Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/281/1 - 1918 - 1933 - Part 9

4.
CRE. 5 Div. (cntd). War diary
Approaches to M.T. bridge at I 33 d 49 completed & fit for M.T.
15 F Coy wired for various stores in connectn with bridges across Somme
into Peronne. They also reported that sufficient girders and decking
for a M.T. bridge at I 33x b. 25 had been carried to the site.
On a report from the 15. F Coy on the second track across the swamp, it was
decided that it was not practicable to complete it or build in more tracks there for the
present.  Div. was notified of this and was asked to guard the existing track at O 3 d 81.
4/9/18. 15 F. Coy early in morning reported the bridge at I 33 b 35 completed.
for M.T.
It was decided to disband the bridging section. forthwith.
5/9/18 At abt 8.30 a.m. informn recd from O.C. 15 F Coy that troops of 15 Bde
were on the E side of the Somme Canal. 15 F Coy also reported conditn of
bridge on the road from Peronne to Flamicourt.
CRE, in company with O.C. 8 F Coy visited MT bridge across Canal
and swamps due W. of Halle, being constructed by 2 Div. Engrs.  Also inspected
the two roads which enter Peronne from the N.W side & across the moat. The more
easterly of these roads found to be a two-way road in excellent conditn,
being simply obstructed by a very large barricade.  This barricade
was removed by 5th Pioneers the same afternoon.  The more westerly
road contained gap of 52 ft where the original road bridge

 5
CRE. 5 Div. (contd) War diary
across the moat had been destroyed by enemy.
15 F Coy reported bridge under the road between Peronne
& Flamicourt passable for F Arty.

CRE. 5 Div  Appendices
5.30 p.m. 29/8/18. CRE to 5 Div. & to CE Aust Corps
Report of reconn. by Lt Bullen 15 F Coy.
[*Brie*]
Crossed canal at O 26 d 24 on remains of light rly bridge
alongside demolished main road bridge. Infy can get over this way.
Due E of this bridge is demolished timber bridge (30' span) over mill race
at O 26 c 34. Infy can cross on debris.  E. of this again are a
Warren-Girder bridge and a timber bridge over small streams, all
demolished but passable to infy.  Decking intact, bridge might be
cribbed up later.
Bullen their recrossed to W. bank of canal & went N.
There have been several footbridges but all destroyed & not passable.
Sunken barge at O 26 b 56 in centre of canal which might help as a
crossing place.
Copy of message from CR.E. (Mather) 10.15 p.m. 30/8/18
[to whom addressed not stated
& unable to gather by ref. to diary.]
[*Att. for
Forcing
Xg off!*]
After orders (my own pencilled ones) had gone out to you by motor cyclist
the GOC arrived back and said everything was off. so far as deliberate attack in
force is concerned, until further order.  I got this informatn at abt 8.30 pm so it was
quite imposs. to stop waggons or Pioneers reporting. However GOC stated that
the Bde was to carry xx on with vigorous patrolxxx work. and would require footbridges
so perhaps the stuff will get near the river OK.  I am rather anxious though
unless you have been able to stop them about waggons even in the dark trying to get
near the river.
4/9/18. CRE to 5 Div HQ & to CE Corps
After careful daylight reconnaissance made by Lt.G.B.
Morrison.  14 F Coy (who climbed trees at various points
along E  bank of Somme Canal), it is found impracticable to
make further tracks S. of rly bridge across the extensive
swamps at present.  The footbridge at O 3 d 81 is still
intact and it would be advisable to have some infy protection for this bridge to
prevent its destructn by the enemy.  There is no guard there at
present.

