Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/280A/1 - August - October 1918 - Part 12

8 FA Bde    2 
lines 1000 yds apart.
9.50 a.m.  Reported arrival to 3 D.A. H.Q.
10.10 am.  Instructed Bty Cdrs as to tactical situatn as outlined 
by GOC 11 Inf Bde.  Gave them all available instructns & orderd
them to select and occupy posns in L10a & L16b.  Positions eventually 
occupied by Btys as follows:-
29 Bty   L16b2010
30   "      L16b7080
31    "      L16b5520
108  "     L16b5070.
10.50 a.m.  Conferred with GOC. Inf Bde.  Was informed M/Gs were 
giving trouble from W edge of Vaux Wd and fire was requested
to be turned turned on these.
12 noon.  Maj. SJ Walker OC 30 Bty reported wounded.
Subsequently evacuated.
12.30 pm  Lt Col. Jones. C.O. 290 RFA Bde. reported at Bde HQ.
In accord with instructns he rang up CRA who informed him
that his bde was to go into action to cover the same front as the 
8 A FA Bde.
1.5 pm  O.C. 31 Bty reported his bty in action.  He was instructed 
to put over 25 rds on W edge of Vaux Wd where enemy 
m/gs had been active.
4.10 pm  All btys reported in action.
During the aftn, owing to a forced retirement by Div on our left, no 
advance was made by us.  Btys selected alternative posns
to retire to in case of a retirement, in L9, 19, & 26.
31 and 108 Btys reported enemy shelling about 5-6 pm -
A20b & d, A26d.  J Copse & reentrant down G3a.
There was no shelling of Suzanne.
8 pm.. Infy attempted to advance line but E encountered good
deal of resistance.  Btys assisted with harassing fire. 

8 FA Bde   3
26/8/18.  Advance was very slow during day and in late aftn line ran
approx through Murray Wd, G9a, & "B" line.  All btys 
carried out harassing on areas and targets as asked for by the 11 Inf Bde.
9.35 pm to 11p.m.  Harassing fire put down, creeping E in
three phases on area bounded by A21d50 -

A27d48 - G4central - A29d03 - A23c00,
under which Infy advanced to line through A27c to G4 central.
108 Bty fired 170 rds in connectn with this operatn -
in the form of a creeping barrage. 

3rd Div. Arty.
Locations

27/8/18.  6 p.m.
3 Div. Arty. H.Q.    L25b5545
(B.Gen. H.W. Grimwade)
7 A FABde  H.Q.   G8c26.
25 Bty } 
26         }   G1b & G7b
27         }
107       }  
8 FA Bde  H.Q.   L4d27
29 Bty  }
30         }
31          }   G3a & c
108       }
250 Bde RFA   HQ   F28d24
A Bty   }
B          }
C          }    L5a & c
D          } 
251 Bde RFA   H.Q.    L15b63
A Bty   }
B          }
C          }   G2a & c
D          }   
3 DAC   HQ  K34d0570. 

See 3 D Arty Aug 29.
7 AFABde (3 Div. Arty)
War diary
27/8/18  4.55 a.m.  creeping barrage put down to support capture of 
Maricourt & advance of 41 Bn twds Curlu to A20c & A29c.
On completn of opern btys moved fwd to G7b. 107 Bty first to
move, at 6 a.m, others following closely.  Communication at once
estab direct to 41 Bn & btys kept in close touch with situation. 
Fwd OPs in A28c.  Considble enemy movement engaged during morning.
At noon heavy bombdt of "Y" Wood.
1 p.m. 7 FA Bde HQ estab near Suzanne at G8c26.
Btys located as follows:-
25 Bty   G7b5585
26   "      G1d42
27  "       G1b76
107 "      G7b0565.
Afternoon quiet.  At 6.15 & 7.45 fifteen mins. C/preparation
fired E of Curlu.  Positions reconnoitred by C.O. & Bty Cdrs
in G9 & 10. near Vaux Wd.  250 rds per gun brought up
during evening for use in attack on morning of 28th.
28/8/18  4.55 a.m.  9 AI Bde attacked Curlu under our barrage.  At 7.30 am
Btys began to move fwd to G9b & G10a.  27 Bty moved first.
11 am.  8 7 FA Bde HQ to Suzanne at G9c23.  Btys located:-
25 Bty.  G10a63
26   "      G9b94
27  "       G9a74
107 "      G9b88.
OPs estab in Observation Ave, which able to engage movemt between 
Curlu & Hem.  During aftn trenches in H1b and d heavily harassed
also roads running E & W through Clery.  Enemy quiet all day

& night. 
29/8/18  Owing to rapid advance of 2 Div S of Somme, 10 AI Bde able to resume
attack twds Clery during early morning.  10 a.m Bty Cdrs reconnoitred 
posns E of Clery Curlu and btys moved between 11 am & 4 pm.
A section of 27th & 107 Btys attached to CO. 38 Bn during advance for the
Close Support, but full advantage was not taken of this by the Bn. cdr.
7 FA Bde HQ estab with 10 AI Bde at G6d88.  Btys located and 

