Charles E.W. Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/54/1 July August 1916 pt1

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Part of Quest:
Charles E W Bean Diaries
Subject:
  • Notebook and diaries of CEW Bean
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
RCDIG1066818
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

ao in then & 86 in t Komp WH. Caf. Rest. (Rest of 2 Bn m OG2 71 Rept. 6.s. 67 1Ba 315 621 Rut. 38n 2 Br 142 see ether endes book torpage
Terman & in fort of Posesesat first. 1st Bn. 157th Reyt. 63 B. 187 Rept 23/7/16 acc. 5I rigto informate Pozieres with be stormed in next fehours. For sucless therefore the 3rd cy wi be in positin to soon asrreceive i this evy as pport I will add & sutirs to it. Wen p7 B &. Son tu p7. Past 2e/p. 1.30 pon mesye 20 t end Port most under all wichating be hett. dppstos ar conig up. lep to now 24 men off8t & 11700 name erria wh mnss be pett on right wing you will fet, 4 seites of reinft duing y aptnon. Brd loy. W. 9 Rest 6o 3. Bn 167 legr. four ha posety cast of sant 110 date 19.76 74 B officer, or p. C. 65/6 9 puly o arg wt we behind conreitet s behend he I
The rien, i Nogieses were sitting on dowrsleps smoking after by took Ivillage. They wd roll a bourt into I cellars and a man botter, ad bayouit 23 inThey welkesfreely in I viller prit roe after 6 days a gerna dbeheard moaning in one of cellers, but they couldn't find to July 2818. shelling of Pozures not so havy. Gellibian tells we it in 1 last two days each of his bus in 1 line (two) has had about 25 o/0 casnattis. They have to send out a thiodl (230d) to protect 1 left flank tonight. Two parties I have to work up h trinches establish stror postss they have to be rresponsible yor surface in between 2921 The general was put in his other Bole (73 betwn the 6th & 5.1. The 5th had to squerze brtslefs let the 7t tem in to truches ty don't know & opposite a port they havent any experiencs of Hove tills we a he was for pvillege awice. First on the night) of 26/27 when DBde relind the second Bele. He went up t night to retieve the 2 Bde mgs. He wondered up past the Chalk pit & after passont on road saw abt o dead lying. Today thers are abt 100 there - just S. of the villap. That seems to be Pwarmest comer where th barrage has always fallen. I went from there guided I still in
pr to be K3d tb and Objee 1000 B apen, along what seemed to have bu roads No past a ledge, until they enarged somewhere near the Dichar (by t cemetir tint a odemers of sraters. He edut find stching you posk & so lay in craters,. As down came an be return to Ralk Pit. 4 2i JJuly 28/29. Te 6t Bde Nih t atack from Fynch D Commn y R34d to R34C22. nd Objoe: Ridg R3449026 R33 d. 8.4½ -1650 ydo widle) to sump off fom ech X4a.8.9E 6 Con YX4a37 (Pr8O) On Panels t indicate Br. H.B. to aan Green lights - Si9. to air cratt 24, 2 coys. 22 under D Col R.S. Smith 2ays Bde Reserve. Strong Pto to be made at R34 a 821, 34C4½.8, 33d. 8½ 4½, 34 C 65
101 F57 Bll Opn Ordle 15t Stay 20 Br Cleas two coys to attack OG 1 from Bapanne R to the trantint? I Endstap 20 Bn (leas too coys) with attack O62 from Bapanin Rd to trantine. 17 Bn, will allack O.G. 2 from tranlind to $56414 one MTat Bally & 515 AC TMBSty will ablack forr positing of X5A9.32 Rest of Bde will hold present tiue from x5 b 41 along 89.15 X5.A.9.32 thence to trainline at X5A54 & alory trantig to 24688 2nd 19 Dir Order. No. 35. (28 July) Not many Eveng seen on 27/7/16but believed to be in dujonts. Res. Arry Art, Anjac H.A & Neighbouring Corpo H.A. cooperate. tevch Objic. End Limt. O.G.1 0.4.2, from Bapannne Rd. to- R 34 Central & Ridge morth of Pogures Amelery from R 34 Antral to R 33 d8£4½. 7 Bde from Bapanine, Rd Ciict, Windwell, to commtyrely 091,062 at R34. 6.1.2 to R.SH.A.G.L wncl 8th Bdle OG. 1. 15t Objoc. O.9.2. End objoc. 6Bde (as previoss page) 5 Bde-O.G.1 & O.A.2 from Bapanne Rd to X5 a 8½. 5 X56.2. 5/½ Battery of MTMY 5KLTM to tover this attack from 5.
4 488 12 ms from rty line 12.14 nonnal intense firt for 60 seconds 1215 Left out OG2 for Shms whnce. 08 4 6.0 48 85 612 Preparatory 010 5276 Beles to prepare & occup ln of shon points closer to posite tbe allacki Essential to drive emer puts trenches Preliminary reconnaisounces had tm Recomdissance tonight to accertain here far th were existe how fav poun held by eneng) I wesult of bombardut. Toops to be advanced as close aspossible f objectives groundgound to be aboure consolidated. ps Posites for Lewed jous it be selected & occupied apt C. aback Peoviers to make Str. points in O9.2. 661 X5608. R35. C 72.4 25a727½ 350.48 R35 c.2. 6. 34d. 16.9½ 34 d. 5. 8. 34 6. 1.2. 34 d. 0. 9. 34 a 8/½ 1 38 0. 676 34c. 428 33. d. 8½ 4½ 26 58 09
