Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/280A/1 - August - October 1918 - Part 11
3rd Div Arty
Location Statements.
Midnight 21/22 Aug 1918
Repeat Centre, 3rd
Div. Arty H.Q. J 22 d 24
Barrage Group HQ K 28 d 75 (Lt Col GHM King. 7 FA Bde
7 FA Bde HQ. K 28 d 75
(Lt Col. GHM King)
25 Bty K 22 b 40
26 " K 22 b 08 50
27 " K 22 b 12 52
290 Bde RF.A. H.Q. K 27 c 79
(Lt Col. W.A.F. Jones)
A Bty K 23 a 10 75
B " K 29 c 24 (4 guns)
" " K 29 c 25 65 (2 guns)
C " K 28 b 52 86 (4 guns)
" " K 28 b 73 80 (2 guns)
291 Bde RFA HQ. K 29 b 88.
(Lt Col R Longstaff)
A Bty K 23 d 12
B " K 30 a 73 (4 guns)
" " K 35 d 45 95 (2 guns)
C " K 30 a 58 (4 guns)
" " K 29 d 1085 (2 guns)
Bombardment Group HQ Q 6 c 9 8 (Lt Col WG Allsop, 8 AFA Bde)
8 A FABde HQ Q 6 c 9 8
(Lt Col W G Allsop)
29 Bty L 31 c 14
30 Bty Q 6 a 15 55
31 " K 36 d 90 55
4.5
hows
{108 Hows Bty K 36 c 53
{107 " " K 24 a 30 65
{D Bty/290 Bde K29 a 14
{D " /291 " K 29 b 55 (4 guns)
{" " " " K 35 a 75 70 (2 guns)
51 Bde RGA HQ. J 35 b 29
255 Siege Bty K 34 b 95 50
?253|283 " " K 33 d 95 25
?283
161 " " K 32 d 99
137 Heavy Bty K 34 c 44
138 " " Q 4 c 77
3 DAC HQ J 28 c 93 (Ma.j AB Sandford)
No 1 Sectn J 36 a 27
No 2 " J 35 d 13.
3 Div Arty
Locations
12 Midnight Noon
24/8/18 26/8/18
3 Aust D.A. HQ J 22 d 24 L 25 b 55 45
290 Bde RFA. HQ K 35 a 63 L 14 a 43
A Bty K 30 b 34 L 19 central
B " K 24 c 86 L 21 a 07
C " K 24 d 15 77 L 16 a 52
D " K 24 d 63 L 16 b 15 50
291 Bde RFA HQ K 29 b 80 85
A Bty L 19 b 75 55
B " K 30 a 73
C " K 30 a 75 65
D " L 20 c 15 55 (42 guns)
K 29 b 55 (4 guns)
7 A FA Bde HQ. L 19 b 75 L 16 a 50 95
25 Bty K 17 d 73 03 L 10 d 70
26 " K 23 a 76 73 L 15 b 72
27 " K 23 a 93 60 L 16 d 00 85
107 " K 24 a 30 65 L 15 c 78 45
8 A FA Bde HQ Q 6 c 98 L 14 b 40 65
29 Bty L 31 c 14 L 16 b 35 40
30 " L 25 c 17 24 (4 guns) L 16 b 72
" " K 30 d 40 56 (2 guns) ——————
31 Bty K 36 d 90 65 L 16 b 55 20
108 " K 30 d 91 44 L 16 b 57
3 DAC HQ J 28 c 93 K 34 d 05 70
No 1 Sectn J 36 a 27
No 2 Sectn J 35 d 13
251st Bde RFA HQ L 15 b 73
A Bty} }
B " } } L 19 b, L 10 c, L 25 d.
C " } }
D " } }
3 Div Arty Operation Order 94
8 pm
22/8/18.
(Support for 1 Div. attack S. of Somme 4.45 am 23 Aug.)
8 FA Bde (& x attached 4.5 how Btys of 290 & 291 RFA Bdes & 7 A FA Bde)
to place smoke screen along line L17c50 to L24a50 from Zero to
zero + 105.
