Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/280A/1 - August - October 1918 - Part 16

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3rd Div Arty     

War Diary
(contd).
29/8/15 Bties adv.  During day the btys tool up new posns E of Curlu, with 250 Bde RFA
and mobile reserve in posns E of Vaux Wd.
sections of 18 pds & hows attd to Bns. Harassed U1/3 N of Clery. Gs shelled ^us heavily w 5.9s.
30/8/18 Orders issued for relief of 250 & 251 Bdes RFA by
3 A FA Bde & 14 Army Bde RFA Bties advd to SW of Hill 110,
Rly Gy E of HCM, behind hill W of Clary & E & SE of Curlu.
10-11 am broke up 9. c/a from vy N of Berlin Wd. Same again in evg. 4-7 p. G fire v heavy. on arty
31/8/18 At 5.20 am. the arty carried out a barrage, covering infy
enterprise by 9 & 10 Inf Bdes in conjunction with attack on 
left of 58 Div, & on right of 2^nd Aust Div.
[*Grouping batt at
100x in 5
7 & 8 Bties*]

[*Barr - ? by
3 A FA & 14A?*]
250 & 251 Btes RFA releieved in line by 3 A FA Bde & 14 Army Bde RFA.
Disposition of F.Arty under CRA 3 Div as follows:–
7 FA Bde       HQ. Earthworks Copse    [H 3b 66]
                        Btys    H 6b & d
8 FA Bde       HQ.     H 3b 55 55
                        Btys    B 30b & d.
3 Army Bde A FA.   HQ. H 3c 57
                                    Btys H 5 B & b& d
14 Army Bde RFA    HQ. H3c 67
                          Btys.  B 29d & H 5b
3 DAC                         G 11c 21 (HQ)
                No1. sectn. A 29a
                No 2   "        G 10b 62
                S.A.A.  "       L 23d 33
[*Retaln on bties 

heavy durg barr.
Guns fired at 
request of
inf.
Obsn from hill
NE of Clery.
nr Clery
Copse, splendid.
Army 20 - 31- heavy days
Several cas thro
men falling
asleep on limbers
& being run over.
No of cas. 
27 Bty gas shelled
& fought in masks,
moved

Clery 

(Sigfried) R.*]

Diagram – see original document
137 Heavy Bty passed from direct command by CRA 3 Div,
under orders of 51 Bde RGA.
O.O.99 issued - support by our arty in attack and carried out by
11 Inf Bde tomorrow morning.
1/9/18 [No entry worth recording here]

[*Many observed shotes*]
Cpg Barr =- at 100^x in S, by 7 & 8 A FA Bdes & 14 RFA & 3 AFA Army bde, Hows 200^x  beyond.
1 p.m. helped 2 D on Mt St CR ( H b11 115   .  .   .    .   14 Bde on trenches
                                "        "         "             "        "          "     H A on Kessa & Delva.
then 2 [[mul?]] objve. Then to + 60 [[moislains?]] & S & [[ds.?]] etc. nr it.

2/9/18  3 D Arty in barr. for 11 Bde & divs on fls.

11 am 3 D Arty (8 Bde FOOs) shell G. adv in C 30. 51^st Bde RGA also directed on Gs retiring.

3/9/18 During evening out infy withdrew into Corps reserve. Our
btys have remained remained in the line. Later in night orders recd
that arty would withdraw on 4/9/18 to Waggon Lines, in Suzzanne area. 3rd Army Bde A FA

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3rd Div Arty
War Diary
(contd).
3/9/18  A and 14 Army Bde RFA came under orders of 2^nd Aust
Div Arty.
4/9/18. 7 & 8 A FA Bdes withdrew. from action to rest.
5/9/18  At 5p.m. 3 Aust Div. Arty H.Q. moved to H 4d 82
& took over command of the F. Arty covering the front now being held by the
3 Aust Div. Disposition of arty as follows -
3 Army Bde A FA. HQ.  I 19a 84  )
                                  Btys I 2d & b  )    Affiliated
14 Army Bde R FA HQ.  I 1a 74    )     with 10 AUst
                                   Btys. I 2d       )     Infy Bde
16th Bde RHA.        HQ.    I 9d 21 ) Affillated 
                                                             with 11 A I Bde
51 Bde RGA.             HQ  H 8d  21
                                    Btys  B 30 b & c
7th & 8th A FA Bdes remained at rest in vicinity of Suzzanne.
11p.m. Verbal orders issued to 3 Army Bde A FA and 14 Army 
Bde RFA. that no shooting to take place W of First Objective
[Green Line].. Our front line, as far as cd be 
ascertained, ran at this time, ran as follows:–
J 7 central - J 13 central - I 24 central -  I 30 central -
I 30c 00 - I 36a 00 - I 36d 04 - O 6d 00.

