Charles E.W. Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/52/1 July 1916 pt6

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them got in before
“Half the trouble is caused by people having
to wear gas helmets - You cant see thro them
"One pty went straight across.
"Gas wont be so bad now.
wind up now - gas shells wont be so bad
It ws v. still when they started.
"10^th got in behind 12^th. 
"I had to take my gas helmet off
& chance it."
Not much trouble in finding mouth
of Black Watch Alley - its further up
the trouble is - theres a branch in it.
I left a man there (shd bear to left.) Bdier "send another [[o.p. on]]
man to stay with him?" There wsnt a big arty fire
at 12.30 - If the attack ws at 12.30 as I
heard it was there -
Troops had to move into position
along a limited back area.
Pty of 10th was lost there.
Black Watch trench ws v. crowded
with men.
1.25 Bdier asks for ½ Bn to be

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moved into position near Bailiff
Wood - Tollemache (Bde Maj. at end of table) is splendid. Maclagan is
not as quick as he used to be
A frightfully difficult business for
3rd Bde.  on dark night
w gas shells & helmets on.
We had no gas helmets to wear in
Gallipoli. Of course this makes a
very big difference.
1.30 – message through
Look here when we are asking after the health of James or any of
his friends I think we will send it by visual. If the message
fails to get through then we'll try . . . 
1.30 Brigadier How abt those pioneers –
we cant very well send them on till we know -
Send another message to Lydia (1^st Aust Div) – no
news thro!

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1.35. messages from Reserve section
Vickers guns. Bdier asked him cd you
tell at all how things were going.
Messgs says: Part of 12^th Part of 10^th Part of
12^th Part of 10^th gone thro as Ive
been getting thro commn - They seemed all
boxed up somehow.
Some of 12th were just at
entrance of commn trench (Black Watch
Alley). The last of the 12^th were
just going in as I left it – They were
all in by time I got here.
Tollemache trying to reassure
Bdier – "that must be abt 20 to 1.
He wd have taken quite that."
Messenger; They werent shelling commn
trench very much – a few shrap &
a few High Explosive –
1.40 Maclagan Bcy now the leading coys of
the 12th shd be in the 3rd position –
Bdier "I think we ought to
move the Pioneers up now." 

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Pioneers Officer. "Our party is
up there – in advanced sunken
road – ready to go on as soon
as first Bty division (?) is thro.
(Our guns still shooting hard –
can hear few enemy shell above)
1.45. Messengers sent thro to
see if the commn trench is yet
clear.
1.47 message from 9^th – from original
B.H.Q.
K.R. (11^th).
Toll. passes it to Macl. without
comment.
^<<No sign yet of 1 A 34 (12^th Bn) up to
1.35."
Visual Signallers ordered
to get into visual signal touch
with old BHQ wh has [[touch]]

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with H.Q. of 11th.
2 coys of 2 Bde asked for l a l o. 22.
1.56 The fear now clearly is tt / barrage is
wasted owing to supporting Bns not having
been able to get thro' commⁿ trench.
in time. [Bdier says so].
? alter tt message to Lydia to 11 (1^st Aust Div) 
I have heard msgs going for
a long time – prob our indirect
fire.
2.3. Elliot (12^th Bn) reports at 1.20 1 a 32 ↑10^th Bn & 1 a 34 ↑12^th Bn
still in Black Watch Alley –
hold arty barrage 3rd objective
from 1 a. 33 ↑11^th Bn (Maclagan : God Almighty!)
(can all be got by visual)
 to 1 a 34 ↑12 Bn & 1 a 32 →10^th Bn 
Reply :"If not already left,
push forward 7^th & 8^th waves)"

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[This message arrived unfortunately
long after 3rd Barrage had lifted.].
At 1.20 these two waves were
[*1 A 10*] 20 mins from place they had to
reach (600 yds). Barrage wd lift
in 10 mins.
[*Eastern
Beam*] Message to divn. 2.15 "owing
to wearing of gas helmets considerable difficulty
[* & Custom*] in two last Bns getting into position.
No definite information but expect attack 2nd objectives

↓↓and 3rd objective delayed
2.16 Another message from old
B.H.Q.
Campbell in 
[*?11 Bn*] Both lines taken. Consolidatn proceeding.
 O.C. attack on O G I reports further advance of 50 yds
O.C.L O G I. (shorthand) 50
yds I fc 
but states tt he can see no sign of our troops on left.
German retaliation light, esp. on left. 
left . Our
bombt going strong.
Wants support from 12^th Bn

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From 9 Bn.
We have taken Strong Post but have bn pushed
back agn to first line.
Everything seems favourable but I have had no word
from / attacking parties on the other trenches.
Rept to Divn. at 2.15.
My left battalion reports portion 2nd
line enemy taken - but lost touch w
right bn. Rt Bn. reports
having taken pos one strong Post
OG 2 but after advancing
short distance was pushed back.
Having received reinfts he is again
pushing forward. He has no news
of how attack has progressed
on Either of his flanks.
2.22: 11 Bn Milner reports 1st line taken. He is wd.
12 Bn → 1 a 34 bn sent forward x 2 coy commdrs
put out of action.

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To 1 A  Bdier: "I must get these 2 coys of
10^th up." To 1 A 32. ↑10th Bn send on
your 9^th & 10^th waves to CO G 1 support attack
of 1 A 31 → 9^th Bn
Keeping right on trench O.T.1.  So far now
tt most of  2nd objve (?taken but rt held up?)
Pioneer officer just reported x Col Nicholson
is there - Coys not started yet -
Maclagan very indignant:
"Tell Col. Nicholson w my compliments
to push on at once w due
(haste?)"
At 2.05 - Two Coys went forwd to 3rd
Objective.
Macl: "Those bloody pioneers – comms
of not writing it down you know."
1.33. A Coy _∧of 12^th has just reached...
& has bn ordered to leave for 3rd
Objve.
Maclagan. Retain your 2
last Coys from Present. They are
to move into trench at 11 A 23 to 53

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& there await further developments. I do not wish
them used exc. in case of extreme
emergency when .........
(into trench immedtly NE of yr H.Q.)
? from 11^th. Regret most my officers casualties.
2.45 Metcalfe ↓ ? Medcalf 11 Bn reports he is consolidating
1st objve. 
Ordered Elliott 12 Bn to ............
2.45 To Lydia (Divn) Elliott xx 12Bn a 1 a 33 11th reports nearly all his
officers casualties Request Officers
now with you be sent up reporting
this H.Q.             
"I suggest 2 more coys be
sent to report same place near
this H.Q." /
Bdier says -  if we have them
there they may be able to push rt
thro' village in morning".

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2.52. Roberts 11 Bn told tt Elliots 12 Bn 2 last
Coys are to go into line N.E. of his
positn but to remain under Bdiers'
orders –
These the Bdier is keeping for
Counter attack. " we cant alter the
Barrage" says Tollemache.
Bllin. " I think it wd be better for
them to fight in / village in daylight
3.6. From 9 Bn.
Can get no infm. Wd man states
1st trench taken - men all thro village.
Having diffy with bombardment.
A few mgs here but no heavy fire.               
To 9 Bn
11^th Bn reports 1st 2 objives taken now being
consolidated. Have ordered 12 Bn to send for
2 coys with to support yr bn with their
right on OGI
Ground won must be consolidated
Inform your leading units.
Macl. thinks left bde are probly
thro village