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

11
56
Cemetery was the place, they
sd. I told them that Centre
way lead to it - & they went
off along it. I fancy the top
wd 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 & a
Division coming out on
the Road thro Albert we
were only 4 mins. late
at the last house - where
Fisher & Butler were.
Butler wanted to
see the 1st Irish Guards - to
about find particulars of
the death of his brother.
 

11
57
He had come back from
Penang & had joined the Irish
Guards as a 2nd Lieutenant;
he was killed in the first
advance of the Guards from
Ginchy & poor old Butler
was feeling it very much.
We found the guards,
about dusk, in a valley
south of Faricourt.  You could
tell the men the moment
you saw them; all neatly
dressed, big fellows, of even
height; with their trousers
folded over their puttees
in the ugly way which British
regiments have
Sketch, see original
-our trouser is far
more shapely & shows
the outline of the calf
However, they were
very neat, clean, well
set. they sat about quietly talking
 

11
58
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 the fate. It is dangerous
to go by appearances, but that
was the appearance. The
outward discipline of the regiments
was perfect; & if one could judge
by the way in which they sprang
to attention & saluted Butler
wherever he went & whenever he
spoke to them & the keenness in
Their expression, I shd say tt
their relations to their officers
were excellent - there seemed to
be real friendship in their attitude
We found the xxx camp about
dusk. They had had two hard turns in 
the line - the first at [[Ginsley?]]
which was deadly: the 1st Irish
guards were told they had to
take a certain objective 700 yds
away.  They were not told tt there
 

11
59
were 3 rows of trenches in
between (so the colonel told me).
They set out & marched  to their
objective & dug in there, as
ordered; & lost  13 officers
out of 18 & 500 men out of
700 in doing so.
The second time it was
against Les Boeufs. They had
very little oppositn, & lost
very few. Tele German communique
talked of their tremendous
losses, of the bloody nature of
the advance. TheI was simply
fiction, the Colonel told me.
So, for some reason, the German
communiques are lying now.
The guards were in for about
30 hours the first time & for a
short spell period the second time. And
now thy were resting. I suppose
 

11
60
they would have a third time 
shortly. The bands of the Irish 
guards & the grenadier 
guards clubbed, drums & fifes,
were marching up and down
the bottom of the gull, playing
& a line of men looking on
from each side The onlookers
were largely New Zealanders!
Opposite, with a tall officer &
another, was standing a little
boyish figure in a mackintosh with
a cane. It was the Prince of Wales.
I believe he a Staff Captain
or something on the 14^th Corps
to wh the Guards Divn & N.Z 
Divn 3 other Divns at present 
belong.
Butter ws reconised at
once, as he came up, by several
officers sitting outside their small
open mess tent- I don't think
 

11
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