CRA. 3 Div
War diary
6/9/18 At daylight 107 How Bty moved up to join up with 16 Bde RHA.
During morning 7 FA Bde (less 107 Bty) moved to waggon lines
in H4 & 10. 8 FA Bde to H3 & 9.
1.30 pm. information from 3 Div that infy approaching second objective.
H.A. informed & requested to lengthen range accordingly.
9.45 a.m. Orders to 3 ^Army A FA Bde to move at once to join up 
with 11 Inf Bde Group Advance Guard, 3 A FA Bde & 16 Bde RHA
will now be grouped under CO 3 A FA Bde who will work in close liaison 
with 11 Inf Bde, exploiting sections and single guns with Bns and Coys of Infy
to the fullest possible extent.
During night harassing fire maintained on enemy line E of First 
objective. Enemy arty showed little activity & light shelling
only was carried out on our fwd areas. 
During day Infy Adv. Gd. ^again pushed fwd & gained much ground. 
At 1 pm it was ascertained from a personal reconnaissance by
R.O.R.A. 3 Div. that our infy were on the line P 5d & b central-
J 35 central- J 30c 00 - J 30 central - J 23 central [advancing
on Tincourt] - J 17d & b. - J 18a - J 12c central.
As enemy m/gs again very active firing from trenches in J 12 & J 18
infy remained on this line & a bombdt  was carried out by our arty
on all trenches in J 12d & J 18b & d. After this bombdt infy attacked
& occupied these trenches.
Hostile shelling during day has been light. A few rounds 77 m.m.
on X roads in J 21a and re-entrant in J 20a Light shelling
by 10.5c.m. hows on E outskirts of Buire Wd, J 16d, J 1c,
J 17a. Shelling generally been from guns firing at long
range, while a large no of proportion of instantaneous fuzes
employed.
Enemy aeroplanes showed increased activity during day.
A low reconnaissance carried out at 1 p.m to all our fwd areas,
while many other reconnaissance machines were active,
flying high over our lines

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CRA. 3 Div
War diary
7/9/18  11.15 a.m. Wire sent to 51 Bde RGA.-
"Advance will not continue beyond Blue Line until further 
orders. On arrival on Blue Line fight protective infy
patrols will be employed to cover posns. Light Horse will
maintain touch with enemy. Heavies will not fire W of line
2000 yds E of Blue Line."
During night & today infy advanced to Corps Blue Line.
Stiff opposn. encountered from enemy m/gs in J 36, K 35, 
& Roisel & from vicinity of K.17 central. Opposn however was overcome
after artillery force brought to bear.
Guns ^etc. captured: two 10.5cm. guns
40 waggons
50 m/guns
8/9/18 During night 7/8th & early this morning enemy bombing planes 
active. Bombs dropped on 3 DHQ.
During night 51 Bde RGA carried out harassing fire.
Today 7 & 8 FA Bdes moved fwd to posns, to be held in reserve till
further orders.
Our aircraft active during morning, but no war flying during day owing to
adverse weather conditns
Enemy aircraft: during morning large formation crossed our
lines & during night enemy planes actively bombed our
back areas.
200- 300 waggons now reported captured in Tincourt area.
9/9/18 Our Contact patrols & reconn. planes operated during day but owing 
to weather no night flying took place. Large formation of over
30 enemy machines remained over our lines between 10 &
10.30a.m.
No close-range enemy arty fire reported.
10/9/18 Information ^(from 3 Div HQ) passed units re probability of enemy attempting to
lay land mines along LeCatelet- Dellicourt Tunnel
& the Le Tronquoy tunnel, on the St Q Canal.
The most likely places for these is thought to be in the front wire or in
front of partic. redoubts. or S/Ps.

