Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/280B/1 - August - October 1918 - Part 2

13 F A Bde  (3)
This meant repeating the supply of ammun, & the
fact that it was done reflected greatest credit on the
btys concerned. Btys
Btys fired considerbly more ammun than
usual. The 49 Bty fired 2700 rounds
from 5 guns.
Orders for Phase 2 & 3 were somewhat
hurried, partic. phase 3. The opern. commenced
at 2 pm., a creeping barrage was reqd, and the orders
did not leave Bde HQ till after 1 p.m. These
were hurried to Btys who succeeded in
carrying out task effectually and punctually.

24 Aug Orders recd for 13 FA Bde to withdraw to rest
for 2 days - near Hamel. Btys all
withdrew by 9.15 p.m.. Bright moonlight
night & there was considble bombing.
49 Bty had 1 horse wounded - no other casualties
in Bde.

26 Aug. Btys moved forward again & occupied posns.
by 10 p.m. Form part of Left Group Arty,
consisting of 13 & 14 FA Bdes, & 23 Army Bde
R.F.A. Covering 8 Inf Bde
During night infy reported to have lost touch
with enemy. 

13 FA Bde

Left Group
13 FA Bde orders for 23/8/18 attack.

18 pdr barrage will commence at Zero on the
Arty Start Line, which is 200 yds E of the Infy Forming Up
line, remg there for 3 mins
Zero + 3, barrage will lift at rate of 100yds
each 2 mins for 3 lifts. From 4th lift
inclusive barrage will lift at rate of 100 yds each 3 mins
until Protective barrage line to the Infy Halt Line
is reached at Zero & 48. where it will remain
till Zero + 63. Then will advance at the rate of 100
yds each 3 mins until it arrives at
Protective barrage line to Final objective

4.5 Hows will conform to 18pdr barrage in all
respects except that it will commence and advance 200 yds
further E than 18 pdr barrage
It will be noticed that the btys and bdes of the N. flank will cease
firing considbly sooner than those on the S flank portion of the
Group front. It will therefore be necy to watch the situation
and protect the left bdes flank against possible flank attack
or to engage flanking M/Guns or rifle fire

Rates of fire
18 pdrs Zero to Zero + 3: 4 rds per gun per min
Zero + 3 to arrival on Protective Barrage to
Final objective: 3 rds per gun per min
While on Protective barrage: 1 rd p.g.p.m
4.5 hows Throughout barrage 2½ rds p.g.p.m.
on Protective barrage 1 rd pgpm. 

2
Left Group Arty orders for 23/8/18 attack

After reaching Final Protective barrage line
& firing for 15 mins, the 5 Army Bde RHA will
fire bursts on Luc Wood, Long Wood, N of Protective
Barrage Line, & road in R4b with object of
preventing hostile enfilading M/gs from harassing
our left flank. At Rd in 10 to be smoke. Should it be
observed that our infy is advancing in that direction, this fire must cease.
or if infy. asks for it to cease.
5 Army Bde RHA has O.P in L26d.

5 Army Bde RHA will place one 13 pdr bty 200
yds further NE on a parallel line to
Arty Start Line. This bty will inform the 18 pdr
barrage and will fire at the rates ordered for 18 pdrs
This bty will commence from R9d 25 80 to R9b 00 90
moving eastwds along a line to R9d 90 00
to R4C 70 70
For the continuation of the 1 Inf Bde's attack.

The barrage will proceed exactly as previously
laid down for main opern. except that at Zero + 90,
btys which have stopped firing will reopen for 3 mins on their
Protective Barrage Line and will continue from where they then are
firing.  At Zero + 93 all btys will lift at the rate of 100
yds each 3 mins until arriving on the new Protective
Barrage Line, where fire will be maintained for a further 10
mins. All fire will then cease. 

3
Left Group Arty Orders.

How. Btys will conform to the above but will fire 200 yds
further E as previously.

Rates of fire
Zero + 90 to Zero + 93. 4rds p.g.p.m.
2½ " p. how. p.m.

Zero + 9 until arrival on }             3rds p.g.p.m.
New Protective Barrage Line }  2½ rds p.how.p.m.

While on Protective Barrage    1 rd p.g.p.m.
1 rd p. how. p.m.

All fire will cease at Zero + 124 mins but
btys will cease 10 mins after they arrive on the new
protective barrage line.
After 6^o 

13 FA Bde.   (Lt Col HO Caddy)

Extracts from Report on operatn  23/8/18.

13 FA Bde took up posn E of Morcourt 17/8/18 & moved 
some btys fwd prior to 23/8/18.
On 23/8/18 Bde occupied posns -
Bde HQ   Q 11d 80 20

49 Bty      Q 12c 15 40
50 "           Q 18a 85 85
51   "          Q 18d 10 00
113  "          Q 12c 80 80.

13 FA Bde formed part of Left Group 1 Div Arty,
Group was under Caddy & consisted of
C Sub group.
13 AFA Bde
14    "       "
16 Army Bde RHA

D Sub group.
5 Army Bde RHA
298  "       "    RFA

All bdes occupied posns by 21 Aug. but each
was regd to dump 600 rds per 18 pdr & 500 per
4.5 how. Consequently traffic considble.
However our aeroplanes very active. Shot down 2
enemy balloons. on 21/8/18 & prevented much penetration
by Germ planes.

The group covered 1 Inf Bde. The 1 Inf Bde HQ
at Q18c central, dug into same bank as OC
51 Bty. This helped considbly when some
urgent matters cropped up 

2
13 FA Bde  Report

Zero hour 4.45 a.m. Barrage remained on
Arty Start Line for 3 mins. then moved fwd
by lifts of 100 yds each 3 mins until Arty Halt
line reached. Remained here for 15 mins
Then moved fwd till final protective barrage
line reached where it remd for 10 mins before
ceasing, each bty ceasing fire alternatively
as it reached this line. Thus the btys firing
on the left (North) end of the objective, stopped
firing before the advance of infy in centre was
completed. This appears to have allowed
enemy, who were strongly posted on the high
ground S of Froissy Beacon, L 35 c & d,
& in that vicinity to direct enfilade MG
fire into Valley R 11 & R 17a.

This trouble was observed by Lt W.F. Osmond
49 Bty who occupied O.P. at R1b. He
succeeded in bringing fire from the 113 How Bty
& this with shrapnel from 49 & 50 Btys suceeded in
driving most of these M/G nests & hostile infy
away over the crest to the North. He then
folld them with one 18 pdr bty & inflicted
serious casualties.
Orders ^had been recd during night 22/23 Aug that it was intended to
exploit ground N. of that shown as the objective on
barrage map. Also that after 1 Inf Bde had succeeded 

(3)
13 FA Bde.  Report
In capturing portion of this new area, 3 Inf Bde would go through
and complete opern.
For the support of the 3 Inf Bde opern D Sub group
(5 Army Bde RHA & 298 Army Bde RFA) separated from the
Left Group & worked with that Bde direct. Lt Col A.H.D.
West (O.C. 5 Army Bde RHA) was instructed to
get into touch with G0C 3 Inf Bde, who
arrived early in the morning and also established at
Q18c central. He did so.
The first phase of the attack proceeded
satisfactorily and objectives gained. Enemy opened
barrage immed opern started - this was placed
just behind our front line in the Valley N. of Proyart,
and caused some casualties.

Arrgts made each Inf Bde to continue the
opern. & capture Valley R11 central, R4d, Long
Wood to Luc Wood incl. At Zero plus 90
all btys reopened on Protective Barrage Line
& fired a creeping barrage at the same rate of
fire and advance as the previous barrage.

Some diffy experienced in finding the "D"
Sub Group HQ & ascertaining arrgts made to support
3 Inf Bde advance. Eventually (12.30 pm) telephone
message was sent and the flank coordinates of this Group's
barrage obtd. Opern. timed to commence 2 pm
The advance was supptd by similar creeping barrage 

4
13 FA Bde  Report.

to that provided for other 2 advances. Orders
hastily issued to bdes and btys at 1 p.m.

As 1st Inf Bde was only advancing a comparatively
short distance and on a much narrower front
than 3 Inf Bde, two 18 pdr btys (49 & 50)
were kept to assist D Sub Group. As
commun. cd not be estab to D Sub Group
these btys were superimposed upon
selected points of 3 Inf Bde's front to
thicken barrage on these points.
These btys were also avail. for use of Lt Osmond
who had direct observn. from his O.P. in
R1b, or for other calls, but were not reqd.
As it was found that the barrage appd to be effective and only a few of the
enemy were seen on the Froissy Beacon
end of ridge by Lt Osmond. He believed that his
previous shelling of this area cleared most of the
enemy away.

This was a very heavy day for the btys. 7527
rounds fired by 13 FA Bde. 49 Bty firing
2700 rounds from 5 guns.

Hostile aeroplanes persistent throughout
day. On three occasions they flew low over
btys using their M/Guns on btys, also dropping bombs. 

(5) 
13 FA Bde  Report

causing some casualties to horses of other bdes. These
hostile planes fired on by our M/Gs. One enemy plane
brought down N of Mericourt & Two German airmen
captured.

On gaining first objective, ^some btys moved fwd
& very quickly carted suffic ammun fwd to
continue the opern. Other btys followed soon.
Very little hostile ^shell fire in vicinity of btys.

The F.O.O. party consisted of Lieut L.C.
McCarthy ^(53 Bty) & Lt. J.T.V. Smith, 113 Bty. After
many unsuccessful attempts to maintain a
telephone line from the O.P. this was given up.
Party was under M/Gun fire from the North. The
Lucas signal lamp of party was destroyed by shellfire
& the party relied on pigeons, sending
useful information in this way altho it was too late
to fire upon points indicated.