Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/280B/1 - August - October 1918 - Part 15

10
& 13 FA Bde at 3 a.m.
The creeping barrage was 3000 yds in
depth & lasted 123 mins & was put down
on time.  Very creditable performance on part of
btys.  The supply of 250 rds per gun to the bty
was not an easy matter.  This had to be done by
men and horses already fatigued by the
day's hard work.  The night was dark and
rainy which greatly added to the diffy of moving
along the shelled roads and then over the
greasy shell torn ground in between
the wire and the trenches to the guns.  The share of the gunners
was no less creditable.  As the guns had been
emplaced to fire E it was necy to swing the
btys round So so as to fire in a NE
NNE direction.  This had to be done in the dark.
It would hardly have been poss to carry out this opern
had not a fwd ARP been estab at
Hargicourt.
Action during day
13 FA Bde Throughout day infy experienced
much opposn from the sugar facty in G12d9065
and arrgts were made to support an attack on this
place to the rly from H7b and H8c.  13 FA Bde
put down creeping barrage 4pm after 15
mins preliminary bombdt on the Sugar Factory. 

11.
Attack only partially successful as much opposn
met from the Lamp Signal Station in G6d.  Consequently
this station kept under heavy bursts of
fire for some time.
14 FA Bde  Bde OP estab G4b75 and with
observatn from here many targets engaged.
Over 1000 rds were expended.
Enemy arty very active on forward
areas and neighbourhood of Bellicourt.
Operations 1/10/18.  Attack by 8 Inf Bde
13 FA Bde  At 6 am in conjunction with other
supptg arty the 13 FA Bde put down creeping
barrage on Mill Ridge and the spur running up
to H2d in support of infy attack (8 Inf Bde).
Enemy observed to run when barrage put
down.
At 10 am it was learned that the exploiting bn
Objective for the infy was the Beaurevoir Line as far N as
Toners Canal in B20.
Forward Section  As soon as the plan of action was known a
section of the 50 Bty under Lt SS Creed went ahead
in close support of 31^st Bn. This section came into
action at H7d5020.  First target two hostile
guns E of Joncourt.  After 4 ranging rounds
two limbers appeared & guns were hurriedly
limbered up.  As they were driven away over a crest 

12
they were followed by shrapnel.  Two other
guns at C26c central located & engaged, ten
rounds being fired.  These remained silent for
rest of aftnoon.  Many moving targets
engaged.  Casualties observed particularly in one
party of about 100 moving into Wiancourt.
In all 150 rounds fired by this section which
suffered no casualties. Later it was joined
by remainder of bty.
Remainder of batteries
At 1 pm batteries moved fwd and by 4 pm
in follg posns
49 Bty G11b1500
50        H7d3040
51         G12d6080
113        G11b9185
HQ       G12b5050.
14 FA Bde
Early in morning sections pushed
out in close support of infy and were in
action from follg locations by 11 a.m.
55 Bty  G11b8040
54         G12c5040
53         G10b7540
The remainder, after firing the creeping 

13
barrage at 6 a.m. also moved up and came
into action as follows :-
55 Bty  G9d4728
54         G9d7015
53         G9a3090
114        G9b0590
Commun with O.P. successfully maintained
throughout day & over 2000 rds expended
with observation.  In two instances hostile
77 mm btys silenced.
Trench Mortars
Prior to attack at 6 a.m. the mobile
section of the 10th MTM Bty fired 15
rounds into Cabaret Wd Fm (A29c)
Operations 2/10/18
13 FA Bde.  Much quieter day.  49 Bty
employed captured 77 m.m. gun
After midday hostile air activity
increased, several enemy formations
& single machines crossing to the bty areas
flying very low.  All appd to be two seater
reconnaissance machines  Heavily
engaged by AA & M G fire.
General Remarks
Throughout it was found that communicatn 

14
to the rear more difficult to maintain than
forward.  In almost all cases the breaks
due to horse and vehicular traffc and
not to shellfire.
Div Arty HQ remained at Hervilly
for the operns.

Ammunition expended during same period

Lt Col H.O. Caddy
13 A FA Bde report 29/30 Sept 1918
Did not participate in preliminary barrage for capture of
Green Line.
29/9/18  8am moved from Herbecourt, halting with head of column
at Villeret where 8 A I Bde completed its assembly on Brown Line
Bde reconn party left 9.45am.  Bde being ordered to
advance at 10.15.  Intended that btys should occupy their first posns
SE of Bellicourt. in the Requeval Ravine
Americans met on road stated that they had gained the
Green Line
Considble shelling experienced by the Reconn party while
advancing on "Black Road" and in Bellicourt. Where Infy of 8 A I
Bde seen advancing.  These guns appd to fire from a very
close range and the 8 Bde officers reported that our front line
did not extend much beyond SE of Bellicourt.  Horses there
left in village and reconn. completed on foot.
(then same as in CRA's report)
Lt VJ Brady  Liaison officer with 32 Bn
Lt E Hernshaw   "          "           "    29 Bn
Lt Brady reported that 32 Bn moved forward  11.15 am.
All this bn's tanks became casnalties and the CO (Maj Wark) obtd
assistance of some which were operatg with 46 Div on right.
The 32nd's right flank joined left flank of 46 Div and the advance was continued,
resulting in capture of Magny by both 46 Div & 32 Bn combined.
Advance then continued in NE direction abt 3.30p.m., W of Joncourt,
found that not in touch with bn on left, so left flank of 32nd withdrawn
until touch obtd.  Abt 5pm c/attack made from Joncourt.
Repulsed by m/gun ^ & rifle fire xx assisted ^ (obtd by Brady) by bty of R.M.A.
(? Royal Marine Arty Aux.) near Etrecourt
13 FA Bde Liaison officer
with 8 Inf Bde was Capt HK Prior 

