Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/162/1 - October 1917 - Part 2

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dug out cleared. One of
our men threw a bomb in
& 20 frightened Germs were found
inside.  Tempy HQs were
placed there. 

By 6.30 1st objve
ws taken & 1st Bn
reorganised while waiting
for it to move again.
During this time they
did a good bit of mopping
up & souvenir hunting.
In / meantime / German
ws putting his shells in / 
old Nomansland & on the approaches
to our old front line.
There had bn a gt many

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Germans seen running
back.
When barrage lifted
1st Bn went on - both flanks
in touch - Some o / Scottish
were in our area too &
there ws a lot of fraternising
w / Gordons who had bn
w us at Bullecourt.
They went on with
our men. As they were
advancing up / Heights 1st
Bn met mgs & lost
Lt Bennett (originally
of N.S.W. Light Horse) killed
by m.g.
wd: Lt Tudehope
Lt Johstone
Lt Judd remained
on duty till wd 2nd time.

42
15
Capt Edgley.
The Germans put up very
little fight -
By 10.30 Germs
had begun shelling / new
positns. of
In / afternoon shelling
became heavily esp. including
the new front line, Red
line & low ground forwd
of Anzac.
This went on till
midnight.
Estimated casualties
to midnight 3/4 : 200 o.r. 

When 2nd objve ws
taken, bn HQs ws moved

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to an underground
cement dugout at
J 5A xx 3 6 ½ 

The coys were down
to abt 50 per coy & 

On Oct 5 at dawn
Germ. planes came over
very low, observing.  There
ws desultory fire durg
/ day, enemy giving throwing 
most of it well back. 

At 6 p.m. he shelled
front line as well heavily
till 8 p.m. but did not
attack.  At 10pm he
shelled heavily agn &
eased off. 

The 12 Bn relieved
& took over whole Bde

42
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front by midnight.
Bn came back
to Chateau Segard.
Losses 

Fighting strength incl. men at
schools - all men in France.
Rifle strength is v. different -
Bn lost ½ its rifle strength.
Front line ws in an old German
trench system:
Front Line Capt Withey C.Coy
Capt Edgley A Coy
Capt Moffatt MC. B Coy

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Capt Edgley got a wound
w shell in face but remained
on duty
Capt Withey had tooth knocked
in by shell but remained
on duty.
Col. Stacy remained on
duty. 

The Bn transport w
pack animals, who had
very bad approaches &
had to come thro a lot
of shellfire - did
magnificently.  Heavy
shelling ws put onto the
Corduroy Rds at
Westhoek.  The pack
transport ws up by /

19
Hand drawn sketch - see original

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aftern. of the attack -
a supply of rum &
plenty of food & water
- food & water were got
to / front line; & the
rum ws there by / first 
night.