Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/51/1 - July 1916 - Part 3

61
23
July 2 18:^th  The part of
line wh we took last -
from Pozieres to Bazentin
wood - ws enfliaded by
our arty & full of dead.
[[?]] Boz wood
Enemy is still working
on E end of his switch
trench across Sars Rd
at X4 C 74½.
The enemy made ap
A Divn of scraps - Lieberts
from [[Aisne?]]
Divn & sent it agst Biaches
No of 11^th grenadiers deserted to
French.
 

61
24
The germans N. of Somme
seem to have bn formed
into Army -Group Stein.
4 ^1/4 odd Battalions were
under Lt Col. [[Kumme?]]
known as "Kumme's
Detachment"
(July 17)
Yesty. heavy shelling
Baz. Gr. & Baz. Pelet woods
only few whizzbangs elsewhere
Weather very heavy
No shelling of Fricourt or
Manetz or any back
area.. An extraord. [[parox?]]
in a great battle.[[ (stopped fight ^prac?)]]
Rain & mist (real too) 
 

61
25
A letter from Munich
June 27 show tt there were
really serious [[risto?]] there.
"...There is little abt it in 1 papers.
The people ought to have
done more damage than they
did bec. the authorities
wd rather let every thing go
to rack & ruin than give
it to the "motley crowd"
as the call I people
you have no idea what a
ferment there is among l
population. They are only
waiting for you men to
Start properly ....
 

61
26
Army Group Stein consists
of 26 Rev. Dus
of
XIV Res
28 Res. Dy
wips
Gen.V. Stein
52 Dir.
2 guard Res. Div
12 Sir.
10 Bav. Ow.
these were in the arce before
N.YSN
July 1.
Since tim 28 Res. Dis hasleft.
11. Res Ow
12 Res. Div. JV Res. Corps
3 guard Dir
183. Div.
185 Dw
have
Dir. (Wcorg
joined
Dir
123 Dr
 

27
Sle next Papt.
The Brd Bn. 16 Bar. Regt. recd a drafsg
400 men on 121h Jrely. (A derect but
from a m.g. section (abt 30 men) killed
15m officer, & Vizefeldwebl, 1 wd. 120t
A. Col. Kumme, GoLcher Regt (under whom
TBn ca
isued foll order o
18B. RyI.
July 13.
Maj. V. Kriegshein will arrange
for relief of his Bn by Herrv.
1schernhaus & will march his
relieved Bn to Flers.
MaG.v. Esebeck will also arraye
for 1 march of rest of his Bn.
2. Satlers, Majo. Kingshein, who
will representing, will arrays
for the reconstructe of Bn, the
addiy of drafts, & Dion of
officers fom both Ballations. 1t 1s to
bo bomein mand to apart from the
Staff the 2nd Bn has no officers left.
3. Iwills
ram in Dro.le Petet & continue the fight.
 

28
This makes 13 Dins
(some prob, with Diacon).
we had 18 to start wit, I believe
3rd guard div is under genr Lindeguie
who has also
10. Bar Dir.
End wardRes Div
183 Div.
185 Dir
Besides funs destroyed by our
artitlery & many guns not.
brought in we now have taken
(uly 13)
Sin Lows
5
fin hoas
Cinp
gtan heavy guns
field giens
trench Hows.
0
66
rogs
 

43
The fight of the 16th Bavr Rept.
totd by its own papers,
Seelast Page.
1 p.m.
July 11. Reitz left in commd of 3 Bn 16Bdv.
1Col
7½
sends to Kumme O.C. Letr Regt:
It has be ascertained to 1 line on
my left plank where recuits of Lehr
Mt. kept were stationed as well as in the
Kelegsheim sector as foras satient 15
absolutely unoccupied.
The trenches are completely flattend
out & nos of dead are in tim; presun
ably the senvivors have fot away. I must
reiterate my request for troops to are fave
for fighting, stuce 1 recrits, even those of my
own agt, have completely failed.
Kmme Repliit "I hope to we are obliged to sacrifice
surselves here in order to Parmy Command may
re chetere a strong defersin or an offerses
renswe pressure. This confiding must sasking us yo oe
 

30
In the papers captures
when Kumme's He was taken
were several from a vize-fels.
webel (sort of toy Sergd Major)
who as put in charge of
No 9 boy 2nd Bn 16 Bar. Inf. Rept?
He sent at 11.45 of Juuly 13th to the 3rd. B.
The live has been for an hour
bembarded metodically by the
enery a heavy artillery. Te
broops manning brencdls yest
are notallin dugonts.
The we o the 915t Res. Regt
are lying Entercly without cover in
1 trench. If toops are not got
out, the wea a the 915PRes. kept
will have to awart complete
unibilation. An amply sufficing
 

10
 

31
number of men for occapie
trench can be sheltered in the
dugouts.
By order of It greve I have tol
over command of the 9th Coy.
9th coy.
at 12 noon be reported. It he wd
being bombarded by all calibres
up to 28Cm.
3 cannatters
Coystrength 1 officer 12m.
Begurgently speedy relief for1
company what remains of
loy is so exhausted to in
are of on attack by ever
few totally exhanstet me
not be counted on.
Untilfrgeer, N.C.O.V 7men K.
12.30
The coy has completely lost
its fighting value. The me
 

4t
 

6
 

32
are io exhausted to they can
no longer be employed fighting.
If heavy arty fire continues
the coy will soon be enteriby
Externinate. Reliief fort
Coy is argently requested.
Roober W Reserve
9th Coy at 1.30 reporte
Yeste afternoon ws employe
fevemy on destroyin
the time. The line is, however
still capable of defence, ke
dugouts being only on parts
slightly damaged. One gallen
as battered in. The night us
more quieet. Towards
noon today I
arts fire
 

32A
 

61
in similar bombt we shd have loot far move
 

w heavy yous began tgn
The tooas in shelter have
suffered prelly much alreed
Inf. fere very heavy whenI
Reserve Rept 91 tried to stack
Oherwise, no infanlyy fire,
No trace of g00.
stragth of Coy wehout daf
TNCOS 6omen
Daft
abt 3 NCOS. 30 men
315 pM. Strugt of Coy is now
1WCOs 57men; with draft
10NCOS 85 men
Since no Commn trench Exists
any longer from here to
the second line it is not advis-
 

61
 

34
able to withdraw the Coy.
The 2nd line is, according to
statement of men bringing
up 1 food, similarly shot
to pieces, is still under
heavyfire, + is without
cover.
If I shd have to go on
leading the coy I cannot
in view o1 spirit of coaplited
Exhansted men, take any
responsbty for holding even
parts of second truck in
case of a move back.
6pm. 2nd Bn/ 184 kyt to
Majvon Reity, 3od Bn 16 B3av. 4.f