Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/78/1 - May 1917 - Part 5

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
RCDIG1066844
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

X 48 12po our arte is very active now. At bit worried over the fact to the Bulletin has gone against me for writing the alleged vins of the troops on the necessity of Hughes co to the Imperial confie. May 15 About 3.30 tis worning very heavy fiving. Said to be a ferman allack what we ad hear cod be our artillery in rsl 10 a.m. No attack apperintly on our front - bat on Birtish on our lett, where
4J 148 Cerans aredd to he ept in to a postion of triel. went out alday with Sherley to thilloy? & Tomae battlefield, getting all the remaining record photos which were aeded. the old uadeground passage Hhellor Knotly Point, tell 2 (and some anstial making an Anstialian potbet ground on the battlefied of the Soming) Thilloy & LeBsarpe from Barley Y. Fritz'i Folly fom Barley Y & from N.end of rd near Gunpets sendicourt for comparison with Fozures) and Factor Corner.
50 on getting back the general toto me th the Jermand dit after all attack us last night Hun, of 5th Dion, gaveme the details. At t am they openes a very heave bombard ment, with artillery, T.H..& ig. the beaviest the 5th Dwn has known. It had bn heavy all the neght gas shells were poured in behind lines (& 40 mea were more or less cassed in sunken Roads where they were pensed be FE. bursting outside the road. Mew wd go t help I wounded put on then Jasmasks, & wd either not put on their own or
only I serious case 51 ad only pat the monthscec in thei wonths - wh is safe i you are accustonen to do it but you muster breake tio your nose). He formans stacted to bombard abt 8.10 p.m. & kepbel up till 9. Then they started again frm 10.30 tell midnight, this time got a direct hit a fas shelliab W the 14 Bde H.J. mess from wh Sheney the one of photoed yeaty the pellside wh ferman reached, It ws a very teresome night. Hu said, for men - & very heavy Esp- with gas shell- in Noreuit 4
under cover of their 52 bombe. They gob into onr treach for about 30yd West of the 29 Road, & for abt Boyds down it. By 11.30 we had them all out again. There were no prioners taken. The 56th attacked with TM. bombs, & bayonet, the heavies sut down a barra behind the Jermans in Hindendg hime to right, & behind it). 200 fermans Heen says, have be actuatly Counti dead in and around trenches we have found by papers to attack ws made
53 storm troops ofte 7 Eud Jo Reserve Dwn in rest ob now the Lehr infanti Brr /d. Din) supportug 5t Den Estinate 250 Reler News Abt Russians still very anxious. If the slders & workmons delegates give up o make peace, Koumania servie will have to do so too. Some here have by word whited be done i by us then - make an in concluseve peace, Dr Crespyny thinks. Our blocked td be fatile them. Af worst fermany esnt
X 54 in a posily to make war on us afain Surel Since Pattack it has bu 1 quietest doy the Den have had here we lost att 100men thro' I shelling last as night. It looks if the Hun might rall be going back but our I rant yet hear was on him a good deal colder. hast forlnight phenonenally hot rich is coustr reen.
X battlefuw 55 The Somie is cvered with weeds - + self Town wheat -&is favity green brus are sproatin Except in places wh DeWilly wood as waterdries agt number of up are brought to dead but alive light farmore fours, than of Germans. A very have great number lately burnd. bu May 16. No oulward Sign of Droconz Retermn yet. Only, acroplanes reported Hashes from yesty
batterics w 56 wh to have retirnd no shells fell wh the flasbes looks as if were dumniy flashed for the benefit of the planed. Returnent 10 of course tte several de Chancellon The ferman has promised the ferman people te best news of was in his next Splech most people are a bit anxious abit most people than is Russca But I believe the Workmens Toldeers Dilegatis are thinkin of reversi they decesion not to you a coaltion Joot. what reason For some
te nt hi t nepe boe te he te o ate a ane oe se e aed e Cies. on the oth for 12pnes indefinite w0 cer 57 t

4    48
12p.m. our arty is
very active now.
At bit worried over
the fact tt the Bulletin
has gone against me
for writing the alleged
view of the troops on
the necessity of Hughes
coming to the Imperial
confce.
May 15th About 3.30
this morning very
heavy firing. Said to
be a German attack -
what we wd hear - cld
be our artillery in
reply.
10 a.m. No attack
apparently on our
front - but on British
on our left, where

 

4   49
The Germans are sd
to have got in to a
position of trench.
Went out all day
with Shirley to Thilloy.
& Somme battlefield, getting
all the remaining record
photos which were needed.
- the old underground passage,
Thilloy, Knotty Point,
Till trench, (and some Australians
making an Australian
football ground on the
battlefield of the Somme).
Thilloy & LeBarque from
Barley trench, Fritz; Folly
from Barley trench & from N. end
of rd near Gunpits,
Gendecourt (for
comparison with Pozieres)
and Factory Corner.

