Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/74/1 - March 1917 - Part 5

44
22 m.gs. were found
marked on German
map. amongst these
3 Coys, villages 2 ½ sqdns of
Cav. etc.
X There ws a contour
wh protected these Coys
up to abt 500 yds from
village & m.gs
Diagram-see original
got onto the line as it
came over - Line
dropped there - most
of men were hit in 
legs.

45
20
At abt 5.30 a.m.
They got to abt 300 yds of
S of village 15 B central to
16 a 5.3. 16 B 24. There
ws heavy m.g. fire -
7 m.gs. were placed
in the part of Noreuil
facing Them. (These were
D & A Coy)X
C.O. reported back
to Bde tt Noreuil
ws strongly held & tt
reinfts wd be needed
if they were to go
thro. (Abt 9 8.30 am.)
At 9p.m. instrns
were recd. to drop
back on line Vraucourt
Copse, 21 Central, 28
Central, Maricourt wood.
 

46
20
The line retired in small
parties & were in positn
by 12.30 p.m. (after midday)
23 Bn handed over
to 26 Bn that night.
The Bois de Vaulk had
bn reported held. It
ws ordered to be cleared
before advance. 2 Coys
went thro' it. The
(Bn cd have held its
advanced line but 15 Bde
ws not up to Morchies)
The Germans brought up
3 [[?brams]] to NWE of Noreuil
on hill top; & Germans
brought up at least 2 m.gs.
& party of men from
Lagnicourt to abt rd
in 17 d. There ws a 
 

47
20
bit of high ground there
not shown on map.
These guns played up the
valley leading to Noreuil.
& gave a good deal of 
trouble. Bn H.Q. ws
at one time in 16d
(before dawn) but withdrew
when this m.g. began to
be troublesome.
____________ 

48
20
15^th Bde
[*16 March*] 6.30. pm. ^after Aeroplane
report on Till, bns ordered
to test by patrolnd
Left Bn found wire uncut so
at 10p.m. D Group fired 120
rounds into Nq a 5.4 Patrols
were not able to enter Till.
[*17 March*] 5.15 Left Bn (58) reports signs of
am. evacuation.
6 am. Left Bn in Till at
Nq a 5.4.
6.45 Rt Bn (57) in Till
without oppositn
Patrols pushed on.
7.35 Rt Bn (57) Patrols thro'
Fire Trench, still advancing.
8a.m. Line on Bap - Beaulencourt
Rd - Rd being shelled w
5.9.
 

49
Mar 17
59.60 Bns. 15 Aust m.g. Coy. less
2 sectns., C Sqn.13 ALH., 4 Bty,
2 sectns 14 Field Coy. Etc.
(54 Bty ws unable thro'
transpt. diffs. to get up - so 4^th sent)
18th March
18 March
L.H. patrols ^(Capt McIntyre) passed Riencourt
Bapaume outpost line at 6.30 am.
In touch occupied Baucourt, VauFlos;
In touch w 30 Germans in Frenicourt
at 7.30 am. Closed round town &
captd. 2 Germans & w 1. (96RIR).
12.30 located 70 Germans 1 mg at
Delsaux. 59 Bn deployed & captd
it at 3.45 pm. 1 German offr 3 men K.
Haplincourt No oppositn; Germans
driven out of Beugny.
This day took Delsaux
Farm. The German offr in
charge on his men getting
jumpy got out on back of
trench & walked up & down
swinging a stick. He ws shot by a sniper & had most valuable orders on him.

