Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/189/1 - August - September 1918 - Part 1

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
  • Shorthand
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
RCDIG1066805
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

AWM3S Official History, 1974-18 War: Records of CE W Bean, Official Historian. Diaries and Notebooks Hem number: 3DR1606/18917 Title: Notebook, August - September 1918 includes references to the 53rd Battalion, Peronne and Pte W MCurreys VC. AWMISS-SDRLCOGHSSH
A19i 189 it Counterpreparation July 9 Withins is VB Rothin July 10 Grs Not cetnn augd July 11 at Frerres DoG littes re Artists 1395 121 new reman aatl Juby 15 togeaa a 19. Dench luah, (13. ha Dich 3 mmnerthed hrnhnll Bant Rn Driginal BORL 6O6 IAM 189 Ah33D DIARIES AND NOTES OF C. E. W. BEAN CONCERNING THE WAR OF 1914-1918 THE use of these diaries and notes is subject to conditions laid down in the terms of gift to the Australian War Memorial. But, apart from those terms, I wish the following circumstances and considerations to be brought to the notice of every reader and writer who may use them. These writings represent only what at the moment of making them I believed to be true. The diaries were jotted down almost daily with the object of recording what was then in the writer’s mind. Often he wrote them when very tired and half asleep; also, not infrequently, what he believed to be true was not so —but it does not follow that he always discevered this, or remembered to correct the mistakes when discovered. Indeed, he could not always remember that he had written them. These records should, therefore, be used with great caution, as relating only what their author, at the time of writing, believed. Further, he cannot, of course, vouch for the accuracy of statements made to him by others and here recorded. But he did try to ensure such accuracy by consulting, as far as possible, those who had seen or otherwise taken part in the events. The constant falsity of second-hand evidence (on which a large proportion of war stories are founded) was impressed upon him by the second or third day of the Gallipoli campaign, notwithstanding that those who passed on such stories usually themselves believed them to be true. All second-hand evidence herein should be read with this in mind. AUSTRELIN WAR MEMSRIAL C. E. W. BEAN. 16 Sept, 1946. ACCESS STRTUS Meeeeeee FT e eees Actinte
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AWM38
Official History,
1914-18 War: Records of C E W Bean,
Official Historian.
Diaries and Notebooks
Item number: 3DRL606/189/1
Title: Notebook, August - September 1918
Includes references to the 53rd Battalion,
Peronne and Pte W M Currey's VC.
AWM38-3DRL606/189/1 

 

New Torch. 1 [[?]] 
189
July 9 morning counterpreparation
July 10 Wilkins at V/B Rot there
July 11 Rot set in amgst Germs 
at Merris
DAGs letter re Artists.
295.
11 849
12,144
July 15.  New German Push.
17.   Our attack at V/B.
18. French Push. 
189
French men the [[reserve?]]
Original DIARY NO. 189.
AWM38   3DRL 606 ITEM 189 [1]
DIARIES AND NOTES OF C. E. W. BEAN
CONCERNING THE WAR OF 1914 - 1918
THE use of these diaries and notes is subject to conditions laid down in the terms
of gift to the Australian War Memorial. But, apart from those terms, I wish the
following circumstances and considerations to be brought to the notice of every
reader and writer who may use them.
These writings represent only what at the moment of making them I believed to be
true. The diaries were jotted down almost daily with the object of recording what
was then in the writer’s mind. Often he wrote them when very tired and half asleep;
also, not infrequently, what he believed to be true was not so — but it does not
follow that he always discovered this, or remembered to correct the mistakes when
discovered. Indeed, he could not always remember that he had written them.
These records should, therefore, be used with great caution, as relating only what
their author, at the time of writing, believed. Further, he cannot, of course, vouch
for the accuracy of statements made to him by others and here recorded. But he
did try to ensure such accuracy by consulting, as far as possible, those who had
seen or otherwise taken part in the events. The constant falsity of second-hand
evidence (on which a large proportion of war stories are founded) was impressed
upon him by the second or third day of the Gallipoli campaign, notwithstanding that
those who passed on such stories usually themselves believed them to be true. All
second-hand evidence herein should be read with this in mind.
16 Sept., 1946.   C. E. W. BEAN.
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL
ACCESS STATUS
OPEN

