Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/69/1 - January 1917 - Part 4

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
RCDIG1066834
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

B300 dow. als Eny. 2 1 Programt ae arton from wartat paper cystopus get address of watch So Rosaatty Hrs Si Masse Censor of Poctures war offiince Hasmy Pay Book s ot faldwom Fatt y Dendon Si of have took t Thli Take back passibed Flngwort Copis 65 44 Photos for Book Article for Cassetts, Tub 3 passells Ligning them t On King Aunt Katie. Swert Beago Errayy abt Phorog Lt nycopyt saymenber tis furt tmt Prospectes M Excelsior printers bl 115 p3A Sind outtime oftr tell riffit abt Sttaywt Prenhs Stove CatbaradD St films to Shinworth it Grasuctng pI Catrs 70 H.C. Letters. tran. Baronne, 3rhO Payboot. gffits ephts. Bestil Smart. prospectus. Bents sengabt pap Cachspr S 10 Beny Suns D BBurton Mother Wstration Recordsback tincaler y thn P tCBA It s Set from Smart ofte SR aw Posers is ottoud School. Recordo bask to C. Bak imas stowe. Bronn. will he Call for bag a New93. fores Addrees of DentorCockspur will b collect Was office. Casser thlue fon o stoy. pyarti Gravepholod Etes Brow. 2 thiig Kystopurn. Photes for book Th epters for Copyen. ace 4 at Bat ison ty pto Farmydon A) Clare& R10. Ray &pet tays an o Mrs l snct an to rason G. Ltoyd Raigup andt K. 4.30 Bayleys Hovss 2. B Sntenbut taleht
22 Jan 29. Comiy back to France found I whole place frogen deep & the roads quite dangerous with ice. Foand on arriving at Boulogoe it I leavetrain did not start offen for 2nd arvy were to be taken of bus It strack me to this ws due to kow. But aganeor Austialian officer at Hesdin said it all thran amounnity were bury carrying Se & nentreds by seoma The 54 have t on told The sink all ships intend it Exc. those wh keep hagge certain tracks- thi Blonin cannot help overying agitate Ostit the 9 wary Birdyy wilson is German I man I pisst take him for ay fel pues h Br. From then (onwards it wd Fuly simply be 2 can germany starve England before 19 the Allies & 05A defeat they most pirna certaintly witl given the time 23 at Pm 1514PBA wade Feb 135 an attack apo and of scorig 244 500 in and took 52 German 5652ofrs presoner fat cam & count fermans coratuattacked. & shelled place heavily See aad he place ath Lewes genns Hellhols were witdraw out in wate of being run furter out & our man were driven sut Hefter wd) in 36 They lost getting 26 i but getting ci There Cinclscoe out d to were s00 Basent oe Feb2 Pope tho 26 4 vowles seeing with manyle tells me that it X End Enbrange at the was dugont (a redbrick buitd
24 ctandin near it then ws at abt Gpm on Sunday that Lang took the saraor he German compand put of the who wore a grey oversoat wart dapper cap when eyeclass). but no ent he found te dugo same (t. They some men dower up sayin tere werefor latin called out V. there. tn a face appear to them at thotom. Towles had his rch dower the entrance. The man 50 thecd batk french lid him up o sent for hang d 24 an Edthex there an offfe downy for phi to sent Gome V came ap he spoke He up English. a little Lang
25 o an C marg pulance dugout new bit of y onbalance on rod. aadead men inside + dead borses 4 abready Govertuene waity truck day when 42 Com Gowles Vews there. erede of wele op 26 & he Deave talking to him ws as say havg address The Officer looke Sir P. & saw the sharply at & asked bang who It was stars I am to 5d The German feites commandant ted yu 1 guess again th it of like abt ws its ac thi frecony after near th left road. He oad, trantine of the spective their & get twer were M Vowle heard back a bit. X stell explode abt 20 yes behind him. Margitts siit nofarrive & when in quired 2omins Cati ✓ If wonder wheg the