 

4   50
on getting back the
General told me tt the
Germans did after all
attack us last night.
Hun, of 5th Divn, gave me
the details. At 4 am
they opened a very heavy
bombardment, with
artillery, T.M., & m.g. -
the heaviest the 5th Divn
has known. It had bn
heavy all the night
- gas shells were poured
in behind / lines (& 40
men were more or less
gassed in / sunken Roads
where they were penned by
IT.E. bursting outside the
road. Men wd go to help
/ wounded put on their
gasmasks, & wd either
not put on their own or

 

only /  serious case
 

4  51
wd only put the
mouthpiece in their
mouths - wh is safe
if you are accustomed
to do it but you mustnt
breathe tho' your
nose*). The Germans started
to bombard abt 8.10 pm
& kept it up till 9. Then
they started again from
10.30 tell midnight, &
this time got a direct hit
w a gas shell into
the 14 Bde H.Q. mess -
the one ^from wh Shirley had photoed
yesty the hillside wh /
German reached.
It ws a very tiresome
night. Hun said, for /
men - & very heavy
esp- with gas shell - in
Norevil.

 

4  52 

under cover of their
bombt. They got into our
trench for about 30 yds
West of the 29 Road, & for
abt 30 yds down it.
By 11.30 we had
them all out again -
There were no prisoners
taken. The 56th attacked
with TM., bombs, &
bayonet, & the heavies
put down a barrage
behind the Germans
(in Hindendg Line to right, &
behind it). 200 Germans
Hun says, have bn
actually counted dead
in and around trenches
we have found by papers
tt / attack ws made

 

4  53
by storm troops of the
2nd Gd Reserve Divn
now in rest, & by
the Lehr infantry
(3rd Gd. Divn) supporting.
5th Divn estimate 250 killed.
News abt Russians still
very anxious. If the
soldiers & workmens'
delegates give up & make
peace, Roumania &
Servia will have to do so
too. Some here have bn
wondering what cd be done
by us then - make an
inconclusive peace, Dr
Crespyny thinks. Our blockade
wd be futile then. At /
worst Germany isn't

 

4  54
in a positn to make
war on us again
Surely.
—
Since / attack it has
bn / quietest day the
5th Divn have had here.
We lost abt 100 men
thro' / shelling last
night. It looks as
if the Hun might really
be going back - but
I cant yet hear our
guns on him.
A good deal
colder. Last fortnight
phenomenally hot &
country is a rich green.

 

4  55 

The Somme ^battlefield is covered
with weeds - & self
sown wheat - & is
fairly green; & /
trees are sprouting
except in places like
Delville wood.
As / water dries
up a gt number of
dead are brought to
light - but always
far more of ours than
o / Germans. A very
great number have
bn lately buried.
May 16. No outward
sign of Drocourt Retirement
yet. Only, aeroplanes
yesty reported flashes from

 

4  56
batteries wh were
to have retired - &
no shells fell; wh
looks as if the flashes
were dummy flashes
for the benefit of the
'planes. Retirement wd
of course take several
days.
The German Chancellor
has promised the German
people "the best news o /
war" in his next speech.
Most people are a
bit anxious abt it -
most people think it
is Russia.
But I believe the
Workmens Soldiers Delegates
are thinking of reversing
their decision not to join
a Coalition Govt.
For some reason what

 

This  must I think refer to a
big discharge of gas protectors
agst Queant - the court ws
adverse & it cd not be
carrd out till May 24,
C.E.W.B.
4.7.30

4  57
on the 4th ws certain
for 12 p.m. is now
indefinite

 
Last edited by:
Julie*Julie*
Last edited on:

Last updated: