Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/210/1 - 1915 - 1918 - Part 4

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open to contributions
Accession number:
RCDIG1066849
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

On Ang 8 there ws one offe slighty wd - Capt. Ferguson, He ws wd at Caroline wood, by a shell. He got a tetanus injictu + came back next day Vincent did splendis work N.G.DSMY this day - He gota Bar to his M.C. He is a Lydney boy. Bn got to Red line w 35 casuatties, shell & hf. Total for whole town, abt 60. I was a wonderfully Successpt fight. Thy got receipts for 370 snonors (& reall over 400) & 6.5in, 5 8an Hows, Bty of guirs 59,42.433 & oter p,27 Sans in Ally 48 TMs (many in a
workshop in PHarbouiers vally, 10 Russimponees- & some wayons, a canteen. Abt 40 mp. (see war Diary). I Bn pconeer tolld after to Bn be a paint pot painting its nome on yous captd by it. he last phase. Dec. 30d today in 15& 16 Bus there at some trouble, the men comig + to some of their Coy Comod os saying to they wd not parade, or to they thought they ought aot to parade, owing to shortage ofrations. 15 Bn only hed 3/4d its biscuit ration, I believe. Anyway it shows Nw diffecult our task wd have bre of 1 Jerms had simply retired more quickly + further iust. of
fighting & then collegsing. (The Tocrah people say to there w 20 actrat meeting Auongst fermans. Their discepline had bu noticeabl slacker 1 last few monthd). we cannot erem now keep ap to them owiy to blow apo rlgs - Our torries have to go back to Le Catean to fetch 1 rations up here. & they cannot feed our men poperly, or provide even enough cand bs (a lot of this deary has t be written up in a helf ligst. I have seen no Newspaper since t of Nos28 nor has any one O/ 12 Bde Hl. we co never have keptapw
arms. if they had adpted this policy. 52 Bn. Dernancourt. apt raser, 51Bu who is reported bd & missing at Dernancourt ws captured ad by 1fermans. & sarvives Lieut L.C. Boase, who ws also cod. after 1 greet fyit under 1 archway, was also captured. Faser in this fight (writing afteds pos fermany) being on at his posite abt woyds down pom 1rt crossing until he saw I ferms. crewling across (line, when 5 Liggers caul back from 1 subway. He then deshed across
Wo 2 others abt 200 yds Comin under very beavy my. fire all at once & as hilsliptly He lay in a shell hole for a wich until mg. guatered o then startio Hemanagd anote 100 yds & het to take cover agn. This time the ring. kept playing over him. The fern. enpy were advancing in Extendes order neatding he knew ws a bayonet theo his overcost a cloat on I beet fom a rifle. He ar lates (when regaining conscansness) taken back prisoner. case ws early knoshert. t unconscious td i 13 ploses. He
& some others had nade several hall attacks under bridge, weny bombs & revolver. He as seen to fall & ws believed to be dead (in one of tese rushes). Several men spoke of Boase's work as reaguificent. Taser, from Jermany, thanking him dead, wrote as a prisoner: I desire to recommend the late Lieut. Boase for a W.C.
45 Bor. Aug Sept18. M. Loulit 45 Bn ws in the Rle befor line from Vendelles to the tomonces on 1 Right; &8Bn ahead in present then port ling. As soon as 48 on moved te 45 th folld them at 400 yds distance. 7 3 A Artillery fomation of plus. H gis in rear of C. it i difficult to find your way owny to the drizzle & for. You cdsecaman at alt 20 ds. not more.
Checked They gai themselves largely by the Luaken Rd. runnay abt the centre of the Bn frontege toW & eres the Cambresels? Wood. The worst partsI whole business for 45 Bn really tos coming up in rear of 48 Bn to their objic. The German barrage messed ellon 48Bn but it gottower 65 Bn, shortening te whole way while 48 as conolidatin 45 Bn waiter for 1/ hrs on a premously o decided posite alt 200 yds in rear of 48 Bn in shell holes, behind banks & in Tunkin Rd. It as getting lightes thin?
The rige top is practicily flat - te terms cont see hem - the cover & the fog ad prevent ferms from seeing them, but they were in German banage. Leant Hinds as k. there while reorganisan his plu, by a ferman super who ws on I near sde of barrype- The Adjt. Capt Adoms ws wd here for I second time by a sell. During the advance Maj Loutit had bu wd just after the adjt. - Lt Hill the sign alling fr ws k at abt I same time, L Hughes, Iul. 8/fr badly ted- (dud o wdo), adstwd. & Daj Loudit. Te barage ws s Leary - D Hore O.C.D. D. Coy
ws wod at I same time, & Lr Fifield, of Dloy wd- The wire wh as answt (to (barrip as very good) ws a nursance. In places you had to walk 5ogds 5 fint a gap. There ws bote ol Brilish Wire & Gernan wire. after waiting the his the barrage increased & moved forwd. The Bu just before moved to viting 50 5o 804d of it, & folld it when it moved. As soon as 45 88 tro 68 they met Jerms coming to Couster attack &PBn. Tey were ectually advancing in waves.
 

On Aug 8 there ws one offr slightly wd - Capt. Ferguson; He ws wd at Caroline wood, by a shell. He got a tetanus injection > came back next day. Vincent did splendid work this ^ [M.C,DGM} day - He got  bar to his M.C. He is a Sydney boy.

Bn got to Red line w 35 casualties, shell & (?). 

Total for whole tour abt 60. It was a wonderfully successful fight.

They got receipts for 370 prisoners (& really over 400) & 6.6 in guns, 5 8.in Hows, Bty of 5.9, 4  2. 4.2s & other 77s, 27 guns in all; 48 TMs (many in a   

 

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