Charles E.W. Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/55/1 August 1916 pt6

61

Bennett is in 46
connecting up w
7^th.
Support Coy of 7^th
is digging in the
jumping off line to
connect w Jafront line.
[*5^th w O.G.I.*] Jess has nothing from
Right Coy.
Hobbs wants to know
if he can ease up
rate of fire as he
may run short of
ammunition.
Coulter is sending
scouts to see how
his left Coy is
doing.

62
8^th Bn reports its right made 3 attempts
on objective but beaten back
& digging in on present lines.
Jess reports tt / enemy
apparently knew of attack
from way in wh he opened w
m.g. during our bombt.
8 Bn reports Right Coy went
for its objve 2ce - beaten
back
It is Coulter 8^th Bn who has
made 3 attempts  - asks
for 5 Bn to stand by him
This pretty well exhausts
5Bn.
Forsyth asks if any
more being sent up - thinks
they shd move (10?) to Sunken Rd.
Coulter is to have 5Bn
in support & to put them
in if necessary. He is to
go for it again.

63

11.30 We know at present

6 Bn 6 Bn 46 7 Bn 7 Bn ↓ but know nothing here
8Bn  X Y Munster Alley
5 Bn
( 1 Coy in O.G.1 in Reserve)
Coulter, O.C. 8 Bn reports
tt he has sent out scouts &
tt his line is repaired and thro' -
so he may hear any moment.
Proposed:
8 Bn w 5 Bn has to go for
portion X Y again.

64
11.30. Coulter asked by Forsyth how long
it will take him to prepare
another attack as we want
to bombard the trench.
Coulter doesnt yet know
about the left Coy. So it
is diff - to know where to
bombard.
Bennett reports tt
our own shrapnel is just
missing our own parapet
at 77.
? Blamey suggests
barrage along Bapaume
Rd. 35B.
Coulter reports tt many several
officers Lodge (adjt) Hardy (O.C. rt Coy) & 4 others are casualties. The
men were met by a m. g.
on their left (? by tram way)
Many wd were left in trenches

65
Old Brown of Trench Mortars ws
asked by / Bdier if his mortars
cd bombard agn from Munster
Alley.
Yessir - only standing by
for orders, Sir. Ready to begin
any moment you want Sir.
Abt 10 mins. later Ulrich,
the acting Bde major asked
him: "I suppose your trench
mortars have used up all
that 100 rounds."
"I hope they have," sd
Old B.
"Why?"
"So many dead Germans."
Then it struck him tt he
might take steps to find out.
He doesn't know if he can bombard.
Bennett reported everything
satisfy.
Lt. James of 8 Bn passed thro,

66
wounded. He was in the
Left Coy of 7 Bn (next to 6^th).
He says he only had
3 men wounded.

12.10 am. No news yet of
Coulters left.

[*Aug 18/19.*]
12.25 G.O.C 41st Bde says he will
help us by getting more T.M.
ammunition up w a Call,
with his m.gs. & by a bomb
attack on the trench x
Scouts are being sent, I think
from Bde H.Q.to right of / Bn
in order to make xxxxx sure tt news
for assistance by scouts
[*12.30*] gets back of position of 7 Bn right
From 6 Bn Enemy shelling 6 Bn new line
heavily R35 D46 R^.35 A.4.8.
Col. Blamey says that
Bde on our rt at 11.45 report
tt at 11.45 Anzacs advanced &
appear now to be digging themselves
in.
No news abt this from Coulter.

67
A commn trench is being dug
in along the road (? is this
Bapaume Rd).
1.a.m.
Coulter's left coy driven back
by w v. heavy loss to jumping
off trench. This is held by
remnants of Coy.
Rt Coy made 3 attacks & is
prac. non existent.
Coulter says he is prepared
to make another attack but
it wont  be successful unless made
by fresh troops. Also Divn on right shd
cooperate.
Jess reports:
D right (left) Coy of 7Bn
is diging in along Bapaume
Rd. to front line. Word has been recd from
N.C.O. in front line tt all is
O.K. there.
Coulter says tt the right
cluster of strong points in
X6 wants dealing with.

68
Question now is whether the
thing can be done before daybreak.
It wd take 2 or 3 hrs to arrange
an attack with the 41^st Bde &
get the bombardment going;
or whether we can consolidate
on / left by junction of Sunken
Rd - (Point 46)
[Fighting a battle today:-
Bdier at telephone: Hallo - Hallo - Hallo-
what did you say abt your
right company - yes - what -
that yr rt coy may be in /
German trench - yes - yes -
Oh cut that conversation out
- get off this phone-  now
what's that? Yes -
(This is  a compound of
several remembered
conversations).]

69
1.50
There is an operatn order being
got out by Bde H.Q.
Our people to remain
as they are & consolidate.
The 5 Bn bombing party is to be
as strong as possible (from
Munster alley)
7 Bn is also to go from
its end also (Jess thinks
he has lost a company. But I
fancy the Bdier thinks this
Coy may be in the trench.
2:30a.m  There is a doubt what has
become of the left right coy of the
7^th Bn. Jess thinks it is lost
- the Brigadier does not think
it can all be k. or captured.
He thinks it is / German
line - but, if so, how is it there
is no news of it.
Report from Engineers Lt Read.
"Am back in 7^th Bn HQ. & infantry
"repulsed". (He was in point 46). 

[*Wrong.

He
Survived.
C.E.W.B
Oct 30/1921*]

70

Looks as if infantry might be
out of the 46 point.
It ws mostly m.g. fire & bombs
by wh 8Bn got it.
2.35am: 6Bn reports
7th Bn Right has fallen
back but they have abt
150 yds of trench. The trench
is about 3 or 4 ft deep.

[Angel got no reward -
& died of his wounds.]

6 Bn message says: Commn
trench thro' to front line; it will be
finished by daybreak. Trench
from R35 C. 7 ½ 4½ to R 35D 406 (sic)
Capt. Moncur, Thompson with 4 platoons
have a commn 4 platoons
have comm trench thro. "A" Coy c/
Pioneer Bn is helping them.
2 Runners of 6 Bn have
investigated / line & find tt
state tt right of 7 Bn ws
apptly bombed out - But 7 Bn

71
7 Bn 4.25 say joined up w. 6Bn at
R34D 3.4. (?) Thence line in
semicircle back to R.35D3.1
along jumping off trench  X5B79.
Commn made to rear.
Engr party did not go beyond jumping
off trench (C & B Coys attacked. Bn
right suffered).
6Bn. 4.40.
My line now runs
R35D46  R35D06
R35 D48  R34 D. 69
3.30am.
44^th Bde report their front
line being shelled.
8^th Bn in trench,  trench,  trench & 0G1.

72
left still in touch w 6 Bn
right & they hold abt 150
yds of trench running
slightly to their right rear.
6Bn Line O.K. & now quieter.
3.15 am. The attack by 5Bn
bombers from Munster alley
being made hopeless by /
above report is nox
countermanded w all
possible haste - the Gen. Forsyth
rang up 5 Bn. "That bomb attack
wh you were going to make
from M. Alley - well don't
make it - that's all."
The attack by the 7Bn
bombers from / other
end is to go ahead.
The Engineer
3.27. Request for Normal barrage now, thro' night
Gen Forsyth turns in. 

73
5.15am. Bombing trench
out towards 1.2 x 4.8

74
Result of his afternoons attack
by British of on left (143^rd Bde
145^th on rt assisting)
- 04. 44 - 78.
    I      I
   20 - 62
   in X 2B.
Skyline trench is
held now to pt.
81.
Berks have since bombed on
to 59 in same square.

1st A.I. Bde:
To Divn:
10.25 Please lift barrage in
50 yds in square 28C. as
infantry cannot press forward
on a/c of our own artillery fire.
10.50 4 Bn have gained
objective but are being c. attacked
& have suffered casualties.
(Request for Bn of 3 Bde as
only one Coy now out of line)
10.45. Request to 2 Bn to
send at once a company to /
support of 4^th Bn.
R 28 C93 ws attacked by
3Bn & gunpit occupied by us
but trench ws found strongly held
by enemy & owing to casualties
from our own shellfire attack