27 ara fet hews lon is so told M kiter cr It waa feat shock fhed got him. chance shell 32 oen has put upa good grave to him & Neaholns & another off 1 led 1en his 20y road in the Skel the up bending low beside bedye the tey (woh still frenaned) were suiped S. Hbadle down near the tramwan from 4745 the The Gernar attack was beatin of from the truch shown day EBn ending fean overturned truek - just crossing under rly - and also by 10 9 Bn from furker bock
it 28 Gen. Birdwood Feb, 3od whom I was at dinner witt an the hight of the 1st save me hid letters o Fables por to Lord Kitchener du. werein Eyp tue Pugac that he Ia Dardenetes comy damnable invention the ay beet pe thi the Asmit with fortt Ofter bearing aso evedence lof Bridie fur over do her X Lord can en slayn 95 lear they 4 es Hwas n th clear dealing as to his n briklant is & this campayo t 5 bod a Send wornying been also 96 e he
29 that he there abt himself advied staying on ot repused to take the respons bility when t opfered for rather gave) him the commen & temporarily displaced Monrs. themean Monro I believe this citio thas sai began Bell B taks he or Lynden command repsed the he ne Just 1 bn Monro (had because giba slead in charge + apppove of the polici of puth him one menate pullin the next down the Davahites the was tha done. as was expecte exaty calun frictiont is creat it anpiel otur taletelln
told I am is A4.5 are not no Ros Smigt he as Lesslie 31 war (when peosle ought the al to be patling togeter)? at cannot possibly recuty in an famtess Inspicion good White E in the the o 48fe I hear the t business back it Englsh is tan fast I dont know y His the agitation. tollen tro Ibelieve Ros also es 8o Io is a potitate that Smytus & Leshe got au Gobd at the same Smythe his divesion o time+ very plad to get so I am tolo. gelly cod have ot it if he had not been ill at the time& thry say to G.H.D wand these met by rapidt vacan e
photos, 325now Sy fom ab Posieres Cookin 1. way up the namstreet gealey o pave of Nicholes Lucas, Sergt Small of 2. He Ryan of Br Bn. Both seof P. CaptMargitts Shown Save Fartr pe Lugas 4. A shell burst smudge Director of thotos on tosnow. The Ambulance Dugout - mestanding at 5 and entrance where Pog, ws surrentend. 5 The 15t entrance of anbee dupont Hownn hedge o hamway truch. View pon abt Brinds Rd looking back towards orchard shellburst 200 yds down from 8. cemetery Shellburst woyds 9 Moaguer (Farm) behind & 10 Quarr in frot. Shellholes of barrage on stope opp. 10. Quarry near point 811 6 Shellpoles around to trench on 12 slope S.E of Quarry down wh our commns ran. shell craters from Wendmill 13. 14 shell hole tho re on Bap. Rd. 15 we windmill 16 Baltero tank Bapanne of l by we 33 palere ee pow pee. Franer Abce al dupert and Dagont (now broken in where Nowses w 1 took the currenser of commdt of Bycre Start of traiway filled 21. (The old lines are often in the parapet) went with Daldwin to Let 4 Pozueres & monghet farm to get some photos of the craters there &of Margels grave. The pitted ground does as show on an ordinc shots, but he snow shows ap te contouro. W.
34 We wentas far as the Gusry. was sunday we mt ver so man parties Anshalan wander over the area trying to recognine the old ath is were difficult Irecognined X sal one man of the 22od to me but thats about all I could recos. nisl. On coming back gun are alwost continuons alon but t this homd now ernan Shellfire is notin to what it ws at Preres we found axaimbey of by craters by the roadsi right a way bback mean Milleacourt Some division hav bemo outalony

