Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/280A/1 - August - October 1918 - Part 7

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

Page 1 / 10

Aug 14 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug 21. (Wloe Resall 5 A Fadde 3.504 Inly requested SO.S support and 820 rounds from 18 pdrs 142 + Lows fired. 415 am. Covered small infyadvance Arty support given to small parties of wpy to enable push post (under 32 Di. Arty 10. 30 to 130am Enemsplacel intense brubdt 1 fronblune system searching back I supportline C btys. But no casualties & Upon orders Troupted (168Plekt A) a light searching -sweeking fire I putdown enemy t Wird tracks roads for retaliation oheseoe p A sastable feature "British officer (differs I Austlor, o the great faith he bestows Retaliation dire. On nunerous occasions 7f past 1o days when the enemyplaces aborrage light intense, 1 fairly frequent Esector, the Brtish group te instructedIretaliate firing SOS lines to roughly eneny ponbline. Rebutish inly always 2 their arty retaliate when I being shelled (ever I lightly a thing the austoinby never 2C Whenever enemy arty is directed against infy 15 Butte, an officer takes a bearing, sound flash (poss the NoV flash - report. This other passed o Arty Sdetted to Afbatteries who locate the creny bly their wap then fire a number rounds silence (& 6 method case the eveny bty stives amonien. silenced. Tender spots (cross roads itc) are also fired on.
2 S Fadde 4.50 am Ourarty openedbanage pont abt 6000 yds Aug 23 +Sedge Herleville N to somme. S Fadde covered 2/KOYLI ArS Hegklander. (97dnfy B) Fnemy imned sent up, doubte red green flares yellow Clusters Andourprior Zers enemy bombarded pont ts or bas. support sptems heavilyc abt 20 mins. Bore Enng end inI Capt CCC Wren 148ty F00C attack H. CC Morton 1058t Parson Officer dufy A He bl ods Tadi we 5.50 am Reased fire tosirbeed amarborss sti to Capt Wren had a live laid into Willand at 2am otheinpy advanced arty sigs folld laying E e oet oe the live until Creached the final objective a Ressall Splended informn passed? FOO Liarson officers pee 500 maintained o lines all day by relays of A sent see linesmen w 2.35 pan Enemy heavely banaged Herleville for 15 mind our blys fired 100 nounts each SOSlenes of thought eveny cfatted impending 425 pm. Two parties enemy bombed then way along two ly butwere repulsed blys fired almost continuously therefts till san. sxang hast three nights exceptionally quiet, except Aug 26. bombing planes. Placed protective banage enemy font supportlines cover Aug 2 menor infyoperation. Heavy hostile fir completely disorganised attack (by 15t Dorsets Stys withdrew. Harbonneres 7pm. Weelday. temourt.
2/9/18 13t Battery Lient. JR.SEvans section, with 27 Bn. shortly after the pump off the juns were brought along Clery-Deullancourt Rd at fast trot from I 2d 4525 to the main NoS road Feullaucourt. Barrage here very heavy but crossed Canal du Word without camalties the Gunswere drossed into action font at I sd 13 on W band of Fortille Liner his posn selected because direct obserin evenig a difficult, while direct laying on to hish ground ed] carried& two enemy ns engused cilenced mail ma ardist i bst ingeten eeffomace set into commun? CO 27Ben. Some t in Arystem runners estab between Bn Ho gun & all tayets were immed enjaged. considere attention given small cofse at withdrew D25651 6 full cupyparties whom on a t r into dead pound oi A ROG0 5 except e niss fire poan fairey quiet tiel spm. section After then neavily shelled"He gas. One jun damaged leaving only aguo to carryon. It boans carried out a neconnaissance of the pient Fired 150rds. Section withdrew at 7.30 pm
3 Sept 4 Sept S Fadde Noutsderts Aizecourt, thus assistey cnfy capture battery 775. Reports + forward sections enemy barrage 11.10 a.m apwaching Wslopes Mest Q. -Mfofire St Denis Wa were impeding their propers. 23.25 On receipt rport enemy I massing C efattad astanding bange) placed abt 500 ys. W. Aizecourt. nole wort S a at the rate 2ads agpo W ex 11 am. L. A mehan mortally wounded Mrt ins t ndis te M e nt pd tre bad AA Ws breanarty very quier wnht Relieved by 298 Ede movedback rest. MA.AIN BIIN si da ii e is misses qu AMbSMI MIAAG SMRI MMI b e ilIs Brt m a i to ad bas had ei i lSia x as bee sitt t a Gbe sito a is eds beiggor as bu dt a o sgs ts ot oast bte ed w ter T M S bades bd a tae e bd BeaI and hrnENhs EOTD H Bsiat pted Ema uslFi sn e to Ttto MNSSS bt ins inal to m or aurnts nut ner t t tie ow a sn Tatroor 2 Wll80 al o r wt e and wtl to nated and tee wers 0 woll 1 diusd