50
20
8.20 am Touch w enemy at
N5 central.
9.35 p.m. 5 Aust Div. order
re advanced guard
received.
Column moved tt night.
Transport & guns became
bogged in Luisenhof
Farm Rd - order reversed
& they were sent round
via Bazentin, Martinpuich,
& Bapaume.
Pace of column slow
though men keen - but
packs heavy & conditn
bad. Captd 3. Germans
& k. 1 offr & 3 men (all of
38 Divn). Took Bancourt,
Frenicourt, St aplenicourt,
VillersanFlos & Beugny.
57 & 58 were relieved by
8 Bde.
Casualties   k.      w.
                     1 o.r  7 o.r
 

51
19 March.
7 a.m. LH Patrols fired at
from. O 56.7-8. (40 rifles / m.g.)
I 17d. 5-7 (30 w mg), ?1 O3d.66.
(80 cavalry), & cdnt get ahead.
By 1.45 60Bn. in 4 Columns
were in close contact at all these
points & progress began at 2.30 p.m.
O5.c 7.8 ws v. troublesome as it
enfiladed advance towards Velu.
1/2 Coy drove Germans out (under arty)
4.30 Velu shelled - 4.35 Patrols entd.
4.15. Worked round Lebucquiere. Left
flank hampered by fire of German Cavalry
in 2 Div. Zone.
20 Divn still in Barastre.
20 March.
8 a.m. LH patrols met heavy
fire from Morchies & Beaumetz.
8.30 LH occupied Bertincourt
(held by Germans previous night
9.30 handed Bert. over to
cavalry of 20 Divn.
11 am. 59 agst Morchies 60 Bn
agst Beaumetz. Enemy seen
reinforcing Beaunetz (100 inf & 2 m.g.
there eventually)
Morchies taken by 59 Bn at 1 p.m.
2.25 pm. Inf began to move round Beaumetz.
Progress slow. 3 pm British cavalry left Bertincourt. 1/2 Coy 15 Bn told to go there
3.30 4^th Bty fired on Beaumetz - Enemy began
to withdraw; by 4.30 60Bn ws practically
around Beaumetz when c. attack from

as laid
down.
4p.m. 29 Bn came up &
reld. 60 Bn., wh wanted 
rest, went out.
During day Captd Morchies but
cdnt take Beaumetz.
 

51
19 March
7 a.m. LH Patrols fired at
from. O 56.7-8.(40 rifles / m.g.)
I 17d. 5-7 (30 w mg), ?1 O3d.66.
(80 cavalry), & cdnt get ahead.
By 1.45 60Bn. in 4 Columns
were in close contact at all these
points & progress began at 2.30 p.m.
O5.c 7.8 ws v. troublesome as it
enfiladed advance towards Velu.
1/2 Coy drove Germans out (under arty)
4.30 Velu shellled - 4.35 Patrols entd.
4.15. Worked round Lebucquiere. Left
flank hampered by fire of German Cavalry
in 2 Div. Zone.
20 Divn still in Barastre.
20 March.
8 a.m. LH patrols met heavy
fire from Morchies & Beaumetz.
8.30 LH occupied Bertincourt
(held by Germans previous night
9.30 handed Bert. over to
cavalry of 20 Divn.
11 am. 59 agst Morchies 60 Bn
agst Beaumetz. Enemy seen
reinforcing Beaumetz (100 inf & 2 m.g.
there eventually)
Morchies taken by 59 Bn at 1 p.m.
2.25 pm. Inf began to move round Beaumetz.
Progress slow. 3 pm British cavalry left Bertincourt. 1/2 Coy 15 Bn told to go there
3.30 4^th Bty fired on Beaumetz - Enemy began
to withdraw; by 4.30 60Bn ws practically
around Beaumetz when c. attack from

52
20
Raining at times.
60 Bn as vanguard
carried out advance. 4 Bty
ws available.
Enemy ws xxxx stubborn
& took time to shift. Captd.
Lebucquiere, Velu, Bertincourt
(handed over to 20^th
Divn). 
Cas.  1 off. 3 or K.
          12 o.r. w.
Raining, cold, men tired out
60 Bn, 59 Bn carried
out advance. as laid
down.
4 p.m. 29 Bn came up &
reld. 60 Bn., wh wanted 
rest, went out.
During day Captd Morchies but
cdn't take Beaumetz
 

