Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/281/1 - 1918 - 1933 - Part 10

14 F Coy (2)
running lengthwise, 3 ft wide, also one gap 5 yds
on canal.
No 2 (I26c50) 40 yds gap repaired over swamps similar
to No 1. Also 20 yds over canal bridged with logs 12”
diam. decked with duckwalks.
No. 3 (I32b51) Repairs to 8 gaps totalling 80 yds
of light trestle type bridge as in No. 1 over swamps
& gap 6 yds over Canal. Inundating gap cut in
back at I32a99 also blocked - 3^x long, 2^x wide,
and 1’6” under water. One coy of 5^th Pioneers held in
readiness to assist the coy but were not not called upon
until after capture of Peronne.
Casualties of coy heavy in Peronne operns but not
relatively to the importance of the operns.
14 F Coy
Orders for operns.
Lt Burrows (No 1 Sectn) attached to 56 Bn
Lt Shaw       (No. 2     “    )    "      "      "   54 Bn
Extracts from reports of Lt. A B Littler on bridges  1 & 2/9/18
(1)  Light floating footbridge in usable conditn H17d97. This connects

tow paths on either side of canal only.
(2) Crossing cd be erected over swamps H24A47 for foot traffic
with light trestles. Approx 200 yds water to be spanned
(3) H24d79. Existing traffic bridge has been demolished but cd be
restored with material available on site. At present
usable by foot traffic. Foot bridges across swamps in
continuation of this bridge are in posn. Old bridges suitable for 
horse tpt have been blown or are not yet completed.  Have gaps in
their N. end at H19a36.

14 F Coy (3)
(4) Old traffic bridge H19c13 blown but
footbridge in good order is in posn. Traffic bridge
cd be restored rapidly with material on site. x
Foot traffic route continues along E towpath of canal 
du Nord to N. end of route, into Halle at H19a36.
Germans have started erectn of traffic bridge H19a34 to
H19a35, 18 ft wide, it would require abt 3 days work to
make available for tpt. Both sites under fire.
(5) Footbridge in good order across canal I25b1
(6)  "       across canal H32b5(?) has gap of 30
Yds feet blown away.
(7) Complete and new foot track across swamp from H26c50
to H26c84 with exceptn of 20 yds at N. end.
This could be completed in 2 hrs with material on site.
(8) Footbridge across swamps from H32b53 to
H26d60. broken in several places.
Total gaps approx 50 yds.
(9) Towpath at H32b15 broken by shell or
bomb fire & water is flowing out of canal into
swamp. Gap 6 ft, head 1 ft.
Heavy shellfire started at 10.30 am on both
tracks and bridgeheads at N. end of tracks.

14 F Coy   (4)
Report by Lt G. Burrows. timed 5.50 pm 1/9/18.
Reconn of moat from I27b26 to I22c central
width abt 30 yds. Crossing I27b27
quite good for infy. 
Extracts
Report of Lt RA Shaw. (No 2 Sectn) attached
to 54 Bn. with object of making crossing of moat
N W of town.
Instructns recd 10 p.m. 31 Aug that operns cancelled.
but section to stand by.  At 3.30 am. recd orders from
Lt Col Marshall that amended operns to take place
6 am. and that sectn was to be attached to D Coy and move to
assembly posn with Coy, keeping behind them but in
touch during opern. This carried out and on reaching old
German line in I20d was instructed by
Capt Mitchell (OC D Coy) to remain there
till recd orders whether ∧he reqd any assistance.
Half an hour later I recd word that Germans had
blown bridge at I27c26 and that a footbridge
was reqd at spot. Moved sectn fwd and found that
moat there was nearly choked with debris and cd be
easily crossed. Put tempy footbridge across and
cut away banks on either side so that stretchers cd be
easily take across. As 54 Bn were by this time through
town, I withdrew sectn and sent report to Col Marshall.

