Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/60/1 - September - October 1916 - Part 6

11
16
Cemetery was the place, they
sd. I told them that Centre
way lead to it - & they went
off along it. I fancy the top
cd have bn used by people
used to / place. Our men
went over the top (I didnt)
even when we were here.
We struck a Division
going The guns seemed to
have got up close behind
Mouquet. We had a glimpse
of it; & altho we struck
a division going in o a
on
Division
coming out
the Road tho albert we
Tle
were
0
& mand. Cate
the
last hanc - where
at
o Buther were.
she
Buther wanted to
154 Brich Guard
the
to
find
particulary of
at
his brother.
deat
the
 

57
He
hack
had
from
Eena
& had joined the Irish
Puarda
a End Lieutenant;
be was
killed (in the first
advance of the
guards from
Seachy
+ poor
old Bather
7i
fcel
ery much.
was
found the guards.
We
about dusk
in a valley
Southy
Incourt Yu could
men the moment
the
tell
them? all meatly
You saw
dressed.
bi fellows of even
height; with their trousers
folder over
they puttees
bn
which Brilih
the ugly ar
regiments have
our trowser is fav
ore shapely & shows
outlie of the call
the
However they were
very neat, clean well
takin
se
a
up. They sad about
 

dusk
 

98
with the sort of restrained subdued
air of men who know they
have probably got to die - at
least so if seemed to me as & who
accept te fate. It is dangerous
to go by appearances, but that
was appearance. The
outward discipling of the regiments
was perfect; & if one could judge
by the way in which they sprang
to attention & Sabuted Butler
wherever be ocat & whenever be
spobe to tem &the keenness in
their expression, I sho say to
their relations to heir officers
were excellent - there seemed to
be real friendshep in t attitude
camp about
We found the g
had had to t o
the live - the first at Firisten
which was deadly: the lat Irish
guards were totd they had to
take a certain objectivg. Yooy
told t ere
as
.They were not
 

5
were 3/20ws
of trunches in
between (so the colonel to to me).
They set out amarched to tim
objective & dig on there, as
ordered; &bat 13 officers
out of 18 & 500 men out of
700 in doing so.
He second time it was
against Les Bocufs. They had
very little opposite, & lost
very few. Te fervan commn
gve tatted of their tremendous
losses, of the bloody natured
the advance. TheI was simple
fiction,
te Colonel todn
So for some reason ty German
commaniques are lying now
He guards werea for about
30 hours the first time & for a
nend
short spett the second time, And
now thy were resting
I suppose
 

boyist
 

wit have
t
third lid
Horth Te.
bans of the Crish
suarts
4 of the
penadier
guards clibbed, drais + fifes
were marcheng up and down
the boton of te gully playing
& a line of
men looking on
from each sich. Te on lookers
were largely New Gealenders
Oppoaite
with a tal officer o
another
was standing a little
figure in a mackentost with
a cane
It was by Frince of wales
I
behieve
he 1s astap Captan
or some ting on the 14 a Coys
to wh
the
yards Diva & N.E.
Dwvn
3other Dwns affment
belorg
Butter s reconised at
once
he came up
by several
officers sitt
cutsed
their small
mess
open
tent
I don't think
 

67
Ley
knn hem
but they guessed
who he
I shoold outside
was
talkin
to a
young officer by
name Swith
white Butter
apart
in port. taled to the
stoved. I saw
the Colonel i
for an orderly evedent some
man who had bu cible Battirg
brother when he died or
perhaps his servant.
Mcanwhile
the
boy
was
talin
interestin ae a
little
He had been Batters
50 I knew the
great friend
must have someting in him. Bay
he was a new tyse to me.
spoke like a young prest
48
condescending to lett you of the
situal? The Sxenadier guards
band of the Lrish guards sum
to be allowed
have two big
 

the 62
draig together, whilst other
bettalows were only alowed one - or
someting to wh he seemed
to attach importance. His fair
hair was boashed back, he spoke
with an air of quilt, impressive
decision as if the points were
of vast moment& he settled
them ten & there.
I asket if he hat seen
anything of the New Zealanders.
I think there are some
troops of that sort somewhere
near here, he sd- you see
tem about
I did see plenty all
about. I asked how they had
got on.
I believe they are very
brave & Tallant & all tet
he said. Of course they are
useless as soldiers.
sa
yes they re fighters
 

believe, but thy have no 63
disciplive at all.
How do you mean? I
asket. "Donb they stick to a
place after they lave captured
it I are bey apt to come back?
Oh no - I say they are
five fihlers, But tey dont
know the first then about
discipline.
so I suppose he nicant
saliting & that sort of ceremon
Lot
The Colonel told me to
the Cook from the N. 3. Bole
Headwwarters wear by had
been in to their mess the
night before, asking for a
drink. He as a few steets
in the windCeodBe
had him in here for two
hours, keeping as amused
tole us all about te
Penensule. He was
 

64
intelligent fellow - anew
what he was doing. of
course I know I oughtent
to be takking to you like
this he sd - oficers of
the dam guards!
we know what they are
I am apaid be was
Tather more than half light
by the tie he went sd
the Colonel
S. I daresay tows
where young Smt received
the shack from which he had
not recovered. In spite of it
I am sure he was a boywit
fineness in him or Bullers
not have spoken
broke
f him as he did in his letters.
H appears that Butlers
brother was in to front of his
platoon
le
cherge
dang
 

65
as
a
Lit by a
bullet through the shoulder.
It was a "cushy wound - just
the sort anyman as enveed
for. He blay in the cratey in
which he had been hit
and the so Irist orderly
whom terI had seen
taking to Butter attended to
him & tried to persuade
him
remam there. Te

Theres sworpers
about, Mr. Butter? he sd.
crowds of em & young
betther where you are.
But butter was a restives
to) chap like a high speriter
horse a he insisted on
moving. He started to dray
himself over from crater cuts
crater, leping humself with
his sound arm, & as he
did a dniper shat him through