Charles E.W. Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/55/1 August 1916 pt1

Aug 16
to 22
1916
55

7
Aug. 16.
2 Bde in Glasgows HQ.
1^st  "      coming in
to  Glasgows H.Q.
Glasgow says 4th Bde had
not reached point
reported, but line was

He has added dotted line in
N.E Corner
Howitzers are bombarding
trench XY & message
has bn sent to troops
in our frontline there to
vacate temporarily. This
message Glasgow says
will not reach them until after
bombt. The British sent

7
2
a party yesty to bomb down
6^th Ave. They had to send
them round down our front
line

Units there sent them back.
Sd we wd hold 81.; & Glasgow
told them they must dig another
commn [[trench]] thro to 81.


2nd Bde finds 3 of glas fwrds
saps dug N of Munster Alley
but 4th not dug. (see over)

7
2a

The bde will have to make the
dotted improvement
Germans in 
Probly A B can be dug when
D.C. taken.
All these are dug under heavy
fire. 5 Bn has reported tt
the front line is now being
dowsed w shrapn & support
line w heavy stuff.

7
3

[*Story of 25^th July etc*]

6Bn. It ws the 6Bn that
gave a number of men (abt 50)
to Field Coys to help them dig
the commn [[trench]] thro to Pozieres
on first day.
Also had to provide 150
men to 1st Bde & 150 men to 3rd Bde
for ration carrying.
5 Battalion were supposed
to provide these but didnt 6Bn
offered instead.
25th July. Called by 1st Bde
to relieve 3 Bn. From
Cemetery to 3 Bde.
Capt Binns (who has bn
thro' whole time since Anzac)
occupied from Orchard to link
w 3 Bde. Binns paced id in
broad daylight & they dug
in in daylight.

4

25th July etc (cont)

7
5
X & Y 8Bn previous position
Z  Str. Pt  3Bn.
P...T.   3Bde.

While digging
A Coy lost most
of its NCOs.
All platoon Sergts
Coy Sergt Major
Coy Q.M.S. "Spud"
[*Murphy ws k*] Murphy who ws helping them dig.
& a no. of Corporals
sniped.  Cd proby
be picked out by
their stripes.- Capt Binns had buckle
of his tunic shot off.
Lt Forbes had bn wounded
[* Hit by shell
in wrist kept
going*] 
→ while in charge of 6 Bn &
Engrs digging  1^st night.
Engnr offr had previously bn
hit in chest.

[*25^th July*]
7
6
The last platoon of D Coy ws
checked in Commn [[trench]] & got
caught in barrage. Lost
25-30 men & platoon off. Lt Samuels
Later on in [[trench]] remaining offrs
of this Coy were all wd.
Capt Lt J. R. Thompson died
of w. since.
They were down 4ft when
shelling began. Got [[trench]] 7ft deep
wh saved many men -
Binns. "Buried - you were
lucky you werent hit!"
as he walked along parapet.
He pulled them out & put
them in shell holes in front
& rear wh reduced
casualties considerably.
C Coy wh had bn attached to
7Bn ws returned & 6Bn
ws ordered to relieve 3 Bn
in orchard. This ws done
w B Coy.
3Bn got out tt right 25/6

7
7
[*25th July*]
B Coy assisted A &D Coys by
spreading its own front &
shortening theirs. Reserve
Coy supplied front Coys w
water & ammn thro' all
barrage. 26 July shelling
increased in intensity.
H.E. HE shrap, ord. shrap.
Bn H.Q. ws hit 6 times
(lights went out - debris
on top saved the place but
it ws later on destroyed -
the log hut.) Runners came
thro' / barrage but pioneers
& ration pties lost considerably
by passing thro barrage.
A few men w Binns &
Lewis gunners were in [[trench]]
but most men in shell
holes. That night reld.
by 22 (right) & part of 24 (left),
Orchard to rt.  Orchard to cemetery
moved right back & were

7
8
glad of rest. Hav had to call
up reserve officers.
Losses just over 200.
5^th Bn took one platoon of
6Bn. to help them in
Rogers Intelligence Officer -
acts as sort of liason officer to
front line.
6 Bn came in afr. by 5.30am.
Aug 15.
On rt ws. 45 Bn. 49 on left.
Rt flank near Windmill.
Left flank R35 C48.
Now. R34 d 6.9.
Front trench really is
Jumping off [[trench]] 4 platoons.
Tramline [[trench]] 2 platoons.
Other 2 platoons in O91
& posts in adv. of O.9.2.
By night patrols go further
out (one beyond Windmill)
often to left.  6 men & N.C.O.
Two patrols (one from each Coy).
Abt 12 men from each Coy

146
 

7
August 21 Mond. Evening. 3rd Bde attacked
near Mouquet.
1916  21 {4.30 am. Casey & I went up to line.
Tues. 22 {9.p.m. Leo hit. 2nd Div. (6th Bde.) going in
Wednes. 23 Leo brought in to hospital
Thurs 24 Leo buried
Frid 25 {went with Butler to line
{went to see Angus - word  abt Leo Father
Sat 26 {6^th Bde attack.
{4^th Bde going in to line. Wet.
.Sun 27 4th Bd Very wet.
28 to go with Brookes to get photos