Enemy Arty very quiet during night 17/18 Sept. but
hostile aeroplanes more active than usual
18 Sept. → 5.30 Enemy arty put down heavy barrage in rear of jumping offline
5.40 Telephone lines all down owing to enemy fire
7.10 am. Right Sub Group ordered to move forward
8.45 a.m. 4th, 6th  & 108 Btys reported in action at fwd posns
9.15 am  1 and 2 Btys reported in action in fwd posns since 8.15am

[*Lieut Samuels
F.O.O. with 11 Bn
Lt Johnson
F.O.O. for Right 
subgroup
Lieut. Taylor
"liaison" officer 

with 11 Bn & 9 Bn*]

19 Sept  Team & waggon of 8 FA Bde blown up by mine in L 21B central
7.10 pm SOS on 74 Div front
20 Sept  4.15 pm Lt Samuels reports 6" firing into G14c behind Blue Line
4.20  F00 8 FA Bde  "   6"  how. dropping short on Red Line
opp. G14
5 pm  Lt Col Neligan (10 Bn) reports road running from Bellicourt to
Naur Nauroy absolutely blocked up with traffic
Div. Arty Hd. Corps HA & Right Subgroup informed
2 FA Bde ordered to fire 40 rds per bty with every
gun that can be brought to bear on road. 

 

2 FA Bde   (Lt Col DH Moore)
Sept 11   Guns taken up & brought into action near Hamelet

Bde participated in a creeping barrage abt 7.30 pm.

Sept 12  Relieved 14 Bde RFA near Hervilly K29

Sept 17  6th Battery fired barrage for infy, to advance a post

Lt WT Watson carried out very successful shoot with 102 Bty

German outpost completely destroyed & personnel chased with shell
Sept 18  During infy consolidation the btys moved fwd & took up posns
on abt the Infy starting line.  On 3 casualties (wounded)
during move
Barrage opened 8.30 am but owing to terrain & soft
ground btys were few minutes longer than expected in
coming up & did not open until 8.40, at which time they joined in
at the lift of the moment. Later during day 5, 6, & 102 Btys
moved further forward.
5th Bty detailed for exploitation with 9th Bn. moved
almost to Bn H.Q. and able to carry out some good shooting.
Sept 19  102 Bty moved further forward to about 2000 yds from the front line.
4 Bty moved into position vacated by 102.
Immed. prior to move of 102 Bty Lt NJ Delany (102) and
Lieut S.G Bell (4) killed on 102's posn.
Sept 20.  German airman bombed heavily between 8 pm & midnight

2 men killed & 6 wd 102 Bty   One plane brought down near Jeancourt

Sept 21   5.40 a.m. barrage for minor attack.
102 Bty, 2 men killed & 1 severely wounded by air bombs at night 

 

Nothing in 4 FA Bde diary of interest

5 A FA Bde (attached from 2 Div Arty)

Sept 18.  Steady rain set in which continued for 2 hours

after zero.
The opening of the whole barrage was not good.
Accdg to our time the barrage on our left opened at least one
minute before it was due, and therefore the start was a little ragged.  But  on our
immed. front the opening was good.
Prior to attack enemy had heavily gassed the valleys near
our forward btys' posns, but did not impede their opening.
Enemy's retaliatory barrage, though severe in parts, missed
infy and arty.
Performance of 15 Bty calls for special attention. The steady
rain had bemired the slippery tracks, observn was bad and time was 
limited - 70 mins only was allowed Bty guns between
cease fire at 7.20 am and opening fire in new posn nearly
3 miles ahead. However with loss of only 2 horses killed
they were in action again at L8 b 34 with 10 mins to spare.
Posns at dusk were
13 Bty   L 2d 20 20
14Bty    L 3d 40 90
15 Bty    L 8 b 30 40

105 How bty L 10 a 23 15

The move was a strain on the horses, for without help from DAC,
300 rds per 18 pdr and 250 per 4.5 how were at Bty posns
before nightfall & all echelons were full. Every praise due
to drivers for the care they took of their horses. 

 
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