Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/180/1 - 1916 - 1917 - Part 5

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
RCDIG1066796
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 11

them locate pattho to muust have The ferman to this front tine gore back + the distance given them our pocts direction of the ferms fur at 4 am. down a tefe barriage It ws certain t an attack ws sending. Tis barrage ws absolutely on the support line. pear 30620 1504ds tn support lime were in per cent Korw the Carrage lfter 5715 ws due barrage sactic our had assistance 50 at 5730 aned for 63561. tb the barrage had soon as as the forwd listening post of lefted Acoy, abt 50yds along the road (wh I1 Britsh were supposed. 6 be holding came running back
52 Colclough okong Sery v aux 10 t germs, who were outside our taken prisoner. He wanted I barrage lifted to enable him to get them. Fo thought wised not. He sd he wa go out 6 himself. He worked out of himself bayoncted the neares + ferman. Kings were dicly in (I Mornin but I men were splendid. One little in jun when (word retire ws mentd sd Retere be buggered, will stick on here to tlast i +tt a ciganethGunner Alten hehas for wids mn ever since - brobly 1 t 53 ws were sa 6 t man 117 advance pas House (down (a sgh Cmlron were hed ts along There stope Germans were bad down) under core of working edges along (road in one or the iies Fef ten get to abt 300or 400 7as. The banag ws down 15 secs of the first S.O.S. within Thi's barrage cut the man body off from 1 forward bodiy. The many body in from came down road & worked up to within 1o yds from shell hole Kedge, Sor to ellole under th to bomb with of them started getting mitts in bombs lot warked The main return some reachs abt 1000 ds to up as 1574ds n a 12 ane time H
2 at t a 5 4 25 to t aft this th Ex thes pay a RedX up fla 130 out. our wd were gitte an along our front line & s0 past C towards sencorse track the and rear of A corws in feell impassable. W 54 of Ah no Heavies Jo 55 Searcly planes. came over for 8 our front ling. Aney. came down to within 5707d f th owing out white 0 as an indicati flares at The ferman art their up a barrag wh put once our supports (2pl. 4 interfered (344 rewforey. 4p i for as) soon as aske had be seen coming. wer feri 2 hrs sift & Court fire For a dogen men wa being abt w exchanged. Our 18nor barrage ws show as effectend on servs as it sho have bn. vyht Then these fell back along rd to near Terk 40 Then crept up by way of Terk4o. the 813 at gradually From there they 15 B33.8 opened fire on the Middlesen expended their amun who soon
56 The se at Combd from 4am- 5.15. Then lythens Iven down came our barrage. ated ferm, barrage came down on our live agn cinstrd by praves These 2 Carrages were what smashedup the supports of 58Bn whowere in but to Brtte Coleser) 57 falling be seen bey dthen back sections at a time & some surrendering D4 r hin offention Germ. then from the P/B at 16 B.3.8 flank to the 586us ight a post He prob. bad sushed out of some sort further w to ab 5. 0 Mr Corer remfts By this tud received bn had BrDCoy back along t were a shill took road the hole posite ont rowtin crest & linked it apduring might. The ferman ws outby the wound near the 7713at 15B3.8
58 Teargyll Highland came up for this attack in splendid style but the attackdid not take place - they dont seem to have known what cro Lourws. (see Lang at 59 abt 60pc. were lost in canaltis by this time dark the when it as along their front Serny wd obe dead nearthy 5 for assistance calling (out all night/6o Tregermans have perfect observate) there. from Becelaer church) 18B ws relieved This night were hopping over be 60 Bn who next day in after of Sept 25- word wts rect from Bde 1 middless were going to C-attack at Sto regain the lost ground. At gero time the attack didnot occur 58By ws to have fire. flankeing fiven
