Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/7A/1 - May 1915 - Part 4

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Part of Quest:
Charles E W Bean Diaries
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
RCDIG1066846
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

1915 3rd Month March 1S MON e Th 42m p.M. (Greenwich) May 14 camp being shalle by 18 pouners I6 TUES two or 3 Tne man; I say this is the Cmite we only alter 17 WED St. Patrick Bank oliday Ireland C us shells Aersplan stopped t 18 THUR May 12 194 tatteres Bla shelled cam 19 FRI but in know on bene morn 20 SA moes paaly 52 d 21 SU-5inlent Jhelt2 or not t or feach all wor r 31 Duys 1915 196 I hav that Rat is going as usual ag weddel in top May- Bennil wle Shell wh hurt Bunche ect fft from Dr 10W t 7 71 a hole iodie March 1p 1 1
MarchA 3rd Month 1915 22 MON Lates I hear by gue blow at fpsl derr ofand 23 r JJON SM. S, (HCONNTG t 20. bes li th b 24 WED on he wa 25 THUR Annunciation, Lndy Day. Quarter Day 26 FRI Ourderds in 27 SAT Oxford and Cambridge Lent Term ende lt E N 28 PALM SUN altatk 31 Duys 1915 10 March Bry ha were 7 that it god be a py 6 o this boy. topou before it is reorugse ells. & oblains officers Fucos inds shattered wartittery Ires. May of 144 6 Mills 2t 2: 1 X caue Rabett May 15 dise 443
March & Aori1 3rd & 4th Months 1915 29 MON let 5 Ser 2 S0 WCS Kon 37 WED Hilary Law Sittings end. c O5h 3Sm a.M. (Greenwich) hW ttl J APRIL THUR A Bt 2 GOOD ERI 1000 y3I Now EBD. 3 SAT en Yancte t We gts A CSC BN. be last night thm worning withouut 13 1915 100 31 & 30 Daye March & prII furing "foe 2 ths MRNNN Lastnight Sat Hay 13 Te tunks tust fix wthem Nogds of fcuh of her feiver clyde w shall pe5 1 as a
April 1th Month 79 MON 20 TUES 27 WED 22 THUR 7 3h 39m P.M. (Greenwich) 23 FRI St. George 24 SAT 2S SUN—3 aft Easter St. Mark, Evan. 1915 30 Days April 1915 190 May 3.2 Heavy lowar 4 field guns on 21/2 44 10-12 pors. 4you bat h 42
4th & 5th Months 1915 ApritCa May 26 MON Turk 27 TUES Oe 124 28 WED 7i 5 white 6 29 THUR O2h 10m p.M. (Greenwich) 30 FRI 161 7 MAY SAT SS. Philip and James 134 2 SUN—Iaft Easter at 6 pm Hir 224C tak & 18th No sepport lit fontye 3h 0 30 & 31 Days April. & May 1315 60 161 as 638 640 Posita purpage Capt 1816 Beya hel of wa At 7 P M mi 20 .16 16t ascending hl (D) Oago Fybour tal if 30 405 shelts V cepi by 1512 bat J.C.P. heavy chairi pr Hollly reported 1 to potfir7 5.16 more 7N19 Iase mevi slipele by e 1512 aup o/ 101p t32 Cisuge at al
5t4 Month Mas 41 3 MON Royal Academy opens at Lunce 4 TUES S WED C THUR King's Accession, 1910 (5h 23m a.M. (Greenwich) 7 FRI 8 SAT 9 ROGATION SUN Proclamation, King George V. attack by md+ 1915 1915 60 31 Days 5 4 8.15) Pope St a kept t fit cr b To br L under fire 601 I ws e moveh as I whs mt Ope 5.17 whole of 43 wrst in t a tn battery shelt lifte sive whil men rotler Ir hill ft. A1 Part of line near C 1ll 424 RMlt arrived at la 6 put the arry at a A
54 43 1315 5th Month 157 near HFC Dypot 10 MON Rogation Day Iycons 90152 wc TI TUES Mogntion Bay Som thougho it ws a ntie. The Beach Moon ay I under fire 72 WED tem pumping out an old lghte all dayy loay awongt spent bullets & shop I3 THUR AACONSONDE pu. wan at water place. t males hild oat with Hs 14 FR1 234 31m A.N. (Gicenntof e 100. The Spent bullett He were bill & teind nce sheap. case shamper ouls talle 18 SUN aft Ascension once bit bis caif tim. Whas 31 Dass 1918 Bacelnte i Bacthanl 8 Denn he Chake now. CE h I-& lef arent they? fru vi Yy of w Canopu tll 1100. B3 9k. Doris D it 44 May abnt
5 Mas 5th Month 1915 17no Thesmpe. Jobu as a tee with mens nong, dess () Hoeto 18 wes Have to be carebel reports. 7 Smpe spy mad-BetCo 10 w0 always pot at you if got blom follon above tie of wench. 20THUR ours. 1- at 12003 27 FRI Easter Law Sittings end. Oxford Enster Term ends 22 SAT D th Som a.m. (Greenwich). Oxford Trinity Term begins 23 WHIT SUN Ember Week 31 Days 1915 May 1 Cannon At 5 not one report out Being Pang -a way Ba awan 10 Bang pany a wany Bany pary a wan Bang pang a wany Bpacs shto and so on all There or batter tan hanp wamp Tta ys tampthe a we Tremp thene a wap Beguny bigh note f falling to les. Never seany cragbled sugse Abeco in aph sugro Fench artibey crack as of hae tak langed wto gland tree by hammer of for Hiss of Cig you fille fore Coalways hear o Come n it close.
47 5th Month 1915 May E.G. When one and to re o cel 24 WHITSUN MON Bank Holiday. Cmpro avera for goebers shells at Aay ac. when tysewrili 25 WHITSUN TUES ocbon foud out as restcam atar Krithen 2oad. Used to stoo 26 WED Queen Mary born, 1867. Ember Day typing & wait ose there he ws long Hage splach of nind 2ITHUN Sometim &. Esegn C/Shells () drive to on of y under 28 FRI 0 Jh 33m p.n. (Greenwich). o tree Ember Day 907 i 5 29 SAT Ember Day Fallowed them to gellow patch 30 TRINITY SUN 41 1915 60 31 DayS May French is bazouct for Ga 89 Stietehn Bearer- S.B. Hels Deak - sach a attl wach so pod. And five you oldbey -pao Ole Iin in ajou poor chep at I intistings greatus a Stentay (vay 87 charge - also this ch Only hope with theie ballel is -get man ie qeck axe SBs that night for beack. May 9. dut X May 10 didnt ficer. Hear) ot dose well
May & June 5th & 6th Months 1915 1Non Ore ideot Set Ohon wont see (Jor 74 Dont say that. You don't know Lets CV INEYUE. iity Law Sittings bes any way rouWnear Mackay's duyout in 2 WE0 4 Volunteer one Serat att Staff hit THUR King George V. born, 1865. Corpns Christi May 10. Big gen ? Goeben trut for our rest A FRI (th 32m r.n. (Greenwich) camp Cr ame night F had S SAT not got on 50 man G SUN-Iaft Trin 1 May & June 31 & 30 Days 60 1915 moy 1 ce 19 fusiteers. Not till tonge By gun reahing for om acriplonis o 2.t t BE 18 i

