Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/282/1 - 1918 - 1940 - Part 3

[* 6

August 1918 *]

Instructions regarding War Diaries and Intelligence

Summaries are contained in F. S. Regs., Part II,

and the Staff Manual respectively. Title pages

will be prepared in manuscript.

WAR DIARY

         or

INTELLIGENCE SUMARY

(Erase heading not required.)

Army Form C. 2118.

          Place  |  Date  |  Hour  |  Summary of Events and Information  |  Remarks and 

                       |             |             |                                                                           | references to

                       |             |             |                                                                           | Appendices

 

CERISY Gailly    9          5 50        As the attack on the left did not appear to be going too well

the G. O. C. 1^st Bde directed me to find out the NCO's who

had patrolled the village earlier on the morning to see what

the position was. The party CQMS HAYES. Sgt ANDREWS Ptes KANE

FUllER, TURPIN & STEPHENS moved across bridge at extreme W

of CHIPPIlly got into touch with British joined them for a time

until when they were given orders to return our patrol.

moved on, alive captured 60 prisoners & 11 machine guns &

in addition inflicted heavy losseson the Germans -

???????. a letter received from Capt Berrell D Coy 2/10 London

Regt complimenting the patrol on its good work

[* [?] *]

attached VII)

The patrol with prisoners returned to our lines at 9 30 pm

conspicuous gallantry during these operations was shown

by CQ ms. HAYES Sgt  ANREWS PTES FULLER & KANE all

of C Coy Report on Operation appendix 8

D. D. & L., London, E.C.

(A7883) Wt. W809/M1672  350,000 4/17 Sch. 52a   Forms/C/2118/14

 

11303.
[* T - *]

14 June 1939.
Captain G. B. Withy, M.C.,
59, Anthony Street,
Ascot, N.E.2,
Brisbane. Q'land.
Dear Captain Withy,
In dealing with the operations at Chipiily on
August 9th, 1918, I have come across a reference in the 1st
Battalion war-diary to a letter that was received from a
company commander (Captain Berrell) of the 2/10th London
Regiment appreciative of the work done by a patrol led by
C. Q. M.S. Hayes. Unfortunately the letter is not attached
to the diary, and, as I would particularly like to see it 1f
it has breen preserved, I am wondering 1f you happen to have
it or a copy of it. 1f so, I should be grateful if you would
lend it to me for a few days. I have been in touch with Mr.
Hayes but he hasn't a copy of the letter and suggested that I
should write to you.
Yours faithfully,
C. E. W. Bean
Official Historian.
[* Hotel Clarence

Maclean NSW

[?] *]

London Gazette 1/2/19.
Award of DSO to Capt. J. S. T. Beviell
7 Bn London Regt, attached 2/10th Bn.
On 9 Aug 1918, when in command of a support company,
the battalion was suffering heavy casualties, and their
advance held up by direct machine & sun fire from
Chipilly Spur, and enfilade fire down the
valley. He worked his company forward
and seeing the nest of enemy machine guns
which was causing most of the casualties, with a handful
of men rushed through the village, which had not
been cleared, under heavy shell and direct fire
at close range, capturing eight guns and over
50 prisoners. He then signalled to the
assaulting troops, and leading the remainder of his
party over the spur, established himself in the
final objective His daring lead, quickness
and total disregard of danger were mainly
responsible for the capture of the ridge.
 

13317.

19 June 1939.

Captain C. B. Withy, M.C.,

c/o Eagers Retail Pty. Ltd.

Primary Building,

cnr. Crock & Adelaide Streets,

Brisbane. Q'land.

Dear Captain Withy, 

I have to thank you for your letter about the patrol
led by C.Q.M.S. Hayes at Chipilly on August 9th, 1918. I at
once got into touch with Lieutenant Boardman, and also with
the late Lieut.-Colonel Mackenzie's sister (Mrs. Slade), but
without achieving any success. Unfortunately Colonel Mackenzie’s
papers, or the greater part of them, were destroyed some months
ago, but Mrs. Slade has promised to go through those remaining
to see if Captain Berrell's Letter, or a copy of it, happens to

be among them.
I am also asking Judge Stacy and Mr. D. E. Goldrick if
they happen to possess a copy of the letter, or even know the
terms of it.

Yours sincerely,

C. E. W. Bean

Official Historian.

 

11319.
20 June 1939.
D. E. Goldrick, Esq.,
72 Junction Road,
Wahroonga. N.S.W.
Dear Sir,
In dealing with the operations, at Chipilly on August
9th, 1918. I have come across a reference in the 1st Battalion
diary to a letter that was received from a company commander
(Captain Berrell) of the 2/1Otn London Regiment appreciative of
the work done by a patrol Led by C.Q.M.S. Hayes. Unfortunately
the letter is not attached to the diary, and, as I, would
particularly like to see it if it has been preserved, I am
wondering if you happen to have it or a copy of it. If so, I
should be grateful if you would lend it to me for a few days.
I have been in touch with Mr. Hayes and Mr.-Boardman,
Also with Major Withy, but none of them has a copy of it.

unfortunately, the late lieutenant-Colonel Mackenzie’s papers, or
the greater part of them, were, destroyed some months, ago, but his
sister, has promised to go through those remaining to see if the
letter happens, to be among them. I. shell also get into touch

with Colonel Stacy, when he returns to Sydney this week, for I am
anxious to try all possible sources in the hope of locating the
Letter.

Yours faithfully,

C. E. W. Bean

Official Historian.
P.S. If you haven’t a copy of the letter,
it is just possible that you remember the 
terms of it.
 

11320.

20 June 1939.

Lieut.-Colonel B. V. Stacy, C.M.G., D.S,O.,

23 Kent Road
Rose Bay. N.S.W.

Dear Stacy,

In dealing with the operations at Chipilly on
August 9th,1978, I have come across a reference in the 1st
Battalion diary to a letter that was received from a company
commander (Captain Berrell) of the 2/10th London Regiment
appreciative of the work done by  patrol Led by C.QM.S. Hayes.
Unfortunately the letter is not attached to the diary, and, as I
would particularly like to see it if it has been preserved, I
wondering if you happen to have it or a copy of it. If so, I
should be grateful if you would lend it to me for a few days.
I have been in touch with Mr. Hayes and Mr. Boardman,
and also with Major Withy, but none of them has a copy of it.
Unfortunately, the Late Lieutenant-Colonal Mackenzie’s papers
or the greater part of them, were destroyed some months ago, but
his sister has promised to go through those remining to see if
the letter happens to be among them. I have also written to
Mr. Goldrick in case he has a copy of, 

Yours sincerely,

C. E. W, Bean

Official Historian.

P.S. If you haven't a copy of the letter,
do you happen to remember the terms of it.
 

1
1/7/39
HN.
15t Bn at Chipilly
9 Aug 1915
Dear Dr Bean

Colonel Stacy brought in the original of
Capt Beviell's message of appreciation of the work of
C.Q.M.S. Hayes and his men at Chipilly on 9 Aug 1918.
It is scrawled over a whole sheet torn from his
field message book - the paper is rather thin and
a trifle worn, but the writing (in pencil) is
quite clear. I have locked it in the safe for the
time being, and enclose a copy herewith. I am
sending another to Treloar. Would you like me
to send one to Gen-Edmonds also? If so, perhaps
you would send me down a covering note to so
with it.
Unfortunately Col. Stacy does not know
where the second page - and there must surely
have been a second page - containing the
names of the "following N.C.O.'s & men" is today.
He cannot even say for certain that there was a
second page or if he ever had it. He was
away from the battalion for a few days at the
time and was handed Beviell's message on
his return.
 

[* Aug 9, 1918

HN *]

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
NORFOLK ISLAND.
11th March, 1940.
Dr. C. E. W. Bean,
Historian,
Victoria Barracks
PADDINGTON. N.S.W.
Dear Dr Bean,
I have your letter of 4th January, but
an afraid I am not able to answer your question with
any degree of certainty.
1 shall be visiting Australia in May next
and will confer with General Miles in the hope that we
both together may be able to provide the information you
seek, and will later see you in Sydney.
I am quite sure my wounded arm had nothing
to do with my presence or absence from the conference,
and if I was not present there must have been some other
good reason for my absence.
World conditions are certainly tragic, and
one eats out ones heart in isolation here.
Certainly we have something of interest in
preparing defences for the Island apart from General Administration

matters, but all the time I long to be overseas.
Still we must do our job in whatever sphere
seems most suitable.
Kind regards to yourself and Mrs Bean.
I notice your daughter is to be or was
recently married. How the years fly by.
Sincerely yours,
Charles Rosenthal
Major-General
Administrator.
 

11523
 4th January 1940
Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal,
K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., V.D.,
Government House
NORFOLK ISLAND
My dear Rosenthal,
You will remember that on the Second
day of the Battle of Amiens (9th August 1918) when your
2nd. Division attacked through the 5th towards Framerville,
the time for its attack was fixed at 4 p.m.
This was apparently arranged at a conference
at 7th Brigade H.Q., near Warfusee, that morning (9 or 10 a.m.).
Neither official diaries nor yours show
the reason for choosing that time. You were then still
feeling the effects of your wound, and Miles thinks he
represented you at the conference, or else went up to
represent you at the advanced Brigade H.Q. later, and watched
the actual attack.
Can your recollection clear up any of these
points?
Best wishes to yourself and Lady Rosenthal
for the coming year. It is sad to be out of things - but,
of course, you are rather in them.
Yours sincerely
C. E. W. BEAN
Official Historian
 

11490
17th November 1939
Dear Ivon,
I am writing the account of the fighting on 9th August
1918 at Lihons and I am in doubt as to where the incident occurred
in which Beatham won his Victoria Cross. He is said to have captured
four machine guns that were holding up the advance, and later at the
end of the attack to have been killed in attempting to rush another
machine gun. I cannot be sure whether this occurred during the
fighting of Campbell's company or farther south; but I imagine that
Beatham was killed when two platoons of the 6th Battalion tried
to go through at the end of the attack.
Campbell is dead and so is Private Nottingham who helped
Beatham. I wonder if you could rack your memory for the name of
anyone who is likely to be able to tell me where Betham's part in
the story properly comes.
I hope everything is going very well with you.
Kind regards.
Yours sincerely
(C. E. W. BEAN).
Historian
I. G. Murdoch Esq., M.C.
Aldie
Shepparton East
VICTORIA