Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/77/1 - April - May 1917 - Part 8

82
2nd Pioneers did fine
wosk on sap fom Rly Embant
alog 29 Road to O.S.1
[[Diagram]]
at times / [[Cys?]]
were firing like this,
during / night __ ,
men were ^lining xx both
sides of [trench] at times
The S.bs of the Bn lost v. heavily
thro' sniping behind O.S.1. Guards
wd not let them collect wd in [[post?]]
of O.G.2 tho white flag ws tried
Lieut O'Reilly of 4^th Div. Arty
worked as F.0.0 & just
after dark had gone up
see abt some shouts on
right & ws k.while
observing. (He was (He had
observed with 24 Bn at 
Lone Pine).
 

18     83
There seemed to be no field organisation
amongst . So. If they had made
as attack on bot flanks & fr  ont
at once they wydt have done
better. We only had 200 man
on a 600 yd. pout-holding 2
lines of [[trench]]                                                                                                                                                                                                  
The men were lining
the [[trenches]] not in dugouts.
It wd be too risky
w so few men there.
"Stand to" used to
come from the men
themselves. 2 men had
their bayonets blown off
& were running round
looking for bayonets. They
insisted on having bayonets.
Main G. shelling ws on
rly line & road. He had
[[minni?]] on the flank, also.
 

84
There ws a power
buzzer & amplifier
with 24 Bn (from Bde)
H. Qrs ws 2 bays East
of 33, where Lloyd was.
H.Q moved up as soon
as 2nd Objve ws taken
shells & mg. fire
in old [[?]].
 

85
They were relieved by
1st Bde at down on 4^th.
The wire ws absolutely
mowed down - some
mats were even carried to other
side of OG2. 
 

18   83
Dear Bean,
As far as can be ascertained
at present - 6th Bde Are  in 2^nd
objective : 5th Bde partly in. 
7^th Bde battalion has been detailed
to Genl. Smith who is sending
them up to clear up Right 
flank.  
Artillery will probably 
remain on BLUE barrage for
present.
Sorry nothing more definite
H.M. Lloyd
P.S. 1 Ball 7^th Bde gone against 
BULLECOURT which 12 ^th Dvn have 
missed. 
[*(Generally things are fairly right I think for 2^nd Object)*]
 

84
 There ws a power
buzzer & amplifier
with 24 Bn (from Bde)
H.Qrs ws 2 bays East
of 33, where Lloyd was.
H.Q. moved up as soon
as 2nd Objve ws taken
- shells & mg fire
in old [[?]]
 
18   85
Flares at night were
dropping over our front
[[trench]] apptly from Gs. in
star crossroads. Small
bodies of men were
seen moving below. Rienc
-ourt & Factory direction
but L. guns got onto
& scattered them.
The 24 Bn [[FCoy?]] was
into 2nd objve on
programme time, & every
wave ws on programme.
24 Bn Every wave attained
its objve.
They were relieved by
1st Bde at dawn on 4^th
The wire ws absolutely
mowed down - some
mats were even carried to other
side of OG2.