Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/152/1 - April - May 1917 - Part 4

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
RCDIG1066766
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

35 p oher N Bnboys who were H near myself. I am only one alive out of 21 Our gan post as on Extrem left convecting 17 Bn Abt an hour after 1 bly started in supports, we left our posts; 7 of 121 & & set back to 14 of 1 supports as we were ut oumbered by 10 to 1 At this time it ws just Oreakin day. On our way back we can into Of enemg who were down facing our laying
36 15 Ap supports. We did not see them cntil we were abt yards or so fom tem. Their number were aft 20 to 25. We started t filt our way back, &by degrees each side ws falling. Seten us were evemy in large timbers. They were trown 7 enades. We fought party in port until all were K. & only Ste Hubbly myself were alive out of our 21t Hubble took lead back, I following
his we amutake 37 Ap. but I cdnot have gove 30 yds from 1 fighting Spot when I ws hit be sicade. I knew nothen then until awoke att Shrsaftn daylight to a your soldier stand beside me. He bandag we me ap & gave water to drink - He carried me t his bressn Strr. I saw the Heibble dead in port of me He ten gave some
15Ap. X Sich oeny fighting - formy at passing evening didn't loae a man 10RBn. hardly touche (1Bn Heard igaged 29 details of men od to be dead - His Wilson, Keogh Hubble, Robins, Beltz (all right exc. Hubble) + ho be se 2 (untraceable) were prisoners. Heends Trusting this informatio hall save the Bn a great deal of trouble Tte PJ McGrath wee 12 Bn lost heavily at Boursies again at Lagn. Agg at Bullecourt sel over
40 At Boursies the Bn went overte top 3 mornings on the 300 runnen morning there weren casualties as ensig had retired evg before. 41 Po Offrs. w. in w. k. 6 60 168 10 Boursies 2 30 55- 40 4 Lagniet. 30 19S= 20 12 Bullecout. 120.415.70 tota 22 (To nearst 5) Camatties 27 ofis 607 or. 634 hearly all missing me have now by accounted for prisoners, most wd She men were hardly at all depressed by his fighting asthey considerd they had ciflicte move casualter than the suffered.
hr 42 Br. Ballecour 10 4/5/17 to rear Vaulx 5/5/17 coy t Sam oaes furky Cacil C. Cept De Cowey Drciow ((by wounded there at 4.30 an H. Partings in/C of CCoy. 8/571 3.45. Cly ordered to report to Capt Vowlis 12Bn 10 camathes in in oP2. N.C. Coy reporter to Voutes $4.30 in 05.2. The an Co attact ws fern CCoy ws pot in by Vowhs, & Lieuts Dougall & Ewendt were killed in leading theis par to agst the Germ in 1 part of2, captd.
Each man in 10Bn carried 3 mills grenades & 220 vds Sad into lin Brte A71 2he p. $42 gene 62a Brens 4 44 These too offes. had t get a ferman bombery post Established in C.G.25 streme 2t. Abt V29137.9 abt where our stop ws eventual placed. (10k Bm really made this stop). The germans at this to were being bombed but it ws decided to they is not be it out with bombs. It ws decided by Dongall to over top at it. Both D.& W. were killed over, across the top but the place as taken + their bodies were got in At 5.15. A boy moved from C 16A to CCoys old Docity in Rd at C 5 1: Enemys barage passed without camaty t
45 cross A logs had 15 $2500 yds of open a vi up, 1426 went up at 5 6o 11-7ds -10oyds betw. between men lines, over 2000yds of from near tank at to reach C.T. in daylight CF a 8S. under severe shellfire. Only 4 camaltis ordered to take this tonight by Bde. Bn replied they were already in it. t woyds woregod 46 7.20 C.C. ordered to put in 2move Coys. 5r D cays were moved across the open in extended order to therly, there of ken bombs I thing in file to Sunken Rd be tank & then upCt. to dine By gam. B Coy wt in Ag.g as put int O.G.2 I coy ws sut it O.J.18 with orders to make good any go stll helt by Gems. Te latter Coy ws in OS.R. J.Toam. & at once estab a borbpost at O29B8.6 East of Road.
may (Cont. 47 The every waet bombr freel but ws selenced be wifh grenades. Work of forming defensive flank coutd.The nearest post of 27Bn was booyds away- the nearest supposed post did not exist - it WS"blown away by aity & apparently this us not reporttd as if ws still supposed to be tere]. 945 Rest of C loy withdawn to O.g.1 & placet in support to D Coy. C. had had 5 cassallies (D offis 900 k) in li 5 Lrs. 4Bn 15h had supported on you ot of 29Ed ws retieved duy mow movedap. B 23 M
60 by tes stop ws 66 lep 1t order) after Goyds of y behind had be fille This wiil in work was reported Stonething wt certtainly done ssp. deepening 49 Extrem relieved 12 Bn on rt of ..2 topen - 12pm ferm. Shelling heavy D Coy(abone) had 84 20wd duren this time. 11.30 B +D suppliet coverin parties in it to Engrs, & Foniers fillin Extreme right of of 182 0 y of wiring wsfenise bs sngls thenight, Cly carrying 5o coils of wire. (prm09) Posts plow- Thead at V2987. & at 0298 8.8 which latter ws & with C.F. by sap at 12986. to 3Vickers 1130 -3anvosk covered by Mss pomrly catting ferig over ferms in O.P.63 & green german flares at Sam? nap on Kly Cutting but cont sitence yuns.

3     35
15 Ap
other 12 Bn boys who were
k near myself. I am /
only one alive out of 21. 
Our gun post ws on extreme
left connecting 17 Bn.
Abt an hour X after / fighting
started in Supports, we 
left our posts, 7 of 12th &
14 of 17th, to get back to
Supports as we were
out numbered by 10 to 1.
At this time it ws just
breaking day.  On our
way back we ran into
some o / enemy who were
laying down facing our

 

3     36
15 Ap
supports. We did not see
them until we were abt
7 yards or so from them.
Their number were abt
20 to 25.  We started to
fight our way back, & by
degrees each side ws
falling.  Behind us
were / enemy in large
numbers. There were throwing
grenades. We fought /
party in front until all
were k. & only Pte Hubble
& myself were alive
out of our 21. Hubble took
/ lead back, I following,

 

x This ws a mistake.

3     37
15 Ap.
but I cd not have gone
30 yds from / fighting
spot when I ws hit by
a grenade.  I knew
nothing then until I
awoke abt 3hrs after
daylight w a young
German soldier standing
beside me.  He bandaged
me up & gave me
water to drink. He
carried me to his dressing
stn.  I saw Pte Hubble
dead in from of me X"
He then gave some

 

38
15 Ap.

Diagram - see original document

3     39
details of men sd to be
dead — Ptes Wilson, Keogh,
Hubble, Robins, Pretty —
(all right exc. Hubble) & of
2 (untraceable) missing whom he sd
were prisoners.
He ends "Trusting this informatn
shall save the Bn a great
deal of trouble"
Pte SJ McGrath.

12 Bn lost heavily at
Boursies.
Again at Lagn.
agn at Bullecourt
(See over)
Boursies

 

40

At Boursies the Bn went
over the top 3 mornings
running — on the 3rd
morning there were no
Casualties as enemy had
retired evg before.

3     41

 

Offrs.

OR

x

 k. w. k. w. m
Boursies  2 6 60 165 10
Lagnict. - 4 30 55 40
Bullecourt. 3 12 30 195 20
xxxt Total: 5. 22 120. 415. 70.

(Figures
to nearest 5)  Casualties  27 Offrs
                                            607 or.
                                            634

Nearly all missing men
haven now bn accounted for,
some prisoners, most wd.

The men were hardly
at all depressed by this
fighting as they considered
they had inflicted more
Casualties than they
suffered.

 

3     42
10 Bn. Bullecourt.

4/5/17  to near Vaulx.
5/5/17  3a.m. C Coy to C.5B.
Others further back by Noreuil
Capt De Courcy Ireland
(C Coy) Wounded there at 4.30 a.m.
Lt. Partridge ^then in/c of C Coy.
6/5/17 
3.45.  C Coy ordered to
report to Capt  Vowles 12 Bn
in OG 2. - 10 Casualties in going
thro' barrage. C. Coy reported to Vowles
at 4.30 in O.G. 2. The
German c.attack ws
on. C Coy ws put in
by Vowles, & Lieuts
Dougall & 2/L Wendt were
killed in leading their
party agst the Germans
in / part o / trench Captd.

 

43

Each man in 10 Bn carried
3 Mills grenades & 220 rds SAA
into line.

X Just the thing this
very fine offr. wd do.
He is sd to have previously
gone near to getting V.C.

Diagram - see original document

3     44
These two offrs. had to get
a German bombing post
established in O.G. 2, on
extreme rt. abt U 29 B 7.9
abt where our stop ws
eventually placed. The
(10th Bn really made this
stop). The Germans at this
stop were being bombed but
it ws decided tt they cd
not be got out with bombs.
It was decided by Dougall X
to go over / top of it.
Both D. & W. were killed
going over, across the top;
but the place ws taken &
their bodies were got in.
At 5.15. A Coy moved
from C 16A to C Coys old
positn in Rd at C 5 B –
Enemys barrage passed without
casualty

 

45

B & A Coys had to cross
2500 yds of open in going up.
The 2 Coys went up at 5 to 10 yds
between men — 100 yds betw.
lines, over 2500 yds of front
to reach C.T. near Tank at
C 5 a 8.8.  in daylight
under severe shellfire.  Only
4 casualties

*Ordered to take this  tt night.
by Bde.  Bn replied they
were already in it.*

 X Abt 40 yds more gnd.

3     46
7.20 C.C. ordered to put in
2 more Coys.
B & D Coys were moved
across to open in extended
order to the rly, there
got their
bombs
& thence

Diagram - see original document

in file to Sunken Rd by
Tank & then up CT to
line.
By 9a.m. B Coy were in OG. 1
& ws put with O.G. 2.
D Coy ws put into
O.G. 12 with orders to
make good any ground
still held by Germs.  The
latter Coy ws in O.G. x1 by
9.30 a.m. & at once estab.
a bomb post at U 29 B8.6
East of Road.

 

6 May (Cont).

3     47
The enemy used bombs
freely but ws silenced by
rifle grenades.  Work of
forming defensive flank
contd. [The nearest post
of 27 Bn was 600 yds away –
the nearest support post
did not exist – it ws "blown
away "by arty & apparently
this ws not reported as it
ws still supposed to be there].
9.45 Rest of C Coy withdrawn
to O.G. 1 & placed in support to
D Coy. "C." had had 5
casualties [5 offrs  9or k) in
under 5 hrs.
4 Bn wh had supported in trenches on
rt of 29 Rd ws relieved durg
morning.
10 p.m. 9.30 pm "A" moved up. "B"

 

48

6/7

Diagram - see original document

This bombing
stop ws
fel left (by
order) after
40 yds of trench
behind it
had bn filled
in.
This wire & 
work was reported
Something ws certainly done
esp. deepening trench
6/7

3     49
relieved 12 Bn on ^extreme rt of O.G. 2

10 pm –12pm Germ. shelling heavy.
D Coy (alone) had 8 k 20 wd during
this time.
11.30.  B & D supplied
covering parties in Nomansland to
Engrs, & Pioneers filling in
extreme right of OG 1 & 2.
150 yds of wiring ws finished by
Engrs this night, C Coy carrying
60 coils of wire.
Posts placed- T head ^(from 0.G.1) at U 29 B7.7,
& at U 29B 8.8 which latter ws
connected with C.T. by Sap at U29B 6.8

11.30 –3 am work covered by ^3 Vickers m.gs from rly
cutting firing over Germs in O.G.1 & 2
– 4 Green German flares at 3 am &
barrage on Rly Cutting but cdnt
silence guns.

 

 

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