CRE. 5 Div.  Report 27/31 Aug 1918
Extracts
There was no special preparatory work beyond accumulation of
water supply stores by F Coys, and repair of all principal roads by Pioneers.
A large number of wells discovered..
All roads in good condition, except for craters which were repaired.
18 land mines removed from road in Foucaucourt.
200 ft of cork float bridge deposited at site of Brie bridge.
Bridge at O 26 d 24 improved to take infy.
120 yds footway constructed over Somme swamps at O 3 d 32
Eastwards.
Condition of bridges. 29/8/18. (by (report by 8 F Coy)
O 15 a 65 to O 15 a 55 30.  Demolished.  All piles sheared off
close to water.
0 21 a 25 65  ditto
O 26 d 24  Although blown, can be crossed by infy
Haplincourt, light rly bridge still intact at 10 a.m.
Extracts from Report of CRE 5 Div  1/2 Sept 1918
8 F Coy. in reserve with 8 Inf Bde.  But one section of coy assisted 15 F Coy
with bridge work
14 F Coy. One section assisted 15 F Coy on bridge work.  Repairs to footbridges
across Somme & swamps W. of Peronne carried out, & one floating
timber bridge in canal was moved from I 25 a 66 to I 25 b 11. to join up
with footbridge across swamp at St. Radegonde.  No engineer work was found
necy by section with 54 Bn so I returned to F Coy by 3 pm on Sept 1.
Section with 56 Bn erected footbridge over debris in moat at .I 27 b 26
where main road bridge had been destroyed.
15 F Coy  Completed footbridge over 400yds of Somme & swamps in O 3 d.
requiring total of 180yds of bridging, passable for infy in file.
Completed bridge at 1 33 d 49 fit for F. Arty by 12.30 a.m. Sept 1st
& for M.T. later same day.  Completed reconn. of roads through Peronne, & of
heavy bridges still intact at 1 33 b 29.  xx Six demolition charges
removed from these bridges.  Completed footbridges across debris of demolished
railway bridges leading across swamps SW of Flamicourt & over
demolished road bridge at I 33 b 44.
5^th Pioneer Bn. carried out repair & maintenance of principal roads & further

CRE 5 Div  (contd)
Report of 1/2 Sept 1918
reconnaissance & reports on advanced roads.  Regrading. of approaches
to deviation bridge for M.T. at I 33 d 49.  Assisted with men, and
transport of material, in the construction of footbridges across Somme, W & S
of Peronne.
The whole div. Engr. pontoon equipment was standing by (under Capt J.P. Caddy)
on waggons, ready for immed despatch where it might be reqd, but no
occasion to use it arose during these operns.
After the div. had reached the line of the Somme, S. of Peronne,
elaborate preparns. were made for bridging.  The 5 Div. then suddenly
sidestepped & consequently the time spent in engineer preparns, and
the material transported to the sites, were lost
The cork-float footbridge material supplied from the Base was found to be
too cumbersome "in its present form".  But is an excellent idea, as it
cannot be sunk by rifle or M/gun fire.  "If a more compact and
collapsible form were used, a great many more sets cd be
transported in a lorry."
Extracts from report on 5/9/18 operatns.
8 F Coy completed reconn. of roads, dumps & rlys, and developed
wells & removed landmines from main road NE of Peronne.
14 F Coy in reserve
15 F Coy Constructed bridge fit for F. Arty at I 28 c 29
connecting Peronne & Flamicourt, at site of demolished bridge, by
3.55 pm on Sept 5.  Removed 13 road mines fr at
I 28 a 29 (main Peronne Road).  Built track for foot traffic
across Somme swamps at O 3 b 76. Eastward from Canal Lock.
Repaired bridge in Doingt & made it fit for M.T.  Reconnoitred
& reported on wells, materials, roads, etc.
5 Pioneer Bn 4/5 Sept.  Cleared main Peronne & Biaches roads
& filled in many large shell craters.  Regraded approaches to
M.T. bridge at I 33 d 49.  Removed large obstacle of carts,
wire, telegraph poles & other debris erected by Germans across
main road into Peronne at I 21 d 50.  Reconnoitred
captured roads. 

CRE. 5 Divn
(Nothing of any interest between 13 & 21 Aug 1918)
8 F Coy.
Report ^(by Lt. Hopton) on Somme bridges between Vavie & Pioneer Bridge at Cerisy.
No. 1  Heavy Inglis over Somme, 108 ft long.  3 ton lorries. (I 26 c 12)
No. 2.  Over ditch North of River 10' span, 9'6" wide.  All loads
except tanks  (I 26 c 12)  Six 12" x 12" timber bearers.
No. 3.  Alongside No. 2.  Span 10'.  10' road width.  All loads
except tanks  (I 26 c 12)  Steel girders
No. 4  Barrel pier, over Somme, footbridge.  7 piers each of 4
barrels, length 66'  Width 4'6".  Needs repair.
(J 27 c 90)
No. 5.  Over ditch N. of Somme.  Single span, 18'.   8'6" road
width.  Bearers six 12" x 12" timbers.  3 ton lorries.
(J 34 b 42)
No. 6.  Over ditch N. of Somme.  Single span 16'.  Road
width 10 ft.  Load,  3 ton lorries.  (J 34 b 06)
No. 7.  Over Somme.  126' long.  8 equal bays on heavy timber
trestles.  10 parallel 8" steel girder bearers.
10' road width.  Load 3 ton lorries dead slow.
(J 34 b 06)
No. 8.  Foot bridge over Somme, built of half pontoons.  5 spars
of 15'.   5' road width.  (P. 6 d 29).
(The concrete tow path bridge near here has been demolished
and needs repair or reconstruction to make tow path
trafficable)
No. 9.  Pontoon bridge over Somme.  Five 15' bays.  9' road.
Load F.A.  (Q 1 c 17).
No. 10.  Over ditch N. of Somme.  Single span, brick arch
reinforced with 18" steel girders.  Span 14'.  All loads
(Q 1 a 02). 

