Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/280B/1 - August - October 1918 - Part 9

4.
3rd Div. Art. Extracts from war diary for November.
3rd Nov.  At 1700 3rd Aust. Div. Art. H.Q. established at Fermedu Moulin
(X.20.b.0.1) and No. 1 Group Art. became constituted, consisting of 7th
and 8th A.F.A. Bdes. and 5th Army Bde. R.H.A.  Btys. of 7th and 8th A.F.A.
Bdes. remained silent while normal fire maintained by other art. on front.
4th Nov.  Attack began at 0545.  The start of the barrage was rather
erratic owing to faulty synchronisation. . . . . . .8.30 a.m. btys. of 8th F.A.
Bde. had to move forward in order to obtain necessary range - move completed
at 0915 with only 3 men slightly wounded, though village of Reget through
which the btys. had to pass, was being heavily shelled. 10.15 the 1st Div.
reported advancing beyond Blue Dotted Line, though the 32nd Div. on left
unable cross canal.
11.20. 1st Div. on Blue Line throughout, while 32nd Div. had crossed canal
at several points.
15.20.  Inf. held up going through Fesmy and consequently at 1600 creeping
barrage put down by No. 1 Art. Group.  After 6 minutes on start line
barrage advanced at rate of 100 yds. in 6 minutes.  Attack successful and
by nightfall Fesmy in our hands. At conclusion of operation 5th Bde. of
R.H.A. passed to command of C.R.A. 46th Div.  At 1900 No. 1 Group broken
up. 7th and 8th F.A. Bdes. passed to Col. Scarlett's group under 1st Div.
Art. 3rd Aust. Div. Art. H.Q. ceased to function.
5th Nov. At 1500 7th and 8th A.F.A. Bdes. withdrew from action to waggon
lines.
7th A.F.A. Bde.  Extracts from war diary.
4th Nov. Ribeauville.  Zero hour 5.45 a.m.  Both inf. bdes. reported
across canal in 25 minutes and later all objectives gained. (The 7th A.F.A.
Bde. only took part in the opening barrage).
6th Nov. Bde. marched to billets in Montbrehain. Bde. remained at
Montbrehain for remainder of month and enjoyed spell of good weather. Btys.
re-equipped and shortages made up.  Great deal of time given to sports of
every kind and football competitions arranged.
Extracts from war diary 8th A.F.A. Bde.
2nd Nov. Guns placed in action at dusk with a guard placed on them, and
btys. proceeded to cart required ammn.
4th Nov. All guns opened 0545 with deafening roar. Enemy retaliation very
light in vicinity of btys. At zero-plus-145 btys. moved forward to positions
already selected in X.5.d. and continued the barrage from there 90 minutes
later.
5th Nov. Btys. in positions occupied on morning of 4th almost out of range.
4 p.m. orders received to withdraw to waggon lines and went into billets at
Brandcourt le Grand.
11th Nov. Great rejoicing at first news of Armistice.  First news reached
the Bde. by wireless.
Remained at Brandcourt till the end of month engaging in
football competitions, tugs of war, boxing, etc.

Extracts from War Diary of 2nd Pioneer Bn.
6th Sept.  Orders received from C.R.E. to arrange for 500 men to work with
4th Canadian Railway Coy.  Lt. A. E. Robertson reconnoitred job and found
it to be the repair and restoration of old broad gauge line running from
Clery to Peronne.  He then pegged out 2200 yds. ready for coys. to commence
work on 7th.
9th Oct.  Railway work - first task - completed.
Extracts from Robertson's Report.
Work for 4th Coy., C.R.T., was completed today to the point
asked for by them, I.21.a.8.2.  We commenced at H.10.a.1.2. (approx.) and
cleared the line ready for sleeper and rail laying along old formation.
This followed the river through H.10, H.11, H.12, H.18, I.13, I.14, I.20 and
I.21. to coal dump at I.21.a.8.2.  40 large mine craters in H.11 and H.12
in swampy ground were throughly packed also numerous mine craters.
Altogether in our three days of work 7100 yds. (nearly 4 miles) of track
were prepared as desired :
First day        -  2200 yds.
Second day  -  2400  "
Third day      -  2500   "
Extracts from War Diary.
11th Sept. "A" Coy. laid 750 yds. rail I.13.d.0.8. towards Clery. "B"
Coy. 1200 yds. rail from I.14.d.3.8. to I.21.b.1.4. "C" Coy. ballasting
line in H.3.d. "D" Coy. ballasting line in H.10.c. and d.
12th Sept. A Coy. 600 yds. track ballasted I.13.b.9.1. towards Peronne.
B. Coy laying line in I.13 and 14. C. Coy. ballasting line H.3.d. D Coy.
ballasting line H.10.c. 
11th Nov.  Armistice news received 10.30.  Band paraded streets of Pernois
and played patriotic music.

