Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/280A/1 - August - October 1918 - Part 13

3 Div. Arty.
Report to 3 Div H.Q.

Ref. Gas casualties in 27 Bty AFA on 31/8/18. 6.30 am.
25 O.Rs casualties while Bty in action during firing of a barrage.
Six 5.9 gas shells fell in rear of No 1 gun and the fumes
[*mg. of
Road wood*]
flew.across ^ the line of guns. All men were in possession of
box respirators and put them on as soon as poss when gas was
detected. The men were not affected until abt
8 hours later. 

3rd Div Arty
Operation Order 98. issued 8 pm 27/8/18.

Damage for 9 ^ AI Bde attack at 4.55 a.m. on 28 Aug.

Arty start line

A 23 d 10 14 to Fargny Mill (inclusive) A 29 d 10 82

Protective Barrage

A 30 b 15 55

A 30 a 80 22

A 30 c 37 73

A 30 c 30 28

Final Objective - Trench System

A 24 c 30 32

A 30 a 20 90

A 30 a 55 56

A 30 a 04

A 29 d 76

[*Division of Zone

251 Bde Northern Half, with 250 Bde

superimposed

8 AFA Bde Southern Half, with 7 AFA Bde

superimposed*]

Barrages

Advancing "A" on start line - 18 pdrs 251 Bde RFA and

8 AFA Bde.

Advancing "B" [200 yds E of start line] - All 4.5 hows

Gunfiring "C" [start line] 18 pdrs. 7 AFA Bde & 250 Bde RFA

"A" & "B" open at zero on the start line & advance at plus 18
mins. to final protective barrage line. Rate 100 yds in 6
minutes.
"C" opens on start line, remains till zero + 10 mins, then
jumps to trench system A 29 b 98  98 to A 29 d 65 60, waits
near "A" & advances to Protective with it.
"B" finished 200 yds E of Protective Barrage Line.
Rate of fire - 2 rds p.g.p.m. [18 pdrs. [25% shrapnel
75% direct action]
2 rds p.g.p.m. 4.5 hows [106 fuze]
[*1 rd p.g.p.m on Protective Barrage Line
2.*] 

3rd Div Arty
Operation Order 99.
Issued 8.15 p.m. 31/8/18.  for barrage c11 AI Bde attack.
5 a.m. 1/9/18.
Arty support to take form of advancing barrage
A Barrage  Start Line C 20 b 65 00 to I 3 a 45 60.
B Barrage  200 yds E of this line
Northern boundary of barrage: C 20 b 65 00 to C 16 d 06. 
Southern     . -   . -  . . . :  I 3 a 45 60 to I 5 b 06
Final barrage line:  C 16 d 06.  C 22 b 80.  C 28 b 15 85
C 28 b 45 25   I 4 b 09   I 4 a 75 60.
Zones
A Barrage
7 AFA Bde 18 pdrs only N. of E and W grid
between Squares C 21 & C 27
8 AFA Bde 18 pdrs only Squares C 27 a & b
and C 28 a & b
3 Aust Army Bde. 18 pdrs only S of E & W
grid from C 27 & C 28 central
B Barrage. 4.5 hows of 7, 8 & 3 Bdes 
C   "    14 Army Bde RFA whole zone
A & B barrages  open at zero on respective start lines,
remain 5 mins, then advance at rate of 100 yds in 5 mins
to final barrage line, and on arrival ceasefire
"C" barrage will open at zero on line N and S grid from squares
[*?C21*] C21  & 27 central - jump to Kassa trench - Yassa
trench - Delva trench - jump to Final objective - jump
to final barrage line, remain 5 mins and ceasefire.
All jumps to take place 5 10 mins before arrival of
"A" barrage.

3rd Div Arty    2
O.O. 99 (contd)
Rate of fire.
A Barrage.  18 pdrs. 2 rds p g p m.
B     "     4.5 hows.  2 rds p g p.m. on trench systems
1 rd    . . . . . . . in open
C Barrage   18 pdrs.   2 rds p g p.m.
Heavy Arty to bombard Kassa trench - Delva trench from zero to
zero + 5 mins. Final objective - zero + 5 mins to zero
+ 15. Zero + 15 to zero + 60 - trenches, valleys and tracks in
C 17 c 23 & village of Moislains.
10.20 p.m. 31 Aug. Wire to all FA Bdes.
Re 0.0.99. All guns will remain 15 mins on the final barrage line before ceasing fire
Rate 1 rd p.g.p.m.

