Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/281/1 - 1918 - 1933 - Part 6

5th Field Coy
War diary
29/8/18
Coy. left Cappy 6a.m. At 7a.m. Capt Steele reported at 5 Bde H.Q.
& recd information that our troops were advancing rapidly & prob. in
Feuilleres. Nos 1 & 2 Sectns & transport, together with HQ. halted
near Canal in G 14 d. Nos 3 & 4 Sectns & Capt Steele went fwd.
At Eclusier the bridge was found to be smashed and the roads to Frise, along the Canal

& through G 22 d and G 29 a, blocked by trees. Steele decided bridge was not of
vital importance & placed Nos. 3 & 4 Sectns on clearing roads.
Steele, Lt Croker, & two orderlies then pushed fwd to Frise, and found
Canal bridge at this place blown, but roads all clear. Nos 1 & 2
Sectns, HQ, & tpt then instructed to move to Frise & Nos 3 & 4 to
wait at Frise.
Steele Croker & orderlies went farther fwd and found bridge at
Feuilleres badly damaged. As this was very import crossing No 3 Sectn
ordered to commence work on bridge. Steele & Croker then went fwd to
lock in H 17 a where they found the infy at 11 a.m. holding NE
bank of canal and reporting they cd not go further on a/c of m/g fire.
Steele & Croker then reconnoitred canal to H 17 b 90 & decided that,
on a/c of highbanks, most suitable place for a bridge was at lock H I7 a 39.
They retd to Frise and Steele instructed Lt Parkinson of No 4 Sectn
to reconnoitre lock at H 17 a 39 with view to putting bridge across
for first line transport and grading ramps down to it on both sides,
that night.
Steele with Lt Williamson went fwd to reconnoitre crossing
opp 19 Bn in H 24 d. Crossed canal at I 19 c 30 but owing to
shelling of our heavies and in consequence of report from infy that enemy held
E bank of canal with m/gs, and the lateness of the hour, they were unable make
reconnaissance for tracks across swamps to Halle. They retd to Frise
& Williamson with No 1 Sectn instructed to erect footbridge across canal
at I 19 c 30 and if poss to reconnoitre E bank with view to securing
foot passage through to Halle.
Croker reported bridge at Feuilleres completed at 5 p.m.
and he commended 3144 Sgt Wegner and 3077 Spr Bridge for the courage and
devotion to duty exhibited during construction, the bridgehead having been
continually under heavy s/ fire. Croker was slightly
wounded, but remd on duty. 

(2)

5 F Coy.

War diary
30/8/18 

At 3 a.m. Lt. Williamson reported completn of footbridge
across canal at I 19 c 30. but on a/c of darkness he had been unable
to reconnoitre swamps in vicinity. Shellfire fairly heavy but
no casualties.
1 & 2 Sectns H.Q. with sectn tpt Boscourt. Coy to
Feuilleres at 8 a.m.
Owing to Clery not being cleared up. & absence of reliable
information concg. crossing of the swamps in I 19 c, it was decided that
17, 18 ,19, 20 Bns should cross at Feuilleres & attack along the N. side
of the river, and 19 Bn to assist by crossing Somme near Halle.
Lt Delohery and No 2 Sectn instructed to strengthen bridge
& improve approaches at H17a 39.
Lt Croker to reconnoitre crossings at Ommiecourt as soon as
poss. after attack had developed.
Sgt Grundell & portion of No 1 Sectn reconstructed
[*Busct*]

during evening a footbridge across canal at H 15 b 98, which joined
up footbridges across swamps & gave crossing to H 10 c 28.
31/8/18  

Lt Croker reported that footbridge at H 12 b 15 60 Clery suitable for
infy in singlefile. Was completed at 2a.m. and that the enemy Arty had been active
but party suffered no cas.
At 8a.m. Capt Steele & Lt Parkinson went fwd (No. 4
Sectn follg.) to reconnoitre H 12 b. and to erect traffic bridge.
Steele decided quickest thing thing to do was to construct footbridge
at H 12 b 36 suitable for infy in file and to construct
bridge for horse transport on site of footbridge erected previous
[*Clery*]

night by Croker's party at H 12 b 15 60, also to repair bridge at
H 12 b 15 65 for horse tpt. Lt Parkinson with No 4 Sectn
carried on the constructn of the footbridge, which was completed by 2pm.  Shellfire very
heavy and continuous - Parkinson seriously wounded, Cpl. Rand
killed and 6 O.R. wd. At 1.15 p.m. Lt Williamson with No. 1
Sectn left Boscourt to erect bridge for horse tpt, up to 60 pdrs,
at H 12 b 15 60 and repair bridge at H 12 b 15 65. On
arrival at Ommiecourt shellfire very heavy & Lt Williamson and
L/Cpl Tucker went fwd to reconnoitre, leaving remainder in
dugouts. Sufficient material to construct bridges found near
site. At H 12 b 15 60 decided put down single plank

(3)

5 F Coy     
War diary.
31/8/18 (contd)
footway across, clear to bridge; then clear Croker's footbridge and
debris away - level down old brick pier and erect trestle
on same and construct a bridge of two 18ft spans with 7" x 3"
rolled steel joists and 9" x 9" timber found near site.
At H 12 b 15 65 it was decided to  strip old decking, rearrange
12" x 12" bearers and prop up crib abutment on S. side.
Remainder of No 1 Sectn then guided up to the site and the work got
under way. Altho shelling practically continuous and heavy
there were no cas., and bridges completed by 7.30 p.m. Lt.
Williamson specially commended Sgt Grundell & L/Cpl.
Tucker.
1/9/18 

Instructions recd from CRE to replace old bridge at H 17 a 3.9.
& permission given to use material from old bridge at
Feuilleres. No. 1 Sectn (Lt Williamson) strengthened
abutments of bridges at H 12 b 15 65 and H 12 b 15 60.
which were erected previous day.
No 3 Sectn (Lt FS Croker) salved bridge material, inclg.
two 18" x 7" x 24' 4" girders and 9" x 9" tImber
beams & transported them by pontoon waggon to bridge
site at 18 17 a 39 by 3 p.m. No. 2 Sectn (Lt. JT Gray)
relieved No. 3 Sectn at 4p.m. on erectn of bridge H 17 a 39.
The gap was 21 feet wide and the abutment damaged. This was got
over by removing the old cor curbstone & moving
bridge bodily 5 feet 3 (xx) feet to the west. Joists were put
across by 6.30 p.m. and the job completed [with help of 12 men from Nos 1 & 4
Sectns] by 11 p.m. Roadway was 10ft wide in the clear with two layers  of
3" decking placed diagonally.  Bridge to take 10 ton axle load.

2/9/18  

The more westerly of the two bridges at H 13 b 23 was examined
and found to be badly damaged. No. 1 Sectn (Lt. Williamson) completed
reconstruction of this bridge during the day. No. 2 Sectn (Lt Gray) completed the
handrailing and the approaches on the lock bridge at H 17 a 39.
3/9/18 

5th Bde group moved into reserve. Work on bridges in the area was
handed over to 2nd Pioneer Bn.