 

Diary No. 189. A letter (in German) found
lying loose in diary.
[[?]]C AA 20. 3. 78.
IF NOT RETURNED WITHIN 7 DAYS RETURN TO 
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL.
P.O. BOX 345
CANBERRA CITY. A.C.T., 2601

109
F Y beyond mount but battalion [[scatter?]] at least 80 killed.
2 77 guns near the bridge.
MG fire from Jaffa trench.
1 mg & 9 prisoners there
Fighting in trench  Rifle [[loss?]] [[shorthand]] and [[bayonet?]]
Bomb fight in getting across the ridge.
In the trench on left [[huge?]] [[bayonet?]] and bomb fight
Heavy fighting by 2 platoons which went out.
One officer [[was a pest?]] as his bombs
[[shorthand]] [[shorthand]].  Bombs thrown almost knock
about on our wounded.  Platoon which mopped up went
past.
Raid of night before 3 parties of 9 men each.
Didn't get in.
Last night but No [[shorthand]].
2 L mgs and 4 prisoners.
All German [[clothes?]] is absolutely new in the trenches.
41st Division:  5 mgs  57 & 1 & 65
[*25 & 26.
Davies.  Major reinforcing.*]
1

 

Sonntag abent, rm 30. Juni 1918.
Mein Liebster Jozepf!
Foreign language - see original document 

 

Foreign language - see original document

 

Foreign language - see original document 

 

Foreign language - see original document 

 

109
3rd Corps  is going to exploit with 2 divisions as far as we
know  Possibly more.
Start at 4.45 tomorrow morning
47 Division on our flank
3 Division [[shorthand]].
We stand fast on [[south river?]]  in barrage not ending
[[Shorthand]] has a very free hand [[shorthand]] and no battle [[shorthand]]
in way.  [[shorthand]] to Somme.
[[Platoon?]] is holding a line partly with the C/B road
w 47 Division about 500 yards N of the road. 
Hand drawn diagram - see original document
It has fresh 2 battalions of 9 brigade.  They [[double?]]
[[his/as?]] [[shorthand]].  His left overlaps behind 47 division troops
and advance with them.  1 hrs halt abt
½ way.  This on our final objective which
stops there at Bray.
11 brigade may be drawn in if companies want relieving.
2 companies xxx of 3 [[shorthand]] are holding [[Elenhem Renins?]]
4 brigades of artillery
2 3rd Division

2 587 division
2 

 

109
No Americans in this stand.  They have all gone
wanted urgently elsewhere.
It is about on scale of a big [[shorthand]].
Expect we may exploit to Suzanne
or have left move forward to bend
near Mericourt.
No tanks with us.  Many with 3 [[guards?]].
We saw a lot of smoke.
Aug. 23.  I am talking most instead in this day.
Zero 4.45.
Attack by 2 companies.  1st Aust division
on left  32 on right.  Chiefly officers [[dead?]].
See 4 battalion.)
32 Division attack on a frontage of 3 battalions
to capture and mop up Herleville.
3rd battalion on left brigade in support.
With 12 tanks and 6 brigades of artillery
and 2 mg companies.
3.

 

109
1st Division is using 2 brigade on right
for half front and first brigade on left.
3 brigade in reserve.  Each attacking brigade has
12 tanks and 3 supply tanks and
it has 9 brigades of artillery.  (7 Australian 2 British)
It is using 3 companies of machine gun battalion on various
patches and one company in divisional reserve.
HQrs in Q 13 A.
32 division in B/Villers.
Barrage w 10 percent smoke.
A halt of 15 mins. by infy
in bottom of Chuignolles
Herlevette Valley.
Germ has very few whizz bangs -
he is [[shifting?]] it back very quickly.
Glasgow may exploit 500 yards which is
in discussion for ½ hour
2 brigades [*14/15 brigades*] of 5 division are in readiness to move
up in sympathy with Gellibrand.
The barrage comes to the end of the operation both times.
4

 
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