Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/75/1 - March - April 1917 - Part 11

115
we dont yet know where
all these 12 tanks have got to.
2 of them are in the German lines
opp. Riencourt - (1 in the wire &
one on the 2nd. [shorthand]. One disappeared
at a late stage into Bullecourt.
There are sd to be 4 others
destroyed in what is properly
Nomansland, & one right
away back near Jauln
one is near the rly line.
The Germans claim to 9
tanks a destrozed by them
inside their lines. This maste
enclude, Nomansland. The ferms.
destroyed serng by arty fire - & thy
state also destroyed them to
M. T five veiy steel bullets. I
wonder if we have any cutodrd
plan aget their tanks. If so, I
dont think the crify know anything of
it.
40
 

116
same place, same
plan
The tanks failed
wthrl- so for as I
know only 3 of 12
reached the were
Iwatchedshol
attack - (A)
on an tarlen
sage in pencil
8 cent
from abt
7
It ws our exper
&fail
on Ap. 15
the ps. made their
Experinent - a
out atour funs, with
Idwns (16 Bus. efnst
noners
18) & then p
 

11
Ap. 21 today I went youn
Hermies with Baldwin-
& walket back late at night
onegd see the stragiel barrage
buisting faraway &o N a gost
any area.
At De 4Bn Hars S. of Doimis
they told me to peveing has
suddrnly starter shelling the
Sunkin Rd Lork East of
Boursies, where we had gos
&werl to make a gas attack
to night A guman plane came
over very low down & woked up
I place. They think 1 Germs. have
sot some informate
of it.

A the Germant saw to they kaew
of the Kinness of our line from a
engt mag of MPen. The 11 say no Si
we captd
-but proby a sargt in /C. of one
of thes
sn
was.
 

118
admit they also
pailed.
(ApEIEx
Last night,t went
for a ferman Dost in
D14 centl. We found it
we two posts, one
held by obt 80 me
& they fought ver
well; but I believe
wc got the place.
p22 oon
M. Shrenborg (a Russian
pacifist) & Tohe
Masefield arecom
here to be taken voun
by me oto see yer
161
 

19
Budwood. They
want to show the
pacipst to gern
demorratic Anotialan
can hate & fight 1 German
on principle;
Mosefield is writy
a history for
Brtish Goot, I believe
Our officers are
at presental anxious
Abt Russea. Whenever
they ask whit
do I think of it.
There seem to be 4
goots in Reisia,&
the Labour Committees
 

121
arecertainly trying
to make peace with
ermany - The
Labour & Soldiers atie
is agt it.- The
Provisional Goot is
for fighting to lent.
what I Peasants Clee
thinks I dont know
(if th is a separate
boog). But I cant think
tI Russian Democray
will give up I fight
for democracy & make
friends with the
Teman antocratic
Mellary vegine
leave alt demosrens
of world inwill.
 

12
Vesite The 11th bn who only
sent in their losses yest
after I
177 missin
had devied the ferman
account & said there were
only 190msee
Ap 23. H. Heary firing the
dg. The V11 Corps is attack
Mosefeld arrived
with Maj. Lytton - atso
Ehrenbor & any old friend
of the Grand Fleet trip
Alexis Atadin. We went
woand to see the Hindenk
were near Noreuit
the Germans patting over
a fair amount of steeff-
 

122
A letter from Grffette
to my brother Tack
shows the sort of man
Griffits is
A letter typical of
those which all constantly
get from the parents
especially the motters
of boys lost or messin
at the pont
A letter from an anstialion
youngster - te right
sort of boy.
our recinits
edown to
ooe a month
20
inst
D
 

123
not far away-
One
5.9 dropped abrost onto
a little time of depont &
cookers - the men
just tumbled out, one ir
2 of them - & stord there looking
on ar takking - it was
a fine exampled the
way they take shell fire
Masefielt is a quiet
most reterny man, not a bit the
bluf ratter crude man
expected - Thy to a degree.
I shdsay. He is writing
for the British soot a
hestory of the Battle
the Somme. He co slight
with a sunburnt, goodbotin
 

124
face & light woustache
a regalar cavalry
officer type but much
quieter. I can see on
him, now that I look
the very quiet werchant
service officer
We cd see the
battle going on the Ceft.
near trois ille - white
that is, the deest & shells
of it - 5 miles away.
did our own Paus were
th Hendenk
cuttey were
were seemed to have
almost vanished.
At Coops, on getter
back, we heard to the
 

125
 

Thy made 2000
prisoners
 

126
On Corps & ther had
wade a pod advance
& lalev, to they had
pintcentre
on pashed back be
a cattack, 3000 fcomen
appearing & not being
caughtby the guns.
They are to attack ag
tonight, &I guus are
bucy.
our troops are getting
rest for wh Berdie asked
+ prayed - 2 or 3 wks at
anyrate. The 1 Dion cs
just going cn- after.
months out of (fight sence
leavin Selonica.
The Brilish got roam
 

127
I. of Havrincourt los
night, or yeaty - wh is
good so long as they are
not beavily cald
The prod. Iave raied
Dover & Calais - & lost at
least 2 destroyers in
conflict to our patrols
April 24
Tade wess, to do
Yen. Birdwood asked me, on
fou his mess)
m
fea white ws taknng to
Portal, a young officer
of
promote to co
the 83rd Sgn of acroplames.
He said that his Brigade
 

128
1l. the 3 Sadns of the 5th
army) put down 17
an planes yest
without losing one; & aloy
whole port Birtish
planes put down 38
only lost
the Isecret is- that
our new Sopwith "Pups
ere released with the
Spovg
first fine day
They were never allowed
to go over (lines before.
they sent over an old
bust first, to dook
an egg on the G.aerodong
st one. When (fs.
ooke up. & saw her then