5 F Coy.

(Extracts from report of Capt.C.S. Steele 5/9/18)
30/8/18. 
At 2 a.m. Lt Parkinson reported that bridge
across lock at H 17 a 39 had been completed but needed
strengthening & improvement to ramps. which had a
grade to the bridge of 1 in 8. He further reported
that 2194  2/Cpl. F. Rand (killed next day)
had gone ahead through Gomiecourt Omniecourt with an
infy patrol and "cut wires on two bridges"
which appear, now, to be a double bridge
at H 12 b 23. Parkinson highly
commended the gallantry of Rand
Cxx Coy. moved to Feuilleres at 8 a.m. [see diary
entries. - following is additional]
Instructed Lt. Williamson to take a few men & ropes
to see if the necessary crossing cd be found, for the 19 Bn,
near Halle. After fixing a few details I decided to
follow Williamson and make reconnaissance of I 19 c.
Found E bank of Canal^du Nord to be abt 1 ft above waterlevel,
abt 3 ft wide, very wet & marshy with a
footbridge - 40ft span (where bank had broken) -
abt 200 yds from Canal du Somme which was intact.  Abt
150 yds farther on was another bridge which appd smashed for
abt 30ft, then solid bank to Halle, the last couple of
hundred yds being straight. German m/gs very
active. Then went along to bridge at H 24 d 79
which was badly smashed & moved along road to
Baziecourt Fm. From near here road bridge (abt 150
ft span) cd be seen to be broken in at least two places; but was
unable to get on the bridge to examine damage which seemed to be very
considble. Retd to Bde HQ and reported above and that I considered
that a crossing at Halle to be dangerous, as (1) hostile m/gs

(2)

5 F Coy. 
(Extracts from Capt. Steele's report - contd)
were very active and the crossing very exposed, (2) the shelling was
considble and one shell cd practically put the whole line of
approach out of action. Lt Williamson's report, which arrived
later, agreed with the above and his deductions were the same.

31/8/18.
For the work done on Aug 31 I wish particularly to commend
105 Sgt. HV Lucas. who saw his job through under very heavy
shellfire after Lt Parkinson had been wounded and altho 50% of his
men had become casualties; also Sprs. Treveton,
Gordon, & Neish for the courageous manner in which they carried out
their work in a very exposed posn. Also Lt Williamson
for the skilful handling of his men: for tho he withdrew them 5
times he was able to keep them assembling and cutting material
thus avoiding casualties and pushing on with the work as well.

5 Fld Coy.
Summary of bridging operations (dated 6/9/18)

6 F Coy
War diary
27/8/18 Condition of roads in all cases not much affected by
recent operns. Water reconnaissance of Chuignes & samples
from 6 wells showed water fit for drinking. No mines or
booby traps found.

28/8/18.
(Eclusier-Cappy.) Improving roads. Cappy bridge examined by Lt Carleton.
advance of line through Dompierre & Becquincourt to outskirts of Assevillers, Frise
In new Area 14 bank mines removed. Sappers attached to

bde for examination booby devices. Removed 12 mines from

roads.  No 1 Section (Lt Renshaw) employed at night on
Cappy-Herbecourt Rd.

29/8/18 Lt Carleton & No 4 Sectn employed in construction Cappy
bridge at G 25 a 42. to take H.T. Work was cancelled by CRE
after ½ day's work.
Lt Noone reconnoitred Herbecourt. Found & removed 8
mines from dugouts.

30/8/18 Lt Renshaw & L/Cpl Markwell examined bridge at
I 19 c 30. It was found that pile bridge for horse tpt had been left
incomplete by enemy but a footbridge at this site had been left intact.
Found inadvisable to continue construction till enemy was
removed from N.bank of river, espec. as no road existed giving
access to the bridge across swamps of Somme.
Follg. conference with GOC 6 Bde, Capt Cartwright with Lt
Davies located site for footbridge from H 15 b 88 to
H 1O c 28 (500yds). Needed to transfer troops for attack on Mt St Q.
Over 470 yds of the marshy Somme R. there existed a trestle
footbridge 6' wide which needed considble repairs to
superstructure. The Somme Canal had no crossing.

[*Busct.*]
[*For 6 Bde*]
It was decided to erect a single pontoon bridge across canal and use it
in conjunction with the footbridge across the marsh. Repair of
footbridge undertaken by No 3 Section (Lt Gillespie) & No 2

Sectn (Lt Noone). No 1 Section (Lt Renshaw)

undertook erectn of pontoon bridge. Whole work

completed by midnight without interference - two
hours earlier than estimated. 