Aug 30. Aug 31 Sept1 Sept 2 SF adde Supporting Cdufke St Clery. All Ctys action between noon and 1150 pm. Toudbanage support 5 Bleattard. fty s keat solidly at earting amoniin, since coming intoaition yestdy. Approx 1oords 15 pdr 18SSW and 1200 ids ashow were expended of first 4531 2y hous action Eistd s a t i in has wridin 11.30 am to 1pm. Utys instructed fire intermuttently onto mStDwooduto 1.30 to fore interse rates. (4rdspgpon - 3 per how). 12.50 pm Enennyg balloons hampered supply ammum to a certain extent wayons ed not approach bty trosns of to the balloons up. TARTo 6pen ordered move blys imned across river. Portions witl 97035 13 Bly taken up 91636 14B 27622 15Dty H12C 7580 10544 move completed between Tpm andaught. Arexending approc 6000 rds of 18 par ? ammunition 415 1200 daily recessitate Leavy work C all. Aninies -feeling the strain unless a get a spell very soon a number become useless & a little t In support dilast take part bombt. One, section 135ty placed disposal 26Bn another fection 27Bn to deal quickly c Ctayets the cnfy regd. These sections moved fiod sero hour -estab 6 well fiod, onesection under fient CG Roberts the other under Lt JR.S Evans. In many cases open sight laying I employed Mffs moving wfy. From 10 to 10.30 am blys placed astanding banage 50
2/9/18 13 Sty (attacked 26bn Lieut CG Roberts section Moved off at quick trot taking up posn at I21d2055 passing I Parkwood Anvil Wd through heavy banage of 8 Mjsunfire troublesonle at Kroads at $ 21 C95. 5.9 some to were enjaed selenced & adime odi ai Actg under instruction 59 Bn 50 rounds were feed into tryets on right edge St Denis range 12007ds. Owing to heavy hipp fire guns had moved back to I206 5070 DUE Actg inform Laison officer 14 FaBde, who I found wounded, yords werefired into SDenis Wood 0. up 6 L Roberts Sunable act into commun 26B so reportedCo 59 Br. covered 6 inpy by firing Mfnasc around St Denis wd. Commun eventually estab. 266r puns switehed movinginby nfe hoans vicinity Bussi MFEN Lii Sector is subpoted heavy HC Olue Cross One ounner killed, Roberts another sheeling. Ge Kellet took charge of sectior Jonver badby caned Euns wihdawn? 6. 30 pur. Fured 158 2ar d to bus Eergn as traed ent pai B 1 o pmnt
not auentin r 105 Howbty Frequently opens informe I obtainable reposor infy, I qite capess oftain informer our what groundI held flanding divs, thereby making the Felection fwdl bly posss difficult. W FaRbS AMi S &e 814 201role Mittiobr MilSon E a nta Tratr mnanw A iate drw bi ssd s as o to d SA rno of talt woad son bit I did sead Aman eit aed o t ges bus raymes i to Ray has hat t a a Be Ereege of did t b a a be ba t b st ne po Batetg mot bdng hes uprant Tllises it sat l o r kNH AN. 53 sat & repts of sale is s all IRIE
Seat 18 attack 425 Faddes under 1 Di Arty WH em towr aad pia Hgtor p e ad p g eedent bo o e sdi le b a then lnsd te ancimest the entesa i s oll w t r met a tutt maris wart netmata andi dt s b Borad 2 or bedinest athiris et torr ars stre g hud b bo e sa bentr at hs a i bas osb H dla isir Feg more d o ds l po bas e o s our m mes had rasesi emor WTHF Mtes SBIINGEE HAHN ht od as4 1- t end drids ie Agir alls tirred nd AsbMAMIOS IASNSM AN is s ts Bd EE EIACMNNN MASTMIN SI dw a by al dnt f and s m g of mad bero bynmet is i dostog s ad And Bs s made bed Mgieid v Ht tid aw milsed ad te be but Ar at tmin SA A bost bei it 0 19 er0 pa on aida M Msst montt tat wrins 2 hor ths dast Meest 2f sa te 1e sr t C d a o hore b ra Nd ai & 7 Elleds a yodr det
Deb 25 1918 LDwarty CRa 2adDw took over arty covering Oct 2 Blegrous 84 Army Blekt A atadde 1h E bu BUIII wtha toi Right bat hroap 65 Army BlektA 2asade Right Saperimposed prout 150 Army BlektA Lett Grouk 12th Army Ble AFA 104 Army BleRHH Left Sub Grouk aNI 4A Fadle bo M 5A sable s trsenny gndi Left Superimposed group 108 Army BlektA Orders for Oct 3attack Open at zers start live, remain there tiel giro plus 6 mins 18pdrs then left move fod at rate 100 yds per 4mins. After btys left off Kedline Pengage selected localities left poup partic concentratis Deawnevove system). Ets tcease fren Creach Greentine Popen front line Beaurevoer system rearg there till 45hows 18 pdr barrage o within 200yds Cline. They then left rear liae Beaurevour system, again lifting when the 18pdr banageo within 200yds. Then used sagage seleted tecalities arthen proup sones, always noving 200 yd ahead 18pdi fire. Casefire (reach Treenline
2 DwArly Orders lates of fire From 3ero to time of lifting) Seaurevovr system 1spars 3nds pgpm 45 hows. I rd then to completn banage 18pars 2rds popan 1 4.5 iss an aer On completn barage 4 Fadle move fd to cover exploctation S FhleS Fadde with Pitn Mat 7 DutAde ns ba be ai sth keport that 4th TaB. F.O. Destablisted at B15647 8.28 a a. but not much cnformn davail owings bad visibility Oct 3. Evenny sheeling of forward area ceased suddenly al 730 1 A9 nS Aetho orders Iissuedlate 12 Fadde sufficient 8.40 openn, CI arrod t and dia not afect E AST are eids arty proparmnc cofern 10 am 142 Fable withew waponlenes. 60C 7enfade requided 15min HE barage 7.1ho on line B9 a23-B&015. Left Group instructed to get into touch enpy re this 10 pen 25 Des. taken over part of 3Aw pone. Leftpoup to cover it. 445 Dw. Arty bdes, 6 Army Ade AFA 10.10 pm passed + lorps Reserve command - CRA 2 Dev. 10,11,15,14a Td les instructed verbally (2 rege emplaced 1800! Oct 4 cover adepth of 3000 yds an extension duv front 2S Co the line H17 central- B.3 central Capt. LR. Glake 105 Howltzmortalls wounded 3/10/18 [He was fcologed Rawson expedn

5 A Fa Bde 
(Lt Col Russall)   

Aug 14 3.50 am. Infy requested S.O.S. support and 820 rounds

from 18 pdrs and  142 from  hows fired.

Aug 18 4.15 am. Covered small infy advance
Aug 19 Arty support given to small parties of infy to enable them to
push out post (under 32 Div. Arty)
Aug21 10. 30 to 130 am Enemy placed intense bombdt on front line
system searching back through support line as soon as our btys. But no
casualties. Upon orders from Group HQ (168 Bde RFA)
a light searching and sweeping fire was put down on the enemy trenches
tracks and roads for retaliation
[A most notable feature of the British officer which differs us from the  Austen,
 the great faith he bestows in Retaliation fire. On numerous
occasions  during the past 10 days when the enemy places a barrage
light or intense,  which have been fairly frequent in this sector, the British
group HQ instructed us to retaliate by firing on our SOS
lines which is roughly on the enemy front line. The British
infy always asked their arty to retaliate when they are being
shelled if ever so lightly, a thing which the Austn infy.
never asked for. Whenever enemy arty is directed
against our infy  in the trenches, Coy or Bn HQ, an officer takes a

bearing, sound or flash and have posn the time from the 
flash to report. This  then passed from Arty Bde HQ

to c/ batteries who locate the enemy bty on then may
and then fire a number of rounds to silence it. This method

saves ammun. and in most cases the enemy bty is

silenced. Tender spots (cross roads etc) are also
fired on.] 