From Zero + 120 onwards no fire will be placed S of Somme without
special orders from 3 D.A. HQ. This is to allow of exploitation.
Addendum
to order
From Zero to Zero + 30, the 8 FA Bde will bombard,
with all avail guns and hows not used for the smoke barrage, the trench
system running through L11b & d and 17b.
HE. 50% 106 fuze
50% Delay action
Rate of fire 1½ rds per gun p.m.
Further
Addendum
In addition to smoke screen, follg will also be put down under
orders of CO. 8 FA Bde:
R4d central — four 4.5 hows from Zero till
Zero + 60, lifting at Zero + 60 & thickening with 18 pdr smoke
to a line joining L34 central & R5 central continuing on this line
till Zero + 105, will xxx all fire will cease.
3 Div Arty
Extracts from
Operation Order 95. Issued 6.30 p.m. 23/8/18
For 10 Inf Bde attack on Bray, 24 Aug.
Barrage A. 18 pdrs only.
290 & 291 Bdes RFA. Superimposed
Barrage. B.
7 A FA Bde. 6 guns
Barrage C
7 A FA Bde 12 guns
A Barrage will remain from Zero to Zero + 5 min, then advance,
Protective Barrage Line.
B Barrage will roll up on to the 14/17 line & then cease fire
Guns on C Barrage will remain until arrival of A Barrage into
line when they pick up "A" & advance to the Final Protective
Barrage Line
Barrage will advance in lifts of 100 yds every 3 mins.
Rate of fire
Zero to Zero + 5. 3rds pgp.m.
Thereafter 2 .. .. .. . .
Protective Barrage 1 . . . . . .
All how Btys will crash Bray from Zero to Zero + 4
keeping 100 yds E and S of the 18 pr Start Line. Rate 2 rds
per how per min [106 fuze]. After Zero + 4 hows will
bombard specified targets - in bursts of fire of 2 mins every 8
mins. Rate 2 rds per how p.m. 50% 106 fuze, 50%
Delay action.
Infy will keep 300 yds clear from Arty Start Line.
3 Div Arty
From Operatn Order 96. issued 6 pm 24/8/18.
For 10 Bde attack on high ground abt Squares L5, 11, & 17.
Front divided into 2 sectrs, N & S.
Northern Sector
Advancing barrage - 290 Bde RFA & 7 A FA Bde, & how. Bty of 291 Bde.
Bombardment Bde - 8 A FA Bde (18 pdrs only)
Southern Sector
Advancing Barrage - 291 Bde RFA (18 pdrs only)
Flank Advancing Barrage - Seven 18 pdr btys detailed by CRA
1st Aust Div.
Bombardment Guns - 108 How Bty & a how bty detailed by
CRA 1 Aust Div
(a) All "advancing barrage" 18 pdrs (forming A Barrage) will open at
Zero on Blue Line & remain there for 4 mins.
4.5 hows. forming B barrage 300 yds E of the 18 pdr barrage.
Whole will then advance to the Final barrage line at rate of 100 yds in
4 mins, B barrage finishing 300 yds E of Final Barrage Line.
(b) Flank advancing barrage will start on line 200 yds E of 18 pdr
start line, remaining there for 4 mins. It will then switch E
conforming to the lines of the barrage map but 8 mins ahead of the advancing
barrage.
AtZero + 76 mins these Btys will enfilade ∧for 30 mins the valley running
from Billon Wd in A25b to Chateau Wd in G7d
These btys will then stand by to reopen on this line if reqd or engage
targets E of it.
Rate of fire (a) & (b) -
Throughout barrage 3rds p.g.pm
On final barrage line 1 rd . . . . . . .
(c) Bombardment guns and hows will open at Zero on objectives shown
[[on?]] bombt map. Each objective will be cleared as follows :-
18 pdrs - 8 mins before arrival of "A" Barrage.
4.5 hows - 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. . . . .
Ammunition H.E. 100 % 106 fuzes.