1 60 with & Rocenthal (a 45 (yelt. splendio offe fom well) were Killed Towner of Bechive Clothiny Coy. t Crockford - hit back by Bde. Maj. Renwick, AM.C. in and post by BnHO 24 ar yls advance. 586n HC at han at ws Im with I coy in Verbeck pport Aloyin ae These erhe att d also tommies on at (Mr) Langers watching thro a telescope nexting]. 4 There had bn abodchange over by al Yo haves to Mr. Only two 2 Liints wereup there of Mn a they seemed to know, nothing abt the line. & did d
not go much round their tine of at ald. 61 Beter try were mopeng ealled hy ac. came off Sheyens up an 505. & Sers alta Sos 16 S4. prsher tominies back ti. they wholefront. The 1 Ibarrap ws v. heavy. enpiladed our pont farther on right Sussex Wext thing Sussir forfo Fitz Aarince Farm were seen reinforcig Fitz e Fitze Farm & met 1 go. at a They got past 21 R/B inned, 5. of te fart (4 D9. 8) Tne cusses of the N 14D98 had very little organisati, the barrage f lit them. Abt 2 22 tornies & 2 germans chasted wt bayonet of then 1. Tommnies 5P1B took stettes behint a fill ox & te go got round after them they were soasping round I lGeino. ataer commnis is when afte a while 183 secmed to blow up. I loled as if it were mned, noonsscemed to be in it. Io fern noting cd be seen for smoke o f result. While this ass HS hankenin the A.YS Hishlanoes
came across in small seations a fairI distance between 1 sectrs. They came across without a hetch & advanced to some 2 s on 1 Jighy of $138 Bu corner - Lone House by name - a < done House long Iher te gumano had, got, to there & Scots engaged them. The scots really went & then tackled germans there o paslit fin es at vay. Sey captd abo 5 held them prisoners & tey dug in - the Mx who & Mx went ahead after the were disorganised 51 to have attack wo them - te Scots - (the Mx were attack did not go as far as entended - probly they mistoole tply There were 2 waves of this attack. Sne second wave day i abt 106 7ds behind 2n 1orgd Iline, & settle down. An to day the my o the Busser kept coming Susse M X
to know where Ceen from pout in 25,13s & diont seem they were - in tiple brunches. They sat in our sugport io doing nothey. That night sond Scole came along in rations Scots ration) i a parry I hang directed them to pont line they did not know where it (was came pot in some tanks two 8 ond right, one on the feft thes got thio we 5 The Scots remained in sositn + never retured oner, thy tther-it Scots C we 1 English whe were coming bect the suaser reinforing wend troug h a The Sussex pretty thiik barrage & on hin it into some became disorganiced & ccattered when they met germade, they were not together. I thtilly platoon which ws together ws not enough for Ferng 24 hen scots came up they went through te Scots is carpidin heary barrage very saccupuly in opintornation in itte owngs in fitt Te tontwarg win thd
Lty 1 ci & second wavy engaged 10 2 duy in behind them them stopped fafes the perman attack in t my Just oet paty poiney eplus came in dient cae wed t . Oethe Tney ased Leng where theye ine was sue tarsed theen ling up ae 1 cnitaenny on) ght. Cncame, tho verbet F m Ponictin op sg Scot A 2/4 brouht them up) They practisally cut a porton of gennang on he onge r hus were pot to geraent. aptuned. Alterwes, when he ao S. H. made te cuty A5 tun there 50 linded formed, a seoles 0 line? This first party of Scots had come up be These Scots 2n 1as n Verbeck & Latene Bm, in te apin. Verbeck V9 In the 2d panly in (admnce came agroag s ope bewen valey S & Fitzel in their advance ws much & more succeesput then English
punte mn