 

5 Fa Bde
2
Aug 23 4.50 am Our arty opened barrage on front of abt 6000 yds
from S edge of Herleville N to Somme. 5 FaBde covered
2/KOYLI  and A&S Highlanders. (97 Infy Bde)
Enemy immed sent up, double red and green flares and
yellow clusters
An hour prior to Zero enemy bombarded ^our front and
^support systems heavily for abt 20 mins.
Capt C.C.C. Wren 14 Bty F00 for the attack
Lt C C. Morton 105 Bty Liaison Officer 1 Infy Bde HQ
5.50 am. ^Btys Ceased fire
Capt Wren had a line laid into NM Land
at 2am and as the infy advanced arty sigs folld laying
the line until  reached the final objective.
Splendid informn passed through by FOO and Liaison officers
FOO maintained his lines all day by relays of
linesmen
[* GOC 97 Inf Bde

aftwds wrote to Col

Riggall

"The information your Bde

sent in was most valuable

and I was very much struck by the

quickness and accuracy with which it

came in" *]

2.35 pm Enemy heavily barraged Herleville for 15 mins
Our btys fired 100 rounds each on SOS lines as it was thought
enemy  attack impending
425 pm. Two parties of enemy bombed their way
along two trenches but were repulsed.  Our btys fired
almost continuously on these pts till 5 a.m. 24 Aug
Aug 26 Last three nights exceptionally quiet, except when 
bombing planes.
Aug 27 Placed protective barrage on enemy front and support lines to cover
minor infy operation. Heavy hostile fire completely
disorganised attack [by 1st Dorsets].
Btys withdrew to Harbonnieres 7pm. Next day to
Mericourt.
 

 

13th Battery
2/9/18
Lieut. J. R. S. Evans' section, with 27 Bn.
shortly after the jump off the guns were brought along
Clery-Feuillancourt Rd at fast trot from  2d 45 25 to
the main N&S road Feuillaucourt. Barrage here
very heavy but crossed Canal du Nord without
casualties.
The Guns were dropped into "action front"" at [3d 1 3
on N bank of Tortille River + this posn selected 
because direct observor enemy  difficult,
while direct laying on to high ground cd carried x
two enemy m/gs  engaged silenced
Some lost in getting every effort made to get into commun  
CO 27 Bn.

A system runners estab. between Bn HQ  guns
& all targets were immed engaged.
Considble attention given small copse at
D 25 b 51 full  infy parties who withdrew disappeared
into dead ground
Except with m/g fire posn fairly quiet till 3 pm.
After then section heavily shelled HE  gas. One gun
damaged leaving only gun to carry on. Lt Evans
carried out [a reconnaissance of the front.
Section withdrew at 7.30 pm. Fired 150 rds.
 

 

5 Fa Bde
4
2 Sept 

N outskirts [ Aizecourt, thus assisting inf capture
battery 77's.
11.10 am. Reports forward sections  enemy barrage
W slopes approaching Mt St Q. M/g fire St Denis Wd were
impeding their progress.
12.25 On receipt report enem massing c/attack
a standing barrage placed abt 500 yds. W  Aizecourt.
at the rate  2 rds p.g.p.m.
11 am. Lt A Mehan mortally wounded
Lt G. Rob 
3 Sept Enemy arty very quite
4 Sept Relieved by 29 Bde  moved back rest.
 

 

5 Fa Bde
3

Aug 30 Supporting [ Inf Bde SE [Clery.
All btys action between noon and 1.50 pm.
Aug 31 Fwd barrage support  5 Bde attack.

Bty kept solidly at carting ammun. since coming
into action yestdy. Approx 7000 rds] 18 pdr
and 1200 rds 4.5 how. were expended first
24 hours  action
Sept 1 11.30 am to 1 pm. Btys instructed fire 
intermittently
onto Mt St Q. Wood   1 pm to 1.30 to fire
intense rates. [4rds pgpm 3 per how].
12.50 pm Enemy balloons hampered supply ammum to a
certain extent waggons cd not approach bty posns ] to the balloons up.
6 p.m. ordered move btys immed across river. Positions
taken up - 13 Bty. I 7 a 35
                     14 Bty. I 1 b 36

                    151 Bty. I 7 b 22

                    105 Bty. H 12 c 75 80
move completed between 9 pm and midnight
[ Are expending between 6000 rds of 18 par } ammunition
[                                                 1200   "     "  4.5       }          daily
necessitate heavy work all. Animals feeling the
strain  unless  a get a spell very soon a number
 become useless  little 
Sept 2 In support did not take part bombt. One section13 Bty placed disposal 
26 Bn another  section  27 Bn to deal quick targets
the infy reqd. These sections moved fwd zero hour
 estab 6 well fwd, one section under Lieut C G Roberts,
the other under Lt J R S Evans. In many cases
open sight laying employed M/gs moving infy.
From 10 to 10.30 am  blys placed a standing barrage
 