32

MARCH    3rd Month    1915

15 MON

7h 42m P.M. (Greenwich)
16 TUES
17 WED

St. Patrick. Bank Holiday, Ireland
18 THUR
19 FRI
20 SAT
21 SUN—5 in Lent
May 14 Camp being shelled.

by 18 pounders.
Two or 3 batteries.

One man: I say this is 

over the limit . We only allow

them a 

few shells a day.  Aeroplane 

temporarily stopped them.

May 15. 3 batteries (4 gun)

Shelled Camp. Dr Black

of 6th hit in knee.
On beach moment shell

scomes every one has to

dive for his dugout -
whether working or not

At our beach all work 

went forward exactly as usual
 

33

1915    60    31 days     March

I hear that Kaba Tebe

is going as usual.

Capt Weddell

jun.  Capt in 7th

Maj. Bennett 6th

Wanliss  5th

Shell wh hurt Capt. Black

landed 10 inches from Major Edgars

 feet, 1 ft from Dr Black

& 1 ft 6 in from Maj. Bennett

It passed close over

Edgars head & blew 

a hole 1ft deep in ground

high explosive naval shell

perh 4 in.

 

34

March    3rd Month    1915
22 MON
23 TUES
10h 48m P.M. (Greenwich)
24 WED
25 THUR
Annunciation.  Lady Day.
26 FRI
27 SAT
Oxford and Cambridge Lent Term
ends
28 PALM SUN
Later I hear big gun

blown out at 7 miles

today. Aeroplane ws out 

firing smoke balls.
5.30. heard ^ dozen rifle shots in 

next paddock & two
in ours.  Went out.

