Charles E.W. Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/55/1 August 1916 pt5

48
Postat
33 to 55.

7
49
Aug 18.  Our trench in 3 Bn lines
was as Howell Price sd yesty.
Line is now from Skyline trench
33 a 8.1 gap - post in quarry,
33b 1½ 1½, 33b 3.2, 33b 42,
6.4, 9.5, 34 a. 2.7, 3.9,4.9,
27 28 c. 4½.0., 6.1, 7.1,
8½.0, 99 34a 99, 9½ 7½,
34b.0.7. (with little sap NE [[?]])
6.1 with another sap & 6 T at 7.1½,
3. 1½ (on road), 5.0; 0.G.2
from this point becomes so
smashed as to be scarcely
traceable on air photos.

German [[trench]] at 28c.3½ 2
to 5-4 to 8½ 3½.

7
50
Our front trench on right from
apex of O.G.2 shd now run:
R35c. 3½ 8, road at 6.7, 9½5½
35d. 1½.3, 4.2 (Sap to this point from
SW.) X 5b.6.9 to X 6a.1.4½
(Munster Alley.)

Munster Alley seems to be
British to X 6a.6.5 Thence
South wards
German trench at 
Sunken Rd junction 35d. 3½ 5,
to 9½ 0, to X 6a 1.9 to
1½ 6

New trenches on right: corrected
from aeropl. photos:
As on map.

This was up to Aug 17. 1916.
The greatest effort ws the
digging last night (Aug 17/18).
which of course is not
shown on these photos.

7
51
Particulars of British Position.
Left from Point 81. on 13.8.6. British
held Skyline [[trench]] to X 2 B 6.7.
- 6.2½ - 5.0 - X 2 D 1.9½ -
2 C 2½ 8½ - X 1. D 8.8 - I.D. 3.4 -
back to 6½.8 - X 1.1.B. 4.7 - A.4.7½ -
31c. 4½.2 - 5.5½ - 3½.7 - 1.6 -
31a 1.2 & N.W.
In German C. attack of that night
we lost Skyline trench from
33a . 81 to Stray Pt near
X2 B. 6½ 7.
That night 50^th left their flank
at 81. (Churchill Smith ws prominent
in this).
18th Aug, at 3.45  5 p.m. British
attacked & pushed N.wards in
square X2.
Attack seemed to be made
under cover of smoke.
Attack earlier in afternoon
agst Martinpuich Switch
line. 

7
52
Digging of forward Jumping off [[trench]]
S of Tramway out of view
& so not so difficult. Sniper
but not many casualties.
Night of 16/17 big part of 7^th
went out & worked under gt
difficulties. Party of 8Bn
under Barry & another wh
ws meant to work four
hours only 8am - 17^th Aug to 12 noon -
actually held on all day
till late in evg. (Some 
couldnt find way not having
guides).
Last night 150 of 5 Bn
went out  Betw rly &
Bapaume Rd. Engr's & others
sent back word to say it
cdnt be done as shelling
ws too heavy.
Reply ws it was 

7
53
it ws part of battle
& had to be done.
That ws eno'. They
went out. Lost 4 offrs -
(3 died) & many men k. &. w.
They completed their task.
It ws under exceptionally
heavy fire.
6Bn tho several days
in [[trench]] volunteered to go out
& dig 500 yds N of tro
Bapaume Rd to Apex
& finished it all exc.
80 yds. Shells were
falling on either side - they
were between the two
barrages ours & theirs.
The 8 Bn party who
had sapped during day
werent able to get out

54
7
55
over land (as they got in).
The Engrs had a party of
12 men who sapped out
& finally dug [[trench]] thro.
The party of 8^th got
through very heavy barrage
without casualty owing to
this.
Our men
Barrage map arrived
at Bde H.Q. at 19.40. (Zero time
21.0.) Reached Bn H.Q. 8.42. 8.44. 8.45.
No chance of getting to line.
They have orders to start at .9 &
follow lifts as closely as possible,
but they dont know the lifts.

Trench map.
Common [[trench]] just N of rly now
goes through to DOT Lane.
In 6Bn section trench
R35 d 48 is connected to
26.

7
56
8.45 7.Bn. in position.
6Bn O.C. instr. line to
move at 9 p.m.
Barrages at 9. - 9.1
9.1 - 9.2.
9.2 - 9.3 (50 yds behind
objective)
9.3 - 9.10 in rear of
objve 100yds.
Remains there 1 hour.
i.e. till 10 pm.
10p.m. onwards as
required.
This is operator B.
Objective: trench from junction
of Munster Alley & Switch
Line at X6a.5.7. to R35d.
3.5
& on to R35d.4.6
from wh point posts will
be established joining up with
O.G.2 line at R.35c.4.8.
10.7.p.m. (Message from 8Bn 10pm)
8^th Bn reports "beaten back
by bombs. Making further

57
This afternoons operatn.
48^th Divn on our left has
bn quite successful.
Abt 200 prisoners.

7
58
attempt; can artillery be
asked to sustain barrage until
asked to stop-"
[8 Bn is on right.]
[III Corps is cooperating by bombarding
from R33 a 47 6 1  8 to 9 the
trench from junction w
Munster Alley to R36 B00.
From 9 to 10 they will lift
onto Bapaume Rd in R36a
Central & the Factory.]
G.Bn.
10.15. Bennett. Line left all night.
No report yet.
10.20. Jess. Barrage map arrived
so late tt it cd only
be commun^d to Coys by
phone. (?) Told them tt
there were 1 min. lifts.
Line ordered to retire at
9.1 p.m. It states agn
however without losing
heart. Anticipate
getting in, but holding in

7
59
another matter. Coy of
5Bn ordered asked by Jess up in to
? O.G.1 line - Sent by Le Maistre
2Bde
Op. order.
"2nd Aust Inf Bde will attack
enemy from left of 15^th Divn
X6a. 2½ 6½ to R 35D 4.6
& will join this line to the present
line at about R35C.4.8."
"6 & 7 Bns will attack / enemy line
betw. Munster Alley (X6a 2½ 6½)
to & inclusive of Bapaume
Rd - the 8^th Bn on the rt o
the 7^th Bn on the left.
Dividing line between Bns
will be commn [[trench]] "C" from
O.G.2 to new forward line.
This trench is the one nearest
the Tramway on N. side of
the Tramway. It will be solely at /
disposal of 7Bn for feeding
up into positn prior to / attack.
7Bn will be responsible for
seizing enemy str.pt na at
R35 O D4.6 & establishing strong pt.

7
60
at R 35 D47.
8 Bn will be responsible for Str. pt.
near tramway X 6 A. Bns will
form for attack each with 2 Coys
in line in the front on ½ Coy frontage
w 1 Coy in support and 1 Coy in
reserve.
6 Bn will move forward &
complete the line from left of the
7Bn to point about R35 C48
connecting the right of their present
newly made forward line w 1 left
of the 7 Bn at R35 D 4.6.
2 MTMs will cooperate from
left flank of 44 Inf Bde. 15 Divn
operating on enemy Str. pt on left of
enemy line to be attacked.
Indirect Inf. fire from N. of Chalk
Pit. on all roads in rear of
Enemy positn.
Patrols and posts w Lewis Guns
will be pushed out in front o /
line when estab.
2 days Rations and full water bottles
to be carried by all ranks"
(Engrs to be detailed for strong pts.)