I came up for this the first big attact ever, made ib theand Austiation Divinion! - to Gellibran H Canti Sancage valley? Ke the Odes arenow very far back (quite close together in deep ferman day outs). I w couting to this in Gelly’s beifeeunderthe pound wh inferman, battatione commander hadtanedto somethim like as well up holstired little gailwan comportment - Tlark worden battens- stone st paper, Electric light a bunk on wh gelly is nownlying. He is very seedy. Tne telephons by his bed leads & the 7th Bde. 12 By.12.40. All communcation with the division. exc. from here that A little later: Sicnatters at report cente say to the are out of to cut off th trenches becal by german m.g. fire down the road past the chalk p it. lp S.X4 Conle) 1.Fom. 12 From 36 Mf. Bde. Eney putting Strapuel Carrag on Bilres - only usual busst of shelling 12.14. Iminute Intense bombt. Never heard anythin quile like it. A yoir amount of mr. gfire in sevenal places before alled. 12.115 (noticiable lss. [Bot) qeen) & re ares ay consthull 12 25½ Enuing had been I firing a 5ood many flares butther o liss of them what I take to be the togieres position. A few heavy shell cramping some distance away i several 42 Shoapnel crashing v. Ligh, overteed but you can see the smake cloud in thi flaskes of our guns othe flares. 12.38. Arty. Anghid again. Hares sall going- red plares too 1283 but I think fewer from the Pogceres dirick I can hear a m.g. Paton has rung up asking if tis docant cem fto Sllibrand curious. A60 he wants to know they then have no newsI you can't expect news for an
Gel1s brand on bed 0 Gelly was splendid this night. Coo as soboioish had batte on his mind but stept between whiles 9 26 hour yet I shd say. 18.10 messinger comes down stairs asking 24t for drink for Capt. Brinomeed, who had a crack from shrapuel in his be in this falley. 1.35. Red Slares still being thrown up constantly from one point directly beond head of Samage valley. R.fe firs or ms. fire cdbe heard. 2.0 second hand report Rro Sgnaller of 20 Bn. #1 stant on lep of 20th Br. diont altogeter come off. (12,7Bde attack man who had toot an eys the 217 docn't know what by) & limped down - reported to 7th Bde H.Q. to the 28th Bn had got there 20pars & 10 men not in fetter there (1 probly getting to gumpin sent Hear an orderly & as hit on way down. He says to he hear oahing rifle fire (but not m. g.) About 4mins before our bunbardment started. CCargour men verider. still red lights over Forieris 2.25
3.15 way. shalling a good dial ighter. our 15t Dis. Gannirs are just abt wor out. No word yet. Visual signallay station up near chalt pit Departs to it thought it edsee a light once, but wasn all in postof it is dusto fmoke. & though it has I exact bearin 1Stations it cd see nothing 515 Bde is in touch with a Br H.D. (but to G. hasno news. Got Commn with advance signalley tn by langs they well sanal a mesagge shortl goards going for Theepoal tonight I believe (wd) News by runner from ?25 Bn that one of teis companys had cotnit both trinches but had too few men to hold it - had fallen back had mys. on them in retreat & y commor reporte he w out man who was left. Lost abt 156 he 74 News from 25t5 that key got in + had t fall back. News from 28th that thy gothing up in wire & attack failed.
52 a 18 A little later. News pom 23 Bn to their attack succeeded. They reached had m.g. Shvap. & rifle on tm when their second wave went over but got toth objectives & now had trenc 4ft deep along line of road Of course this leaves their right hopelessly in the dir. Col. Watson arrived at this moment; he said he had left up the Coys wh were to have bn 925. rther had advited Takers retir have his toss readt goout on right of 23rd Phese men will be very thick in truc angortenately. Chen. Paton immediately decidet to witdraw all Premants of his 3 Bus to theis own bic. & tell arth to switch off. This leaves Iellbrands went in 2atew a tighe position. 25 th Bu report at 2.28 am that starting point was left at 12 mednight & live proceeded to Wilkin

9   3

? 5th A I Bde

11th Inf. Rgt.
157 1 Rgt. 6th Coy. also 2nd Musketeer Bn
& 86 M.G. Komp. (Rest of 2 Bn in OG2)
1Bn
3Bn
62 1 Regt. 3Bn
2 Bn
For pages 1 & 2 see other end of book

 

9    4

Germans in front of Pozieres at first.
1st Bn. 157th Regt to 3 Bn 157 Regt 23/7/16 10pm
acc. to / regts informatn Pozieres will be
stormed in / next few hours. For success
therefore the 3rd coy must be in positn.
As soon as I receive this coy as
support I will add 4 sections to it.
1Bn. 157 Regt to 3 Bn 157 Regt. 23/7/16. 
1.30pm
Message 12.40 p.m. recd. Positn
must under all circumstances be held.
Supports are coming up. Up to now 24
men of 8th & 117th have arrived who must
be put on / right wing. You will
get 4 sections of Reinft during / afternoon.
3rd Coy 157 Regt to 3. Bn 157 Regt.
from new positn East of point 11 0 - date 19.7.16
Strength: 3 officers, 16 MGOs 159 men.

July 27. Arty who ws behind Courcelette is
now behind Le Sars.

 

5
The men in Pozieres were
sitting on / doorsteps smoking, after
they took / village. They wd roll
a bomb into / cellars and, when a
German bolted, wd bayonet
him. They walked freely in / village
/ first. Even after 6 days a German
cd be heard moaning in one of
cellars, but they couldn't find
him.

9    6
July 28th Shelling of Pozieres not so heavy.
Gellibrand tells me tt in / last two
days each of his bns has in / line
(two) has had about 25% casualties.
They have to send out a third (23rd)
to protect / left flank tonight. Two
parties have to work up two trenches
xxxx & establish strong posts; &
they have to be responsible for /
surface in between.
The General has put in his
other Bde (7th) between the 6th & 5th.
The 6th had to squeeze bits left - &
let the 7th bde in to trenches
they don't know & opposite a front
they haven't any experience of.

X
Hore tells me tt he was in / village
twice. First on the night of 26/27 when
/  Bde relieved the second Bde. He went
up tt night to relieve the 2 Bde m.gs.
He wandered up past the Chalk pit
& after passing it, on / road, saw abt
30 dead lying. Today there are abt
100 there - just S. of the village.
That seems to be / warmest corner,
where the barrage has always fallen.
He went from there (guided) still in / 

 

7


 

9    8
open, along what seemed to have
bn roads, past a hedge, until
they emerged somewhere near the
orchard (by / cemetery) into a
wilderness of craters. 
He cdn't find machine gun
post & so lay in craters. As dawn
came on he retired to strong point.
Chalk Pit.
Night of Friday July 28/29. The 6th Bde
(23Bn) to attack ridge from
(1) Commn trench R34d to R34C22.
(2) 2nd Objve: Ridge R34 A9.0½ to
R33 d. 8.4½
(650 yds width).
To Jump off from X9 d8 trench 
X4a.8.9½ to commn by X4a37
(pt80)
Bn Panels to indicate Bn. H.Q. to aircraft
green lights - sig. to air craft 

2 Coys 24, 2 Coys 22 under Lt Col R.J. Smith
Bde Reserve.
 Strong Pts to be made at
R34 a 8½1, 34C4½.8, 33d. 8½ 4½,
34 C 66

 

9

For 5th Bde Opn Order;
1st Stage: 20th Bn (less two coys)
to attack OG1 from Bapaume Rd
to the tramline.
2nd Stage. 20 Bn (less two coys)
will attack OG2 from Bapaume
Rd to tramline.
17 Bn. will attack
O.G.2 from tramline to X5b41x
one MTM Batty &
5th A LTM Bty will attack
from position inside S. of X5A 9.3½
Rest of Bde will hold present
line from X5 b 41 along OG1 to
X5A.9.3½ thence to tramline
at X5 A 54 & along tramline to
X4 b 48.

9    10

2nd Div Order No. 35. (28 July) 
Not many enemy seen on 27/7/16 but
believed to be in dugouts.
Res. Army Arty, Anzac H.A &
Neighbouring Corps H.A. cooperate.
Objve. Find Line trench: O.G.1, O.G.2, from
Bapaume Rd to R 34 Central,
& Ridge north of Pozieres Cemetery
from R 34 Central to R 33 d8½ 4½.

7 Bde from Bapaume Rd (incl. windmill)
to comm trench joining OG1, OG2 at
R34. b.1.2 to R.34.a.9.½ incl
67th Bde O.G.1. 1st Objve.
O.G.2. 2nd Objve.
6 Bde (as previous page)
5 Bde - O.G.1 & O.G.2 from
Bapaume Rd to X5 a 8½. 5
X5b.2. 5½.
Battery of MTM & 5th LTM
to cover this attack from S. 

 

11
Times by D.R.
12. move from rly line
12.14 normal intense fire
for 60 seconds
1215 Lift onto OG2 for
2 mins intense. 
 

9    12

Preparatory :
G.O.C. 5 & 6 Bdes to prepare &
occupy line of strong points closer to
position to be attacked.
Essential to drive Enemy into
trenches.
Preliminary reconnaissances
had to be made.
Reconnaissance "tonight" to
ascertain how far trenches held
wire exists, how far ground held
by enemy, result of bombardmt.
Troops to be advanced as close
as possible to objectives
Ground gained to be at once
consolidated.
Positns for Lewis guns to be
selected & occupied agst c. attack
Pioneers to make Str. points 
in OG.2.
08   X5 b 08.                    OG1.
74    R35 c 7½.4           X5a7½ 7½    77
48    35 c.4.8.                R35 c.2.6.       26
69     34 d. 6.9½           34 d. 5. 8.       58
12      34 b. 1.2.               34 d. 0. 9.       09
91      34 a 8½ 1             34 c. 6. 6.
48     34c. 4½ 8            
85     33 d 8½ 4½ 

 

13
I came up for this - the first big
attack ever made by the 2nd
Australian Division - to Gellibrand
H.Q. in Sausage Valley - very
All the bdes are now very far back
(quite close together in deep German
dug outs). I am writing this in Gelly’s
bedroom - 20 feet under the under the ground, wh
some German battalion commander
had turned into a perfect something
like a well upholstered little railway
compartment - dark wooden battens -
stone coloured wallpaper, electric light fittings a bunk
on wh Gelly is now lying.  He is very
seedy. The telephone by his bed leads to
the 7th Bde.
By 12.40 - All communication with
the division exc. from here shut
off.
A little later:- signallers at report
centre say tt they are out of touch
cut off with from trenches because by German
m.g. fire down the road past the chalk pit.
 