There was an aeroplane 

- a biplane - very 
Quarter Day

high up & it ws sd

to be a German.
I don't know if it

was. Our aeros went up at once.
Much more shelling

these days -
perh - bec. no attack.
 

35

1915     60      31 Days     March

Brig ^ Bolton has wired Bridges

that it wd be a pity to

send this brig. to front

before it is reorganised

& obtains officers & NCOs

in its shattered condition.

Our artillery

Tues. May 4

Wed came into action.

1,2,3, (6th ?6 Mills Battery)

1 N.Z.

Came in support of the French.
Rabett in observation trench.

May 15 direct hit on

one gun

 

36

March & April   3rd & 4th Months  1915

29 MON
30 TUES
31 WED
Hilary Law Sittings end.
5h 38m A.M. (Greenwich)
1 APRIL THUR
2 GOOD FRI

3 SAT
Easter Even
4 EASTER DAY
Sat . 4.30 to 87.30

Gunner shot dead

Krithia to British right.

French landing today (?) 2nd Regt de Marche
Zouaves.

3rd Bn

Our art. started at
1000 yds Now

2400.
Manchester Terriers
Prendergasts brigade

got ?500yds last night &

150 this morning without

 

37

1915      60    31 & 30 Days   March & April

firing a shot.  "We always said the Australians

was heroes.

Last night Sat May 15

The Turks rushed up to

within 10 yds of French

trench & dug in there

Hand drawn diagram - see original document

River Clyde with

2 shell holes in her -  

Using 1 as a howse hole

 

April   4th Month   1915
19 MON
20 TUES
21 WED
22 THUR
3h 39m P.M. (Greenwich)
23 FRI
St. George
24 SAT
25 SUN—3 aft Easter
St. Mark, Evan.

38
1915    60        30 Days    April

May 3. Turkish guns
1 Heavy towards 70 C

4 field guns on 212 D4

10-12 pdrs.

4 gun battery to NE.

possibly

(4 days before yesty)
2

 

39
38

April & May    4th & 5th Months     1915
26 MON
27 TUES
28 WED
29 THUR
2h 19m P.M. (Greenwich)
30 FRI
1 MAY SAT
SS. Philip and James
2 SUN—4 aft Easter
Hand drawn diagram - see original document
Turks digging
Hand drawn diagram - see original document
16th
At 6 p.m. Hill 224 C9 taken
by 13th & 16th.  No support only 60 shovels
 

40

1915     60    30 & 31 Days      April & May

At 6.35 16th started to move up the valley.

6.40 Positions occupied by Burnage

& Capt Quinn

15th
Began covering fire across
& beyond crest of wooded hill.

At 7pm bombardment by [[shorthand]] and military guns

7.10 bombardment machine guns rifles

.20

7.16 16th ascending hill

Otago ¾ hour late on left.

7.30 4 or 5 shells burst on position occupied

by 15th battn.

7.48. heavy cheering from hilltop

8 o'c reported 16th had reached top of
gully - hot fire but Australia will be there
8.10 more [[shorthand]] indicated that the hill had been taken

Otago moving slowly.

Coy of 15th supporting Otago reached trench
bayoneted
Turks
could not remain
because of
no support
till daybreak.  At about 3 - 2 marine battalions
arrived in leisurely way
Abt 5 o'c. at day break our

 

41

May      5th Month       1915
3 MON
Royal Academy opens
4 TUES
5 WED
6 THUR
King's Accession, 1910.
5h 23m A.M. (Greenwich)
7 FRI
8 SAT
9 ROGATION SUN
Proclamation, King George V.
Shelling at launch
Attack by 2nd brigade

 

42

1915     60      31 Days      May

4 machine guns against them.
8.15 report from Pope showed that

1st position of Turks beyond ridge [[carried]] (Trenches)

Kept up fire all night.

creeping up w fire

ws digging under fire

4 o'c I ws discussing move to another

position as I was getting 2 battalions of
RMLI.

5.17 whole of our artillery opened fire

3  18pdr shells & 5 mountain battery shells 

burst in trenches we had dug

(mtn battery shells before)

Lifted side of hill off.

men rolled down hill at once.

Part of line near 6 fell back.

RMLI arrived at broad daylight

too light to put them in

arrd at 3.30.

[*Congratulatn received*]

 

43

May         5th Month     Observatn   1915

10 MON
Rogation Day
11 TUES
Rogation Day
12 WED
Rogation Day
13 THUR
Ascension Day
14 FRI
3h 31m A.M. (Greenwich)
15 SAT
Near ASC Depot 

Indians made fire
from a shell which had been broken
it exploded

Some thought it ws
a mine.
The Beach.
always under fire
Men pumping out an old

lighter all day long amongst

spent bullets & shrapnel

Aust. man at

water place.