Rate of fire 18 pds & 4.5 hows. 2rds pgpm
[*Infy will keep 300 yds clear of barrage Start Line
All fire to stop at Zero + 106 Mins
SOS will be inoperative from Zero + 15 to completion of barrage.*]
2
3 Div Arty
From Operation Order 96 (contd)
Addendum As soon as final objective captd btys to establish OP's on ridge in L11 & L17.
Whence they could get good view of Somme Vy between Cappy and G30.
Second addendum In order to conform with the Div on left Green Line from point
L6c20 will run to G1b06. Creeping barrage will be
continued to this line.
Third Addendum
Attack to be carried out by 2 bns of 10 Bde on the right, & 2 bns of the 11 Bde
on the left. 290 Bde RFA will send liaison officer to report to
GOC II Inf Bde [H.Q. L1b13]
On completn of barrage 7 A FA Bde will be placed on direct call of
GOC 10 Bde, and the 290 Bde RFA at the direct call of the GOC II Bde.
All harassing fire after Zero + 106 mins will be placed
500 yds E of the final barrage line.
From Operation Order 97 issued 10.30 p.m. 26/8/18
For II Bde operation, 4.55 a.m. 27/8/18.
Barrage will be placed as follows:-
Start line A28a34 to A28c6525
Boundaries. Northern A28a34 to A24c2065
Southern A28c6525 to A30a5045
"A" Barrage - 18 pdrs on Start Line - 7 A FA Bde
"B" " (200 yds E). All hows and 18 pdrs of 251 Bde RFA.
All open on their respective start lines at Zero & remain till
Zero & 20.
All advance at Zero + 20 mins [except 18 pdrs on B barrage
who will wait for A barrage to catch them up; & then move on with "A"]
At rate 100 yds in 4 mins for first 500 yds, then 100 yds
in 6 mins to Final Protective Line
Rate of fire :- Protective line. A 24c2065 to
A 30a03
3.
3 Div Arty
Operation Order 97 (contd)
1 rd pgpm for first 20 mins
3 rd " " " " for 500 yds.
1 rd " " " " after.
Cease fire on arrival on Protective Barrage Line.
Heavy Arty
Portion of Fargny Wd in A29a only & Fargny Mill
Zero to Zero + 20 mins
Zero plus 20 to Zero + 60. Fargny Mill to Curlu
& vicinity
7 FA Bde 3 Div Arty (Lt Col GHM King)
War diary
22/8/18 Abt 4 a.m. enemy put put down light C.P. on all our forward
areas - large proportion gas. Our Barrage opened 4.45 a.m.
Enemy retaliation light, confined to our old frontline - Gressavie
Wd & Etinehem. HQ & all Bty waggon lines moved into vy in
K32b at 6.45 a.m. During morning bty cdrs reconnoitred
posns fwd in K17d & K23a & c. 26 Bty moved fwd abt
3.30 pm to K17d but came under very heavy shellfire
& finally had to withdraw to former posn. owing to Div on our left
falling xxxx back abt 6p.m. to Brown Line. Between 5 & 6 pm
heavy C/attack against L10 & L16 broke down under our arty
fire.
23/8/18 Between 10 & 11 a.m. enemy concentration in L4 & L10
completely broken up by our fire before reaching our line.
At 2 pm btys supported opern of 1 Aust Div. S of the river, by bombdg
Ceylon Wd and the high ground in L11 & L17. At 4.30 p.m.
a barrage was put down through La Neuville to cover advance of patrols
from the Pioneer Bn. Rest of day quiet.
24/8/18 At I a.m. support given to 10 Inf Bde operns at Bray. Enemy arty
very active on fwd areas during aftn. In evening 18pdr btys moved
fwd to support attach of 25th ∧Aug & at midnight were established with 350
rds per gun as under:-
25 Bty K 17 d 73 03
26 " K 23 a 76 73
27 " K 23 a 93 60
107 " K 24 a 30 65
7 FA Bde HQ moved at midnight to ∧?H L19b45 with G0C 10 Inf Bde
25/8/18 2.30 am barrage put down ∧in support of 10 Bde attack on Ceylon Wd. Heavy mist greatly
hampered opern of arty in getting fwd. 7 Bde was acting in close support
of 10 Inf Bde and at 4 a.m. 27 & 107 Btys ordered fwd to L20c49
& L19d3085. Owing have to rapid advance of infy 107 Bty
immed. sent to L15c 7845. Where it remd for rest of day.
