Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/281/1 - 1918 - 1933 - Part 3

2nd FCoy. (2)
Orders
Tanks [Shorthand] move into forward areas with
100 shovels
50 picks
2 bales sandbags
10 bundles French wire
20 coils barbed     "
100 long screws
100 short "
and unload in valley R29b or c or d.
No. 4 Section, with Lt. Best (14 FCoy ) was to take the I.O.T.
Report, ^(undated) on operations from 8 Aug. onwards
Three main works carried out by 2 FCoy were
Water supply
Reconnaissance
Defensive works.
Water supply
Definite areas were allotted to exploit. From three sources:-
Village surface wells
Deep well system
River supplies.
The village supplies were usually sufficient for the troops, but [Shorthand] failed
absolutely to cope with the quantities reqd for the large number of horses [Shorthand]
area. The testing of the wells by the AMC was often very late.
To cope with the problem of watering horses away from the Somme recourse
was made to the deep wells. On 9 Aug. & around Lihons coy was fortunate [Shorthand]
finding ^intact a complete German pumping set, but later on the pumping xxx sets
were destroyed.
Where operations were close to the river there [Shorthand] a plentiful supply for all.

3 FCoy.
22/8/18. Reserve field Coy
25/8/18 An RAP [Shorthand] constructed at R 5a 00 but [Shorthand] wrecked by
presumably by a delay action mine or shell.
an explosion in a dump, ^ 2sappers were killed.
Between 23 & 26 Aug. carried out ^ LtL J Price made a detailed reconnaissance of area of Left Brigade
of for accommodation, bridges, roads & tracks, railways, wells, dumps
At Froissy dump (L 34d and R4b) on 25/8/18 —
Adzes 3 doz(about)                  Shovels  120 (abt)
Anvils  1                                        Spares, 30' lengths  600
Leather Belting  50ft (abt)      Switchboard & starter 1
Armoured cable  3 reels           Timber 30000 running feet
Wire cable 100 ft (abt)               Vices   3
Cement   6 doz bags                 Barbed wire 760 coils
" 1 doz tins                                    Concertina wire 200 coils
Duckboards     3500                  French wire   280 rolls
Portable engines    2                  Wire netting  22 52 rolls
Stationary       "         3  
Hoop iron    4 doz coils
Iron, round   1000 ft (abt)
Joists, rolled steel 8"x 3", average length 18'         6400.
Small lathe, complete    1
Mining sets   1500
Electric motor   1 complete
"                 "        1 in pieces
"                  "   1 slightly damaged.
Nails                8 doz casks
   "                      2 doz bags
Pickets, angle iron,   long 1800
   "                "          "     short    50
   "                 "          "    German  70
Picks           36 (abt)
Pit props     36,000   (abt)
Pulleys    7
Hand pumps.     10
Rails, metre gauge,  25' lengths,    90
Rammers   24 (abt)
Band Saw , complete,   1
Circular saws.    26
Circular saws & benches (complete)   4
Crosscut saws     4
Screws       4 cases
Shafting   50 ft

CRE 3 Div

Wardiary

19/8/18  9 F Coy relieved 13 F Coy, the only F Coy

with the Liaison once

3 Pioneer Bn taken from CRE & attached to 9 Inf Bde

as an extra fighting bn

Appendices

20/8/18  Lt N Johnson will act as Engr Liaison Officer with 9 Inf Bde

21/8/18    9 F Coy ^still employed with 9 Inf Bde on engr preparing until

Y/Z night when [Shorthand] come into reserve.

26/8/18. Bridges in forward area.

L 2 2 a 6 3 , ^5 Sluice gates. Three bays  - Northern bay (18')

completely demolished. (S. bay 12', centre bay 14½)

L 2 2 a 56. bridge over stream. Span 21'.

superstructure completely demolished.

 [*This is copy of 9FCoy report*]

L 2 2 a 5 0 65.   bridge over stream. Span 20'.  superstructure
L 2 1 b 6 8.  (railway bridge).                 64'6"
 L 2 1 b 5 8      road bridge.        
 Span 67 1/2. Superstructure.
 completely demolished.

L 2 1 d 2 5 4 0   Standard Gauge Railway bridge.

Span 10'9"  Timber superstructure.   In good order,

L 2 1 d 2 0 3 5.        Road bridge. 
Brick arch. good condition.

L 2 8 C 6 5 2 5            "          "        
Brick arch demolished.

   Span   49"

3 Div. [[Engrs?]]
Messages & Signals
From Lt. T. A Borthwick  
3 pm  26 Aug 1918.

{?} report {?} large Arty '  

ammun dump at L22 b & d    o

fully prepared {?} demolition 
with detonators {?} position.

Hand grenade traps are cast 

celled {?} stacks {?} Engr dump

at same place. 40 Bn {?} templey 
mounted small guard

but {?} {?} quite inadequate 

{?} size {?} place. {?} take 1 least

two days {?} remove charges

{?} investigate the place {?}

further traps.

9 F Coy

War diary

22/8/18. Three sections of coy into reserve. No. 2 Sectn e engaged in

9 Bde opern. Moved out at zero hour (4.45am) to
reconnoitre captd area for deep dugouts & to examine CC 

mines {?} traps. Section had a very rough day through

heavy enemy barrage both going {?} {?} coming back

25/8/18 Attack continued. Four sections left camp 3.30am

to construct bridges over Somme & canal near Bray.

& to make roads trafficable. Work continued for over 14 hrs,
till 6.30 p.m. Three bridges to 

take ambulances,
three for foot traffic

26/8/18 The three 
foot traffic bridges
made previous da
reconstructed
to carry field arty.

Report of Lt N Cook ( No 2 
Section ) on 
Bray operations 22/8/18.

Role - to {?} report of captd

 dugouts in 9 Bde area.

Worked in three parties.

Track took section {?} dense

mist in valley, Gas "pretty bad" 

also.

However by picking up land 

marks {?} noticed day before,

reached a small quarry near the 

main Bray Corbie road

Where divided into 3 parties.

No 1 

party went on the left & and 

the farther we went the

thicker the barrage seemed to get".
The runners bicycles

were becoming awkward over 
the torn-up ground, so

left in a shell hole.

After 1/2 minute's spell behind 
disabled tank party spread

out & went on. Thickest part {?}

barrage just ahead

& only by sheer 

luck cd {?} 

{?} pass it.

 A party abt

12 infymen blocked {?} 
{?} a 5.9 shell 

{?} ahead.

{?} {?} other {?} {?} first

thought {?} '
first aid', but {?} a stuck the

rule of 'Get on with
{?} job 
{?} leave 
{?}{?} s/bs. So on

{?} went"
The first dugout {?} 

a mf8 post {?} open, well

camouflaged. Inf gunners {?} 

killed {?} shellfire, also one {?} their

9 FCoy (2)

Later Killed 

by German

shell)
message dogs.

The other dog very much alive +

savage.^

Got busy {?} torches {?}
searched 
vevery inch 
?} dugout {?} booby traps.

but found {?} suspicious. Bn Sig 

Officer already

established {?} there.

Remainder {?} area 

searched {?} 
tank mines {?} booby

traps, but "apparently there had 
{?} {?} {?} prepare {?} ."

The(^ Two other parties were broken up {?} barrage, the

corporal {?} charge {?} is being killed, 
while the corporal {?} a spr

other party were 

slightly wounded 
but considbly shaken.)

No 1 party

As (did not turn up at r
endezvous, No 1 Party 

searched the remainder {?} bde area.
{?} included 3 deep

dugouts and a hastily prepared
tank mine on the main

road I––I made up {?} 
stick grenades. Easily

dismantled & thrown clear {?}
road. (L14c7575)

The mine {?} {?} 2 parts,
one {?}

each tractor
{?} tank. Each

consisted of 21 stick 
bombs on top of {?} {

?} a heap of iron

(about 56 lb). There were 
3 bundles {?} 3 bombs

bound together {?} strings
all tied {?} a length {?} cable.

The two cables laid along the road 

o a dugout 100 yds

East, so that the mines cd {?} 

exploded {?} the tank reached

the spot. Appeared {?} 

a hurriedly constructed
(attempt at }work , {?} only ^ 
concealment {?} an 
ammunition basket thrown

on the top {?} each. {?} {?} less
conspicuous had {?} not {?}

exactly off each other on the 
wheel tracks.

25/8/18 Pontoon bridge with approaches completed at L 33 c 19

Bridge for F.Arty constructed L 28c31.

[*Major Drake brockman's report*]

At L 22 a 53 safe being bridged by stone bank [as bridge only

over a backwater] {?} {?} abt completed.

At L 22 a 66 three saps still remain {?} bridged.

Col. Sanday (3 Pioneer Bn) making reconn. {?} {?} these demolished

bridges {?} says idea {?} commencing work {?}{?} 6 after. {?} he states 6 ) {?}

job {?} {?} {?} men {?} worked out {?} propose handing over {?} {?}

the three jobs at L22 a 66. Will hand over {?} {?} {?} 12.30 {?}

Road {?} made fit {?} traffic {?} L33c19 to L22a667

9 FCoy 3

road along canal {?} improved {?} made passable to German

pontoon bridge S. of Q5d 21.

Pontoon footbridge {?} {?} put {?} at L33a83 track marked {?} {?}

repaired {?} {?} L 33a83 to L21d93.

Tempry footbridge {?} put {?} first gap at L22a66. The

other two gaps {?} crossed 1 only ?} deffy.

25/8/18 Finished work {?} bridges etc at 12.30pm.{?} day.

Later report The road {?} fit {?} light traffic to L22a66 I—I {?{ ambulances

cd go to that point.

{?} advance to three saps over streams still require {?} bridged.

{?} {?}{?} {?} roughly footbridged so {?} {?} take walking wounded etc.

[*Report 7pm 26/8/18*]

From Pontoon bridge L33a 30 to L22a67 {?} fit {?} traffic {?}

6pm today. that o , three bridges {?} constructed over gaps.

Shd carry F. Arty.

Have examined demolished road bridge at L22b66.

Wd take several days to clear up old site, {?} poss {?} erect a

bridge between road {?} railway bridge fairly quickly. Stream at

least 12 ft deep. {?} {?} opinion {?} Coy cd construct bridge {?} 1 1/2 days

but {?} {?} {?} working hard {?} long hours {?} {?} few days {?}

sooner {?} more {?}{?} {?} trestle bridge {?} always

doubtful proportion{?} {?}foundations.

10 F Coy

Engaged on road reconnaissance & repair work, wells,

dugouts etc.

Stock of Engr material in captured dump at Bray

52 516 boxes of explosives

3800 mining sets

1000 iron notice boards

200 expanded metal rolls

5360 5200 lengths of timber

675             "          "   corrugated iron

750    bundles of laths

350     pit props

56  5

565  poles.

838 338 rolls wire netting.

40 bundles round iron

1 stack forging iron

84 Mixed iron rails

3 stacks Hospital timber parts

400 sheets baby elephant iron

220        "         Cupola iron

500        "                 "         " ridging

25 barrels tar

6250   screw pickets

3000 coils barbed wire

1255       "       plain wire

24       barbed wire entanglements

300     coils French wire

432  312  162  140    rolls of camouflage

200 picks

8850 8350   iron pickets

350 coils trench matting

5000   bundles  {?}

75    xxx iron  girders      18' &  15'

(heavy)

18  ^   sets heavy  foot bridges  12' x 3'

300 light sets    "           "         16' x 3'

100 Camouflage road screens

400  duckboards

780 750  xxx   bridge decking

120 Glass windows

 24 Suction pumps

40  24   force          "

1 stack Iron timber clamps

3 boring machine outfits

200    bags cement    10 tons lime      700 sandbags

[*also Nails iron piping plate glass etc*]

11 F Coy

War diary

22/8/18 Lt. E.H.Rhodes & party marched [shorthand] track L13 central on main Bray-Corbie

road to L9c98.

23/8/18 No. 4  Section on water supply.

25/8/18 No 2   Section on road maintenance

No 1       "        loading bridging gear and material.

No. 3      "        on dugouts, {?} proof shelters

Extracts from War Diary C.R.E. Second Division (J.M.C. Corlette).

1st Oct. Went up to 5th D.H.Q. at Hervilly to see Colonel Mather as we

are taking over part of the front from them tomorrow morning.....

No formal taking over necessary. Work is chiefly the development of wells

in the forward area.

2nd Oct. Templeux. Received information that an attack to be made by this

Div. tomorrow morning. There is no opportunity for any detailed arrangements
as to engineer work; this also is scarcely necessary as coys. will

arrange direct with Bdes. for co-operation. The chief duties will be water

supply and searching for booby traps, mines, etc....The whole affair

has been hurriedly arranged.

3rd Oct. Visited three coys. today. Went up to high ground between

Estrees amd Joncourt, from where there was a good view of Montbrehain; did

not see much going on on the front. Field coys. are not able to do much,

they are chiefly occupied in opening up wells. Pioneers were employed on

roads but today they have been taken over as div. reserve fighting troops

and moved to near Nauroy. This quarry has been shelled fairly frequently

by H.V. guns; a number of casualties were caused last night among D.H.Q.

staff and attached personnel.

4th Oct. Further attack made today to advance our line......The troops

are getting pretty done up and these small attacks are not doing us much

good. Tomorrow the 6th Bde. to take Montbrehain village. So far as I know

the capture of the village is the complete operation and if successful will

leave a salient like a wart on out front commanded from the high ground on

the S.E. No mention of co-operation of troops on our right for the capture

of this high ground.

5th Oct. This afternoon I walked to Gillemont Farm. Not far from there

were 8 British tanks in a row within a distance of 200 yds. which had been 

put out of action through crossing old British anti-tank minefield which

had been laid early in the year before the retreat. Four more. similarly

disabled, were lying a short distance away. Disabled tanks are freely

dotted all over the landscape. Near Gillemont Farm American troops are

collecting and burying men killed in recent attacks against the Hindenburg

Line by the 27th American Div. They are burying hundreds and still more

are being brought in.

5th Field Coy.

Report by Lieut. R. J. Dumas re laying of J.O. tapes between

Estrees and Joncourt. on night of 2/3rd October:

Left camp at 6.30 p.m. 2/10/18 and owing to H.Q. of 18th Bn.

having been blown out I could not locate them until 10.30 p.m. As

suggested by C.O. 18th, I then waited until Coy. commanders came in from

the line to explain to them where the tape would be ..........It was not till

11.30 p.m. that I left Bn. H.Q. to carry out the work. The tape was laid

throughout the length between the map references required, and two coy.

boundary leading-on tapes ran back to sunken road. Work completed about

2.15 a.m. As troops were to be on tapes by 4 a.m. I decided to stay to see

everything satisfactory. During night very heavy shelling behind front

line and slight MG. fire in No Man's Land. On right sector great deal of

gas from previous shelling and owing to the barbed wire and shell holes

was totally impossible to wear gas masks on such a dark night.