2.
8 F Coy  (contd)
No. 11.  Over Somme.  Single span 20 ft.  Road width 10ft.
Two bearers 18" steel girders.  All loads.
(Q. 1 c 37)
No. 12.  Over Somme.  20'  single span.  10' 6" road width.
Seven 12" log bearers.  All loads except tanks.
(Q 1 c 37)
No. 13.  Over ditch S. of Somme.  Single span 18'.  10' road
effort.  Two bearers 18" steel girders.  All loads.
(Q 1 c 37)
No. 14  Over ditch S. of Somme.  25'  single span.  12' 6" road
width.  Eight 12" x 12" squared timber bearers.
Load F.A.  (Q 1 b 92)
No. 15.  Over ditch S. of Somme.  27' long in three 9' spans
on 6" piles.  Road width 8' 6".   Load F.A.
(Q 2 b 78).
No. 16.  Over millstream.  15' span, 16' wide, 3' steel
brick arch,  9" steel girders.  All loads.
(Q 3 a 07)
No. 17  Bridge over Somme.  32' long.  8'3" road width.
Load 3 ton lorries dead slow.  (Q 2 b 89)
No. 18.  Footbridge over Somme.  60' long x 3' 6".  Single
span of felled logs. . (Q 3 a 29)
No. 19.  Footbridge over Somme.  Mixed trestles and felled
logs.  60' x 4' 6".  (Q 3 a 96)
No. 20.  Footbridge over Somme.  65' Long, made of tree
trunks.  Still trafficable but in poor order.
Nort Not worth repair.  Width 3'.  (Q 3 b 23)
No. 21.  Footbridge over marsh.  40' long, felled logs.
2'6" wide   Good order.  (Q 3 b 81)
No. 22.  Footbridge over Somme.  Good order.  Ten spans on
trestles.  65'. long, 3' 6" wide.  (Q 3 b 50)
No. 23.  Footbridge over marsh.  Good repair.  Two spans, each 25'.
3' wide.  (Q 3 d 76)
No. 24.  "Pioneer" Bridge.  Single span, steel girder bridge
Load marked on bridge, "17 tons sur / Essien".  Span 67'.  Road width
9'6" 

3

8 F Coy  (contd)
Report ^(19/8/18) on Somme bridges upstream from Iron bridge at
Q 3 d 95. (cannot decipher officer's name)
Q 4 c 04.  German bridge.  Heavy trestle.  Rough timber.  Over Canal.
60' span.  Road width 18'.  Take anything except tanks.  good condition.
Q 10 d 53  ) Light footbridges across swamps:  I5' span.  3' wide.
Q 10 d 9.0.) Good condition.
Q 10 d 44.  Punt footbridge.  2 punts.  30' x 8' x 3'.  Over canal.
60' span, 3' wide.  Good condition.
Q 5 d 31.  German pontoon bridge, 4 boats.  Over Canal.  60' span.
12 wide.  Take field guns.  Good condition
Q 5 d 76 )  Two timber bridges on 4 steel joists.  Over streams.
Q 5 d 85 )  12' long, 10' wide.  Take fieldguns.  Good condition.
Decking old & requires attention for much traffic.
Requires general overhaul.
K 35 d 99.  Steel & Timber.  Single span trussed.  Over canal
at Lock, Mericourt. 21' long, 8' wide.  Take M.T.
Main road bridge, rebuilt, 19/8/18.
K 35 d 99.  Brick arch, over Canal ditch.  8' , 12' wide.
Take any load.
K 36 a 11 Timber bridge, over ditch.  30' span.  10' wide.
Take field guns.
K 35 d 59 ) Two light timber bridges.  0 First, 30' span.  Second,
K 35 c 97 )  20' span.  Both 4' wide.  Take horses.  These
bridges are over on line of track over swampy ground
K 29 d 32.  Remains of old stone bridge over stream, &
damaged wooden bridge (military).  45' span.  10' wide.
Both impassable.  Stone bridge blown, Timber bridge
smashed by shellfire.  Shellfire on these bridges is
continuous & accurate & any replacing probably be useless

