Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/38C/1 - Notebook - Part 1

AWM38
Official History, 
1914-1918 War: Records of C E W Bean,
Diaries and Notebooks.
Official Historian.
Item number: 3DRL606/38C/1
Title: Folder, Notebook
Contains notes and drafts for the introduction to a
war history.
AWM38-3DRL606/38C/1
 

Original DIARY No. 38 (C)

AWM38 3DRL 606 ITEM 38c [1]

DAIRIES AND NOTES OF C.E.W. BEAN

CONCERNING THE WAR OF 1914-1918

THE use of these diaries and notes is subject to conditions laid down in the terms of gift to the Australian War Memorial. But apart from those terms, I wish the following circumstances to be

brought to the notice of every reader and writer who may use them.

These writings represent only what at the moment of making them I believe to be true. The dairies were jotted down almost daily with the object of recording what was then in the writer's mind. Often he wrote them when very tired and half asleep:

also, not infrequently, what he believed to be true was not so - but it does not follow that he always discovered this, or remembered to correct the mistakes when discovered. Indeed,

he could not always remember that he had written them.

These records should, therefore, be used with great caution, as relating only what

their author, at the time of writing, believed. Further, he cannot of course, vouch 
for the accuracy of statements made to him by others and here recorded. But he 
did try to ensure such accuracy by consulting, as far as possible those who had 
seen or otherwise taken part in the events. The constant falsity of second-hand

evidence (on which large proportion of war stories are founded) was impressed 
upon him by the second or third day of the Gallipoli campaign, not withstanding that 
those who passed on such stories usually themselves believed them to be true. All

second-hand evidence herein should be read with this in mind.

16 Sept, 1946.

C. E. W. BEAN.

AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL

ACCESS STATUS

OPEN

Voyage. 285. The General Officer Commanding desires to express his high appreciation of the care shown by officers and men in

charge of horses on Transports of the A.I.Force, and

congratulations them on the extreme low proportion of

casualties (2.65 per cent) as well as on landing the

remainder in excellent condition.

Having regard to the length of the voyage averaging

over 50 days, the heat experienced, and the absence of strong

breezes, the lose of only 224 horses out of a total of 7,843

embarked bears eloquent testimony to the zeal and horse

of all ranks concerned.

No casualties occurred on the following ships

carrying less than 25 horses:-

Orviate Omrah Ascanius Euripides

Afric Benalla

The Suffolk lost 1 out of 8 horses.

The following list shows the percentage of other

ships :-

Under 200 horses           Horarata        0.85

Under 300 horses           Medic 0.3    Southern    0.7

                                             Saldanha 3.65   

Under 400 horses           Pera 1.27    Argyllshire 2.69

                                             Port Lincoln 3.91

                                             Armadale 6.46

Under 500 horses            Rangatira 1.1

                                              Star of England 1.53

                                              Wiltshire 2.62

                                              Anglo-Egyptian 3.64

                                              Shrepshire 3.47

                                               Marerer 3.8

                                               Star of Victoria 4.03

                                               Karree 4.99

Under 600  horses            Katuna 3.16

                                               Clan HaoCarquodale 3.62

688 horses                           Hymattus 1.89

V.C. [[?]], Colonel

A.A. &  Q.M.G.

SUBHEAD

Horses. see A.I.F. orders 50

The soldiers who refuse to be vaccinated. 6.20 in camp

  "          "           " get disease & cant serve.  IN uniform but a
[[?]]

3rd Divn fastest - arranged by speed

Fine weather - luck for horses - only 40 dead so far.

Rocket. most lead lights.

" I shd think the navy with xxx an anxious time". (White)

Selim 300 V.R.

Horses - 7 on Eurip. sd to be dead.} got later.

                 40000 altogether.             }

 

Long [[?]] Latitude. In other book.

Southern nearly catches us at end of each watch.

we used to quicken but dont any longer

xxx Japanese ship, huge plume of smoke.

1 Melbourne tiny smoke far astern Pioneer sent

No masthead lights now showing in front (Nos. 3) [[?]] [[?]]

only side lights & masthead light at back to steer [[?]]

Left. abt. 1st. Nov.

Building 2nd Nov - Just W of Cape Naturaliste

      "          3rd  Nov-  30° 21' s.  111° 49' E

                  4th    "       27° 20 s   109° 29' E

218n Knots

fairly heavy [[?]] sea

219 Knots

fairly heavy [[?]] sea

Losing 40? horses -

216 = 9 km

Were the orders changed at last minute from SA. to Egypt

? or receipt of news of Turkey? or of Emden? 16 hrs before leaving.

What did the Admiralty know?                              
Or was it a ruse to 
spread idea that we 
were going to S.A.

Osterley passed no (see diary Nov.5)

Did she send a wireless ? cd the enemy have heard it?

Japanese beat Russians at sea, but they wdnt transport

the 2nd Army till after sinking of Retropavlovsk,

& even then it wd detained at China[[mnpo?]] till

after battle of Yalu. Then attempted to block

the north of Port Arthur - This delay enabled

Russia to concentrate a much bigger army & the

7th & 8th Japanese Divns, originally meant for

Vladivostock, had o be sent to Marcharia.

Capt. J Gell [[?]]

[[?]]

Why did Minotaur leave ?on Nov 8.?

Why did she order us to reduce speed to 7 kn ?

Columbo, agents & representative very  [[shorthand?]]

By the time (3 pm on 16th) c / [[shorthand?]] flut 

sail not one apart / come off only [[shorthand?]] on

 17th [[?]] efforts if naval 2 officers. are [[shorthand?]] late

[[?]] [[shorthand]] a few [[shorthand?]] half an hour 

(steward on lighter,[[shorthand?]] etc)

19 Nov Convoy had 8kns let as [[?]] fall [[shorthand?]]

to pack a [[?]] [[?]] - Katuna for [[shorthand?]]

3rd [[shorthand?]] 12½x Made only 11.2 [[shorthand?]]  Afric

changed for [[?]] - (call numbers & all)

21 Nov 4.15 Asc  Shropshire. [[Runt?]] in Asc

[[shorthand?]] 24 ft x have [[shorthand?]]     x

22 Nov [[shorthand?]] Hampshire old Indian [[shorthand?]] Bomb.

[[?]] 19th & [[shorthand?]] [[?]] 26th

Orvieto to give Hamp. 20.6 [[shorthand? of fresh [[shorthand?]]x

Tel. to Malta for [[shorthand?]] for [[?]] [[shorthand?]]

Capt. Refused to - parole & [[shorthand?]] haul

free to escape [[shorthand?]] canal

23 Nov 11.1 kn (Westirty set)  Horse losses 2

(½page forward)

see (st of [[shorthand?]]

 

5th Nov 24.4.S.

                106.50 E

242 kn [[?]] over 10kn.

(Trade wind astern.) Today we

crossed the [[trade route & just

lit off the Osterly.

6th. 20.38.S.

         104.11.E

253 kn. Trade wind astern

To E of Trade Route

All lights carefully sound but

Keet still pretty bright

Bright moon xx a little past full

7th Nov. Sat: 17.12.S.

                         101. 35 E

                          253 kn.

Two days from Cocos

Lights put out on all ships for

½ an hour at 8 o'c & ship

steamed by stern lights [[?]]

glow into water.

News of the battle off Valparaiso our lights only

working at half their usual current.

8th n 13.55 S

            99.23 E

                  234

Minotaur left us.

see diary.

Pass Cocos tonight

m. 9th n 237 kn  This day the [[Eniden?]] [[?]] Changed  [[comes?]]

5.30

T.   10th Nov 8°11 S

                        9 30 39 E

                         249 kn

w. 11th Nov.   5.25.S

                        9.43 E.

                            240

 Senior [[shorthand?]] escort thought we shd be [[shorthand?]]

convoy [[shorthand?]] of Cocos. special care.

Ships in [[shorthand?]] for shaded sternlight.

Nov 9 6-30 [[shorthand?]] SOS [[shorthand?]] Melb.

wh [[?]] Sydney [[shorthand?]]

Melb had [[?]] ensign at [[shorthand?]] Jock at [[shorthand?]]

[[shorthand?]] ensign at peak

Nov 10 [[shorthand?]] for [[?]].

Horoiatas [[shorthand?]] also Aug [[?]]

 Nov 11. Kon placed [[shorthand?]] half power

Suffolk & Hor [[shorthand?]] astern.

Buzzers [[shorthand?]]

junior [[?]] [[shorthand?]] [[?]] [[shorthand?]]

in efficent . co only get 12.15 works

a minute [[shorthand?]] 20.

Nov 12 [[?]] took [[?]] 3 miles o /

10.8 kn Best to date 9259[[?]])

Nov 13. Rangatira short of [[shorthand?]] ordered to [[?]] it

from A - Egyptn /  [[shorthans?]] as [[?]]

Southern to get welsh coal at Columbo

for

Nov 15. Hovses 142 lost to date.

Columbo. 3rd Divn to go ahead & coal & water

of Admin.

water [[shorthand?]] at Columbo.

All ships cd not get inside to water.

anglo Eg struck breakwaters - little [[?]]x

PTO backwds

Th 12 Nov  260 kn ?  2.50 S.

Frid 13 Nov 0.37 N.      Crossed Equator.

                       84.48 E.

                       248 kn.

Sat 14 Nov   3.35 N.

                        82.16. E

                        234 kn

Albany [[?]] coating stopped

Melb  [[?]] [[?]] of [[?]] as

26th Oct anchor [[?]] [[?]] [[?]]

27 Katina [[shorthand?]] to take up

position. In [[?]] anchor broke he wind less

Just [[?]] in time.

Katoomb [[?]]

28. oct [[?]] [[?]] & [[?]] [[?]] aslo [[?]]

11 am 28 Oct [[arrange?]] as to Simonstown  [[?]]

on Minotawn w Capts of [[?]] Minotawn

Melt & G Smith

[[?]] [[shorthand?]]   Maurit [[shorthand?]]

[[shorthand?]] faster [[shorthand?]]

[[shorthand?]] [[?]] [[?]] 200 &

per day [[shorthand?]]

utilised for escorting Medic & [[?]]

[[shorthand?]] to R.N. at sea [[?]] diepensed with

6

6 p.m Oterley [[Shorthand?]] regret [[shorthand?]]

[[shorthand?]]

[[shorthand?]]  escort

course [[shorthand?]]

Columbo [[?]] Naval[[?]] [[?]] at Col.J consulted.

Convoys requirements at Columbo were - Osterley

as Minotaur [[shorthand?]] anxious to avoid long

[[shorthand?]] (a good[[?]]) He ws averse to closing

6 buzzer range of Cocos / & sending cables

[[shorthand?]] as [[shorthand?]] of the operations x [[shorthand?]]

6 Nov [[shorthand?]]  [[?]] Marere & Pt Lincoln [[?]]

Southern [[?]] gallantly 10½ kn.

Ships exercised [[shorthand?]] on [[shorthand?]]

We in Orvieto use buzzer, [[shorthand?]] by flash

(army signallers not enough need -

[[shorthand?]]- at once, only 3 [[shorthand?]]

up there at most. Near Cocos Buzzer

ws [[?]] at night [[?]] increased [[shorthand?]]

Flashing [[shorthand??]] also less used. Replies [[shorthand?]]

made by flag. Suffolks [[shorthand?]]  a complete

failure. [[shorthand?]] since

[[?]].

Light reduced in Orvieto, Much better

[[shorthand?]] [[could?]] be observed.

Nov 7 [[shorthand?]] darken  8-8 30 W.T. doors closed

scuttles [[shorthand?]] in w life [[shorthand?]]

PTO backwds

7

[[?]] at Albany Orvieto took 480 [[?]] in hours from

[[?]] only 30 [[lines?]] / watering

Commander T.L. Jones [[shorthand?]] of berthing

Complaints of [[?]] Horaratra - 100 [[shorthand?]] to Omrah

Censorship at Albany.

Orders as [[shorthand?]] list of R.N. [[shorthand?]] by Minotaur

is sealed [[Shorthand?]] after leaving [[shorthand?]]

Stations keeping : Katuna & Peia  [[shorthand?]] wild [[shorthand?

[[?]] [[shorthand?]] [[star?]] [[Eu?]] [[shorthand?]] wh [[?]]accted

for it

10 kn [[Euquine?]] speed first night 8½ to 9 kn

Southern [[shorthand?]] astern [[shorthand?]] during [[?]] others

also. Speed [[?]] reduced to 8½ kn

3rd Nov Speed still 9 kn sea rough [[?]] 4 pm [[?]]

Pioneer etc [[?]] Pioneer [[?]] & took a [[shorthand?]]

Hororato a bit erratic [[shorthand?]]

steering off. Some [[shorthand?]] or indifferent [[?]] [[?]]

tho inclined to lengthen out at [[?]]

RANR signalmen [[?]] sick [[?]] slow

& [[?]]

The 8 Horse ship [[shorthand?]] 10 signallers at Albany

& [[?]] 

Also Army [[shorthand?]]

[[shorthand?]] lost etc

4th Nov Complaints from Esort as to bright [[?]]

Ships got badly strung out: [[shorthand?]] 9 kn

5 Nov No improvt at right, Minotaur came down

lines [[shorthand?]] good [[?]] 10 kn

8

Diagram

THE TRANSPORT SHIPS.

The transport which carried the first contingents 

of the Expeditionary Force from Australia

to Egypt were as followed:-

Hymetius, Geelong, Orvieto, Pera, Omrah, Clan

McCorquodale, Medic, Argyllshire, Shropshire, 

Karoo, Ascenius, Saldanha, Katuna, Euripdes, Star

of England, Star of Victoria, Port Lincoln, Willshire

Afric, Hororata, Marere, Rangatira, Suffolk,

Benalla, Anglo-Egyptian, Armadale, Southern, and

Miltiades.

Following with other troops are the Suevie,

Borda, Ajana, Themistocles, Ayrshire, Persic,

Berrima, Melbourne, Hobart, Ulysses, Macquarie,

Cerfamic, Cannatatt, Pfals,

Sumatra, Vestcalia, and the Kyarra (hospital ship).

29 Nov 382 miles easily done-

Horse [[shorthand?]] [[?]] 2½ very satisfry

8

Diagram

10

Duntroon boy 35 Australian & N.Z. with this

but,& Secondfyr. coming with second lot

28 [[?]] with us

_________

Maj Howard Kill the leaders - not necessarily the

  28th [[?]]

When on Divn is in trenches the two brigades out

undertake regular Divisional exercises

Convoys [[shorthand?]]

25 Nov Adue [[shorthand?]] coaled.

Ct of inquiry on Asc - shrop -[[?]] held

Rest of Convoy [[?]] 4pm.

26 Sailed  6 am N. Zealanders cut through our line of 300, a most

[[?]] [[manoeuvre?]].

Imp [[shorthand?]] on Miltiades in [[?]] of orders [[bathed?]] [[?]]

10 [[alserties?]] in Columbo: 4 in Adeu [[?]] on

(N.Z. sent them in [[shorthand?]]

28 . Nov 11 pm. [[?]] from high commr [[?]] Hampshire

informing G.O.C.[[shorthand?]] unforseen circs [[shorthand?]]

A I F. [[?]] in Egypt [[shorthand?]] Cairo [[shorthand?]] these

the Austs & Nq[[shorthand?]] a corps General Birdwood.

Noov 28th [[?]] & [[?]] went ahead. Hampshire

6 as involving [[?]] gave way. We [[shorthand?]]

& avoid [[shorthand?]] dhows & [[shorthand?]]

Later [[?]] M. [[shorthand?]] do 14kn [[shorthand?]] to go o / 16kn

13

Censorship at Albany open [[shorthand?]] at once.

[[shorthand?]] in Albany 15 days [[?]]

A Osterley had bn caught

[[?]] & [[?]] Christians [[shorthand?]] after as [[shorthand?]]

American (Chicago) press man yarn abt [[?]]

[[?]] Austs [[shorthand?]] hatches in canal

bec Ind [[shorthand?]] on them