10     51
patrol to locate them.
The German must have

gone back to his front line
& given them the distance &

direction of our posts.
At 4 a.m. the Germs. put
down a terrific barrage -
It ws certain tt an attack
ws pending. This barrage ws
absolutely on the Support line,
150 yds in rear. 30 to 40
per cent in / Support line were
k or w.
At 5.15 the barrage lifted
(our practice barrage ws due
at 5.30 so assistance had

to be asked for by S.O.S.)

As soon as the barrage had
lifted the forwd listening post of
A Coy, abt 50 yds along the road
(wh / British were supposed to
be holding) came running back

 

52

Sergt Colcough Colclough ws v. anxious
to get the germs. who were outside our
trenches taken prisoner. He wanted / barrage
lifted to enable him to get them. F. thought
wiser not. C. sd he wd go out &get
srt himself. He worked out & himself

bayoneted the nearest German.
Things were dicky in / morning
but / men were splendid. Our little m gunner
when / word retire ws mentd sd: "Retire be

buggered, will stick on here to / last."
& lit a cigarette. (L.Gunner Allen - he has
bn missing ever since - probly k). 

10     53
to say tt / Germs were
advancing in mass past
Cameron House (down a slight
slope). There were hedges along
/ road & / Germans were
working down under cover of
these hedges along / road in one or
two lines in file.
F. let them get to abt 300 or
400 yds. The barrage ws down
within 15 secs. of the first S.O.S.
This barrage cut the main
body off from / forward body.
The main body in front came
down / road & worked up
to within 15 yds - from shell hole
to shell hole under the hedge. Some
of them started to bomb with
egg bombs getting Mills in
return.  The main lot worked
up to abt 100 yds; some reached
as near as 15 yds.
At / same time, 12 Germ.

 

54

XImd after this the Germans

put up a Red X flag & two his SBs
went out.
Our wd were getting away
along our front line & so past C Coy
towards Glencorse track - the
imd rear of A Coy ws in full
view & impassable.
Abt 9 a.m. Lt Rosenthal & Lt Smith
were bringing up reinfts.
Smith was hit near Bn H.Q.
Rosenthal got at as far as abt
50 yds s of B.W. Corner & ws
shot by the m.gs in a post due
South of it. They came up very
splendidly - from shell hole to shell
hole fighting all the way.

10     55
planes came over searching
for & our front line. They
came down to within 50 yds
o / trench, throwing out white
flares as an indicatn to
their Arty. The German at
once put up a barrage wh
interfered w our Supports (2 plns
of A Coy) coming up to reinforce. (These

had bn asked for as soon as
/ Germs were seen coming).
For 2 hrs rifle (& bomb fire
w abt a dozen men) ws being
exchanged. Our 18 pdr barrage ws short
& therefore not as effective on / Germs as it shd have bn.
Heavies just right.
Then these fell back along
/ rd to near Jerk Ho:X Then
crept up by way of Jerk Ho,
gradually, to the P/B at
15 B3.8.  From there they

opened fire on the Middlesex
who soon expended their ammn.

 

56

The Germs bombd from
4 am - 5.15. Then lengthened.
Then down came our barrage.
Later Germ. barrage came
down on our line agn.
These 2 barrages (instrd by 'planes) were what
smashed up the Supports of
58Bn who were in trenches but lost
heavily.

10     57
They ^(Middlesex) cd then be seen falling
back Sections at a time,
& some surrendering. The
Germ. then occupied the turned his attention
from the P/B at 15B.3.8
to the 58 Bn's right flank.
He probly had a post
of some sort pushed out
further W to abt S. of
BW Corner.
By this time reinfts
(B & D Coys) had bn received,
& they were swung worked back along
the road & took a shell
Diagram - see original document
hole positn on the 
crest, & linked it 
up during / night.
The German ws
out by the mound
near the P/B at 15 B3.8

 

58

XThe Argyle & S. Highlanders
came up for this attack in
splendid style but the attack did
not take place - they dont
seem to have known what /
Zero hour ws.
(See Lang)

10     59
Abt 60 p.c. were lost in
casualties by this time
When it ws dark, the
Germ. wd along their front &
near the P/B cd be heard
calling out for assistance,
all night long.
[The Germans have perfect
observatn here from Becelaere
Church].
This night 58 Bn ws relieved
by 60 Bn who were hopping over
next day.
XAbt 3 in aftn of Sept 25 word ws
recd from Bde tt / Middlesx
were going to c-attack at 3 to
regain the lost ground. At
Zero time the attack did not
occur - 58 Bn ws to have
given flanking fire.

 

10     60
k.  Lts Smith (Melb.) & Rosenthal ,(a
splendid Offr from Melb.) were
killed. ^part owner of Beehive Clothing Coy.
wd.  Lt Crockford - hit back by Bde.
Lt Exx Maj. Renwick, A.M.C. at
aid post by
Bn H.Q.
__________
The Argyles Advance.
Lt Lang ^58Bn ws at HQ at
Verbeek Fm with B Coy in
Support.  A Coy in line.  These
were heavily attd & also
Tommies on rt (Mx)[Lang ws
watching thro' a telescope. next mg.]
There had bn a bad change over by the trench.  Lancs to
Mx.  Only two 2 Lieuts were in there of Mx &
they seemed to know nothing abt the line & did

 

10     61
not go much round their line if at all.
Before they were properly settled the attack
came off.  They sent up an SOS & Germs attd
/ whole front.  The Gs. pushed / Tommies back till they
enfiladed our front - / Barrage ws v. heavy.
Next thing - further on / right / Sussex
were seen reinforcing from by FitzClarence Farm.
They got past Fitzc. Farm & met / Gs. at a
P/B immed. S. of the farm (14 D9.8)  The Sussex
had very little organisatn, the barrage split them. Abt 2
Tommies & 2 Germans clashed w / bayonet & then / Tommies
took shelter behind a Pill Box & the Gs. got round after them.
They were scrapping round / P/B  - / Germs. after / Tommies
- when after a while / P/B seemed to blow up.  It looked
as if it were mined.  No one seemed to be in it.  The Germs
Nothing cd be seen for smoke o / result.  While this ws
happening the A & S Highlanders

 

10     62
came across in small sections a fair
distance between / sectns.  They came across without
a hitch & advanced to some P/Bs on / right of
B.W. Corner - xxxxx Lone House by name - a
long P/B.  The Germans had got to there & /
Scots engaged them.  The Scots really went
past it first & then tackled / Germans there &
held them at bay.  They captd abt 5
prisoners & they dug in - the Mx who
were disorganised, went ahead after the
Scots.  [The Mx were to have attack w them - the
attack did not go as far as
intended - probly they mistook / place
There were 2 waves of this attack.  The
second wave dug in abt 100 yds behind
/ line, & settled down.  All tt day the
Mx & the Sussex kept coming

 

10     63
in from / front in 2s , 3s & didn't seem to know where
they were - in little bunches.  They sat in our Support trenches
doing nothing.  That night some Scots came along w rations
(a ration party) - Lang directed them to / front line - they did
not know where
it was.
Some tanks came up then - two
on / right, one on the left.  They got thro' well.
The Scots remained in positn & never retired once they
got there - it
ws / English who
were coming back.
The Sussex reinforcing went through a
pretty thick barrage & on getting into it
some became disorganised & scattered.  When they
met / Germans they were not together, & the little
platoon which ws together ws not enough for / Germans
When / Scots came up they went through the
heavy barrage very successfully in open ^(artillery) formation
- in little groups in file - The front wave went thro it &

 

10     64
engaged / Germs & / second wave, seeing
them stopped, dug in behind them.
Just after the German attack in / mg, a
party ^of Scots., possibly 2 plns, came up & didnt know where to go -
They asked Lang where the ^Ausltn line was.
These linked their line up w / Australians on /
right.  (These came thro Verbeek Fm sometime
before the other Scots)
A 2/Lt brought them up.  They practically cut off a portion
o / Germans on the right - & these were probly the Germans they
captured.  Afterwds, when the A & S H. made the c-attack
these 50 linked up w them & formed a solid
line.  This first party of Scots had come up behind
xxxxxxx through Verbeek & Fitzclarence Fm. in the open.
The 2nd party in / advance came across / open between Verbeek
& Fitzcl. Farm.  Their advance ws much x more successful than
tt o / English.

 

Smart : Ask abt photo of AWRS
Museum
________________________________
8 x 6  1/-
10 x 8  2/-
12 x 10  2/6
15 x 12  5/-


 

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