4 mules killed & wd
with ASC
train
Axxxxxxxxxxx
The spent bullets.

ASC mess hill 4 times

once shrap. case
16 SUN aft Ascension

plumped onto table at breakfast

once hit biscuit tin.

 

60 hasn't that stopped Triumph fire
44

1915       31 Days     May
Hand drawn diagram - see original document
There's a sniper Down here.
It is choked now.  If only we could check
damned ridge.
They are going left aren't they?
They may catch him going away
Triumph Doris
afterwards
Dartmouth
Queen
P of W
Canopus
xxx please increase range 100.
xxx ok. Stop with message
[*Your fire is effective thank you very much.  2 [[shorthand]] mark ships on the [[shorthand]]*]
[*[[shorthand]]*]
[*Please register that spot as A."
Bacchante 4.*]

 

45

May      5th Month     1915

17 MON
18 TUES
19 WED
20 THUR
21 FRI
Easter Law Sittings end.
Oxford Easter Term ends
22 SAT
4h 50m A.M. (Greenwich).
Oxford Trinity Term begins
23 WHIT SUN
Ember Week

The sniper - got up as a 

tree with mens [[nosy?]] &

discs (?) Have to xx 
Have to be careful of 

reports because men got sniper

& spy mad. But [[shorthand]] wd
always pot at you if

got blom bottom above

time of trench.
Our machines made him move
shot at 1200 yards
 

46

1915     60       31 days    May

Cannon at nights.

not one report but

Bang pang - away Bang pang away 

Bang pang away Bang pang away 

Bang pang away Braw

8 shots

and so on all night long.

Down here some further battery

Tump Thump - a wump Tump Thump a wump

Tump Thump a wump

Tump Thump a wump

Beginning high note & falling to 

low.

Never ceasing crackle of
sniper,

like crack of a 

fire in a wind.

French artillery sharper

crack as if huge tack

banged into giant tree

by hammer of Thor

Hiss of big gun like rockets,

Cd always hear big shells

coming over when quite
close.

 

47  

May     5th Month    1915
24 WHITSUN MON
Bank Holiday.  (Empire Day)
25 WHITSUN TUES
26 WED
Queen Mary born, 1867.  Ember Day
27 THUR
28 FRI
9h 33m P.M. (Greenwich).
Ember Day
29 SAT
Ember Day
30 TRINITY SUN

eg. when one used to run & get
camera for
Goebens shells at Anzac.

or when typewriting &

Goeben found out the 

rest camp after Krithia 

Road. Used to stop
typing & wait & see

where he ws coming.
Huge splash of mud

sometime afterwards the only sign. 

c/- shells (") drive Turks

out of trench under
trees
Hand drawn diagram - see original document

Followed them to yellow patch

 

48

1915         60      31 Days       May

French w bayonet on May 8th

stretcher bearer - S.B.

Drank - such a little drink helps.

So good. Cant give you much

old boy.

"Oh I'm in agony - all these

poor chaps hit [[shorthand]] intestines

great wd in Saturday (May

8) charge. - also thro chest.

Only hope with these bullets

is - get man in quick.

S.B.s that English used

for beach.

May 9. cdnt relieve

May 10. didn't relieve

Officer. Hear your men have done
well.

 

49

May & June  5th & 6th Months    1915

31 MON
1 JUNE TUES
Trinity Law Sittings begin
2 WED
3 THUR
King George V. born, 1865.
Corpus Christi
4 FRI
4h 32m P.M. (Greenwich)
5 SAT
6 SUN—1 aft Trin 

One idiot sd O have you.

wont . see them for more [[shorthand]] this [[shorthand]].

Dont say that. you don't

know  Lets then follow -
anyway

(wounded near Col

Mackay's dugout in
advance trench. Volunteered

all staff except one Signalman

hit.)

May 10 . Big gun?  Goeben

tried for our xxxx

camp that morning.
Same night Fr. had

not got on so men had
to stop in trenches.
 

50

1915    60     31 & 30 Days    May & June

May 11th men to have been relieved by

fusiliers. Not till tonight.

Big gun reaching for our

aeroplanes or ships.

86  fusilier

R.F }

L.F. }   [[shorthand]]

D.F }

M.F.}

87. South Wales Borderers

KOSBs

Inniskilling Fusiliers

Border Regt

 
Last edited by:
Arlene BaadeArlene Baade
Last edited on:

Last updated: