Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/178/1 - 1915 - 1917 - Part 8

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
RCDIG1066793
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 11

2 97 time 30 p at this 2 recd orders were. dop back ona/ of Denty Hind Camatis is olati left flank 91 toed back t out erst their obyne 10de hadd where sarted (5 dis in. Phey hetnry on there till eanly dusk when only aft a Coy of there 1o Bde wx Sef. They were en olate left flank of 10/1300 13 came back abt apo Eds to within abt 400 4d ✓ where 44 4e in t Dte t0
2 98 positn eventual held Coming bock every one w helping soue ad man fen them to any Emple 3/1 Buther them 24 there te mad ws worse people on left Fov. 2 da. after t / were scou Hills day later fto came appt afor 44 After the Sturt Bruces a thad b on the it wH never 42l or again. She neares whent were of dugons where Seffries 46 embankt tos killed. The 12ly semed at away from 50d Other ouns hadou there
fomt tane were khon It ws (capt Richard son 2 1order 4 th ohn from ratie ofder Ride o Dh word pet were 99 doent tler. wh fave th Ripe there 34 67 6 Letw 2
right of oct ic outh See Br ws comped H on grass, in Cavatry camg Hellfirg Corney. They were suppose tave tents out tnove (werd there 4 cookers were boyged o to w raining & they kad 4 Sef Confwet grass t d Eesk day they were bin prypo of 4/2 ae Maxe of 14/13 ty came in aight 47h 8/13/4 they wetchet bac fell 8 Ke firs ety 2 101 35 6 2t on Capt Din from caval The Rly cates line Camp (we i heavy going. The whole Bdemarched along it It took 95 his por Cavalry Cug. to Cemetery The cemstery we evey to ffind. They onl moved att poog steas at a time I night we back Ta picked ust tape at cemetiry Dn Jumpy ot line the heavily were particulary and 4 by 1stuf Shelles mustI have Ou lost many here (There were I Bn. tere seapd to be one behind 1other. opened at Te barrag for 1 day wth to0 Earrll Heny ram. cry dully a
102 wall Ed drect 2812 tene thath spetly ti Punchendae the tni to work obive wt raty & 403 lie in There were outy shellholes and conditing were very bad s possible to tell Justat sti if shalling but not Serm Carret from afteds starte th direct NY. E on fire they left the T.c. lie & many cashathis occunte then esp. amoupt t [ops. If came forme almost st aight aheas. Dear (1) Redtin on M. Sick road wt a conerit $/3 bit mss firt ws coming from (a 2 in rear of it &to N of it. He advance we helding tere for apt 20ming Is i ws finally caple.] It thad 4mp in it & abt 3026 Toe live for n them for some ti the decided to ruat it. Iws abt 50 yds away. When geng sen our people rasting it they jumed out beldrg their hands. this agod man Beffore 8 hed b sent toear. of anjustis On possies wood (B0 or &of of tem from Wlle there eWholes. 40 tno 4 Tefffies fighting wt tepe). 34 B t 113
2 104 HD. abt 12c1.9 ws tated 36 Bu just att of 34 Bn live (where SG Bn. consolitatio you ednttell where our barrage wt at his time just odd shells. most of the 34 Bn stopped there I line ws prob. judged by its distand from J. O. line. Av 12800 were capty along the Paschindfuly many dead ow were RdWE of penc seentherd Caty The Other Bns went) st. ai/n on on irrespective of barragg. Standin en diseunsed wt a 35 Bd o. where barrag (ws I Fhone co tell. There ws no or gadise oppori other (than shols from Parchendalle Bo arregular spelling uplil near Bme hine Just pust (Ret Hine my. fire to coming from direct of Tiber Copse. Near (thber Copsc) ueb 12 of 15/&c were obtennt] & seafto frear. /F i fire ceased. AA Coy ws) to be on Disons right o he (with centry coy) just messed [tiber Coase wt his righto The fire ceased is they passed it