 

13 Bty.
2/9/18
Lieut C G Roberts section (attached 26 Bn)
Moved off at quick trot taking up posn at  21d2055,
passing Park wood Anvil Wd through heavy barrage of 8"
5.9" + M/gun fire troublesome at Xroads at 21 C95.
Some  were engaged silenced x
Actg under instruction9 Bn 50 rounds were
fired into targets on right edge  St Denis range  1200 yds.
Owing to heavy m/g fire guns had moved back to  20b 5070
Actg inform Liaison officer 4 Fa Bde, who I found
wounded, 40 rds were fired into St Denis Wood
up  [ L Roberts  unable ] get into commun   CO.
26 Bn. so reported CO 59 Bn. [covered [infy
by firing M/guns. [around St Denis wd.
Commun. eventually estab 26Bn [guns
switched  moving infy [sm/g posns vicinity 
Bussu.

Sector supported [ heavy HE Blue Cross
shelling. One gunner killed,  Roberts another
gunner badly gassed. Cpl Kellet took charge of section

Guns withdrawn  6. 30 pm. Fired 156 rounds
 

 

15th By

105 How Bty.

Mt St Quentin
Frequently oprns ] informn obtainable
re posn ^[ our infy, quite imposs  obtain informn
o  what ground held  flanking divs, thereby
making the selection  fwd/wd bty posns difficult.
 

 

Sept 18 attack
4 & 5 Fa Bdes under Di Arty
 

 

Oct 2-5 1918

2 DW Arty

Oct 2
CRA 2nd Div took over arty covering - 
Right Group

84 Army Bde RFA

1 A Fa Bde

Right Sub Group

65 Army Bde RFA

2 A Fa Bde
Right Superimposed Group

150 Army Bde RFA 
Left Group

12th Army Bde AFA

104 Army Bde RFA
Left Sub Group
4 A Fa Bde
5 A Fa Bde
Left Superimposed group
108 Army Bde RFA
Orders for Oct 3 attack
18 pdrs Open at zero start line, remain there till zero plus 6 mins
then lift  move fwd at rate 100 yds per 4 mins.
After btys left off Redline  engage selected localities
[left goup partic concentrating Beaurevoir system].
Btys cease fire  Green line
4.5 hows  open front line Beaurevoir system rearg there till
18 pdr barrage within 200yds line. They then lift 
rear line Beaurevoir system, again lifting when the 18 pdr
barrage within 200 yds. Then  used engage
selected localities another group zones, always moving 200
yd ahead of / 18 pdr fire. Ceasefire    reach Green line
 

 

2 

DW Arty
Orders
Rates of fire
From Zero to time of lifting  Beaurevoir system
18 pdrs 3 rds pgpm
4.5 hows. I rd " " " "
then to completn of barrage
18 pdrs 2rds pgpm
4.5         1 "       " " " "
On completn of barrage 4 Fa Bde move fwd
to cover exploitation ] 5 Fa Inf Bde; 5 FA Bde with
7 Inf Bde.
Oct 3.
8.28 am ^Reported that 4th FAB. F.O.O.  established at B 15 b 47
but not much informnavail owingbad visibility
Enemy shelling of forward area ceased suddenly
al 7.30
8.40] 12 Fa Bde Altho orders issued late
trenches oprn,arrvd] ^sufficientnd did not affect
arty programm oprn.
10 am 1 & 2 Fa Bde withdew to waggon lines.
7.10 pm GOC 7 Inf Bde requested 15 min HE barrage
on line B 9 a 23 - B 9 c 75. Left Group
instructed to get into touch with infy re this.
10 p.m. 25 Div. taken over part of 2 Div front. Left group to cover it.

10.10 pm 4 & 5 Div. Arty BdesArmy Bde AFA
passed  Corps Reserve command [CRA
2 Div. 10, 11,13, 14 AFA Bdes instructed
verbally reqd  emplaced 1800 Oct 4
 cover to a depth of 3000 yds an extension
 div front  the line H 17 central -
B.3 central
Capt. L R Blake 105 How Bty mortally wounded 3/10/18
[He was geologist  Mawson expedn]
 

 
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