Owing to heavy mist it was found imposs to reconnoitre for fwd posns
in front of Bray, so 25 & 26 Btys ordered into action by 7am in
posns selected on Aug 24, at L19b 54 and L20c 37.
Abt 10 a.m. mist cleared and the three 18 pdr btys at once
2
7 FA Bde. war diary (contd)
reconnoitred & moved fwd to posns in front of Bray. All btys
were in action at 12.30 p.m. —
25 Bty L10d70
26 " L15b72
27th " L16d0085
107 " L15c7845
OP's estab. well fwd on ridge near Ceylon Wd & many
opportunity targets engaged. During aftn enemy placed very heavy
barrage in Ceylon Wd and on the ridge through L11 & L17.
German arty quietened down twds 7p.m. Night quiet.
26/8/18 During early morning patrols from 10 Inf. Bde pushed fwd through
Suzanne to the ridge beyond Murray Wd. No barrage was put
down, but our Arty afforded support by harassing likely areas and by
occupying all opportunity targets. At 11.25am & again At 2.30 pm.
Concentrations were placed on vy. In G9b & G10a & c.
which succeeded in dispersing enemy. No moves of btys
took place but Bty Cdrs reconnoitred posns in G11 and G7
to be occupied next morning. Enemy Arty fairly quiet during day.
Instructions to Bty Cdrs 24/8/18
Owing to the long range at which barrage finishes
HE will have to be reserved for the final stage.
8 FABde 3 Div Arty (Lt. Col WG Allsop)
War diary
22/8/18. Btys remained silent until Zero when barrage opened
well on time. No incident worthy of record occurred.
Noticeable that just prior to opening of attack enemy put
down light counter preparation.
24/8/18 8 FA Bde remained in its posns until morning 25 24 Aug
when CRA instructed C.O. to get in touch with Infy Brigadier.
During the interval infy completed capture of Bray and under
cover of a barrage put down by 8 FA Bde & other Arty
on night of 24th advanced line on N bank of Somme to E edge of
Ceylon Wd.
25/8/18 Early in morning CO. 8 FA Bde infy brigadier, was informed that
intention was to advance the line by three successive bounds
of approx 1000yds each. Bty Cdrs accordingly
instructed to occupy posns in L10a & L16I. Btys moved
fwd and in spite of continual hostile fire of all calibres
were all in action early in aftn. During selection of bty
posns. Major SJ Walker, OC 30 Bty, was wounded.
During afternoon to cope with German M/gun fire on our
troops the btys fired considble harassing fire.
24/8/18 During day btys carried out harassing fire. Also from
9.30 ^pm to 11pm in three places under our infy advanced.
25/8/18. From "Narrative of events", 8 FA Bde
4.55 a.m. Orders recd from Bde Maj. 3 Div Arty by phone that 8 FA Bde would
prob have to move fwd at any moment to take up posns in vicinity L9.
C.O. to getin touch with 11 Inf Bde. Rang up Inf Bde . Btys warned.
6.30 a.m. Instructns recd from 3D.A. HQ that 8 FA Bde was to be advanced N of the Somme
and Btys to go into action in vicinity of Bray as soon as poss. Btys informed and Bty Cdrs
instructed to report to C.O. 8 FA Bde at 11 Inf Bde HQ at L14d57.
7.15a.m. Phoned BM 3 Div Arty and informed him that HQ 8 FA Bde leaving.
and wd report on arrival at 11 Inf Bde HQ.
9.5 a.m. Reported to 11 Inf Bde and recd tactical situation from G.O.C
Informed that 11 Inf Bde would advance line by three successive lines, approx
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