Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/75/1 - March - April 1917 - Part 4

40
the sunken road in 2 BD.
One of these went to
Bullecourt - None
got to the wire or
near it.
At 4 a.m. 48 Bn
moved into positn,
46 in front on jumping
off position into a trench. 48 ws 100
yds in rear.
The attack ws
to take place at
4.30. Tanks were
to be gn ¼ hr to get
thro wire & we were
to follow as closely
as possible behind.
 

41
The tanks were
late & it ws well
on to 6 a.m. before
we were able
to advance. They
waited for tanks &
then decision ws
come to to go
on without them.
At 6.18 a.m. Col. Leane
wired tt 2nd objve
had bn captured.
The wire in some
places had been cut
w shell fire. A
lot of men fell before
they were able to
move, & a lot in /
wire. The men
 

42
were lying out in
plain view from 5 (when
barrage on left lifted)
until 6 with Bullecourt
firing at them. - both
m.g. rifles, &
barrage. The 2 tanks
started to fire from
abt the jumping off
[[?]] at abt 5 a.m.
but did not go forward.
They were firing alongside
/ infy & / infy
passed them there.
In some places
where / dead had
fallen over / wire
they passed over
them. The 45 Bn took
 

43
part of 1st objve.
48 ran into part of
1st objve wh Germans
were still in (on left
of 46) & 48 took
tt. Rest went on
to front [[trench?]].
All Coy Commandrs
exc. Capt Leane had
bn shot by time they 
reached 1st objve.
Capt. Moyes (A) & Lieut
Cornwall (C) were 
shot in wire, & Capt
Mott of (B) getting
into 1st [[trench?]] - wounded
& left there in a dugout.
Moyes & Cornwall were
wd & carried back.
 

44
Capt Leane went
on with remaining 
men & took 2nd 
objve (dating his 
message 6.18 am).
There ws not much
wire in front of 2nd
objve. There were
a good many Germs
but they mostly
cleared when they 
saw our men 
coming. We killed
some.
The 48 got in
up to the Road (as
marked). Germs were
very strong & c.attd
 

45
several times w bombs.
The 48 bombed down to
road in bottom of
valley. They put
blocks at each
end.

At 8.20 Capt Leane sd
I am sending herewith further report. It
was impossible to send one before owing
to / situatn. Have gained & consolidated our 
positn from (U23C85.05
to U 23 C xxxx O.35)
Find it impossible to get remainder
into my hands owing to the exposed
nature of ground & fire brought to bear
from village of Bullecourt.
Bullecourt.
 

46

our arty is
constantly 
falling over.

Col' ws in touch
with all coys by
runners all ^this time

47
I hope to gain this tonight. Have with
me left 219 other
ranks & 7 officers and
4 L Gs.
Wd like if poss. 2 trench mortars
w wh I cd dislosge Fritz from /
remainder of objve & several
isolated huts in direction
of the village. Am of opinion that
there will be a strong c/attack
this afternoon.

At 5 a.m. seeing they
did not go forward
Col. Leane thought they
xx might be waiting
for signals from the
tanks. He sd, when
 

48
You do not wait
for signals from tanks
when 1st objve is taken
You follow on & take
second objve.
(This to all Coy Commdrs)
At 5.19 he sent to
Bde : "On account 
of lateness of the
advance, have
arrangements been
made to keep
barrage longer
on flanks at
Bullecourt?"
On account of arrrangement
with tanks this cdnt
be done.
At 6.50 Capt Leane
 

49
reported tt strong
parties of Germans
were reinforcing
up [[Sanken?]] Rd.
( "This attack ws
broken by his 
L.G fire. Have
sent up 2 Vickers
M Gs & one male tank to assist
him on the flank".

At abt 6.30
one of these tanks
ws seen coming
up from rear
along rd towards
Bn H.Q. Door
 

50
opened & an offr
appeared. He 
asked: Is there an
offr here?
Col. sd he ws.
He sd: Is there
anything I can
do for you.
Col. ordered him
to proceed to left
of our [[?]] & assist
Capt Leane & help
him clear out Germs
from Sanken Rd.
At that time there