CRA 5 Aust Div
Extracts from ^Gen Bessell Brown's report on operns of 5 Div Arty in supprt of attack
by 30 American Div S. of Le Cateau 17/19 Oct 1918
Up to morning of 15 Oct, altho definite orders had not been
issued, it was u/stood that the Arty under CRA 4 Div wd cover
the attack by 27 Amer Div Across River Selle & then that
the 30 Amer Div would leap frog through, covered by 5 Aust
Div Arty.  This plan not adhered to.
On morning 15th conference held at HQ RA VII Corps
at Warncourt.  There it was announced that the 30 Amer Div
would move into line night 15/16th relieving 27 Amer
Div.  In S. sectr half of this Sector; that CRA 5 Aust Div
wd be in command of Arty covering 30 Amer Div from 10 am
16 Oct., & that attack would be on morning 17 Oct.
Very little time to make necy arrgts.  Also difficulties
to be overcome were aggravated by organisation of
American staffs with will which all units had to deal.
Afternoon 15 Oct.  HQ 5 Div Arty moved to Montbrehain
so as to be in close touch with HQ 30 Amer Div.
Orders issued for redistribution of Arty & instructns for
attack xxxxxxx on morning 17 Oct.
These HQ were 17000 yds behind front line
consequently ^on afternoon of 16th.  5 Div Arty HQ moved to C 6d 50
[in close proximity to HQ 60 American Inf Bde]
Arty allotted to cover 30 Amer Div -
[under CRA 5 Aust Div]
Left Group (under Lt Col TIC Williams]
HQ.  V 16b 55 90
10 A FA Bde
11 A FA Bde
Right Group [under Lt Col HO Caddy]
HQ V 16a 99
13 A FA Bde
8 A FA Bde

2
Mobile Reserve [under Lt Col HE Cohen]
HQ V 10d 60 52
6 A FA Bde
[14 A FA Bde remd under orders of CRA 4 Aust
Div]
Organisation of Infy
59 American Inf Bde, which held the line,
was to advance under cover of arty barrage to objective
Q 36c 92 to V 12c 00.  60th Inf Bde then to pass
through and reach line X 7d 07 to R 32c 00 to
R 32a 07.  Barrage would then cease and if poss infy would
then exploit as far as the Sambre Canal.
Organ of Arty for exploitation
13 & 8 A FA Bdes detailed to assist 119th American
Regt (right), and 14 & 7 A FA Bdes to assist
120 Regt (left)
Infy Start Line
Part of the Infy line in W 14d was in the hands of the enemy.
On Oct 16 arrgts made with 59 American Inf Bde to cover with arty
fire a minor opern with object of captg this ground.  Untimatel
decided to give area concentrated bombdt. and that infy would advance
as near as poss to the start line in the morning before Zero hour.
During the attack it was found that this bombdt had been effective as the enemy moved his T/Ms
to posns farther N.
Attack  Zero hour 5.20 am 17 Oct.
Prior to Zero enemy put down very heavy c/preparn in which gas
largely used.  This made task of assembling troops difficult. In

3
additn when day broke heavy fog made it imposs to see more
than a few yds.  As late as 7am some btys had to bring
aiming posts in as they cd only be seen with diffy.
Action of 13 FA Bde
During night 16/17 Oct 51 & 113 Btys moved to W 2a 15 15
and W 2d 20 80 respectively.  Btys completed dumping
450 rds per gun at gun posns.
All btys fired in the barrage.  When first protective barrage
[W 18a 35 to Q 36d 76] was reached at 6.38am. 49 & 50 Btys
moved fwd to W 2a 70 20 & W 2a 70 50 and carried on with
barrage from 7.30 am to 9.2 am. Even the final protective
barrage [X 8a 00 to R 26c 91] was reached while in the posn in
W2.  Btys came under m/g fire causing slight casualties
among personnel and horses.  Also subjected to fairly heavy
shelling, 113 Bty suffering mostly. Bty Cdr, Major
A.R. Leschen, slightly wd, & Lt D.A. Cameron
severly wounded.  Both were controlling the fire of the bty at the time
and this momentarily interfered with the btys portion of the barrage.
until Lt JTV Smith carried on.  In addition 113 Bty
lost one complete detachment and had one how put out of
action by hostile shelling.
The m/g fire was continued till 9 am, & the shelling
decreased at 10.15.
During this period no satisfacty inform cd be obtd as to the progress of the
infy.  Reports were either contradictory or so vague
that they were useless.

As the Bde anticipated moving fwd an officer
patrol per bty was detailed at abt 9.30 am to reconnoitre.
It was  found that the infy had not advanced beyond the rly in W5,
W11, & W17.  Consequently btys did not move fwd.
Forward Sections
Fwd Sections detailed in charge of Lt V J Brady and Lt
H S Humphries 49 & 50 Btys respectively to support the right and left

4

bns of 119 Regt.  As the 59 Inf Bde was unable to reach
first objective the 119 Regt passed through the remnants of 117 Regt
(59 Bde) a short distance E of the La Selle River.
Considble opposn was met with from Ribeauville and the surrounding 
hedges which were found to contain large no of m/guns, 77 mm guns,
& 105 cm hows.  Both forward sections subjected these hedges
to a heavy fire.  Both experienced diffy in crossing Selle R.
at St Martin on a/c of m/g fire, but subsequently crossed
a vehicle at a time and came into action in W 11a and W 11d
at abt 9a.m.  Many hostile targets engaged with observtn.
The section of 49 Bty provided covering fire for the mobile
section of the 9 ^Aust MTM Bty during the afternoon.
Action of 14 A FA Bde
For the barrage the 14 A FA Bde acted under orders of
CRA 4 Aust Div. As soon as this was finished two Sections went fwd,
one from 53 Bty & one from 54 Bty under Lts LR Turner
& F. Parsons respectively, to act in close support of
the two bns of 120 Amer Inf Regt.
They experienced the same diffs as the 13 FA Bde
- m/g fire and the inability of the infy to give any definite
information. The section from the 53 Bty fired 8 waggon loads of
ammun.
10 & 11 A FA Bde
Btys of these bdes (left group) were in action in W 7d.
At the opening of the barrage they were subjected to heavy T/M fire at close
range.  One officer, 30 O/R, & two guns put out of action.
The enemy T/Ms must have been firing from inside the Infy Start
line.  Apparently when the area W 14d was bombarded
these T/Ms moved to Area W 9a & c. still within the Infy
start line for the attack.  This was the result of the Infy stating that their
front line was further advanced than it was.

5
Action of Mobile T/M's
Two mobile sections of the 6" Newton mortars accompanied
the infy. Positions were taken up by the 9 MTM Bty in
W 12c 76 and W I2c 85 at 4pm.  Infy were then held up
by m/g fire from the hedges and wood on the SW. of Rebeaucourt.
No. 1 gun fired 9 rounds on the wood when the mobile bed
of the mortar broke its back.  No 2 gun fired 6 rounds on m/gs in
vicinity of Ribeauville when this gun also broke its back.
The fire on the wood was effective for the enemy shelled it 20 mins later.
Infy did not attempt to occupy it.  This was the first occasion
on which mobile T/Ms were used in the attack.
Situation at Dusk
By nightfall Infy had reached sunken road
running through W 6d, W 12b, to W 18a 66.  Heavy m/g fire
from Ribeauville prevented further advance
General Remarks
Special parties of Engrs were allotted to Bdes to
prepare passages across the Selle River.  Altho it was at one time
reported that it would take 3 hours for the Engrs to prepare a crossing,
guns were able to cross without diffy.
Great diffy was experienced through lack of reliable information of the
progress of the Infy.  Many reports came back the majority of which
were either vague or contradictory.  Arty officers were
the main source of reliable information.  The situation was
very obscure till the DTMO. Capt W.D. Wallis
who had gone fwd on a motor cycle retd with the informatn that
at 11.30 a.m. it was on the rly in W 11b and that the infy were on the line W 6, W 12,
W 18 central.  At 7.10 pm Capt Wallis again retd from the
front and confirmed the informn that the frontline ran along