(2)

6 F Coy         War diary
31/8/18  Lt Davies & 3 O.R's. reconnoitred road from H 14 b 99
to H 9 central to Clery & reported that with small amt of work
it would be made good for M.T.
No 4 Sectn (Lt Davies) commenced work improvements to H.T. bridge

[*Feuilleres*]
[*Begun by 5 F Coy*]
at H 8 d 95 to make it fit for M.T. Traffic used this bridge
while work in progress, and this combined with strong stream filled
with debris, hampered progress. In addition enemy had direct
observation from Mt St Q. The tempy structure had been built on a
curve, and the corner of this had to be removed to make it useful for MT. During aftn
enemy shelled job, and altho fire was accurate no damage was done to the
bridge and no cas. in working party.
Lt. Gillespie commenced trestle footbridge 4' wide for infy in
single file at site of pontoon bridge at H 15 b 88. Pontoon
equipmt thus released for poss. future work.
Capt Cartwright, Lt Renshaw & Noone found suitable
site for bridge from H 11 b 50 to H 11 b. 26 (approx) but
proposal for bridge not approved.

1/9/18 No.2 Sectn (Lt Noone) improved 150 yds of road on both
approaches to bridge at H 8 d 95.

[*Feuilleres*]
By 10 a.m. after attack on Mt St Q motor ambs and all traffic incl.
3 ton lorries were using bridge which Lt Davies had been improving.
All materials used found on site, 30 men employed.
Bridge consisted of 2 spans, 16ft each. Lt Gillespie & xx
15 of No 3 Sectn carried on as second shift on this bridge.
During reconnaissance of forward roads Capt Wright Cartwright
[*+*](O.C Coy) so severely wounded that he eventually died. (Shell burst alongside

of him. At the time he & Lt Renshaw were alongside Halle village.
2/9/18. Bridge at H8d95 completed and tested to take 10 ton
Axle load.

[*Feuilleres*]
Small bridge of two spans each of 8' strengthened and found
fit to bear xx 10 ton axle load.

3/9/18 No. 3 Section engaged in road repairs from H 14 b 99 to H 8 c 94 as the
continual motor traffic was beginning to wear away the road. Bricks and a quantity of 
road metal from quarry site nearby were carted on to the road by two G.S.
limbers.

(3)
6 F. Coy.             War diary
4/9/18. No. 3 Section (Lt Gillespie) widened to 20ft the road
from H 9 a 43 to H 8 d 96 using metal and bricks as
before. 36 limber loads placed on road
Coy relieved by 8 F Coy & moved back to G 22 c 24.

State of bridges on road crossing marsh W of Cappy
28/8/18.
(1)  At G 25 b 28 42. Steel Girder bridge, over 14' span
Girder & abutments damaged by explosion of "Perdit" charge.
Other charges failed to explode. Could be repaired without
difficulty.
(2)  G 25 b 05 Same class as No.1. Span 14ft. Bridge
demolished & useless. Abutments damaged.
Waterway requires clearing of old girders before any repair
work could be done.
(3) G 25 b 05. very close to No.2. Same class as No 1, in two
spans. Total span 27' 6". Whole bridge, abutments & pier
completely demolished. Stream badly blocked
(4)  L 30 a 35 55. Bridge & abutments completely destroyed.
Span 10'. Stream fairly clear.
(5)  L 30 a 48 Bridge & abutments demolished, also centre
pier. Only foundations remain.   Total span 29'.
stream clear.

4.

6 F Coy.
Summary of bridging operations.       6 F Coy.

Report by Lt Noone  28/8/18
[*Mines*]
12 land mines destroyed after removal from Cappy-Herbecourt
road G 26 a 23. These mines were identical with anti-tank
mines discovered on Villers sector. They were stretched
across road in two places. abt 50 paces apart, 6 in each,
covered with brambles & bush etc.