105 afe ter The fofs whar dere unthar fept. May Cary, (wd (between then ? Capt Dison H Adams (later killed) Davey hat fo hit di 1 head by shell debres. knocked sell D Arcy wounded 10 8 Henry Preached H Blye tide but w. had afbullet grvove acrossh 1poud Chist The remading casualties occurred out wo 170pis in /1 ateack/ & abo 430 men K capt radell an exqr) Capt Ampplett itty Elliot arty Ditzelll Cliaison w 48n Henry Hadams Mear a Wynopp Mainy D. Levy Com. bett. kika Capt Dupon ws H Ritcheg only ottr who weant in who wes wiite o4 Conly 1 and srong h as 106 My gradually establisted then posite on approvimately the Blue Ling &f lef flank of 36n being en Broodsed (Paschindarle Rd (Bns. 36. 135] how mexed) &et on orly ting I did not notice the old bldes by grin of there were any The ryht got contrcly co4 Divn on into 2ly tie rece his They Spot aft 10 and Ti rearnsed with SoB on left & BS. Bt on right. They were now very hear shelled th hlavely shelled were 5o lon as remained there be seen gerng ted te 542 Sof Bly tine many soodd The ferig were soueodd oncs) N. of it? te were I devtit thank abt ws heav Mg. for attacte for fire sou from the I offly tine asch & ploorsledd t left tront. Rd in itself. noticed noferit Abs 12 pmj. (after consultation
107 on his way back abt 300 Bntt lp hi saw a wod Iw Tomty [who had bu shotf in /C bi lep had bn tying (in water He had bu there (for 54 day s. I . if he codoanthing for ham. Pip or iedtoactract sone siqually but edug He had to fo onbi the & man nistday . 40 prit unoug then maj. Carr (35Bn) Capt 108 with cenior off 135 Decon ws sent wack to report to Maj Mac Dowell Cact C0. 35B. one toat HOpat to 24 Haide Seene D mucf ay off 10 3de lt a 45 taube men. Dasted wha dey tatie ws sdhehad He t2 to feture take up instrus gepen and/ pofity. 1o4e Dased had paised on informatito 9d he5d his 2t the had done so 9 On arriving Seine at H Decon reported the fact to MY. M Dowell explaind weak poto lepplante (Reports) had alread bu sent back of the positi or unner Macowell she has reported afairs to ptier to t reply from Boll. Beti. Dto wait White a Maytar 30 waitten 2
09 ta ed The men taete quite neither no ste af first his ing stay Of 110 infor aft 4.30 pim. arrd men he May Macowell to he w had retired from t Bhie Line He I daw troop back Th le his insl men coll Cap Cate on tend Capt I establii D. they thought where towards tntd made and meatobe NE Capt. just line advance in yds 100 met some ty Ias tte ghl tad men of but cnot find to Blle 33B mey decided to waid in of 35 B till daybreck 44 Secti asmall hewitl raring Hocot boftn it thy cllected men most firot dawn at as for as key ed se that right to their offis of Bae tnt o line a) tout were tne 344 plann eora time
111 112 it next 2 36 ti tutr Hamy afer 196 t 34B 30l. then were wend for pout for me tobl tury ght th Thet Soin tDiin on their toued afitt the 4 ibn tie being 4 of 37edin a 504 w. on 11/2l peatig flank live reported Cop. Milne 6D. 38/20 D sent a copy to 6.035 Bn. Stating to & giving dispositied had by reae tivl Blg dling &tilt Wc shilling T Serman this mng. [Hep shilling there had tn The tind out the fit ws) very heave +17 a port by the Xay A Dety concrety dump wa X.G. Capt Connell 1/ 35 Bp) came up abs 10dm. ok over command of ling. Ishelfed throout day (but little frefle or mf. fire & B35 Br ws. reld by 14t.BN. at abt 8 p.m. m line 1353r. marched down vely time (to Bopnebake Rly Stu track after mall traffid we terribly heavy. they peached Bill. 46 ap Zam & bydacked behand somg od Oldgs. Bendu there. 14th reld b 50prs & 120 men retieved 21 Bn
143 114 57 Bn ws now in 4 days. (the reserve men Capt connell commanded tired portion of 35/12 in fon support under mndy] macdowell)) Iae Morbecque Party wuclens Reserve) amacgunated w 33 Bo. on O4.17 in afternoon & post were put out. tore on left near the Paschendaclo (Rd being outtnear otd RedLine wose ou right being expeloned back to plank. (one wd man ws found Be night 8/18/1 38 Bu ws red. by St Yorke o Laues On 24/130 Sepd. 312 o p5 2 on rets 55 Ba brought an inlish conng to cint. ead aman hadgng hnd head above a shelll wayds out in word ws passed ot to pere othe tomny exawled in e his off Brylal siots 2/L am youe as in woin a stans 7 days before his leg dad bu broked & he had b hot oeek Hedan unod o crawled into 1Ihope apt 2 days after 1stant. the had lived on 1 vron rations (of dedomin abtc o had b wnng wate /spephole t goh (tery lived they had ady my attimpg to regoin (line as there wes a 1 m.9. in d shelpol. n one ide ofhehold adothe bid ws occuped by gep Eac . How to oving man in t te got a white ande pencillea Red on i & one o S1Bo name (SULLINANRAPL(NINDD 192)

2 

97
2.30 pm. At this time
orders were recd to drop
back on a/c of heavy fire,
casualties, & isolatn of
left flank. They dropped
back then onto their first
objve, where 10 Bde had
started to dig in.  They hung
on there till nearly dusk
when only abt a Coy of
10 Bde ws left there.
They were then isolated on
left flank of 10 Bde so
came back abt anor 200
yds to within abt 400 yds of
starting pt where they dug
in for / night. This ws /

 

2

98
positn eventually held.
Coming back everyone ws
helping some wd man, helping
them to any empty P/Bs &
putting them in there. The
mud ws worse for / people
on / left.

For 2 days after the S/Bs
were scouring / hills.

2 days later 2 sergts came
in - apptly along the rly.
After the start Bruce's pty,
wh had bn on the rt ws never
on / rly again. The nearest
they were to it ws when they
went to / dugout where Jeffries
ws killed - The rly embankt
seemed abt 50 yds away from
there. Other guns had bn

 

2

99

worrying them from / rly - B. doesnt
know how these were settled.

It ws Capt Richardson who gave
/ order to advance w the 36th.
He ws k on top o / Ridge-  he
ws to / right of Bruce.

B saw no other officer there of 34Bn.
The order to retire from / top o /
Ridge seemed to begin by some
Offr on / top o / Ridge.
The word ws passed down tt
they were retiring.
 

 

100

On the night of Oct 10 

The Bn ws camped 1 night before
on / grass on Cavalry Camp, N.
Hellfire Corner. They were supposed
to have tents but none were there.
The cookers were bogged  & cdnt
set up. It ws raining  - They had to
rest in / long wet grass tt night.  

During / day they were fitting w gear

Night of 11/12 they marched up.

Night of 12/13 they came in.

Night of 13/14 they marched back
Hill 40. There they got their first rest
 
2 

101
?35
55 Bn.

Capt Dixon on rt.

The Rly cult  line from Cavalry
Camp ws v. heavy going. The
whole Bde marched along it.
It took 9½ hrs from Cavalry Camp
to / Cemetery. The cemetery
ws easy to find. They only
moved abt ½ doz steps at a
time - right ws v. back. They
picked up / tape at / cemetery.
On / jumping of line they
were particularly heavily
shelled - w big stuff. and
many must have bn lost
here. There were 4Bn there
suppd to be one behind / other!

The barrage opened at
5.25 - too early for / day wh
was very dull after heavy rain. 

 

102
The J.O. line ws pretty
well at right angles to the Passchendaele
Rd. & tended to work in tt
direction (A) tho the objve ws really (B)
Hand drawn diagram – see original


2

103

There were only shellholes to lie in
an / conditions were very bad.
Just at / start it ws possible to tell
/ barrage from / German. shelling but not
aftwds.

M.G. fire started on them directly
they left the J.O. line & many casualties occurred
then, esp. amongst / offrs.  It came from
almost straight ahead.

Near / Red Line on / W.Side of
road was a concrete P/B but m.g. fire
ws coming from a trench in rear of it & to N
of it. The advance ws held up there for abt
20 mins. This trench ws finally captd. It had
4 m.gs in it & abt 30 prisoners. The line fired
on them for some time & then decided to
rush it. It ws abt 50yds away. When /
Germs saw our people rushing it they jumped
out & held up their hands. 

Before this a good many prisoners
had bn sent to / rear, from est E of Augustus
Wood (30 or 40 of them) from little possies
there & shellholes.

(Jeffries fighting ws not here - no
offr of 34 Bn ws here).

This particular P/B  abt 11D8.7
 

 

2
104
ws later 36 Bn H.Q. abt 12 c 1.9
just NE of 34 Bn line (where 34 Bn
consolidated).

You cdnt tell where our barrage
ws at this time - just odd shells. Most
of the 34 Bn stopped there -  / line ws probly
judged by its distance from J. O. line.
Abt 12 prisoners were captd along the Passchendaele
Rd NE of here & many dead & wd were
seen there later.

The Other Bns went straight on
irrespective of barrage.  Standing on / rd
Dixon discussed w a 35 Bn offr where /
barrage ws - & none cd tell.
There ws no organised oppositn
other than shots from Passchendaele Rd
& irregular shelling until near Blue Line.
Just past Red Line m.g. fire ws coming
from direction of Tiber Copse.
Near Tiber Copse abt 12 or 15 prisoners
were obtained & sent to / rear. The m.g.
fire ceased. A Coy ws to be on Dixon's
right, & he (with Centre Coy) just
missed Tiber Copse w his right. The
mg. fire ceased as they passed it.

 

105
X  The offrs who were unhurt here were

Maj Carr, wd between then & end of fight. 
Capt Dixon
Lt Adams (later killed)
Lt Davey. had bn hit on / head by shell debris &
knocked silly.
Lt D'Arcy. wounded

 

Lt Henry reached / Blue line but ws wd  thro'
/ hand & had a bullet groove across his
chest.
The remaining casualties occurred on way up.
17 0ffrs in / attack & abt 430 men
Killed 

Capt Cadell (an Engr) Carr
Capt Amphlett Horne
Lt Elliot Prentice
Lt Ditzell (liaison w 48 Bn) D'Arcy
Lt Adams Henry
Lt Day Mears
Lt Maine Wyndham
Lt Levy (wd and m. bel. killed) -
Lt Ritchie Capt Dixon ws /
only offr who went in
who ws unwd. 
  offrs or
k 8 45
w 8 208
m 1 55

(only 1 heard of from Germans
as p.o.w.) 
 

2 

106
They gradually established their
position on approximately the Blue
Line - left flank of 36 Bn being in
Broodseinde Passchendaele Rd (Bns.
36 & 35 now mixed) & rt on rly line.
D did not notice the old bldgs by Grün
if there were any. The right got
into contact w / 4th Divn on /
rly line. They reached this Spot abt
10am. They reorganised with 36 Bn
on left & 35 Bn on right.
They were now very heavily shelled
& were heavily shelled so long as they
remained there. X
At 2pm. The Germs cd be seen
 - a good many S. of Rly line &
some odd ones N. of it.  The Germs were
moving abt - D didnt think they were
forming for attack. M.g. fire ws heavy
from S of rly line & some from the
Pasch - Moorslede Rd to left front.
D noticed no Germs. in P. itself.

Abt 2pm after consultation.
 

 

107
 X  on his way back abt 300
yds to W. of 36 Bn HQrs he saw a wd
Tommy who had bn shot in / leg
& his legs had bn lying in water.
He had bn there for 5 days. He asked
D if he cd do anything for him. Dixon
tried to attract some Signallers
but cdnt.  He had to go on - but
they got / man next day - by
then he was practically unconscious.

 

2 

108

with Maj. Carr (35Bn) (senior offr 35 Bn) Capt
Dixon ws sent back to report to
Maj. MacDowell (acting C.0. 35 Bn) X

On the way to 35 Bn HQrs at
Seine House D. met an offr of
10 Bde abt 11 D 7.3 w a
number of men. D asked what he
ws doing there. He sd tt he had bn
given instrns to retire & take up
anor. position. D asked him if he
had passed on / information to 9 Bde
on his rt & he sd he had done so.
On arriving at Seine H. Dixon
reported this fact to Maj. McDowell
& explained / weak positn o /
left flank. (Reports had already
bn sent back of the positn by
runner). MacDowell sd he had
reported affairs to Bdier & told
D to wait reply from Bde. Betw.
4.30 & 5 while D ws waiting Maj Carr
 

 

109

X The men were quite
exhausted & neither D nor
P cd stand at first this mg.  Oct 13

 

2
110

arrd - abt 4.30 pm - & informed
Maj MacDowell tt he w his men
had retired from / Blue Line - [He
sd he saw troops coming back
on his left]
 

D ws instrd to go w
Capt Paterson, collect / men &
establish a line. Capt P. & D.
made imd. towards where they thought
/ men wd be & arrd just NE (abt
100 yds in advance) of J.O line.
It ws then quite dark & they met some
men of 10 Bde & 33 Bn but cd not find
men of 35 Bn. They decided to wait in
a small section of trench till daybreak
- it ws then raining heavily - & v cold.
At first dawn X they collected / men mostly
to their right. As far as they cd see they
were / only offrs of Bde in / line at /
time. They reorganised / line placing
 

 


111
We were ordered to go out & get the M.G. - and a
patrol went out & got an English M.G; 

Quinns Sept. 1915
____________________________
The Note at Quinns sent over in answer to a
tin of biscuits (good ones) from Col. Goddard to show how good our rations were.
The T. asked for a knife to be thrown - if fell short, wrapped round a
stone came: "The knife has fallen short we cannot get
it now but in / morning will wave our periscope
If you wave in return we will fetch the knife.
The Australians are good soldiers. They are
British. We hear you captured 20,000 prisoners
and congratulate you on your feat of arms. Why
do you throw so many bombs.
Your comrade soldier Turke"
(This was sent down to the intelligence)
Lt Manefield, 17 Bn, nipped out next mg. to get a packet of
tobacco & got it. After this G. stopped it.
 

2
112
35 Bn on rt, 36 in centre, next
34 Bn; then 10th Bde. If any A few
men were in front for they were
dribbling in durg / night. They
got in touch with 4 Divn on their
right - the 4th Divn line being
abt 50 yds W. of 3rd Divn rt
flank & resting on rly line.
D. reported to Col. Milne, C.O. 36 Bn,
& sent a copy to C.O. 35 Bn. stating tt /
line had bn reorganised & giving / dispositn
The German ws shelling / Blue line still
this mg. His shelling there had bn
very heavy. The line on the rt ws
at Defy Xing - & a post by the
concrete dump, w a L. G. 

Capt Connell, 35 Bn, came up abt 10 am
& took over command o / line. Shelled thro'out
day but little rifle or m.g. fire. - 35 Bn ws
held by 421 BN. at abt 8 p.m. in line - 35 Bn
marched down rly line to Zonnebeke Rly Stn
Track after mule traffic ws terribly heavy -
They reached Hill 40 at 2 am & bivouacked
behind some old bldgs. Remained there. 14th; 15th
reinfd by 5 Offrs & 120 men relieved 41 Bn
 

 

113
2
volunteered to go out w / Tommies & bring the wd offrs
in. Hot rum & water ws sent out. We had noticed
/ day before tt / Germs had bn collecting dead & wd w a
Red + flag & we hadnt fired on them. Sullivan waved
/ improvised flag above / parapet & took / stretchers over
/ parapet he had bn cautioned {{bid?]] All /
L.Gs were trained on / spot. They went out & brought
/ man in without being fired on. There ws a P/B in
front from wh they used to fire at us. This offr has
written 2 or 3 times & is doing well. He had a compound
fracture o / thigh. Another offr named 2/Lt L. Clarke of
2nd Royal Scots 4th K.S.L.I. was brought ^in on 1st wd in back - since died (4 days out)
The orderly who had stayed w Yuille got a M.M.
270578 Pte Clark T.W. (batman) & 270176 Pte Proctor J.H.
8th East Yorks - brought in Oct 3.  wd / other man.

2
114
35 Bn ws now in 4 days. (the reserve men)
Capt Connell commanded tired portion of 35th
in from support (under Maj. MacDowell). The
"Morbecque Party" ( BN xxxxxx Nucleus Reserve)
ws amalgamated w / 33 Bn. On Oct. 17 in
afternoon 4 posts were put out, those on left
near the Paschendaele Rd being out near /
old Red Line - those on right being echeloned
back to flank. One wd man ws found.

The night of 18/19  35 Bn ws reld
by 5th Yorks & Lancs

On 29/30 Sept. 35 Bn reld. On Oct 2 one
of 35 Bn brought an English Tommy to Capt D.
He sd a man had put his head above a shellhole
100 yds out in nomansland. Word ws passed not to
fire & the Tommy crawled in. He sd his offr.
2/Lt A.M. Yuille 2nd Bn Royal Scots had bn wd in a stunt
7 days before his leg had bn broken & he had bn
shot thro' / neck. He sd an unwd Tommy had
crawled into / hole abt 2 days after / stunt. They
had lived on / iron rations of dead men
abt them, & had bn drinking / water o / shellhole
in wh they lived. They had made no attempt
to rejoin / line as there ws a m.g. in a shellhole
on one side o / shellhole on / other side ws
occupied by Germs. each night at dusk.
How to bring / man in. They got a white
handkf - pencilled a Red + on it & one o /
S/Bs named SULLIVAN, F.H. Pte (M.M.) 1921





 

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