Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/42/1 - April 1916 - Part 9

3 91
doing this. There ws almost
too much work going on
to escape notice & they
were being intermittently
shelled. An observer had his
periscope shot through while
we were there by a German
sniper. The Germans snipe
from trees, old roofs, etc.
We are getting snipers platoons
in each but battalion - scout
platoons I think they call
them; & / observing is
being much improved
by brigade organisatn,
& many more loopholes
are being made. Its a
great thing having old hands
for officers.
The men told us their rations
were not enough for them.
But in the second bn they
 

3 92
are still all cooking for
themselves - a hopeless
method.
One year ago at this
hour we were just churning
slowly along through the
half moonlight & just
nearing the coast of Imbros -
the last light of Lemnos sinking
far astern of us & the moon
coming down towards / horizon.
Smith tells me tt ^one o / first prisoners sd tt
they saw xxx ^our ships against / moon
before it sank. I doubt if
they were sure of it.

April 25. Anzac Day. This
day General Plumer came down
& spoke to the men in (2nd Army) the divisions.
There was an extra issue of
rations, & cake in the 1st Divn.
Ross & I strolled out to an
 

3 93
estaminet along / canal &
bought two bottles of champagne
- 5fr only per bottle – which
we scarcely expected to discover
there; & we drank / health of
all Anzacs at dinner.
This evening ever since
nine o'clock ^distant guns have been
going continuously near
Richebourg or Festhubert
or Neuve Chapelle - & we
can see / distant flashes
And as I stood in / open
doorway just now I heard
above it all the first
nightingale - her perfect
single repeated ^piped note simply
filling  / woodland. It ws
answered from every side through
/ woods. Today, also, for / first
time this year I heard / cuckoo.
The woman from whom
 

3 94
I bought / wine is a Fleming
She says tt all / country
people here are Flemings. They
dont talk quite / same
Flemish as at Antwerp.
Her brother - a porter at /
Hazebrouck station ws
wounded by / Germans, &
his two mates, porters, were
killed.
The Australian Govt has
stuck to its guns abt an
Australian army & has not
lost got / reply out of Gen.
Robertson tt "the eventual
formation of an Australian
army has always been
in mind" (or words to tt
effect. They also realise tt /
Australian Govt wants its
troops brought to England
rather than Egypt.
 

9.5
9 Bn
1000
2 Bn. D.B. 1480 Will let us know.

xx 11 will  ——
————————————
[* 24.9.
20
 ——
3/ 489
————
163. *]

B Co 20 Bn.
3/- £ 24.9
7/6 £ 9.7.6.
9.7.6.3
20
————
72
3
——
75.
————————————
A Co. 20 Bn
3/- £ 36.18.0
2/6 £ 7.17 6
36 18
20
————
3/ 738
————
246
————
56
7
————
63.
————————————
 

3 96
April 26. A German Aeroplane
brought down today (they
say by one of our w a Lewis
gun quite close to here.
Others say it ws one of our
own brought down by our
own gun fire. A german
sd to have bn brought
down yesty & another /
day before - all in this
district or at Bailleul.
Smith & Churchill rode over
today & saw / place - a
great hole in / side of a
road.
The first white butterfly
this morning on / lawn in front
o / Chateau. Trees breaking
fast into spring; an exquisite
warm day.
Plumer addressed our 3rd Bde.
battalions after Maclagan yesty.
He sd tt of all the lessons they had
had to modify much of their ideas
 

 
Write Alderson & other Field Cashier.
Cassills re [shorthand]: order 6 z for Sikhs
Guard re some for me
See Battn re Sikhs
————————————

——
16.16
20
——
336.12

5.12.6
45

36.
12

21
20
———
3/ 420
———
140
12
——
152

 

3 97
in this war - but one thing
ws / same as ever & tt is tt /
best disciplined regt is /
most reliable regt & / best fighting
regt. He sd tt he ws sorry tt
Birdwood ws away in London
on a question of organisation -
Birdwoods name wd always be
connected w / stories of Anzac;
& he also sd tt / troops in France
had always bn proud of Anzac;
& were now proud & glad that they were
here among them.
 

(1) G.H.Q.
(2) Anzac Book, How [shorthand]
(3) Car?
(4) England.

———
17.50. I owe Ross for Hesdin
7. }
1.}
2.50
———
f 28.

1 . 1/-
——
16.16
20
——
336.12

5.12.6
45

36.
12

21
20
———
3/ 420
———
140
12
——
152