Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/175/1 - October 1917 - Part 3

10                                      21

Capt _∧Eric Kerr, M.O.,                     

killed at the aid post
near Potsdam, at 
behind the Bremen Ridge.

Wounded.

Capt Calow  O.C. _∧"C" Coy.
wd imd, after reaching 
objve. by a shell.

W. Butler as above

2/Lt Rogers wd by 
shell nearly up to the 
objve.

2/Lt Cripps badly 
hit thro' abdomen between 
3rd &  4^th objves.

2/Lt Clark, by shell 
abt 2nd objve.

 

22 

Down the cutting they cd
see an abandoned 5.9 
gun.

We dominated the 
cutting.

There ws some sniping 
down roads - 
The Cemetery & the dugouts 
N of it had bn abandoned 
exc. for isolated sniping from 
the morning of this attack. 
Our men cd go out & snipe 
from the cemetery w their rifles 
leaning on the gravestones.

 

10       23
During aftern the Bn 
Consolidated.

During night S.O.S. 
ws put up to rt & 
left of Bn more 
than once, but 41 Bn 
saw no attack.

Next morning ws 
quiet. G. ws shifting 
his guns apparently. 
Abt noon on 5 Oct. 
Col. Heron ws on the rt of 
rly in 25 Bn area. 
He saw about a dozen 
Germans come out 
of a dugout close to 
the rly (S. of Line, in 
Alma Valley) - someone

10                   24

took them back as 
prisoners. - Prisoners 
were used throughout 
to bring back wd.

The Bn took 150 to 200 
prisoners.

After the 1st objective the men 
were going ahead smoking 
cigarettes german cigars. 
The German prisoners 
knew the way well enough 
& went back with scarcely 
any guard.

Casualties.

Offrs 9

or. 261

270

10                  25

From the top there ws 

complete observation 

E & S. The only 

chance for a big 
concentration ws 

under the Paschendaele 

Ridge NE of the new 
position.  From E & S 

they cd be seen.

On night 5/6 41 Bn
ws relieved by 2/6 manchesters
by 3am. who had bn 
marching 17 hours w 
full packs.

On aftn 9^th Oct. Bn 
reached Frezenberg

10                      26

from Toronto.

9/10 Bivouacked 
at Frezenberg.

10. Remained there 
till midday. Reld. 
66 Divn by daylight. 
42 Bn took front line;  
41 Bn in Bulin wood 
(going thro' 2 heavy 
barrages - being certainly 
seen by aeroplanes &
possibly Pashendaele. 
Lost abt 50 men in this

Lt Parker sl.wd.}       

Lt Boyce wounded}   

Lt Cardew wounded}  
in this

10                27

During this time it 
rained heavily - 

On 11/12 41 Bn came back 
to Abraham Heights, 
held by 10 Bde.  They 
dug. in on Ab. Heights. 
Stayed There ws heavy 
barrage & rain as Bn 
came back to Ab. Heights 
during night - there being 
no duckboards on K 
track beyond Coaltrack.

On night of 13/14 took over 

front line from 10 Bde -
men were very done 
by this time owing to wet 
and want of sleep.  42 ws 
now in support.

10                     28

Front line ws 
in front of Aug. Wood.

Diagram - see original
Stayed
there
till 16^th
when 

reld

by 9^th
Bde
& came
back to

Levi Cots.

& van                                                                                  

Isaackeere Fm on Hill 40

The men dug in well in 
shellholes & had few 
casualties.  Stayed there 
till 21/22 when they were 

29

They were in from 9 
till 21^st inclusive - 
12 days.  Their staying 
powers were extraordinarily 
good.
 

10           30

relieved by 50^th Bn of 
Canadians.  Came 
back to Vlamertinghe 
and then Embassed for 
Assingham.

The men found tt
when their boots were 
taken off they cd not 
get them on again - 
they had to wrap their 
feet in sandbags. 

Before going in on Oct 3.

offrs                        O.r.

 42                          1018

Oct 22

  33                           571

10                31

During this period in 
the line the Germans 
were sniping from 
a few hundred yds 
ahead of our line;  

but _∧after the attack by the end of the 
tour they were 1000 yds 
back.

The German shelled.
Augustus Wood & the 
ridge beyond, where 
he evidently thought our 
line still was.  It 
is pretty certain tt he did 
not know of our retirement.

10                  32

44  Bn    ws bivouacked 
near Politjze - 
moved up night of 3/4 Oct.

Left at 10.10p.m. & marched 
by F track (I ws on the Rly Line) 
wh ran past Bde HQrs to 
left of Rly Line.  They crossed 
Zonnebeke abt in 21 C 1.3.

Two bridges were still there 
out of 3, but the right 
bridge ws knocked out.  
Bn reached Zonnebeke abt 
2.30 - 2.40 & ws in position (in 
a taped square for the 3 Bns) 
by 3.10a.m.  The Germans started 
to shell Zonnebeke just at 
this time - This shelling mostly