Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/281/1 - 1918 - 1933 - Part 7

6 F. Coy.
(Report of H Gillespie 4 pm. 28/8/18)
Eclusier bridge (G 22 a 58), high level bridge demolished.
A low level swing bridge alongside also demolished but
masonry walls at either side quite sound & wd carry
3 ton lorry traffic. Span in the clear is 22ft Approaches
good & 4' above present water level. At present 7 ft of
water in stream. Bottom good & would carry trestle bridge.
in centre.  9 FCoy are today bridging this gap and 3
others of abt similar size to N of it. with foot bridges.
Suzanne bridge (G 14 c 95) was high level bridge. Has
been demolished leaving gap abt 60 ft wide.

7 F Coy.
Extracts from report
27/8/18.   F Coy moved up in morning & took over 5 F Coys camp at Q 12 c 81.
Reconnaissance at once made as far fwd as Cheuguolles and of canal bank
by Major Webb & Lt Veale.
28/8/18   Further reconnaissances made (by Cpt Noedl and Lt Mott) as far as
Chuignes and Cappy, and (by Lts Veale and McGowan) along Canal to
Eclusier.
Unit moved to R 4 central in evening.
Bde group ordered to take over advance operns next morning. No. 4 Section (Lt
Mott) allotted to advance work, the remainder of coy being kept in hand for  
bridging work etc. INCO & 3 sappers, ^of No. 4 section were detailed with HQ of each of three
bns, specially to look out for mines, booby traps and trick bombs and take steps
to investigate and secure samples of water, and secure information generally.
Lt Mott with 2 sappers was to move with HQ of reserve bn, the remainder of
section with transport complete in rear of Bde HQ Major Webb was to be with Bde HQ
29/8/18.   These arrgts successfully put into practice. The NC0 parties joined
respective bn H.Q. before they moved up to deploying posns. Mott with his party
joined 25 Bn HQ at Becquincourt, Maj Webb accompanying to make a
forward reconnaissance. 7 Bde moved through 6^th Bde at 7.30 a.m. Enemy opposition
was by this time reduced to a mere rearguard action and tho shelling was heavy on the fwd area all
day it was obvious that the area to the Somme had been evacuated except for staunch m/g  parties.
This having become evident an effort to cross the Somme appd to be the next move and with the 
concurrence of brigadier Maj Webb proceeded to reconnoitre canal for crossings.
Maj Webb & Lt Mott ∧and his party proceeded to canal at 0 15 a 55. Shellfire was pretty
severe at this time enemy m/g and sniping fire active but the canal bank
when reached gave good protection. The bridge at 0 15 a 55 was found
still standing and on inspection appd quite sound. As a 77-mm gun
was shooting it up over the sights at abt 800 yds and a m/gun
playing direct down it at abt 400 yds the deck of the bridge and the corduroy
track on the farther side cd not be inspected very closely. Just at this time 
Salvoes off four from our own 4.5 hows landed with great precision within 50 yds
of the bridge with "quick burst" fire. These were repeated [in all abt 6 or 8 times]
and while getting out of the vicinity as quickly as poss Lt Mott, while still under the bridge, was
struck by pieces of shelI in the knee and with such force on the handle of his revolver as
completely to smash it. It was only with the greatest diffty that Mott was got across the 12ft
bridge which borders the canal, on an 8" tree trunk . . . . As the infy objective had
been named as the trench 400yds in rear of the canal, the canal was in xx NM Land and the greatest
caution had to be observed moving along it. Webb continued the reconn. No
further bridges were found ^over the canal except crossings for foot traffic at the lock
0 3 b 68 & rly bridge at I 33 d 72 damaged but fit for foot traffic.
The Somme river and marshes beyond the canal appd to be quite impassable
All haste was made to get this information back but bet between
constant delays by s/fire and attending to Mott the reconn. was not reported
till after 4 pm.

(2)

7 F Coy 
29/8/18 at 8 p.m. orders recd to put as many footbridges across Somme as poss.
and at least one bridge was guaranteed at 0 9 c 77 and another most prob at
0 9 b 47. As cork floats were not yet avail it was decided to use
pontoons to make the bridge. No 2 Section (Lt Veale) with 2 pontoons
complete moved off under Major Webb at 9.30 pm. Night was dark
with
some drizzle,  and some gas ^and constant desultory shelling, while tracks had xxx
not been reconnoitred at all near the Canal. However roads were found
in excellent conditn and with careful scouting and handling the waggons were
moved within 10 yds of the canal at O 9 c 60, some 5 miles, without
incident, and the stores offloaded. As the further bank of the canal had not been
patrolled by infy and the intermittent rattle of m/guns betokened the enemys
presence, the greatest caution and silence had to be maintained throughout the task.
The site having been selected, Lt Veale was left to carry out the work of
construction. This reqd first, the carrying the gear across the side
ditch to the canal, then floating or carrying it all some 400yds to the other
side, making bridge, and all the time maintaining a standing
patrol on the farther side of the canal.
Meanwhile the remaining transport of the Coy had been arranged for to take
sufficient cork floats to the canal for the second bridge. This transport [1 trestle
waggon and 4 limbers] was very ably guided over the same route by Sgt
Sorrel who had originally accompanied the pontoons. The cork
floats were found extremely bulky things to handle and took a great
deal of juggling to handle at all. These materials were landed at
the same spot at 3 a.m. which left but an hour or 1½ hrs to make bridge.
No. 2 Section, despite an 8-mile march in the morning in addition to the 5
miles the same night stuck to the job splendidly and made a passable
bridge by 4.30 am & completely finished by 5 a.m.  All the material for this had to be floated 1000 yds along canal.
In addition to the constant desultory HE shellfire, towards
morning the valley was bombarded with gas and men had to work in gas masks.
30/8/18 On morning of 30th Lt McGowan with details from No. 3 Sectn, reconnoitred
river across canal while No. 3 Section stood by at. 0 14 b 20 75
ready to make FA bridge if feasible in wake of infy attack. As the
whole Somme marshes were found utterly impassable, the section
returned to camp.
Abt 6 pm Capt Noedl with details from No. 3 section set out to reconnoitre
bridges in vicinity of Biaches and an exceedingly valuable report on bridges
in H 24b and d, and I 19 c and ?25 a was submitted. In order to get
this information a party had to patrol the farther bank of the canal which was still occupied
by the enemy. and had not been patrolled at all by our infy. The whole area
visited was harassed by s/fire, partic attention being paid to the
bridge sites. The work done by this reconn. party cannot o/estimated.
Arrgts were tentatively made with CRE during aftn to proceed with the restoration
of the crossing from H 24 d 79 to Halle and all preparns had been pushed ^well fwd, but this was
cancelled abt 7.30 p.m . However, complete reconn. report was sent on with estimate
of time reqd to make good the crossing for H.T.

(3)

7 F Coy
31/8/18  Maj. Webb and Lt  Kernaghan reconnoitred bridges near Biaches at
4.30 a.m. Attack by 5 Bde at 5 a.m. with corresponding heavy barrage and
retaliation. Reconnaissance continued & completed despite shelling.
Orders recd at 11.30 a.m.to be prepared to move at half an hours notice.
Arrgts were made immed for Nos. 2 & 3 Sections (Lts Veale & McGowan)
under Capt Noedl to proceed at once to make (a) as many
foot crossings as poss. good across Somme and canal in vicinity of
H 24 b and I 19 c by 4 p.m. (estimated); (b) crossing H 24 d 79
to Halle Wood  for H.T. as soon as feasible.
HQ and Nos 1 & 4 Sections to proceed via Feulleres bridge to I 7 c
Sgt Chatto & cyclists went ahead to select a camp at I 7 c and found whole
place much congested and severely shelled. In consequence transport and 
HQ. camped abt H 9 b 80 & Nos 1 and 4 ^Sections sappers only proceeded with
Lts Fidler & Kernaghan to H 12 .b 45. During evening shell
landed in bivouac killing one sapper and badly wounding
Lt Kernaghan, and ∧wounding Fidler. (Kernaghan d/o/w). Fidler
decided to remain with sappers.
Meanwhile Noedl's party proceeded to vicinity of bridge site and 
found this "exceedingly heavily" shelled. Noedl with small party
reconnoitered in face of murderous s/fire of all calibres and tho. he received
necy information two of his party of 4 were wounded. It was not until
3.30 pm that work cd ^be commenced on bridges & then the working
parties were harassed not only by intermittent bursts of
shellfire [all calibres to 8"] but were to subject to M/G fire from trenches 
in I 19 d and ? 26 a. One foot crossing was completed from
H 24 d 79 to I 19 a 36 to Halle by 4.30 p.m. and one from 
I 19 c 20 to J 19 a 36 to Halle by 5.30 p.m. This second
[*X*] bridge was a magnificent piece of work, some 1500 yds of bridging
in addition to other work being reqd over a flowing stream
10 ft deep and at a spot under direct observation. and M/gun
fire. Two casualties were suffered during these works. These
footways completed the parties prepared to go ahead with horse
traffic route but this was so heavily shelled intermittently that
despite attempt after attempt up to a late hour at night
the endeavour was finally postponed until morning, tho
pontoons were brought up & launched on the canal.
1/9/18  Not till 8.30 am. that work cd be commenced tho the parties were
standing by at 6 a.m. During evening Aug 31 one platoon of pioneers
arrived & were put on to ^end of bridge at H 24 b 73 while No 2 Sectn (7 F Coy) 
worked the opp. way & No 3 Sectn made crossing of canal at H 24 d 79
with pontoons.  In all complete crossing made at H 24 d 79 and eight
bays & piers completely remade ^on bridge at H 24 b 73. Whole crossing
fit for horse tpt by 6 p.m. despite parties being shelled off job
for ½ hour & the bridge being used extensively for foot traffic.

(4)

7 F Coy.
1/9/18 (contd) The work of 2 & 3 Sectns splendid as between marching & working they were
at it continually for 18 hrs a day for 3-4 days.
2/9/18 Lt. McGowan (now No. 4 Sectn) moved out with 3 OR's to reconnoitre
fwd area.
Advice & orders concg 7 Bde attack recd 8 a.m. Lt Fidler with 4 OR's
also proceeded to reconnoitre captd area. Both parties brought in
exceedingly valble informn re water, dugouts, roads etc.
Maj. Webb reconnoitred bridge at H 24 b 73 with view to
converting it to M/T.
4 3/9/18  Nos 1 & 2 ^No. 3 Sectns commenced converting bridge H 24 b 73 to M/T. at
6 p.m. Worked till dark.
4/9/18  Nos 1 & 2 Sectns began work at 5.30 am on H 24 b 73 bridge & with No. 3
Sectn worked on & off 11 hours each on job till 6 p.m. Traffic
constantly interfered with work & area shelled several times. The
bridge proved to be in a poorer way than had appeared & practically
the whole length (92 yds) had to be reconstructed. Bridge
5/9/18 completed 8 pm Sept. 5. Every man worked splendidly & several
to a standstill.

8 F Coy (Maj WG Farquhar)
War diary
26/8/18 The coy bridging equipment with one section complete with
transport was attached to the Div. Bridging Detachment under
Capt. J.P. Caddy. & moved under his orders
(But see 15 F Coy extracts for same day)
27/8/18  Bridging detachment disbanded.
28/8/18  Early in morning enemy began to retire. Reserve section of F Coy
moved & was engaged in clearing main road W of Foucaucourt of
fallen trees. 19 road mines removed. Two small craters
found to be blown in main road at approx M 28 d 84. Reserve
section moved fwd to make this passable for traffic.
Main metalled roads were found to be in good conditn, but
earthern tracks in nearly every case were overgrown &
impassable owing to the maze of trenches in area. Most of the village
wells destroyed but a few were found in valley in
M 15 & 16 not badly damaged & were put in order.
During afn instructns recd to detail one section for
Bridging Detachment which again formed
29/8/18  Advance very rapid. Beyond search for road mines
& reconn. on roads no attempt was made to search for and develop
wells as the line sections were instructed to keep well up to the infy
to assist in crossing the Somme if necy. 7 road mines removed
from Xroad at N 27 c 54 & 2 from road at N 33 c 47.
Main road blown at N 30 c 24, also at both Xroads in
V/Carbonnel. Party of sappers put on to clear a passage
around these.
Hostile shelling on the forward slope to the river was very heavy
during aftnoon & night of Aug 29. Reconn. showed that main
bridge at O 26 d demolished, also footbridge N. of this.
200 ft of cork floats ^for light footbridge brought fwd by motor lorry and dumped
on main road at N 30 c 24. After dark 160 ft of this was
taken down to Haplincourt by GS waggon & dumped close to the
stream, and a light footbridge was constructed across canal
at O 26 c 24, using portion of the old demolished bridge.
30/8/18 to 5/9/18  [Nothing of interest in diary]

(2)
8 F Coy (contd)
General note in diary-   Aug 1918
Rations have maintained their usual high standard, in
nothwithstanding the numerous moves, and difficulties
brought abt by the operns & distances advanced.

14 F Coy
War diary
15/8/18 to 21/8/18  Work of consolidating frontline posn taken over from 17 Div.
begun at once. This included the siting & constructn of a main
line of resistance as very little defensive work had been done. Line
extended from rear of Proyart to front of La Flaque.
14 Inf Bde supplied working parties. Shelling from long range
heavies very consistent. But shoots were chiefly
concentrated on old enemy dumps & very little
damage done.
The taping of the J.O. tape for 2 Inf Bde
was done by 14 F Coy. Lt FM Best and
Sapper Nankivell being responsible. The front
posts were accurately located by Sprs. Nankivell
& Roach the day before handing over to 2 F Coy.
During stay in this sector large engr dump at La Flaque
set on fire by enemy arty. Great work by No. 2 Section
in extinguishing fire & isolating burning stacks of timber.