20/52
29th BATTALION.
On the afternoon of 20th. March 1917 the 29th. Battalion, was
ordered to proceed from TILL TRENCH to reinforce the Advanced Guard of
5th. Division, and on arrival at FREMICOURT were instructed to relieve
portion of the Outpost line near BEAUMETZ.
The 59th. and 60th. Battalions had been fighting all day
for BEAUMETZ, and finding it unoccupied, "B" Coy, of that
Battalion (under Captain. E.R.Booth) was pushed forward to occupy a line
in front of the village. Throughout that and the following day the enemy
did everything possible (short of counter-attacking) to prevent the
consolidation of the position, in which however we succeeded.
During the early hours of 23/3/17 the enemy delivered a 
heavy counter-attack, his troops coming into contact with ours at times
varying from 4.10 to 4.35 a.m.
A platoon of "A" Coy. on the right of BEAUMETZ was attacked by
two Companies of the enemy, who advanced in two waves. Their first wave
was repulsed, and the platoon was holding up the attack of the second,
when a number of the enemy , who had penetrated the line elsewhere, attacked
it in rear, and the platoon was forced to retire temporarily.
A post on the left of the village was also rushed and
driven in, while on the right of "B" Coy. the enemy succeeded in entering
the village. A Vickers Gun of 15th. M.G.Coy. failed to work, but the
situation was saved by a lewis gunner of 29th. Battalion and the enemy was 
driven out. 
All other posts stood fast and after some street fighting the
enemy was driven out and forced back with heavy loss, leaving in our hands
several wounded prisoners, and a lewis Gun previously captured from 30th XX
Battalion who were on our left.
A particularly fine piece of work was done by 2/Lieut. H.A.
Harrison, who had only returned from Hospital the previous night and who
charged into about 100 of the enemy and drove them towards the BAPAUME
ROAD.
Wounded prisoners taken in this action stated that they
formed portion of two new Battalions who had been brought from Germany
the previous night with the special job of retaking BEAUMATZ.
MBenson
Lieut.Colonel.
C>O> 29th.Battalion.
 

53
March 21.
7 a.m. L.H.patrols supported by 29 Bn
found Beaumetz unoccupied. At
once consolidated by us - That night
no Germans within 600 yds of our
inf. posts on other side of B.
March 22

March 23.
see Col. Clarke 30 Bn.

54
20
Hermies apprehended. Thought [[?wiser]] to
about on attack on Beaumetz.
5-5th Bty joined Adv. Gd
casualties 1  o.r. k.
                    10 o.r. w.
Beaumetz taken. cold -
raining at first: fine later.
54 Bty reported.
30 Bn & 1/2 Coy cyclists
reported & relieved 59 Bn.
59 Bn into billets in Bancourt.
Snow fell thro night Cas. 2 or w.
Germs: / wandering Germans k. 1 taken pris.
57 Bn. 58 Bn reported for
duty & 15 ALTMB.
Germans put over some Gas 
shells.
Cas.  1 offr. 3 or k
          11 or w.
4.30 am Enemy bombarded
Beaumetz attacked at
4.45-am driven off w heavy
loss. At noon we advanced
 

55
Trevan
At time of this ^German c/attack
2/Lt Trevan 58Bn(lent to m.g.Coy)
ws going out w gun today sniping
postn w party. they found themselves
in middle of 120 men of [[?Sturen]] Pty.
They charged & went thro' there,
mostly men were k. or w. but 
they got gun away.
Sat. March 24.
X A house w m.g.
In attacking hours in village in wh Germans
took refuge after this attack.
Stokes Mortars sent for - but
in meantime 18 pds gun came
up to within 500 yds & at first
shot house collapsed on garrison.

56
20
to carry out attack (in Orders 7)
59 Bn sustained 15 casualties
& 15 m.g. section 7.
58 Bn went in on right.
57 Bn on left.
Cas. K. 4 or
w. 1 off 23 or
Gen Elliott wanted to attack
Doignies - but Divn vetoed
this.
Fine. Cold. 4 a.m. ^Germans attacked
at Beaumetz but ^we drove enemy
off. 
At 4pm. 59 Bn attacked
on enemy line on our right.
Attack quite successful.
At 9p.m. 57 Bn captured
post at Farm J8c.6-4 X
- also successful.
These Germans seem to
have belonged to the 2nd