4 -
8. F Coy (contd)
K 30 c 28.  Weir footway over sluices from Canal to stream.
20' span,  2' wide.  Foot traffic.  Good condition
K 30 b 82  Light timber footbridge over Canal. 60' span. 18" wide.
Foot traffic. Very rough, but serviceable.
3 punts 30' long, 8' wide, 3' deep. at N. bank, ready
to swing.
K 25 c 93  Light timber footbridge over Canal.  60' span,
18" wide.  Very rough but serviceable.
(1 punt forms portion of bridge)
K 32 c 43  Light timber bridge over Canal.  60' span, 18" wide.
K 31 d 94  Footbridge over ditch.  I5 span, 3' wide.
To path over swampy ground.
Standard bridges along towpath, width of towpath, 10'
span. timber deck, on . . . & steel girders.  Take any
load except tanks, all in food conditn, at Q 10 d 43,
Q 5 b 66,  L 25 c 93.
War diary 8 F Coy
Work carried out between .16 & 20 Aug. by coy included :-
The continuation of a 21' span girder bridge to carry
M.T. at K 35 d 99
Erection of Div. baths & horse troughs.
Gas proofing & improving Div Arty HQ
Completion of light pile footbridge at Q 3 d 69.
Dismantling & re^-erection farther forward of Div H.Q.
Salvaging of 3 ton lorry which had gone through medium pontoon
bridge at Vavre sous Corbie & dismantling of bridge
clearing of fallen trees from tow path in Q 2
Reconnaissance of dugouts in Div. area
  ..                             ..  all bridges over Canal between Vavie & front line

14 F Coy

War diary
30/8/18  One sectn assisted 15 Coy to lay footbridges across Somme
Operns being cancelled, these were not used.
31/8/18  Actg O.C. 14 F Coy (Capt RA Holmes) attended conference 1.30 pm
between G0C 14 Inf Bde & bns cdrs at which arrgts made for
two sections ^(Nos 1 and 2) to be respectively attached to 56 Bn & 54 Bn. in attack.
These sections to be responsible for bridging moat surrounding Peronne
and also the Cologne River.
The preparns for the attack were ordered at "extremely short notice" and the
change at last moment of direction of 14 Bde attack threw an
"enormous burden" on 14 F Coy.  Lt G Burrows supervised loading of
bridging material at Flancourt. wi This included numbers of cork floats
- collapsible boats & superstructure etc.
15 F Coy under authority of CRE obtd services of Lt Littler & No 3
Sectn for bridging Somme Canal & swamps S .of Peronne.
Message recd from CRE advising cancellation of attack, but
preparns still to go on with all haste for footbridges to assist infy
patrols of cross canal.
Capt Holmes reported to GOC 14Bde 11.30. at Quarry H 11 a
& informed that Bde was to move N of Somme at Clery & attack Peronne
from NW. through 2 Div area.  14 F Coy to assist infy to cross moat
& also Cologne R. on NE outskirts of Peronne.  As no information
avail re waterways, problem of establishing a crossing
extremely chang hazardous as advance exposed.
14 Bde conference held at 2pm near Clery (H 17 c 55).
The sappers were already moving forward with no definite orders.
Orders were handed to officers en route at 3 p.m.  Tools were
carried to on pack animals to this point and thence by sappers.
1/9/18  Difficulties encountered.  Cologne R. was not bridged as it was neither
crossed nor captured during first stages of attack. The crossing of the
moat & other footbridges were, however, repaired. These had been
blown by enemy.
2/9/18  Somme crossings further improved.  Total length of footbridges
repaired on 1 & 2 Sept as follows:-
No. 1 (I 25 b 02) 40 yds gap bridged with light trestles and planks