7 FA Bde   2
War diary

(Contd) 
29/8/18 (contd)
25 Bty   H1c3095
26   "      H1a98
27  "       H1d0080
107 "      G6b86.
Afternoon busy.  Constant harassing fire maintained on valley
in H6a and B30c from 4.50 pm to 6 pm.  At 7 pm
Clery & Code Alley strafed for 30 mins. after which patrols
entered these places.  Enemy arty very active from 4 p.m.
to 7 pm but quiet at night.  Posns reconnoitred in
vicinity Howitizer Wood, to be occupied by daylight 30 Aug.
30/8/18  At dawn 10 AI Bde continued advance without a barrage
to the trench system in I  I 1a & c.  25a & 107 Btys moved
at 4.30a.m. to H4c, the 25th actg in close liaison with
CO. 37 Bn, affording infy excellent support espec in diffusing 
a hostile concentration around Clery Copse.  26 & 27Btys
also moved fwd to H4C, at 9 a.m. & advanced 7 FA Bde
HQ went to H5c51 with advanced Inf Bde HQ
Btys then occupied follg posns-
25 Bty  H4c4575
26   "     H4c34
27  "      H4c47
107 "     H3b4855
Between 10 & 11 am strong hostile c/attack in I 1b & d
completely broken up by Arty.  On several occasions
effective c/preparn put down on vy in vicinity of Berlin Wd.
Enemy arty extremely active all day.  espec on road IH5c
& H4d & around btys in H4c. Twds evening another 
concentration near Berlin Wd broke down under our arty fire.
Night passed quietly.
31/8/18.  6 a.m. creeping barrage to support advance of 10 AI Bde to the old trench
system through I 2a & c.  Guns did excellent work during the advance and
aftwds, both on observed shooting from OPs and had request from Infy in front
line.  During barrage enemy retaliation heavy, espec. around the btys.
25 Bty had 2 men killed & 5 wd.  27 Bty 25 gassed.
10.25 & again at 11 a.m.  C/preparatn put down on a reported 
c/attack developing in I 2b & d.  From 12 noon to 12.30 standing 

7 FA Bde   3
War diary

(Contd) 
31/8/18.  barrage was placed through Ic central to support an attempted 
advance up to the main road.  At 1.10 p.m. & again 1.25 the 
triangle between Jesupol trench - Main Road and the N & S grid
line, between I2 and I8 was heavily strafed.
At 1.50 26 Bty fired on movement along main road & at 3.45
considble movement was fired at along all roads running from  
Allaines to Mt St Q.
At 6.10pm. & 6.50 fifteen mins c/preparatn was placed on the trenches in 
G C27a & c with very satisfactory results .
At 7 pm 107 Bty moved fwd to H 6b1 60.  The other
bty cdrs reported reconnoitred posns in this vicinity but did not
move till follg. morning.
Night passed quietly.  10 AI Bde relieved by 11 AI Bde.
On completn of relief 7 FA Bde ataches to GOC 11 Inf Bde.
The fighting during 30 & 31 Aug. partic. severe.  Our Infy met
with very stiff opposn there on both days this was finally overcome.
Fortunately it was poss to estab O.P.'s on ridge in I 1a from which 
splendid observatn obtd.  Our guns were going hard from 
daylight to dark & fire was quickly and effectively brought to bear
on all enemy concentratns and movemt, with the result that 
several c/attacks broke down before reaching our lines.
From General  Summary on month's operations :-
Aug (1918) gave the 7 FA Bde its first opportunity of putting 
into practice its early training at Larkhill, in offensive open
warfare.  After along spell of trench warfare minor mistakes 
were made at first, but these were soon rectified, & twds the end 
of the month btys had become quite efficient at this new mode of warfare.
The operns called for great endurance on the part of both men and horses, 
the former displaying splendid qualities of courage and cheerfulness on all 
occasions.  Aug 1918 will long be remembered as the greatest month in the
history of the Aust Corps when its five divns combined to reap the full
results of all the hard and wearisome fighting astride the Somme
since April. 

7 FA Bde  4
War diary 
1/9/18  During aftn and evening bty cd do excellent observed shots on
Jesupol trench and main rd through I2b and I3c from OPs in I2c
and the hows dipersed a party of enemy entering Mt St Q.  Barrage
put down to support attack by 11 Bde on trench system in C22 & 28
between 7.30 & 8.20 a.m.  18 pdr btys moved fwd to posns in 
Vy N of Clery.  At 8.45 Bde HQ moved to H3b47 to be in 
close liaison with GOC 11 AI Bde.  Locations of btys then:
25 Bty   H6a64
26   "      H6b47
27  "       H6a7560
107 "      H6b0160
Twds midday enemy concentratn in Copse 22 broken up
and at 1 p.m. Hill 115 (behind Mt St Q] was heavily strafed
during attack on Mt St Q by 2 Div.  Btys had good observatn 

and much shooting was done during aftn on movement.  A hostile
bty in action near Allaines was silenced at 4.30p.m.
Enemy arty fire was light and night passed quietly.
2/9/18.  Night of 1/2 Sept passed quietly.  Btys carried out
harassing fire up to extreme ranges, with special attention
to Copse 22 and sunken road in C17c & d. and the village in J1a
and b was continually harassed.  Enemy retaliation
confined to trenches in C27 & I3
At 5.30 a.m.  creeping barrage put down to Support
11 AI Bde attack.  The attack was at first successful
and the 74 Div. joined up with 2 Aust Div at C29c08, thereby
pushing the 3 Div out of the front line.  Later [shorthand] the 74 Div
was forced to retire to Scutari trench.  11 AI Bde again took
over from C28 central to the Canal at 29c08.  Situation
remained very obscure all day and the posn of the front line was
indefinite.  No moves of Btys took place owing to the fact
that the Div expected to go into reserve as soon as the 74 Div joined up
with 2 Aust Div.
3/9/18  Quiet day.  No infy or arty action of any importance.  Movement 

7 FA Bde  5
War diary
3/9/18 (contd)  engaged at intervals support OPs in Aizecourt and along
road in D9d & D15b.  At 10 pm word recd
from CRA to select wagon lines W of Suzanne
4/9/18  7 FA Bde withdrew to W of Suzanne.
5/9/18  Day passed standing by in Waggon lines in expectation of
move forward.  At 4p.m. orders recd for the general
advance to be resumed next day by 3 Div in front of Peronne.
7 FA Bde attached to 9th Inf Bde group.
[Note:  Series of maps in classified operation files giving 
posns of btys on various dates during period] 

7 FA Bde
Strength   1/8/18     35 Officers     843 O.Rs
    "            31/8/18     32      "             799    "
Casualities during month.     Killed   7 O.Rs
Wounded    2 officers   71 O.Rs
  " (remained at duty)   1 officer   9 O.Rs
From "Some impressions of todays advance", by Lt Col GHM King
CO 7 FABde
29/8/18
The order of march was two infy bdes each supported by an arty bde
The front of the bde that I supported was only that of a bn. therefore one arty bde
should be suffic. to break down the resistance of a rearguard such as has been
opp. us today.  What really happened was those three and poss
all four arty bdes advanced simultaneously and all went 
into one square or nearly so . . . . .  The roads were
crowded with vehicles moving both ways, but luckily
the enemy did not shell them
During the advances of the last 3 or 4 days ^while the infy were exploiting, I have found my hands tied
because there is nothing definite known as to the movements of our infy.
Our guns in consequence have not been used as they might have been.  Could
the infy not go forward in "bounds", each bound to be of some
known distance which might be reached at some stated time.  By this means
the arty, exclusive of the detached sections, cd feel this is safe to fire
at targets seen beyond the limits of any partic bound.
Further such a system will give FA Bde Cdrs a better opportunity of
making preliminary arrgts to advance his btys so as to maintain
their range.
[*And:
Battalion
not specified.
see War diary
Ixxxxx I remember
that it was 38 Bn*]
[*38 Bn*]  Today a section was pushed fwd to cooperate with Battalion but
its action was abortive.  The Section Cdr duly reported to Bn Cdr
and remained with him but was not asked to engage any targets. The
Sectn Cdr imagined that he need not come into action until
called upon by Bn Cdr and so remained inactive. .  . ..  . . . 
Section Cdrs are now instructed to report to Bn cdr for orders, failing which they will
act on there own initiative by engaging any targets they find. 

3 Div Arty
28/8/18.
BM 48.  To all FA Bdes.
Follg extract from commun. rcd from HQ Aust Corp.
"The Germans in their retirement are handling their
field guns with dexterity and boldness. They are leaving sections
or single guns in copses and other favble places as long as
poss to cover retirement of the infy or delay our advance.
"We, in our advance, must act similarly by pushing fwd
Sections, or Single guns, to facilitate ^the advance of our infy as quickly as
poss.  Infy officers under whose orders these guns are actg

must be prompt in issuing the necy orders for their effective use.
"At the same time, subordinate Arty Cdrs must be prepared to act on
their own initiative without awaiting orders, and should be encouraged 
to do so.
"Risks in pushing fwd Single guns or Sections in this manner are
to be freely incurred.  If guns are not kept well up they will not be
available when most reqd, and under the present conditns of 
fighting opportunities for using Arty for the best purpose ^quickly pass
away 

"All divns now have some HA at their disposal.  Endeavours
must be made to ensure the timely use of this Arty.