9    14
12.7.  From 36 Inf. Bde (on left) 11.5pm. Enemy putting
shrapnel barrage on Pozieres - only
usual burst of shelling.
12.14.  1 minute intense bombt. Never
heard anything quite like it.
A fair amount of m.g. fire in
several places before this started.
12.15  Noticeable lift.  Both green and red
flares going constantly. 

Up to 12.25.  Enemy has been firing a good
many flares but there was are less of
them in what I take to be the
Pozieres position. A few heavy
shell crumping some distance
away; several 4.2. shrapnel
crashing v. high overhead but you
can see the smoke cloud in the
flashes of our guns & the flares.
 12.35. Arty conflated again.
12.55 Flares still going - red flares too -
but I think fewer from the Pozieres directn.
I can hear a m.g.
Paton has rung up asking if
this doesnt seem funny to 
Gellibrand curious.  Also he wants
to know why they have no news.
You cant expect news for an

 

15

Gelly was splendid this night.
Cool as ice - obviously had battle on
his mind but slept between whiles

9    16

hour yet. I shd say.

1.10 Messenger comes down stairs asking
for drink for Capt. Brinsmead 24th Bn who
had a crack from shrapnel in his leg
in this rally.
1.35.  Red flares still being thrown up
constantly from one point directly beyond
head of Sausage Valley.  Rifle fire or m.g.
fire cd be heard.
2.0.  Second hand report thro signaller
of 20 Bn tt / stunt on left of 20th
Bn. didnt altogether come off.
(i.e. 7 Bde attack).
2.7.  Man who had lost an eye (he
doesnt know what by) & limped
down - reported to 7th Bde H.Q.
tt the 28th Bn had "got there" -
2 officers & 10 men lost in getting
there (i.e. probly getting to jumping
off point) 

He ws an orderly & ws hit on
2 / way down.  He says tt he heard
machine rifle fire (but not m.g.) about
4 mins before our bombardment started.
Clearly our men were seen. 

2.25.  Still red lights over Pozieres

 

9    17
way. Shelling a good deal lighter.
our 1st Div. gunners are just abt
worn out. No word yet. Visual
signalling station up near chalk pit
reports tt it thought it cd see
a light once , but was not 
all in front of it is dust & smoke ;
& thought it has / exact bearing
o / stations it cd see nothing. 

5th Bde is in touch with a
Bn H.Q. but the H.Q. has no
news.
2.55 Got commn. with report advanced
signalling Stn by lamp - they will
send a message shortly .
Guards going for Thiepval tonight I believe.
3.15. News by runner (wd) from 26th Bn that
one of their Companys had got into
both trenches but had too few men
to hold it - had fallen back - 
& had m.gs. on them in retreat &
coy commndr reports he was / only
man who was left. Lost abt 156 he thought.
News from 25th that they got in
& had to fall back.
News from 28th that they got hung
up in wire & attack failed.

 

9    18
A little later. News from 23 Bn tt
their attack succeeded. They reached 
had m.g. shrap. & rifle on them when
their second wave went over but got
both objectives & now had trench 4ft
deep along line of road.  

Of course this leaves their
right hopelessly in the air. 

[*Russell-Watson*] Col. Watson arrived at this
moment; he said he had left
up the Coys wh. were. to have bn
retired & had advised Felbeso(?) Walker →25th to

xxxx have his troops ready to go out on / right of 23rd.
X
(These men will be very thick in /
trench unfortunately).

Gen. Paton immediately
decided to withdraw all / remnants
of his Bde 3 Bns to their own line.
& tell arty to switch off. This
leaves Gellibrands event in rather
a tight position.
 " 25th Bn report at 2.28a.m.
that starting point was left at 12
midnight & line proceeded to within.

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