3rd Div. Arty
From Narrative of Operns.     27/8/18 to 31/8/18.
On night 26/27 Aug. disposition of FA covering 3 Div front —
3 Aust Div Arty HQ (Brig Gen H W Grimwade):- H.Q. Etinehem.
7 AFA Bde. (Lt Col. G H M King)
HQ.  L 16 C 50 95
Btys.  L 10 d, L 15 b, & c, L 16 d.
8 AFA Bde (Lt Col. W.G. Allsop)
HQ. L 14 b 40 65
Btys.  L 16 b.
290 Bde RFA HQ. L 14 a 43
Btys.  L 16 a & b. - L 21 a - L 19 central
251 Bde RFA. HQ L 15 b 73
Btys  L 19 b - L 10 c - L 25 d.
3 DAC  Vicinity of Chipilly.
During night main Bray-Corbie road shelled by
15 c.m. H.V. gun, and a fire was caused at the ammun. refilling point
but flames extinguished before many rds destroyed
At 4.55 a.m. cooperating with 58 Div, we carried out
attack on enemy lines in A 21, A 22, A 27, A 28. - S. of
Maricourt. Arty action consisted of two carrying out an
advancing barrage. in two lines. All guns remained on respective
start lines till zero + 20 and then advanced at rate of 100yds
in 4 mins for the first 500 yards., and 100 yds in 6 mins thereafter
to Protective Barrage Line.  51 Bde RGA assisted
& heavily bombarded Fargny Wood & territory between
Fargny Mill and Curlu village.
After exploitation by patrols, btys moved forward to — 

3rd Div Arty     2
Narrative
(continued)
7 AFA Bde. HQ. G 8 b? 26
Btys . G 1 b & G 7 b.
8 AFA Bde HQ.  L 4 d 27
Btys  G 3 a & c
251 Bde RFA HQ.  L 15 b 63
Btys  L 5 a & c
During morning 290 Bde RFA withdrew from action and moved
into 58 Div area. on left.  250 Bde R.F.A. (50 Div) took its
place, with HQ at F 28 d 24 Btys L5 a & c.
Forward OP's estab. in Observation Avenue overlooking
Somme Vy. From this high ground considble movemt ^ (troops & transport)
observed & when within range fired on by field guns.
250 rds per gun brought up during evening for use in attack next
morning. No interference from hostile shelling and work
completed by midnight
28/8/18.  Attack at 4.55 a.m. Exploited. Necy for btys to
move fwd to prev. reconnoitred posns W. of Vaux Wd.
Many "fleeting opportunities" successfully engaged.
by btys. Our targets bombarded by FA & HA: H 1 c & d,
H 2a, Observatn Wd, Summit Copse, I 7 a & b & roads
running E and W from Clery.
Enemys arty showed little activity. during day.
Owing to activity or our infy patrols throughout night 28/29 Aug
the exact whereabouts of our front line cd not be determined.
Consequently no arty programme carried out beyond
light harassing fire on enemys rear lines. 

3rd Div Arty   (3)
Narrative
(contd)
29/8/18  Btys advanced to posns E of Curlie with 250 Bde
RFA in mobile reserve immed W. of Vaux Wd.
Mobile warfare conditions now prevailed and it was deemed
advisable to attach sections of 18 pdr and 4.5. hows to infy bns
near close support during the advance.  This was done.
During afternoon the arty constantly harassed enemy lines,
chiefly in valleys N of Clery. Village of Clery and trenches to the N of the
village, which were aftwds occupied ^ by our patrols, were heavily
shelled.
Considble increase in enemys xx arty activity
noticeable. All our fwd areas heavily shelled by all
calibres up to 15 cm. hows.
30/8/18.  Advance contd without arty barrage. Btys moved
fwd to posns. in B 28 a & c, H 3 b & d, H 4 c, H 1 a & c,
B 25 c.
[*?a.m.*] Between 10 & 11 p.m. strong hostile c/attack from valley N of

Berlin Wd completely broken up by our arty, while on several
occasions counter preparation bombdts carried out
on vys in this neighbourhood. Twds evening another
concentration of enemy troops in the vicinity of Berlin Wd
broke down under our arty fire.
Enemys arty ^ fire exceptionally heavy  between 4 & 7
p.m. Our btys recd considble attention and recd
experienced very trying time. At 9 p.m. a marked
decrease in hostile arty activity noticeable, & with
exception of desultory shelling of our fwd areas,
the night passed quietly.
31/8/18  At 6 a.m. ^ creeping barrage put down in support of advance of the
10 AI Bde. Guns did excellent work during the advance
& afterwds engaged "fleeting opportunities," and fired on S/Ps
at request of infy  Our O.P.s estab on high ground
NE of Clery. 

3rd Div. Arty     4
Narrative
contd.
31/8/18 (contd)  During the barrage enemy retaliation partic. heavy
espec. in neighbourhood of our btys. As the guns had to be
continually manned a number of casualties sustained.
For remainder of day our guns engaged "fleeting
opportunities" firing on M G nests and other targets.
& carried out concentrations on hostile troops
massing for c/attack
Fighting during 30-31 Aug partic. severe. OPs
estab on ridge in I 1 a afforded splendid
observation.
Our guns continually in action day and night. Btys
constantly under fire.
Work during period has been very strenuous on all
ranks. Fact that several casualties have been sustained
by personnel riding on vehicles going to sleep,
falling off and being run over, is evidence of how much the
men are in need of sleep.
T/M's  During period no use could be made of the 6" Medium T/Ms
but on 29 Aug 12 light German minenwerfer obtd
and it was decided to use them. On 30 Aug. both T/M btys
moved to the fwd areas, but owing to the fact that our lines
was considbly advanced, it was not poss to get these
into posn. On Aug 31 further attempts made
to bring the minenwerfers into action, but so
rapid was the advance that, by the time they were ready for action,
even the enemy rearguards were quite out of
range.
Casualties. 12 noon 26/8/18 to 12 noon 1/9/18. Killed 5 O.Rs; Wounded
2 officers 20 ORs; gassed 26 ORs. 

3 Div. Arty.
From Narrative 1/9/18 to 7/9/18
1/9/18.  5.30 a.m. our arty cd out creeping barrage in support of 11 AI Bde.
Subsequently many fleeting opportunities presented, inclg
enemy tpt moving W. from Allaines, and enemy guns, both in
action and in process of being withdrawn.
Btys moved forward to new posns:-
xx [But these xx ^ locations are under date 31/8/18 in war diary]
Twds midday enemy concentration in Copse 22 was
broken up, and it had [[?]] Hill 115, behind Mt St Q.,
heavily strafed during the attack on that village by 2 Div.
Full advantage taken of advanced posns occupied by
FOO's & frequently observed shoots by both field & HA were
carried out.  In addition, programme of harassing fire directed
against roads, approaches, trenches, & enemy areas not under observatn.
Enemy arty quiet throughout day. Night also passed
quietly.
2/9/18  At 5.30 a.m. barrage put down in support of attack by 11 A I Bde
& divs on our flanks. As result of success of opern. the
flanks of 74 Div & 2 Aust Div were linked up & 11 A I Bde squeezed
out.
For short time situation ^ somewhat obscure and the location of our frontline rather
indefinite. Consequently verbal orders issued to FA Bgdes under
command of CRA 3 Div to stand by & engage only targets
observed from our OP's.
During aftn concentration placed on village in J 1a & b while
effective shoots also carried out on targets well in rear of enemy lines.
At 11 am. 8 FA Bde FOO's reported enemy in C30 and our troops
falling back. This Bde opened fire on enemy in this square and casualties
xxxxx observed to have been inflicted.  In addition observtn from our OPs
enabled us to direct the fire of 51 Heavy Bde on to various targets. 

3 Div Arty
(2)
Narrative
(continued)
partic. Mida Midinette Trench in D19 and columns of
enemy retreating in a N.E direction along Aizecourt - Nurdu Rd.
Enemy arty again quiet during day, shelling for greater part
being of harassing nature. Night calm.
3/9/18.  No arty or infy action of any importance. Very little
movement seen.  Enemy apparently went back during night.
At 11.25 orders issued for arty to withdraw next day to
wagonlines W of Suzanne.
6/9/18  On 6 Sept. 107 How Bty moved fwd to join up with
16 Bde RHA, which was operating in close liaison with 11 AI Bde group.
The 107 Bty have rejoined the 7 AFA Bde same day.
Ammunition expended during period:-
15912
6939
4906
______
27757 rounds.
______