6
the road W 6a - W 12.
The Liaison officers with bns obtd much valble informatn
by personal reconnaissance.
Liaison Officers
With 60 American Inf Bde    Major LE Beavis
120 Inf Regt.    Capt P.T. Redmond
119 Inf Regt.    Capt CMC Chase
Left Bn.  120 Inf    Lt Drinkwater
Right Bn   "   "       Lt Turner
Left Bn  119 Infy    Lt Brady
Right Bn "    "        Lt Humphries
Owing to great length of line it was big task to organise and
maintain telephone commun.  During morning forward
report centre estab W 9c 25.  Great credit due
to Lt W. Forrest 5 Div Arty Sig Officer for way he
handled situation.
Attack on 18 Oct
30 Amer. Div ordered that the advance to be
resumed on morning 18 Oct.  At 8.30 pm 17 Oct
CRA conferred with GO CRA II American Corps.
At 11 pm. CRA held conference with Bde & Group Cdrs,
& Maj LE Beavis at 14 A FA Bde HQ at Busigny.
It was decided that 6 & 7 A FA Bdes would put down barrage
covering 120 Inf Left and 8 & 13 A FA Bdes cover 119 Regt.
14 A FA Bde to advance as soon as the barrage commenced, in close
support of Infy.

7
18/10/18
Zero hour 5.30 am 18 Oct.  Start line of
barrage W 18b 30 95 to X 1a 05 95 to
Q 36d 85.70.  This was twice altered previously during the
night - once [shorthand] has to link up with the Divn on left, and again at the request
of the infy.  All btys fired 3 rds p/g/p/m/
for the first five lifts and then 2 rds p/g/p/m/ to limit of
range or until communication(?) was exhausted.
6th British Div on right did not attack.
Infy Action
On completion of barrage it was ascertained that
the infy had not advanced.
Regrouping of Arty
On completion of barrage 14 & 7 A FA Bdes under
Lt Col FP Derham became left Group & 13 & 8
A FA Bdes under Lt Col HO Caddy became Right Group
Barrage at 10 a.m.
CO Left Group arrgd with C.O. 119 Inf Regt to again
put down barrage at 10 a.m. This was carried out [shorthand]
infy advance took place.
Barrage at 11.30 am
At 11.30 6th British Divn attacked.  In conjunction
with this another attempt at an advance was made by the 60th
American Bde.  The Left Group put down a creeping
barrage and the Right Group fired on selected points.
Situation up to Midnight
From 11.30 am onwards situation very obscure.

8
18/10/18
Reports were recd from bns that the Infy had reached
a certain line and then they would report that the front line was 100 yds
or more farther West.  The enemy put down up a
very strong resistance on outskirts of Ribeauville.
It appd that the attacking units had become mixed up
and that the front line had fluctuated during afternoon.
At 1.20 pm Lt KJ Jones, an FOO at
W 12b 30 75 reported that the Infy were still in W 6
and W 12.  This was confirmed at 3 pm and it was reported by
another FOO that the enemy was shelling Ribeauville.
Meanwhile 3^rd British Bde on the right had advanced to road
running through X 14b & d.  At 4.35 the support bn of this
bde moved twds Ribeauville to cover the left
flank.  At 5.30 American infy moved fwd
and by 7 pm had reached E edge of Ribeauville.
[*Lt AH Mahon
113 Bty
reconnoitred through
Ribeauville
& reported it to be
clear of the enemy
at 5.15 pm*]
3rd Brit Bde had then reached low ground
approx on grid line between X 15 and X 16..
American infy still contd to push fwd during evening
at 10 pm they were reported to have reached the road
running N and S through R 32 central.
Action of Bdes during day
14 A FA Bde supplied two forward sections -
one from 53 Bty under Lt JJR Punch, and one from
54 Bty under Lt F. Parsons. These sections engaged
many targets at request of Infy and also from personal
observation.  The hostile m/gs in outskirts of Ribeauville
were engaged and both this village and Mazinghem subjected
to bursts of fire.