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
to Sausage Gully is 
thick to men & guns,
& are making it 
very nasty there
& on Tara Hill. Abt 
8 artillerymen
were 
hit last night.
4 Bde Reports say:
Aug 7

Cannan 8.45
LT Dunworth of 15
[*14 what Jacka says is 
all right.*]
[[?]] [[Fuhrnean?]] Coy. 
Jacka was on it
Lewis gunners ? 
fought 
a Lewis gun
Leane Co give 
an a/c of it.
2/3 48  1/3 14.
From Pt 60
[*Brand went 

round tramway
[[?]] & thanked
them. *]
Southwards
whole line 
has had 
a v. heavy 
shelling.
Patrols 
warned
 the line
attack in thick 
massess. All
say this.
C- all A.
4 Lewis guns
 & one Vickers
knocked out.
O.G. 1 & 2 are

 no better than
by shellholes.
 

124
Intermittent
shelling since 6 
on left section
O G 2 lunch. x
69 Bde
Barrage on O.G. 

trenches on 18th left
(Pt 58 to 12.) we 

most useful in [[?]]
c. attack.  This trench 
not altogether built yet.
Junior officers esp. 
Jacka organised
the [[caca?]] 
attack on 
their own 
responsibility
abt 200 Germs 
20 at 4 & 45 
attacked front
 of 48 {[[?]] &
 on battalion
2 L. guns put 
in action
615 nearly 60 

prisioners
40 [[?]] [[?]] [[?]]
1st Position 

being 
regained
Support 
trenches 

repaired
[* 
4pm*] 3 
of 
Lewis guns 
[[had?]] 
destroyed
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
Jacka Appleton 

& Dobbie were
all wounded - 

They were 
responsible
for our c. attack.
Suffolks going for small 
^trench tonight [[?]]
5^th Aug 15 Bn went in 
on Sat night. [[?]] Casualties
6^th Aug. 14 Bn "    "   "  
 Sund. aftnoon. 
no casualties.
 

125
 

night
Aug. 5.
morning
 Aug 7
 night after 
big attack
Enemy 

attempted 
c.attack
down O.G 2
 trenches. 
This was
done by 
bombing &
 [[?]] a
feeble 
affair & 
being easily

beaten. 
The attack
 by the
63rd regt 
went 

right until

[[?]]
126
Aug.6

 Enemy 
were 
still in shell
holes
 in front of 
Tom trench
?69 Bde
23 Div. 
bomber 
up 
Munster alley
(12 Bde 
supporting 
w F.M.) to
within 150 yds 
of switch
 Aug 6. Below.
 6 & 7pm. 
R F C Observer
reported 
movement 

of  troops along
truck bel R 29 a 5.7 &
R27 D 9. 7. 
also trench off
Ration
trench strongly
 held Esp.
att Pt. R32 G.3.3.

Cannan Reported 
that Germans
had bu v. quick 
sniping w HE
& shrap. as if he 
had good 
observing
w kite 

balloons.
Aug 7
From 12 Bde
Heavng shelling
 N of Bap. Rd.
Damp of 7 Bde

 (taken over by
4Bde) blown up. 
S of Bap. Rd.
 a feeble c
 attack
by [[sh ?]] was 
repulsed
x 3 [[ co?]] taken.
 5.10 am.
6.20 am Enemy
 shelling OG 
1 & 2
all night. C.
 attacked at
 day light
shelling 

afterwards
 slackened.
8.15 am. 12 Bde 
reports: We again
 

 

127
11.15 pm. 

12 Bde 
reported 
H shelling
of OG 1 &2 

was v. heavy
near Torr to
trench. 1 M. g.
team & 5 L. 

guns of 
48 blown
up. Enemy's 
planes a 
good
deal now. 
Enemy 
shelling
more 
accurate 
as result.

69th Infy Bde.
The Yorks had 
short notice of 
attack - sd to be
1/2 hr only; 45 Bn 

no notice till they 
[*GH.Q says [[it?]]
On Aug 5 our

Light H. got 

200 [[T.s?]]

our cancel in

C. attack*]
Actually saw 
them going in.
The Yorks 
supports were
back in Cortal maison-
After fight 
bad gone our
down Ally 
for some time
Capt. of Yorks 
berng killed
& 2/Lt in charge, latter
was heard shouting for Australian
reinforcements. Capt. Knox of B Coy 44 Bn
went in with his own company bombers & afterwards
Lt Young with some of the 445 Bn. Bombers.
They built a stop at point reached the right
a [[party?]] holding. Trench further out while this
was being done. The Abt 1 1/2 platoons were
carrying beside bombers + Coy bombers
mostly brit. we got abt 30 prisoners over &
handed them over to Yorks when reinfo.
arrived. The corps on our right
Sent inspecial message of thanks.

 

128 
drove back enemy [[?]] 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
wind mill at 5. 52

[at 11.50 pm on Aug. 6th 45 Bn reported
that York Regt. carried out bombing
attack on Munster Alley. They were
badly [[prcosed?]] & 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.

From 12 Bde. 7 Aug.
At 5.52 Enemy attacked OG, & OG2 
N of windwill. Trench receptured 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. firng line.
 C Coy: X4 B37 to X5A15

 D '' : X10D08 to X10D87 (sw also)


 

129
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 4Lewis
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 opportunty 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. Would 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.
By WBde Observer:
N 350 am. 2. sreen lights.
415 54.30 coloured lights
After 151 Sigual Arty fire stacking
at heavy m.g.I sifte fire opens
for 15 mins
 

130

12 Bde
3 Vick
8 L. guns
 [[ d...y sholes?]]

 

131
HW/
5pm. 7 [[?]] 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 beng 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
 

133
11.50 Cannan Reports.
Shelling intense in sqq. 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.G. Copse Alley, [[Z?]] Alley.

6 Aug: Army Commander considers that
Ens 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
5th Aug. 1st Anzac orders:
on no ap will OG1 be evacuated.
Your message indicates that
line is being held too strongly.
inst. of by few well placed
Lewis I& 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 betw than

a demolished trench
Subjected to fire.

Contact  Patrol RFC reported this
morng trenches where exist are
crowded w men.

[* 7 Aug German trenches*]
Sergt Twinning & 10 men as 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,
 

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 Courselithe 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
Windwill
L. got message from Lt Law
tt we were being c. attacked.
Messages sent to Dion. Part of
C Coy ws sent to C attack & support
font line. OG 1 is mass of craters.
There ws a pty under Capt Hartly
& certain no of wd men [[Holate?]]
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.

[* Hartley ws killed in this. carter ws captd & released.*]
 

136
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. It had instns to [[ca8?]] 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