London Programme
Mothers newspaper
Rising Suns & Burton
Smart abt paper
Cystopurin
See Rose abt a       Get address
of watch.
Miss Elsie Masson
War office Censor of Pictures
has my (shorthand)
graven prob
Pay Book 
B. Aldwin (abt (shorthand))
Mrs Ross.   Find out times of leave
train
Cook
McCay     Take back frassicks
clothes
65 st (shorthand)
Illingworth 
Photos for book
Articles for Cassells. (? shorthand)
Cassells re typing them.
Lunch with Mason
Ring Aunt Katie
Bee Joan
Pay Cl. & M
4.30 - Films
J's meeting
Mrs Q.    Excelsior printers  ^41 F'dusty
find out time of train (shorthand)
Tell Griffiths abt Illingworth
Primus Stove
Call for bag at W Str Ag
Films to Illingworth
[*Take over
Book plates
& Acq.
Rolls*]
[*news*]
[*Smarts
Circulars
& Reply from
8 w.o.
Covering
Acq. roll
4 Acknowlgt
5 Circ.
to Cassells*]

[*Paters / 4 70
Baronne
Bertie
Dents
Cockspur St 10/-
Records back
to C. BK.
Get from Smart
Pozieres (shorthand)
& School.
(shorthand) Brown will he
forgo (shorthand)?
will he collect
from XX  & Story.*]
ring Mrs Ross
Grossick (shorthand)
H.Q. Letters.
Fine grain.
3.30 Paybook.
Griffiths re photos.
Smart. give prospectus.
Arrange abt papers.
Rising Suns to Burton 
Mother's "Illustration" 
Circulars 3, 4 & 5.
[*Illing)
worth)
Films to)
Iworth)*]
Take over Bps & Acq Rs
Arrange abt my copy of
photos w be in it.

Get pos. church & s xxx
Get Grade photo papers Photos
Records X back to C. Bank
Primus stove
Call for bag at NSW Ag.
Address of Dents, Cockspur St.
War Office:  Censor of Pictures
My Article
Grave photos
Curtis Brown.  2 things.
Cystopurin.
Smart Photos for book. Leave those with S.
Chapters for copying.
Baldwin abt xxxxxx
Miss Masson (line circled)
Cassells re typing & photos
Faringdon St 
[*Mrs Q.*]  Clare & Ms. Pay & get things
Cooper.
Lunch with Mason & G. Lloyd
Ring up Aunt K.
See Joan.
4.30      Jurys films      Bazleys Gloves
2.30       J's mtg.       Darren Penbridge Esq
McCay (circled)
Malcolm Ross

 

22
Jan 29.  Coming back to France
found / whole place frozen deep & the
roads quite dangerous with ice.
Found on arriving at Boulogne
tt / leave train did not start officers
for 2nd army were to be taken by bus.
It struck me tt this ws due to snow.
But a junior Australian officer
at Hesdin said tt all / trains
were busy carrying ammunition.
Hand drawn drawing - see original document
The U.S.A & neutrals have tol bn told by Germany
tt she intends to sink all ships
exc. those wh keep
certain tracks - This
cannot help bringing
USA into the
war if 
Wilson is
/ man I take him for
Legge
Blamey
agitatn
Birdie & [[shorthand]]
German [[shorthand]]
Egypt visit
Hughes & Confce.
From then onwards it wd
simply be:  can Germany
starve England before
the Allies & USA defeat
Germany - as they most
certainly will, given the time.
12th Bn.
July 23
1916

4    23
Feb. 1st at 7 p.m. 15th Bn made
an attack agst end of
Stormy trench.  Got in and took
52 German [[shorthand]] & 2 offrs prisoners
& counted 75 K.  At 4 a.m.
Germans counter attacked -
& shelled place heavily.  Three
Lewis guns, wh had bn placed
out in shellholes, were withdrawn
inst. of being run further out;
& our men were driven out.
They lost 36 (Lt Heffer wd.) in
getting in;  but 170 in getting
out (inclusive of 36).  There
were 3 good dugouts. 
Feb 2.  Went up to Bazentin
to 12 Bn - & thro Pozieres
with Vowles, seeing Margetts
grave.  V tells me that it
was at the 2nd entrance
o / dugout (a red brick buildg

 

4    24
ws then standing near it
that, at abt 9 pm on Sunday
he & Lang took the surrender
of the German Commandant
(who wore a grey overcoat,
& smart dapper cap -
but no eyeglass).  V., when
he found the dugout, sent
some men down it.  They came
up saying there were men
talking in there.  V. called out
to them - & a face appeared at bottom.
(Vowles had his torch shining
down the entrance.)  The man
sd he cd talk French.  V.
called him up & sent for Lang.
The man sd there ws a
German Offr down there.
V. sent for him to come
up.  He came up - he spoke
a little English.  Lang

 

25
Hand drawn diagram - see original original document
4    26
ws talking to him & he heard
Lang say address V. as
"Sir".  the Officer looked
sharply at V. & saw the 3
stars & asked Lang who V. was.
The German sd, "I am the
Commandant of Pozieres."
V. told him to guess again,
or something like it.
Margetts ws k. abt 7
after reconnoitring across
road.  He left V. near the
old tramline trench S. of the road, to
go & get their respective
men - Vowles men were
back a bit.  V. heard a
shell explode abt 20 yds
behind him.  Margetts
did not arrive & when
V. inquired 20 mins later
"I wonder why the H -

 

4    27
Margetts is so long" he ws
told M ws killed - It ws a
great shock - just a
chance shell got him.
The Bn has put up a
good grave to him & Nicholas
& another offr.
V. then led his Coy
up the road in the sketch,
bending low beside the hedge,
(wh still remained) & they
were sniped v. badly down
near the tramway - from
the right.  [The German
c - attack was beaten off
from the trench shown, dug
by 12 Bn, ending near
overturned truck - just
crossing under rly - and
also by 10 & 9 Bn from further
back].

 

4    28
Feb. 3rd.  Gen. Birdwood,
with whom I was at dinner
on the night after 1st, gave
me his letters & cables from
& to Lord Kitchener during the
time we were in Egypt & at
Anzac.  It appears that the
Dardanelles Commission -
the damnable invention of
the Tory party to beat the
Asquith Govt with - is getting
a lot of evidence ^bearing against
Lord K. & Birdie may
have to go over to do what
he can to explain Lord K's
views & clear things up.  It
is clear that K was not
brilliant in his conduct of dealings as to
the campaign - & this is
worrying Birdwood a lot.
things have also been sd

 

4    29
there abt himself - that he
advised staying on & then
refused to take the responsibility
when K offered (or
rather gave) him the command
& temporarily displaced Monro.
Monro, I believe - the mean
beggar - has said this;  either
he or Lynden Bell - B. tells
me he refused the command
because Monro had just bn
placed in charge & B. didnt
approve of the policy of putting
him in one minute & pulling
him down the next . . . . .
Anyway, the Dardanelles
Commission has done
exactly as was expected -
it is creating friction & jealousy
& taletelling & anxiety during

 

30
I am told not Ross as he
is A.I.F.  Smythe & Leslie
are not.

4    31
The war (when people ought
all to be pulling together); &
it cannot possibly result
in the faintest suspicion
of good. 
White is in England at
the moment over the Legge
business.  (I hear the War
Office is taking back its English
officers fast - I dont know if
thro' the agitation - Tollemache x
is going & I believe Ross also.) 
It is unfortunate that Smythe &
Lesslie got their jobs at the same
time.  Smythe his division is
very glad to get, so I am told.
Gelly wd have got it if he had
not been ill at the time &
they say tt G.H.Q. insist these
vacancies must be rapidly

 

32
Snow photos.
1. Pozieres looking S. from abt 1/3 way
up the main street. 
Hand drawn diagram - see original document 
2. Grave of Nicholas, Lucas, Sergt Small &
Pte Ryan of 12th Bn.
3. Grave of Capt Margetts 
[*Both 
showing
School House
due N of them.*]
Hand drawn diagram - see document
4. A shell burst smudge
on the snow.
5. The ambulance Dugout - me standing at
2nd entrance where Poz. ws surrendered.
6. The 1st entrance of Ambce dugout showing
hedge & tramway trench.
6 7. View from abt Brinds Rd looking
back towards orchard.
8. Shellburst 200 yds down from cemetery.
9. Shellburst 100 yds     "           "           "
10. Mouquet Farm behind & Quarry in front.
11. Shellholes of barrage on slope opp.
[[shorthand]] Quarry near point 81
12. Shellholes around K trench on
slope S.E of Quarry down wh our
commns ran.
13. Shell craters from windmill
14.       "         "           "           "

15. Shellhole thro ire on Bap. Rd nr windmill
windmill
16. Battered tank on Bapaume Rd by windmill
4    33
Hand drawn diagram - see original document
Feb. 4  Went with Baldwin to
Pozieres & Mouquet Farm to
get some photos of the craters
there & of Margetts grave.  The pitted
ground does not show on an ordinary
photo, but the snow shows up the
contours.

 

4    34
We went as far as the Quarry.
It was Sunday, & we met
ever so many parties of
Australians wandering over
the area trying to recognise
the old trench - wh is very
difficult.  "I recognised K trench",
sd one man of the 23rd to me
"but thats about all I could recognise."
On coming back (the guns
are almost continuous along
this front now - but the
German shellfire is nothing
to what it ws at Pozieres)
we found a number of
big craters by the roadside
right a way back near
Millencourt.  Some division
has bn moving out along

 

 

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Diane WareDiane Ware
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