CRA. 3 Div      
War diary
11/9/18 5.30 a.m. barrage put down in support of infy patrol action.
16th Bde RHA. moved to IX Corps area. 5 A FA Bde (2 Div) took its
place & came under orders of CRA 3 Div, in Div. Reserve.
1 Div. Arty moved to Guire-Couralles area & at midnight 11/12 Sept
became Div. Reserve in place of 3 Div Arty.
During night ^of 10/11 Sept relief of infy of 3 Div by that of 1 Div completed. & at
10 a.m. command of front passed from GOC 3 Div to GOC 1 Div.
Orders to 1 & 2 A FA Bde to move into action forthwith to cover
1 Inf Bde. On completion of this move, deposition of arty covering left
div. sector, & under command of CRA 3 Div) :–
Right Group:   14 Army Bde RFA
                            2 A FA Bde
Left Group:       3 Army Bde AFA
                            1 A FA Bde
Reserve Bdes:  5,7,8 A FA Bdes.
12/9/18 10.am. Command of Arty covering Left Div. sector passed from CRA
3 Div to CRA 1 Div.
3.30 pm. CRA 3 Div. held conference of Bde & Bty Cdrs. Among
the points discussed were: Arty in moving warfare; Co-operation
of arty with infy; Communications & Information; Tard Tactical
matters for general arty work.
13/9/18 3 Div Arty in corps reserve
14/9/18 3 Div Arty ^(less HQ) to come under command of CRA 1 Div. from 10 am 15 Sept.
20/9/18 Div. Cdr called a conference of CRA, CRE, Infy Bde Cdrs & Bde
majors for the purpose of discussing future developments in the divn.

3 Div Arty
Locations
6/9/18
HQ 3 Div Arty.      H 4d 82 [Clery]
7 FA Bde HQ        G90 G 9c 46
                      Btys.  G 7d & L 18a
8 FABde         HQ  L6 a 52
                       Btys.  L 12 a & c
3 Army Bde A FA H.Q.  I 19a 84
                                Btys   I 2b & d
14th Army Bde RFA HQ  I 1a 74
                                 Btys I 2d
16 Army Bde RHA. HQ   I 9d 62

3 Div Arty
Locations 12 noon 10/0/18
3 Div Arty HQ.       I 36b 33
7 A FA Bde.     HQ    J 32c 78
             25 Bty            J 32c 74
              26  "               J 32a 86
              27  "               J 32c 79
            107  "               J 32a 70
8 A FABde.      HQ   I 36 a 65
            29 Bty            J 31 c 57
            30  "                J 31c 84
            31   "                J 31c 27
          108  "                J 31c 27
3rd Army Bde AFA   H.Q.   K 27a 48
                  7 Bty         K 17d 00 85
                  8   "            K 15a 32
                  9   "             K 23b 31
               103   "            K 22b 37
14 Army Bde RFA. HQ  K 27a 47
            88 Bty.           K 35b 75 85
           402  "               K 29d 24
           A/14  "              K 29c 70 65
               68  "              K 35b 50 55
16 Bde. RHA. H.Q.     J 25b 57
            A Bty               J 33c 12
             Q  "                  J 31 c 94   J 30c 08
             U  "                  J 31d 14
51 Bde RGA.   HQ.     I 33 b 19    [arriving today to K 13c]
    283 Siege Bty (6")   K 22 c 30 20    K 21c 19
     255   "         "       "      K 22c 40 50
137 Heavy Bty 60 pdr) K 22b 11   K 26b 19 (night of 11 Sept)

3 Div Arty
Location Statement

Strength
 

[*For Sept 18.
p 312*]
C.R.A. 4th DIVN
Extracts from War Diary.
11th September, 1918 C.R.A. attended conference at H.Q. 4th Div. Catelet
during morning.
12th Sept. 12th Army Bde. A.F.A. relieved 5th Army Bde R.H.A. in line 5 p.m.
13th Sept. 298th Army Bde R.F.A. relieved in line by 6th Army Bde. A.F.A.
12 noon.
Conference Aust. Corps H.Q. 5 p.m. C.R.A. attended.
5th Bde. R.H.A. and 298th Army Bde R.F.A. to IX Corps on
relief.
14 Sept. 10.30a.m. C.R.A. attended conference at H.Q. 4th Div. Catelet
9th Bde. R.G.A. came under orders Aust. Corps H.A. 9 a.m.
15th Sept.  C.R.A. held conference of Bde and Bty. commanders at Div. Art.
H.Q. to discuss details for advance. Col. H. O. Caddy, acting C.R.A. 5th
Aust. Div. also attended.
16th Sept. Conference held at 4th Div. H.Q., C.R.A. attended.
17th Sept. During night Right and Left Groups moved up into previously 
prepared forward positions from which they would be able to put down
protective barrage on final objective. 13th and 14th A.F.A Bde. (5th Div.
Art.) and 232 Bde. R.F.A. moved into positions vacated by 11 A.F.A.
Bde. in readiness for barrage. Enemy bombing planes very active during night
on back areas. 
18 Sept. Art. under command C.R.A. grouped as follows at 5.20a.m. :–
Right Group (Lieut. Col. T.I.C. Williams)
10 & 11 A.F.A. Bdes.
Left Group (Lieut.-Col. H.E. Cohen)
6 & 12 Army Bdes. A.F.A. 
Superimposed Group (Lieut.-Col. H. O. Caddy)
13 & 14 A.F.A. Bdes
232 Army Bde. R.F.A.
Front thus covered by seven bdes of art., and when the line
of the second objective reached. 38 & 41 Btys. detached themselves from
barrage, limbered up, and advanced to positions from which bye ^they could
effectively support inf. advancing to blue line. As soon as protective 
barrage ceased, remaining batteries of 10 & 11 A.F.A. Bdes. moved forward to
advanced positions so as to effectively to cover the blue line. At same time
Bdes. of Left & Superimposed Groups moved to area from which they could
cover the blue line and at the same time retain their distribution in depth. Art.
covering blue line then grouped:–
Right Group - 6 & 10 A.F.A. Bde.
Left Group - 11 & 12 A.F.A. Bdes.
Superimposed Group - 13 & 14 A.F.A. Bdes.
                                             232 Army Bde. R.F.A.
During attack 12th Inf Bde. failed to gain blue line and at 
11 p.m. the attack was continued under cover of a creeping barrage.
19 Sept. Counter preparation scheme phase 1b on 4th Div. front from

4.45 to 5.5 a.m. and from 5.20 to 5.30 a.m. During day front line heavily
shelled.

2. 
20th Sept. Counter preparation scheme phase 1b again fired at dawn. Right
Group fired in support minor operation by 46th Bn.
21st. Sept. Counter preparation scheme phase 1b again fired during early morning for two periods of 10 minutes. 
At 10 p.m. 10th and 11th A.F.A. Bdes withdrew to waggon lines.
Art. then grouped as follows:-
Right Group (Lieut. Col. H. E. Cohen)
6 & 12 Army Bdes. A.F.A.
Left Group (Lieut. Col. H. O. Caddy)
13 & 14 A.F.A. Bdes.
Superimposed group (Major McLaverty)
232 Army Bde. R.F.A.
22nd Sept. 4th Div. (less art.) relieved by 46th Div. 6 & 12th Army Bdes.
relieved in line 10 p.m. Superimposed Group then became Right Group with 5th
and 232 Army Bdes. R.F.A.
23rd Sept. Command of art. covering sector passed from C.R.A 4th Div. to
46th Div. 8 a.m.
24th Sept. During night 27th American Div. relieved 18th & 74th Brit. Divs.
in line and bdes of 4th Aust. Div. Art. marched into the 27th American Div.
area.
10th A.F.A. Brigade.
Extracts from war diary.

18th Sept. At 5.20 a.m. the barrage opened. When red line reached the 37th 

Bty. (Major Hall) pushed forward and supported exploitation force (46th Bn).

Remaining three btys. also pushed forward as advanced guard art. Hostile

c/b work weak, casualties light. Inf. profuse in praise of our work and

support given them by us.

11 p.m. during heavy rain storm our btys. supported attack on

blue line.

20th September. 1 a.m. Btys. supported minor operation to take some high ground

on our right sector.
[*Summary*]
Report of Major Hall, O.C. 37th Battery.
Left Bty. position at 8.45 a.m. and with Bty. staff to first
objective where I met C.O.'s of 45th & 48th Bns. They told me that C.O. 46th
had not yet come up but would eventually join them in their forward H.Q. I
got location of where their forward H.Q. was to be, then went ahead and 
selected bty. position G.5.c. Then tried to find bn. H.Q. but was unsuccessful.
Bty. pulled out of its position in R.14.d and moved across country into action
G.5.c. at 10.10 a.m. A few rounds were fired and the bty, was withdrawn to