14 F Coy (5)
Then withdrew moved sectn to (14 F Coy) Coy HQ at H34d75.
Cas. 1 killed, 6 wounded. 

Extracts from Reports of A/ O.C. 14 F Coy Capt RA Holmes.
First report (After summarising Lt Shaw's report)
56 Bn unable to advance E from S of Peronne. No 1
Sectn 14 F Coy therefore not called upon to do any bridging
but valble assistance rendered during day in
reconnoitring moat and trench systems round N side
of town.
Second report No 2 Sectn. moved with∧ordered ^by Capt Mitchell to move ^100 yds behind D Coy 54 Bn with fixed
bayonets to form second wave in attack. Owing to
heavy shellfire and M/G fire and very limited time to
assemble in JOT. there was some confusion
and the sectn [under Sgt. Griggs] formed right flank of
D Coy and advanced with infy and practically at same
[*※
? of D Coy*] time ∧x or with first wave.^※ Lt Shaw accompied
Capt Mitchell who moved in centre of his coy.
When D Coy had reached & taken
enemy front line trenches Mitchell instructed Shaw
to remain with his section till reqd.
No 1 Sectn (Lt Burrows & 22 men) attached to 56 Bn, moved
to where A & B Coys assembled. Burrows & 11 O.R. attached to 
B Coy (Capt Mann); Cpl Funnell & 11 O.R. attached to A Coy (Capt.
Dalkeith). Moved fwd with coys till advance checked. Whole

14 F Coy (6)
Sectn then took cover in sunken road. Burrows went fwd ½
mile and make reconn. of moat and trench systems round N. of Peronne.
When Coys moved into Peronne sectn moved with them.

Spr Ring (No 2 Sectn) acted promptly when LG crew of 54 Bn
put out of action. Volunteers called for. He picked up gun and started
firing at enemy M/G that was causing trouble. He aftwds went fwd with
infy and retd to the section with message from Capt Mitchell.
Spr Greshner also went fwd with infy and captd ∧a few
prisoners in Peronne.

15 F Coy (Maj. H Greenway)
29/9/18. Reconn. by Lt GL Bullen.
Crossed Somme at O26d24 on remains of timber
trestle bridge. This is down but alongside there has been a small
tramway bridge which altho blown could be crossed by Infy at E side
of Somme.
Timber & iron bridge over mill race, abt 30 ft span,
O26d34. Blown but Infy can cross on debris.
E of this again are two bridges Warren-girder & timber
bridge also. All blown but crossable by infy, decking
intact, might be used in places for tpt.
Bullen crossed back again & went N up W sub
bank of canal - there have been several footbridges, & there is
sunken barge at O26d56, about centre of stream.
Footbridges are not passable.
Road along W bank good macadamised. Wd
carry MT. Has not been knocked abt.
Running from abt O26b20 ^N to E in sequence are
Road, Retaining Wall, Railway, Tow Path,
Canal. Tow path neglected but passable
At O21a12 stumps of footbridge

To CRE.
30/8/18 Cork bridge material taken down by 8 Bde GS waggons
to O32a84 just on S side Haplencourt Rd &
dumped 300 yds ahead of infy posts. Useless pulling
material in water as infy were 300 yds behind and wd not
provide any covering party - & unless the bridgehead was
watched it would have been absurd to put it in.
Bridge reported by you as being formed by Infy at

15 F Coy (2)
O26d24 was improved and is now quite good for infy
to pass. This was the bridge which Lt Bullen passed over.
yestdy. Here again infy are 300 ^300-400 yds behind and are not
watching the bridge. Lt Brain, who improved the
bridge, reported it OK direct to 31 Bn on his way
back. Infy do not appear to be actually on the river
31/1/18
Report to CRE
7.10 a.m. In accord with your instructns got in touch with OC 14 F Coy who
gave me two sections with 2 officers, to assist 6 coy. Pioneers
supplied 100 men. Lt Burrows sent to dump
H31a12 to supervise loading and despatch of material
Lt Gibb entrusted with transportg material to two dumps
and with the subsequent delivery from these dumps to the two track
sites f selected. Lt Midelton to reconnoitre & push
a track through O3 & Lt Littler to push a track through
within the area bounded by O9 central and O15 central.
Lt Bullen & Midelton located bet point from O3d32
to O3d81.
Lt Littler accompanied by Lt M^cGowan (7 F Coy)
found that our line was curved back round the small wood
in O8d. Infy not desirous of the developmt of a track
from the intact F. Arty bridge at O15a central. They
also stated that it was out of their area and too far south
Consequently Littler commenced to develop a track from
O9c 8565 where light pontoon bridge placed
on night 29/30 Aug by 7 F Coy.
By 1.15 am Lt Gibb had off loaded material
from waggons and was proceeding with carrying it by the ^aid of Pioneers to E side

3
of canal, feeding both Lt. Littler & Midelton
Midelton found old tramway on piers at
O 3d 4 2.  He prepared 70 yds of it to carry
duckboards laid on rails. E'wards from this runs
pathway abt 100 yds long through avenue of trees; from then
onwards is gap over water where enemy had had
bridge but destroyed it. Intended bridge this is with
cork piers. Suffic. duckboards and 30% cork piers have been
carried on to job.
Cork bridge at O9b2565 over canal gives access to the
above track.
Lt Littler laid 120 yards bridging duckboards

temply on marshy ground E from canal at
existing light pontoon bridge O9c8065.
31/8/18. Further reconn. of N track which will run across canal at Cork
Pier bridge O9b2565 thence 500 yds Northwards along E
bank of Canal 500yds.  From this point track runs.
eastward across swamp along old Decauville bridge
now fixed up to take duckboards, thence runs through
avenue of trees to pond of swamps which we expect to
bridge tonight. ......
Lts Gibb & Midde Midelton have seen Capt
Peacock 57 Bn who is opposite this proposed track.
Midleton will endeavour to ferry patrol of Peacocks
Coy across pond, while bridging is in progress, in a
collapsible boat. We have supplied 8 collapsible boats

4.  15 F Coy
on this front.
Lt Bullen exploiting track from Light Pontoon
bridge at O9c76.
The FA bridge at O15a central has now been [[large?]]
smashed by by shellfire.
Do not guarantee Bullen's track but have every
expectation of success with Midelton's.
Capt Caddy's report. 2/9/18. of reconnaissance of road through Peronne and bridges.
500 yds from main road bridge is deviation to S.E. to avoid 2 bridges main on main road which have been
destroyed. This deviation passes over a 60 ft "A" class girder bridge and
there is also a timber trestle bridge alongside and Decauville track all in good
condition. Six more charges placed on centre pier of girder bridge were
removed.
Greenways report to CRE, 12 midnight 2/9/18
Progress on first bridge entering Peronne after the bridge we built last
night - these 25 ft girders 15" x 6" & quantity of timber ready for work in
morning. Job requires fair amt of sapper labour and blocks and tackle for launching
girders. .. .. . ..  GOC 15 Inf Bde has asked that road from O2a92
La Maisonette to I31b25 be made fit for motors. In my opinion this is
entirely unnecessary in view that road from Barleux to Orine Barleux is
impassable most of the way [there is an earth track xxx along it certainly] and trench is
dug down middle of it. My opinion is that all road work should be confined to main
circuit roads; if these are made good, other tracks, partic here are unimportant.
As wet weather may come at any time consider work of main metal circuit is
highly important.
3/9/18.^Greenway to CRE.  Work on Gibbs' track not highly satisfacty last night, as
track does not strike dry land for some way ahead yet.  It had run
into roads and swamp and they cannot tell how far they have to go until a
further daylight reconn is carried out.
Gibb and his section carrying on with second roadbridge today.
I am also fixing up second Railway Bridge this morning in endeavour to
allow Infy to pass easily over to Flamicourt.

5    15 F Coy.
Greenways report to CRE on
Reconn. by Lt. Midelton W. Gibb 3/9/18
No sign of mines at bridges I33b62. Road bridge
at I33b41 progressing satisfactorily, one abutment
completed and carrying on with second. All debris on S
approach of bridge removed.
[*Gibb's report
to Greenway
(extracts)
3/9/18*]
Railway bridge at I33d75 completed and ready for infy traffic
Have made reconn. of bridges at I33b31 and did not
discover any mines. They have been removed by somebody else as the boxes which held the
explosive were there empty.
[*extracts
Greenway,
message to
Caddy
(extracts)
3/9/18*]
CRE cut out job of Gibb's track himself this evening. ....
Cork pier bridge O9b2565.
Light pontoon  " O9c76.

In H17b F.A. bridge through Clery
Feuilleres bridge is for M.T.
Bridges in G4a, G5a, G6c & d are for F.A.
Footbridge for infy over moat at I27b26.  x
Road bridge into Peronne I33d49
Road into Peronne I33b41 M.T. horses
[* 1 pm 4/9/18
Report to CRE.*]  There is no obstruction to main road through Peronne through Fbg. de Bretagne
except for debris from demolished houses, and there is no bridge as far xx
as I22d63. As regards Causeway between Peronne &
Flamicourt, there is a broken bridge broken down. . . .
It is not poss to get along Causeway at present, since it is under
direct M/G fire from Flamicourt Station . . .  Not advisable to
attempt cleaning up debris in streets of Peronne at present,
as heavy M/G fire is experienced down all side streets from Flamicourt
[*5/9/18
Report to CRE.*]  Reconn. by Lt Midelton. Peronne-Doignt Road O.K. 13 mines
removed at I28a29. - ordinary metal box mines.
Barricade at I28a 08 of metal & timbers. Transport can pass
round this. . . . .