Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/74/1 - March 1917 - Part 4

34
20
Esp. in Vraucourt Copse.
On orders being rec^d to
break off the action &
withdraw the line taken
up ws: 18 central, 13 cent.,
14 Centl. Vraucourt Copse
(line of pickets). This
withdrawal ws under
vigorous sniping & m.g.
bursts but without almost
any casualties. Only two
men at a time in
each platoon moved - &
it ws very well done.
(They got back & dug in
again - each platoon
sent back a representer
to locate the spot where
they were to dig - These
points were slightly on
our side of the rise)
 

35
20
This ws complete by 1.15 p.m.
The outpost line ws then
held by 2 Coys, & the
outpost line to remaining
2 Coys were withdrawn
to close support at
Sugar Trench & Sunken Rd
at 19 c. The German
came down rd during
afternoon w a patrol
of abt 20 agst post in
13 Central, but this ws
very strong - 2 platoons
& 3 L.Gs & German ws
driven off. German ws
feeling abt w artillery
to find posts; tt evg
21 we was relieved by
25 Bn.
 

36
20
We had 2 batteries
of arty - / 12th Bty agst
Lougatte & agst the
rd in 8 a & c along
wh patrol came &
they shot very well.
2nd Bty ^13 Bty (they had a
free hand) got onto
Noreuil & onto some
targets further back
wh he saw himself.
______________________
 

37
20
23 Bn
____________________
16/17 March  23 ws holding posts.
Just W of Bap. Rd abt 200 yds
in front of Warl Trench.
Abt 6 a.m. patrols reported
tt Germans held Warl Trench
only lightly. V. little m.g.
fire exc. in direction of
Bapaume.
Col. Bateman ordered 3
Coys to go thro to
support line trench thro' Avesnes
with rt on main Bap.
rly stn.
Abt 7 a.m. message
came back to say
troops were in this line.
As right Coy got into
positn, Germs were
 

38
20
pushing out of N of Bap.
Bn H.Q. ws shifted to
Avesnes & reserve Coy
Commandr ws ordered to
make for line of rd from
Monument Wood, E of
Rlt to rly crossing NE
of Bap. (where left of
8 Bde eventually was).
The Right Coy when it
got in positn at rly had gone
sent a patrol Coy under Fethers through
the town from W to E & 
back & found town
unoccupied.
Orders were given to
2 more Coys to take up
same line as Reserve Coy.
Remaining Coy ws held in
 

39
20
reserve.
The rly line held
the advance up all day.
At 7 p.m. a message
came back tt troops
were in ^whole objective (thro
21 D). There had bn
a m.g. in wood in 21 d
& snipers; also in
Monument wood &
trench in 22 c.
When objve occupied
2 ^fighting patrols were sent
1. to Favreuil,
2. along Bap. Beugnatre Rd
to examine trench in 22 C.
At 10.30 report from
 

40
20
S. edge of Favreuil to
say patrol had met w
no oppositn so far.
Abt same time right
patrol reported 4 mgs
in trench thro' 22 c. But
report added tt while
they were on their
way back this m.g.
fire had ceased.
C.O. concluded tt
enemy had gone so he
pushed a Company into
Favreuil wh ws occupd.
at 2 am on 18^th;
A coy along Beugnatre Rd
in 22 B & 17 C.
& a Coy on Rd leaving
 

41
20
from Favreuil to
Sapignies. Patrols found
Beugnatre unocc^d. &
this ws taken same
night (March 18 17/18)
By morning of March
18. line ran along
Sap. Favreuil Rd from
15 a round Fav. & 
Beugnatre & back along
Bap. Beugnatre Rd.
w Coy in support
at 22 B. Bn H.Q.
in Favreuil. Stayed there
all 18th.
Abt 3 p.m. March
18, The 21 Bn passed
through.
 

42
20
Afternoon March 19 the
23 Bn moved & took
over from C 20 d. 22
through 26 d 6.4, 13 central
to / 4 A C 55. Took
up this line abt dusk.
It ws held in posts.
Early in morning of
March 20
L.H. had patrolled towards
Noreuil on 19 & thought
it ws lightly held.
Early March 20
on B Coy of 23 Bn went
along top of ridge to abt
17 a central, betw Noreuil
& Lagnicourt.
 

43
20
Their scouts reported 
considerable activity in
Noreuil & m.g. in action.
This ws abt 4.30
That ws the nearest coy
from NE of Vaulx.
They were instd not to
allow themselves to become
seriously engaged. If
village were lightly held
they were to rush &
occupy it & ridges
beyond it.
They withdrew to abt
15 d 16c.
At dawn the other Coys
came up abt 5 am or
5.15 a.m. C.O being in
doubt how Noreuil
ws held decided to
push two coys at it.