15 F Coy
16/8/18. Coy moved off. arrived at Q 21 a 91 11 a.m. and took over ^shelters from 78 F Coy RE.
78 F Coy was doing practically no work in area except making reserve line
and would supply practically no informn. abt area.
17/8/18 O.C. [Capt. Caddy] visited GOC 15 Bde who said he did not xxxx intend
to do any trench work at present ^as idea is gradually to move forward and that accommodatn available was ample
Most import job was to put footbridge over Somme at R 2 a 98. to establish
[*quick communicatn
with Liaison Force*]
10 a.m. O.C. visited ^C.O. 57 Bn at R 1 c 66 & C.O. 59 Bn at R 1 d 94 & had
look at bridge & left forward area.
2 p.m. Lt Bullen instructed erect footbridge tonight & report on work necy
to repair existing bridge. Bullen & party from No. 4 Section
left at 8pm to do job.
18/8/18 8.30 a.m. O.C. saw GOC 15 Inf Bde who said he wanted two CTs dug
from R 9 b 03 to R 9 a 27 & from P 9 c 526 to R 5 d 82.
Saw. RE & he said Pioneers would dig CT's & we would mark them out. 
10 a.m. Instructed Lt Gibb to locate CTs. Spr R.S.C. Wilson
located front line & plotted it on map.
No. 4 Sectn working on footbridge
19/8/18 ^8.30 a.m. O.C. & Lt Bullen met CRE & Bde Maj 15 Bde & marked out posn.
of S/Ps to be dug along reserve line.
9.30 p.m. Lt Gibb marked out CT. & guided Pioneers to job.
Lt Jullen with No 4 Sectn and 180 men from Reserve Bn started
wiring reserve line.
22/8/18 5 pm. Lt Gibb proceeded to 15 Bde HQ and assisted in taping out
start line for 1st Aust Div.
26/8/18 2 p.m. Div Bridging Detachment formed & moved to ^vicinity of Morcourt
Verbal orders recd from CRE 5 p.m. to disband and sections retd to their
units.
28/8/18
C.E. Corps asked to mak

9 F Coy
War diary
28/8/18 No 4 Section erecting footbridges & repairing track for crossing at Suzanne
and crossing at Eclusier. Nos. 1, 2, 3 Sections making F. Arty route
& erecting bridges at Cappy. Men left camp 5 am & did not return till 8 p.m.
29/8/18 Nos. 2 & 4 Sectns moved fwd at 6.30 a.m. to G 16 c 90 95 &
commenced track & erection of footbridge from G 23 b 39 to G 24 c 24.
Remaing sections assembling material for bridges at Eclusier.
One bridge completed to take traffic up to & inclg 3 ton motor lorries.
30/8/18 Two sections began making route through Frise good for F. Arty. Route, however, was
not completed but left for foot traffic only in view of more important work.
Two sectns carrying on with motor lorry route across Somme at Eclusier- from 6.30 am to 9.30 p.m.
31/8/18 One section on motor lorry route at Feuilleres. Remaining
sections on motor lorry route at Eclusier.
1/9/18 One section constructing two bridges at Feuilleres, crossing for motor
lorries to make two-way route Remaining sections salving material
& constructing bridges for motor lorry route NE from Frise.
3/9/18 Bridges at Feuilleres completed.
4/9/18 Two sections on Frise bridges, other two sections salving material for them.
5/9/18 Bridges at Frise completed, thus making route for traffic up to
3-ton motor lorries across river & canal.
Reports on bridges. (Lt N. Johnson) 27/8/18.
G 25 b 44 road bridge Apparently lift bridge. Centre bay & two
shore bays demolished. Span 23'8". Shore bays 13', badly shattered.
G 25 b 44. N of road bridge. Light railway bridge, brick
abutments, span over canal 21'10". Demolished. Shore bay (S. side only),
23'9", badly shattered.
G 25 b 00 55. Steel bridge over stream. Superstructure and
brick abutments demolished. Span 13' 13'7".
G 25 b 00 55. Steel bridge over stream, brick abutments,
Superstructure demolished. Span 26'8"
L 30 a 55 70 Steel bridge over stream, brick abutments,
span 10'. Superstructure demolished. Abutments – south side
demolished, north side shattered
L 30 a 40 80. Remains of steel bridge over stream. Span 14½'