Charles E.W. Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/54/1 July August 1916 pt11
9.
123 122
AUG 7- 1916
The Germans have clearly come to know
tt Sausage Gully is thick w men & guns,
& are making it very nasty there
& on Tara Hill. Abt 18 artillerymen
were hit last night.
4 Bde Reports say:
Aug 7
Cannan 8.45
LT Dunworth o / 15
Maj Fuhrman. Coy
Jacko was in it
Lewis gunners ? fought a Lewis gun
*14 what Jacka says is all right.
Leane cd give an a/c of it
2/3 48 1/3 14 from pt 60
Southwards.
*Brand went round tramway trench & thanked them.
whole line has had a v. heavy shelling.
Patrols wdrew the line
attack in thick masses. All
say this
C-att
4 Lewis guns & one Vickers
knocked out.
O.G. 1 & 2 are no better than
bg shell holes.
124
Intermittent shelling since 6 on left section
O G 2 trench
Barrage on O.G. trenches on 15th left
(Pt 58 to 12.) ws most useful in our c. attack.
This trench ^ not altogether built yet.
Junior officers sop. Jacka organised
the c-c- attack on their own ^responsibility
abt 200 Germs 20 at 4 & 45 ^attacked front of 48 & ^ battalion
2 L. guns put in action
615 nearly 60 prisoners40
1st Position being regained
Support trenches repaired
3 of Lewis guns destroyed
* 4pm
Coy 14 in frontline lost abt 70 men
4 L guns destroyed
14 - 1 platoon reinforced.
Tramline ^trench improved.
Comms only by runners w ^front line
Jacko, Appleton & Dobbie were
all wounded - they were responsible
for our c. attack.
Suffolks going for small ^trench tonight
5th Aug 15 Bn went in on Sat night. A. Casualties
6th Aug. 14 Bn " " " Sund. aftnoon.
no casualties.
125
AUG 5-1916
AUG 7-1916
night Aug. 5. night after Big attack
Enemy attempted c.attack
down O.G ^trenches. This was
done by bombing & ws a
feeble affair & very easily
beaten. The attack by the
morning Aug. 7 63rd Regt next night was
more serious
126
AUG 6-1916
Aug. 6 Enemy were still in shell
holes in front of com trench
69 Bde 23 Div. bombed up Munster alley
(12 Bde supporting w T.M.) to
within 150 yds of switch.
Aug 6. Betw. 6 & 7pm. R.F.C. Observer
reported movement of troops along
trench beds. R 29 a 5.7 &
R 27 & 9.7 also ^ trench opp
Ration trench strongly held Esp.
aft Pt. R33 C.3.3.
Cannan Reported tt Germans
had bn v. quick sniping w HE
& shrap. as if he had good observing
w kite balloons.
AUG 7 -1916
*Aug 7. From 12 Bde
Heavy shelling N of Bap. Rd.
Dump of 7 Bde (taken over by
4 Bde) blown up.
S of Bap. Rd a feeble c. attack
by enemy ws repulsed
& 3 ^prisoners taken. 5.10 am
.6.20am Enemy shelling OG 1 & 2
all night. C. attacked at day light
Shelling afterwards slackened.
8.15 am. 12 Bde reports: We again
127
AUG 6-1916
11.15 pm. 12 Bde reported t shelling
of OG 1 &2 ws v. heavy
near Torr trench. / m. g.
team & 5 L. guns of 48 blown
up. Enemy's planes a good
deal now. Enemy shelling
more accurate as result.
AUG6&7-1916
69th Infy Bde. The Yorks had short notice of attack - sd to be
1/2 hr only; 45 Bn had no notice till they
actually saw them going in.
The Yorks supports were
back in Contal maison-
After fight bad gone on
down Alley for some time
Capt. of Yorks being killed
& 2/Lt in charge, latter
was heard shouting for Australian
reinforcements. Capt. Knox of B Coy 45 Bn
went in with his own company bombers & afterwards
Lt Young with some of the 41 Bn. Bombers.
They built a stop at point reached tt night
a party holding trench further out while this
was being done. The Abt 1 1/2 platoons were
carrying beside bombers - Coy bombers
mostly hit. we got abt 30 prisoners over &
handed them over to Yorks when reinfs
arrived. The corps on our right
Sent in special messages of thanks.
** GH.Q says tt
on Aug 5 our
Light H got
200 T's
on cancel in
c.attack.
128
AUG7-1916
drove back enemy N of Bap. Rd.
We hold O.G.1 but shelled out of
O.G.2 8 Lewis Guns, 3 Vickers
guns destroyed. 50 prisoners on way down
6.25 am. 48th Bn report, enemy
attacking O.G.1 & 2 N of
windmill at 5. 52
AUG6-1916
[at 11.50 pm on Aug. 6th 45 Bn reported
that York Regt. carried out bombing
attack on Munster Alley. They were
badly pressed & 45 supported them
w bombers + 2 platoons.
Attacking party Estab. Themselves
100 yds up Munster alley & built
barricade.]
Diary of captd German officer
sd reliefs took place at 2 am.
Arty asked to shell at that time.
AUG 7-1916
From 12 Bde. 7 Aug.
At 5.52 Enemy attacked OG, & OG2
N of windwill. Trench recaptured by 6.20
S. of Bap. Rd normal situation.
14 Bn reports 6.15. 2. Lewis guns
blown up during night
[14 Bn Reported at 9.50 pm Aug 6
B. Coy: R34D59 to R35.C. 48. firing line.
C Coy: X4 B37 to X5A15
D " : X10D08 to X10D87 (sw also)
9
129
AUG 7-1916
*6/8/16
A Coy: X9D65 to X10C 10 (Gun Rd.)
last 2 coys in Reserve.
.Relief of 28Bn complete by 9 pm.
". " 26 " " " 9.15.
Frontline held w 4 Lewis
guns - bombers - & escort
for guns.
BnH.Q. X5AOS]
Aug 7. From Cannan.
At 4.30 am. Enemy c attd.
15 Bn front. Also 14 Bn
& 26 Bn (wh relieved but
waiting opportunity to get out).
Penetrated Front line of
14 & 26 but driven back.
Prisoners incl, Major.
Artillery slow to cooperate.
14. Bn used S.O.S. signal. Wd like
another Vickers gun in 15 Bn line
12 to 60
.[ 36 inf Bde on our left - 12 divn - got
3 German prisoners and a M.g.]
4.10 p.m. 45 Bn. being relieved by 47.
Bg $ Bde Observer:
At 350 am. 2. green lights.
415 to 4.30 coloured lights
After 1st Signal Arty fire slackened
& heavy m.g. & open fire opened for 15 mins.
130
12 Bde
3 Vick
8 L. guns
dirty shells
131
HW/ 5pm. 7 m.g. Coy still in.
4 mglogs M. qs at 12. 60
.& 2 at Stn pt. 90 & 91.
L zone of 48 Bn reported that 14Bn
rendered ft assistance to our left
during attack - Pty of 14 Bn under
Jacka made a v successful
charge wh relieved pressure at a
critical moment & resulted in
Capture of Sev German prisoners
2nd. Corps arty is wire cutting Rd from
? R38D8.91/2 to 8 1/2 8. wh has on
holding up all their attacks.
4 Div. Sends 3 L. guns to 4 Bde
5 " " " 12 Bde.
1 Pon 13th Bde moves to TARA hill
this afternoon.
24th Lewis guns remained in
lives all last aight on a/c of
arty Barrage tho relieved.
Cannan reports 11.52 am Aug 7 .
Trench from 58 to 91 is 80
yds in front of road & Cannan
reports he is certain it is being shelled
from by our own arty. Making his
trench untenable on rt flank.
132
104 How Bty. 5 Bde
.shelled last night
maj. blown up. It is
a wonder they did not
get onto these, batteries
before
9 133
AUG 7 -1916
11.50 Cannan Reports.
Shelling intense in ogg. R.346
& X4 a near Cemetery.
New lines OG1 & 2 being v heavily
shelled at pts. 12 to 60 &
09 - 58 - 77
asks for intermittent barrage
N.E of line 24.12. 91.58
Cannan says: Central way trench must be
widened & deepened to 6ft below
ground before making attack &
extended to Pr 51 R34c5-1.
Cannan says
6 Bde run gunners are worn out
& urgently need relief.
14 & 48 Bde H.Q. at X 4 B. 8.4.
Via. 7 Bde H.Q. Copse Alley, Emu Alley.
AUG 6-1916
6 Aug: Army Commander considers tt
Eno' garrisone for O G .2
wd be 4 Vickers & 12 Lews Guns,
over whole front now held.
For O.G.1 abt 16 vickers 48 L. guns
Rest of garrison to be withdrawn
to jumping off line provided
close touch can be kept w
arty. This last to be carefully
considered.
134
AUG 5-1916
5th Aug. 1st Anzac orders:
on no a/c will OG1 be evacuated.
Your message indicates tt
line is being held too strongly.
inst. of by few well placed
Lewis & Vickers M.Gs. Shelling
will probly continue several days
& it is essential to be prepared
for it. It is safer to go forwd than
to creep backwd & shell holes
in front are better than
a demolished trench
Subjected to fire.
AUG 7-1916
Contact Patrol RFC reported this
morng trenches where exist
are crowded w men.
*? 7 Aug German trenches*
Sergt Twinning & 10 men ws in front of windmill.
sent message at 4 am wh didnt arrive.
5am message arrvd
Twinning had L. gun wh was blown out &
sent back.
He remained till 10 & reported
tt he only had one man left
(He brought them in & S.G O)
& Twinning ws wd & had to
be sent in.
Patrol N.C.O & 10 men - on flanks
in out. Corp- & 3 men,
* Hartley ws killed in this. carter ws captd & released.*
135
Leane only had 3 guns left & they
were blown out & returned.
3 Vickers guns - be traced - only tripod
can be found-can't find crew
4 Lewis guns were sent out on
night of Aug 5th to cover
digging. No trace of these.
Germans r in Courcelette not- nearer
& round Mauguet Farm. Fire is
now from left.
Twinning stayed out by windmill
Germans coming to N. He fired on them
.Patrols came back onto OG1 &
held OG1. OH 1 is always held.
(0G 2 is 100 yds this side of crest)
Germans got into OG 1 left of
Windmill.
L. got message from Lt Law
tt we were being c. attacked.
Messages sent to Divn. Part of
C Coy ws sent to C attack & support
front line. OG 1 is mass of craters.
There ws a pty under Capt Hartly
& certain no of wd men isolated
on left of 48th. Germans had them
surrounded.
14Bn under Jacka & C.Coy
part of main of 48 in front
trench c. attacked & captured
Germans - 47 came in & wd.
136
AUG 7-1916
Wd are still in trench.
The prisoners were Scherwig
Holsteiners. There are many k.
lying in front of our trench but they must
have bn got going back by our arty.
Patrols Reported yesty tt guns were shifting
on the left.
A sergt of 28th ws found betw OG1 & OG.2
in crater. Had been there since their attack.
Also some of 26 Bn. beyond O G 1 in
crater.
Twining, was w 5 men - burnt
his map. He saw germans, in
one line - w mgs. Our arty blew
one out. T. had instns to eat his
map than lose it.
The 48th Bn had a great number
of casualties in relieving the
7th Bde (Col. Leane says) on Aug 5th.
They have now (Aug 7) lost 5 officers
killed & 17 wd. & 340(?) men. The
45th wh relieved 5th Bde had lost
4 officers & abt same number of men
.The 48th was hurried in to relieve the
7th Bde (bec I suppose it ws not thought tt
the 7Bde could stand much more).
The O.G.2 line ws held w a
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