Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/165/1 - May - September 1917 - Part 4

32
Capt Boyd's Coy ws rt of 58Bn.
He ws reinforced by Coy 60
Bn abt 2.
 

45
33
to retake the positn.
They were pretty well  up
by 5 pm.
Our L.Gs were heavily
strafed in front. line
Boyd had orders that as 
soon as scotties were seen
attacking he ws to 
move across & link up
w them. Abt 5p.m.
the Scotties were seen well
up Boyd moved some
men over to join them.
The 58. ws reld abt 10pm
exc. C. Coy wh ws used as
a covering screen in front 
o the firing line to enable
attacking Bns to get up
on their tapes. They stayed till 5pm
when the attack started 

 

45
34
in order not to allow
enemy to come anywhere
near the forming up positn
Boyd ws on the right & 
did splendid work. He
ws in the Fromelles fight
& had bn away since at training 
Bn. Capt Gilchrist (left)
ws also from training Bn.
Diagram - see original 
The Bn came
back to reserve
positn 600-700
yds behind the
line, & to do
carrying from
Glencorse. Some
few were up in the front line
with 59, a few straggling.
The shelling ws the heaviest
the 58Bn had ever bn in.
The Bde ws simply working
in parties under offrs- 
 

45
35
- the Bns were entirely mixed
& working in the mixed parties.
The old green line ws
Black Watch Corner - 
The Divn on our rt
did not start when 5 Divn
started. There ws no
oppositn & we took
much country ahead wh
we simply had to leave
Cameron tt ws well in
English Territory.
24 hrs after the start
when the RWF were in 
their line the shelling
started again & RWF retired.

 

36
25^th. After getting ∧ by walking & begging long
rides to Steenvoorde & back
with Gilmore, I heard, after
dinner. That there had bn
terribly hard fighting thro'
the day on our right. Abt
dawn this morning the left
of 33rd Divn (on our right)
ws attacked & bent back
finally lost a post N. of
Menin Rd. We had our 
first hint of later trouble from
the photographers whom we
met at 7 p.m. grey with 
dust in their Ford car
returning. They sd it had
been an awful day, barrages
on & behind Glencorse Wood -
all work on roads given up,
dumps blowing up - far the 
heaviest day. On coming

 

45
37
up to the Operations Room
in we heard that at
8.10 the 5^th Div. reported its
rt Bde & 98th Bde on its
xxx ws being v. heavily
attacked. 98Bde had bn
driven back 800 yds & 
that the O.C. rt Coy had sd
he ws going to withdraw
& had bn ordered to hold.
Col Marshall had bn put
in commd locally & the
60 59 Bn ws to reinforce.
Birdwood spoke to Hobbs
at 8.10 & Rld him tt the
big attack must be carried 
out. Forming up wd be
hard, but the two bns on the
rt flank were to be echeloned
back.
Fresh troops must be
used for the Blue Line (2nd objve).

 

45
38
Gen. Hobbs sd tt he quite
agreed but had spoken with
Elliot who sd it wd ∧ be impossible.
to form up. 
Hobbs had told Elliot tt the
job must be done.
Gen. Birdwood confirmed this,
tt the job must be carried
out. Two Bns of 8^th Bde
were to be sent up for the
2nd objve, & 59 Bn used for
the 1st objv only. Any gap
wh remained the next day
after the attack had gone thro'
must be dealt with by
an attack by reserves
from the flank.
A most intensely
anxious moment.
Thank heavens it isn't the 4th
Divn. The partrs of the
days fighting are as follow: 

 

45
39
At 2.10 p.m. today the RFC.
reported tt horses were 
moving very brisk along the
rd betw Gheluvelt &  Menin
down to Kruiseik & America.
From 10 corps
Morning: Some shelling front line 10
Corps during night.
5.40. SOS on Anzac front.
Mist & shelling delaying
relief of 23 Div by 30 Div.
9.55. 1^st R.W. Surrey repts enemy taken
front line.
Later (Pigion - 7.30) R.W.Sarrey.
Front line coy wiped out.
Enemy holding front line.
We still holdg suppt. 
A6.45 
At 5 a.m. Germ bit down heavy
barrage on whole front rt divn
of 5^th Corps (N of us). All quiet
by 6.45 am

 

45
40 
Commn cut ws left Div of 5 Corps
                                                  (59 div)

Later: all quiet there.
5 Aust Div. Heavy shelling 9-10pm
last night many gas shells in
Nomansland. Germ. Arty
active genly.
4 Div. Quiet. Some shells Anzac Ridge.
4.30 am. Barrage on rear
& support line.
at 2am. Pty of 3 Germs
wandered in at J3A55 (49 RIR)
2 Army. Germ. Arty active at
Hollebeke also.
2 Army 1pm.
at 6am. Germs attacked bebs.
Tower Hamlets & Polygon 
Wood; penetrated front &
suppt. N of Menin Rd. But
C-attack by Queens & HLI
retook support line. Front
line for 500 yds S of Polygon
Wood occupied by Germs.
C-attacks been organised at
both places

 

45 
41
12.55 PM. 
Our ammn ∧ situatn is tt we have 40% of
requirements of HA in transit.
Enemy shelling bad & uncertain
it can get thro: Mggs to 
explain to Army Commandr.
1.56pm. 5^th Div will attack at.
2p.m. in ace. w arragmts 
made w Corps in morning.
Evg Rept. 5 Corps. Normal.
2.15 Pm. Two Repts from 15 Bde thro. 5 Divn.
in O.C. 58 Bn reports his line
still intact at 12 noon. Casualties
1/2 Bn, probly more. No touch on
rt flank. Along Rd forming rt
boundary absolute nest of m.gs
in depth partially enfiladg front line.
Enemy connecting pillboxes 400
yds in front of rt Coy by trench.
Attack on our front repulsed w

 

45
42
heavy casualties to enemy.
2 Coys 60 Bn already reptd
to 58Bn.
(2) Enemy have gaind possession
of rt Bde front line who are
holding line approximately 
J. 15 C 9.8 - J 15 A.9.8.
98Bde are reestab. original
front line from J 15 D 4.8 to
J 9.D4.0 by c.attack by
1st Middlesx to take place at
2pm. Arty barrage 150 yds
in front of present positn lifting
100yds at zero & 3, 100 yds in 6
min. till 200yds beyond objve.
60Bn to c.attack in conjunction
? Elliot told to take charge
till Marshall reports. 2
Stokes guns to be sent.
(Part of this is from 5 Divn)