Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/214/1 - August - October 1918 - Part 4

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

Page 1 / 10

There pas wer is an Ely embank where petrol was. 2381 Hioday ty Bhe atacr forse Fom there the relieved a Bn of 7800 in La Chapellett. The 2 pont Coys occupied lingof Somme, 72 rear Coys were back in budis y. The Coys bad posts on Conal in 9 a+c. Repeated attempts were made to lross canal. Bridges were ths own ovrr cauet by night, pontoon brid us (canal casy) & attempts made by cauoas ao ats + duckboards on piles 55 from tross s wamp
lagaon to lapon. One coy got a seotion across & witin 10y ds of to edge of swamp abt 9 B + 10A). Of te section some were k. & Trest most wd by a nig. fire on tem by day while making track. They were under cover from by rushes wh srew tow most of way. But once tey reached open water the ferm. ne.f. in post on other side smply wesed them outat 10yds rauge. On day when 58Bn8 16 Ble attached Peronne moved Capelle
thro Peroune 2 by relieved 58 on ramperts at E Ede. 2 loys reld 5x Bn back on SW. end of Peroune near the Flanncourt Bidges. This wd be Sept 2.) Tis relief was in heavy shell I bout fire, by night - townfull of sas - most Exhauster conditions. The bisdes were mere planks in places. They remained in this posite - rear cogs trying to cross to Flamicoart front Coys in E rane parts. to marksen (a v. sine off) ws k on patiot near Hamicon Peroune) Rly Stn.
Ture in fairly pod oover to approach - but once they pot to Popen they he mog. right on hem At ando town patrols tree both front (C) & flank (S) but always met heavy neeps fire + active suping sop fom Flamicourt & te rly Eubankt (th practically in rear). Pitrolo used to try to get out to rly Eue bankt - & fir But close to it. us tooked down on them pou high ground in Fanecourt. On 1 day of Sept 3? a next of ngs ws located in
1rby embant. A small reconnsiting pahof a tmeasa stumbled right outs this. There as cover in Preeds. There were I. Tey got to the bank witout being fired at they were on 1 Embankt M descussed w Leryt wheten it as prositl to put a post there. Ty arranged 5 70 back in 2 ptes - 35 see if there vere another track tho swamp. The party of 3 after joing 30 or 40 yds walking alon botton o1 eorbankmant found a tunnel (a stream culvert wh had bu planked over I top oI stream, w dujouts abround & m.g. post.
Both rits were so statte that thy ceatured & 1 ferms stertes snipin. M. wanted to attack (place but it as decided to put 1 arty on to it. A loot as not good, but loods eog. Fe 300. wasmt pcont out wit tor as seen by M. at Bn, + a pleaded short ws done on his informaln. As soon as 17 bs finished (1 germs od be seen, by our people on Trampart, ranning away) a phe went straight fourd to Frly Bank. a patrol as sent to I tunnel where post had bu & andtin she proticted st flank o phe advancing. The positin we occapied during night b
apatedf ws sent ford to Darmsladt E. Frebu 2 but it as occupied. they were find on by nps. & flares fied over theis heads Ty reported this. On this informate M., who had wle to getinto this 7 durg night, decided to wait lill daylight. (Fom I rear informatio kept coming to gern. ws libely to return Ao Down on Sept 4 M. went foud to Darmstett yr found it co be approash under fair cover. He decided to take I Coy up tere, 2ma at a time at 100 paces enterval. German we suiging
at all exsosed tergets This part of 2 ws near tXRds at 33 Central). Y ws shallow, but they worked to I right. I/ fire from Doingr & t Boods on 1 lit & + Leevy. Here want much Lelling. Near the 2d in 23)) they took a past ar a LGoutit, For 6 prisoners. The worked round mannheim 2 & got into Abt BA. tere thy wer getting fire fromall sides - they thinselves had lots of good targets & enjaged thim. The oppositi from direct of Ilamicourt & Chair wood bessened & they cosee. Yerus getting out tere lowds Doin1t.
The 57 ws now firing from port k rear at Doingt & Chair wood over both sides of Y. Reports were sent back & th made all haste to get 5 Doingt & cat of bise ferms They reached 1 adg of Dongt in Mannhei Y but our gauswere still on Doingh The german reliead Dt right across some of our m.g. posts wh inflicted a lot ewere at Casuathes 5001.2 r to Doigt erius were makin, for is at a few hundredyds furter I & had to Expose temselves. The ferman nop. at posts around I wood leh Paviere i were firing hervit
We had some capt ferm m & then & our own were brought outo 1 german guns & paduely got hem lown. On Mis. opened from a etiring pty in E.C.T. S.wd. Baviere. Y. A Cpl, Kilgour went out by himself wa revolver to paid tem - saw him, used his revolves with effect. He came back for assisten one man went back a him se go a ferm rifle, attackn post. He lilled 3, Capto one, pat Irest to Right. He Got close without being seen, fired I shots - dived in a grabbet one &f others san. He a T.C.M.

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