13 FA Bde Report
1/10/18.  6am in w opern with other FA Bde put down
creeping barrage on Mill Ridge W of Joncourt and up toxx
H2d in support of infy attack.
Flanks reported to be OK so bde advanced at 1 p.m.
occupying posns between 2 & 4 pm.
Bde H.Q.   G12b5050
49 Bty       G11b1500
50 Bty        H7d3040
51 Bty         G12d6080
113 Bty        G11b9185
Bde HQ occupied dugout which had provided cover for a
hostile anti tank fort.  Place was marked "Tankgewehr"
Two 77mm minenwerfers were emplaced at each end of the
two entrances of the tunnel.  Four 77mm field guns
were empalced in a hedge within 100 yds & infy stated
they had captd anti tank rifles & m/guns near by
& there was evidence these had been used.  (Plan of
Tankgewehr attached)
(then same as CRA report)
Lt VJ Brady Liaison officer with 31 Bn. 

Extract from report
14 FA Bde  (Lt Col. F.P. Derham)
29/9/18  Posn of assembly reached in time & without mishap, altho a delay which might
possibly have been serious was caused by a supply train remg. stationary at a
level crossing for over 1½hrs.
The route to the Brown Line was via the Red Rd thro Hargicourt and here again
considble delay was experienced through tanks remg stationary on the road between
Hargicourt and Bellicourt - - - -
The bns of the 15 Bde dug in on the W. side of the Hind Canal and the fwd sections
of arty were ordered to retire by the Bn Cdrs.  It was with the utmost diffy that the sections
were extricated from a diff situation, and it was due solely to the energy and courage of the
officers in charge.
Early on morning of Oct 1st sections were pushed out in close
support and were in action at the follg locations at 11 am
55 Bty   G11b8040
54          G2c54
53          G10b7540
Bde also moved up and came into action at
55 Bty   G9d4728
54          G9d7015
53          G9a3090
114         G9b0590 

13 & 14 A FA Bdes 5DAC & 5 Div MTM Btys
passed to command CRA 2nd Div.  3/10/18
13 FA Bde diary
3/10/18  Large quantities of Cavalry moved up and through
batteries during the day.  While advancing over the crest
in H17d with Horse Arty.  They were shelled & forced to
withdraw.
4/10/18  13 FA Bde formed portion of the Right Group and in additn to
covering its own zone covered the zone of the Left Group until the
Bdes were in action, until abt 10p.m.  Btys occupied
posns with no protection and had to dig in.
4/5 Oct.  Areas heavily gassed throughout the night making commun
and preparns for opern very difficult.  Frequently all communs. cut.
4 Oct.  Orders recd 10.30 pm for advance inclg capture of Montbrehain
5/10/18  Zero hour 0605.  C/attack  11 a.m.  Lt E. Hearnshaw
113 Bty, F.O.O. severely wounded.
6/10/18  at I a.m. clocks put back one hour to conform to
winter time.
Reconn. cd out during morning for posns near Wiancourt.
Btys moved into posn during day.
6 pm Locations
Bde HQ.     H15a7085
49 Bty         H4b5085
50                H4a8060
51                 B28d6005
113                H4b2015

5 Div Arty
8/10/18  13 & 14 FA Bdes (under CRA 2Div) covered 30th
American Divn
10/10/18  13 & 14 FA Bdes pulled out to waggon lines } came under orders CRA 5 Div as Corps reserve
7 & 8 FA Bdes also - - - - -                                                            
12/10/18 Orders recd from RA VII Corps that 3 & 5 Aust Div Artys (less HQ) to move into action under
command CRA 4 Aust Div.
13/10/18  At 5pm conference re fortcoming operns was held at HQ RA.
xxx Corps at Branicourt & attended by GO CRA VII Corps.
CRA's 2, 4, 5 Aust Div Artys, BGHA, & CBSO
15/10/28  CRA attended conference at HQ 30 American Divn. with
ref to forthcoming attack.  Sir D Haig present.
16/10/18  F.Arty covering 30 American Div attack will consist of
13, 8, 11, 10 Aust FA Bdes and 6th Army Bde AFA, under
command CRA 5 Aust Div.
17/10/18  Attack by 27 & 30 American Divs commenced 5.20 a.m.
Before zero hostile arty very active on fwd areas with gas, shell & HE.
Fwd sections attached to and in close support of Infy.
18/10/18  Attack continued with success.
19/10/18  At 2200.  7 AFA Bde passed to command of CRA. 4 Aust Div.
6 Army Bde AFA tfd to Corps Reserve.
20/10/18  CRA & Bde Maj 5 Div attended conference convened by GOCRA
IX Corps.  5 Div Arty t/d to IX Corps & came under
command of CRA 6th British Div.
21/10/18  13, 14, 8 AFA Bdes reconnoitring & occupying posns.
22/10/18  CRA Brit Div & CRA 5 Aust Div conferred re
forthcoming operns  CRA 5 Div also visited HQ 71 Inf Bde
23/10/18  Attack by IX Corps. O120.
24/10/18  Relief of 5 Div Arty by 6 Brit Div Arty completed 0300.
13 & 14 AFA Bdes withdrew to waggon lines.
8 AFA Bde came under orders of CO 24 Bde RFA.