Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/214/1 - August - October 1918 - Part 1

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open to contributions
Accession number:
RCDIG1066810
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

AWM3S Official History, 1974-18 War: Records of C E W Bean, Official Historian. Diaries and Notebooks Hem number: 3DR1606/21417 Title: Notebook, August - October 1918 includes references to the 57th, 59th and 60th Battalions, Flamicourt, Bellicourt, Maj Gen HE Elliott and the disbandment of units. AWMISS-3DRLCO6121A
M ST T MT.T. NR 3ORL 6O6 IEM 214 AN35 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 consuiting, 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. AUSTRLRN WER MMSRAL C. E. W. BEAN. 16 Sept. 1946. ACCESS STATUS EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSS Tttence OPEN 14
57 Bn. Aug. 8. Col. Denebey. Te germans certainly saw no forming ap L t tanks Denely tinks) + put down a barrag bet which fell, Lowevrr behind to forming up positi- few casuattes When 57Bn mose it was dencely quistig - & the 2 plus on 1 left of Bn got across on to I right - Okherwise th ws little to went wroy. A they got neas t te old ferman you positus (ferm Rore had 5.9 gans firing direct over their sights at them. There was some fiirly hard fighting in the old ferman gun positions That finished I beeny bighte for to dey. After t the 57 Br Sk
p1fght at to try had was a pretty heavy banoge last down by I forman arly not direct fire this time - to pass too after leevin the helt line. Then te Avalry came of & frmed mass behien Harbonnceres. The Germo put up a m.9. fight at Herbounceres - The 57Bn we moving in arty fornate & te cavalry moved tho te as I caoslry weat on 1 Juns were still barragin & some shorts caught the &emplied several saddle The Constry scooped a fair namber opprisoners in the Harbe valler a from th tie on
fighting ahead of the 57B. ws done by 1 Aheed a of the 57 Bn. objectise was the old ?Ger line. The 57Bn when it reachet its objie did 2ot. sty still. It had bn told to exploit if possible, so it went on & got wnto Old ? ferman line. bey G. Wextday when 1 Canadians atten were to ateack & our (st Dion on their left the 18t Din ae many mehs in rear so te 57 ar jast about to hop over when 60 Bn ws orde to do so - & had some fairly tough fighten
Peronne When 5th Din reached Somn at 20 & of August 57 Bn ws to attempt Somme Crossing. They & Enjincers did this by builde a causeway, pattolling in punts & so on the Caie let them build - the caual ws no difficulty - the difficuly was the 500 6 1000 4dsy marsh. bey constructi a patt (I mender an old ferman one). But [ moment ty tried to pash men across it they were put off with derics whizgban fire & ig. fire Gen. Elliott was leading a party of Bde himself when he feleinto water - be ws also lod in this
stage 01 fighting]. Eventualy 57 Bn w0 pution furter nort & relieved 54 Bn in 1S.W of town & 58 Bn in the E of town. They had to try ana 111 to famis- Court on the S. side. There ws a Causeway across the moat on S. side & 1 german allowed them to get patrols across it outsl; but hews not allow them to send a part - & I moment they triit to do so they had loases? (I think it ao in this they lost in
valable officer & some men. bey tius it at fea Elliotts urgent wish - agst 1 colonels opinion). They also tried to get out E of the town towds Irly cutting a party (under Capt Mearer?) got out there but ws seen by Gerneas who dodged back thio a tuanel, got onts the bank of rly cutting & fired down at them. Our party had to Scatter & 1oPbock h in to way without loss. of tie The Germans D days made up thei winds to retirn. As we notion timent the crossin bs attempted agin from 1 to of tour abo at 1S.W
& as effected. The moven Souther of the troop, across the for font from the t of Beronns os efectid undes coses Peround of smoke shell ar bey their e stocks res pom when ?) Bellicourt. Sept 29. The 57 Bn coming up pom ear Teplens found a very beaay boubardment goin on of the paint where it was to form up (1 hillcresto looking down from the W. up
Bellicaut. The Colonel accordingly decided to get over I ridge (inst. of stayen there) as quickly as eowr he could. They found trench leading sideway over Iridge & workes through that & so dos into the Bellicourt valley. ow The advance ws to have been by coys in arty foration s0 Te Edonel took the two right Coys - & someone Else sd the other two & they worked separately dowr Hindenburg tine. As they 10t

Start transcribing

Log in Sign up

Last edited by:
Transcriber 28006Transcriber 28006
Last edited on:

Last updated: