Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/248/1 - 1917 - 1931 - Part 15

7105.
18 November 1931.
Lieut.-Colonel A.T. Paterson, D.S.O., M.C., V.D.,
"Yurunga",
387, Lower Malvern Road
East Malvern, S.E.6, Vic.
Dear Colonel Paterson,
I have received through Mr. Withers the desired
particulars concerning the 39th's part at Messines. I think
that the narrative will now be approved by you and others as
accurate, but, to make sure. I am sending you the relevant
passage as it now stands. I should be grateful if you would
lock through it and let me know if anything in it is, to your
knowledge, inaccurate, or if you would suggest any addition.
Mr. Withers tells me that you did not like the phrase
about machine-gun bullets passing through a hedge with a noise
like telegraph wires rubbing. This was one of those observations
made by a man who had just experienced it, which may recall
something to the minds of those who were near him. It is quite
a genuine description, and was possibly caused by the existence
in the hedge on his front of wires which may not have been there
in the same hedge farther north. If you who were there think
it was absurd, I will cut it out, but such descriptions give
life to a narrative.
With kind regards
Yours sincerely,
 

"Yurnga"
387 Lower Malvern Road,
GLEN IRIS. S.E.6.
1st December, 1931.
Dr. C. E. W. Bean
Official Historian,
Victoria Barracks
PADDINGTON. N.S.W.
Dear Doctor,
I have particular pleasure in thanking
you for giving me an opportunity of going through the
narrative for the Official History, concerning the 39th
Battalion's part at the Battle of Messines, and am sure
it will give satisfaction to all concerned.
As you mention, I must admit I do not
like the phrase referring to the machine gun bullets
making "a tinny sort of hiss, like telegraph wires rubbing"
This peculiar noise did not happen on our sector. I would
like to point out that the continuous tack, tack, tack of
our own machine gun barrage from Hill 63, the roar of our
shells going overhead, the burst of high explosives, and
the roar of the planes, to say nothing of the enemy's shells
with their wschlwschlwschlwschlwschl - rrms, and the burst
of shrapnel above us, would make it practically impossible
to distinguish such a noise in a battle particularly under
such a barrage as that at Messines. Its barrage was the most
intense of any battle in which I personally took part.
The only indication I had of the presence
of machine guns in front was revealed by spurts of earth
around me.
I hope you will not think I am
hypocritical but that you will take my impressions in the
spirit in which they are given. You can realize how the
imagination of some men run riot especially under the strain
of battle, whennone of us were normal.
Do you think the words zip zip or some such
other would be more appropriate. You could confirm my
opinion with others before acting on it.
If I can be of any assistance in giving you
further information of the 39th Battalion's part in other
actions on the front, do not hesitate to ask.
Again thanking you for allowing me to go
through the draft, which I am enclosing herewith.
With kind regards.
Yours sincerely,
A.T. Paterson
Lt. Colonel.

COPY.
Diary of Lieutenant W.G. Fisher, 42nd Battalion, A.I.F
Monday
Wednesday, 26th March 1917.
Got back from the school after spending the night at H. where
I put up at the house of aretired French captain - a very excellent
old gentleman but rather voluble as they all are. Our chaps were
stillin the trenches, and brigade told me to wait for them to come
out. So I spent the day in Arm.
We got our billets again after much wandering. I am to carry on
as bombing officer for the spell out.
Tuesday.
Loafed about while the men spelled and generally roused about
for billets. Got fixed up and wrote as man letters as I could.
Wednesday, 28/3/17.
Started on my new stunt, quite good too. Fritz shelled the town
but beyond blowing in three houses he did no damage. He badly
frightened the poor women and kids - they all got hysterical and ran
all over the place. He seems to have a penchant for the school.
Thursday, 29/3/17. Toujour
Friday, 30/3/17. la
Saturday, 31/3/17. meme
Sunday, 1/4/17. chose
Have got into a rut of routine work and instruction to which I
have long been foreign. I spend one day teaching and illustrating
the theory of bombing, and the next day in throwing live bombs - they
are quite a decent little weapon. One gets very bored here. The
hours cut out all intercourse with Jamie or Yell - they go out on
midnight working parties while I am in the town.- The places are x
all shut when we finish dinner at night, and generally I have to
retire early and read till I fall asleep. We go in again shortly
and I expect something may be doing.
There are two old Frenchmen - one the owner of the house - playing
cards just opposite me. Every deal they spit on their hands, chuckle
muchly, mand tear in - vingt neuf, soixante dix seem to be all they
say. How they get at it I don't know.
Wednesday
Monday, 2/4/17.
Tuesday, 3/4/17.
Gave up the specialist stunts and looked after the platoon while
Mr Joseph went away ill with a touch of ptomaine poisoning. Nothing
much doing. Had a long and useless walk up to B Post for a working
party, which was cancelled later. We go in tomorrow morning at
1 p.m.
Wednesday, 4/4/17.
After a quiet day I was very much upset by the death of "Jamie"
- he was killed instantaneously by a German patrol. One of the best
he was.
Thursday, 5/4/17.
Nothing doing except some registering by the Hun. Went up to some
elevated ground S.I. and had a look over the country. Came back and
went to Jamie's funeral. He was buried in the Convent Garden near
"Hyde Park Corner". The end of a gallant gentleman - a lovable
comrade and a fearless soldier. Requiescat in pace.

2.
Friday, 6/4/17.
Good Friday opened wit by a bombardment by the foe and some
sniping - early in the morning he got a pioneer some thirty yards
from our position of mess. Much bombardment to left and right of
us, but for xxx us all was quiet.
Saturday, 7/4/17.
A magnificent day - not too cold, with bright sunlight. Consequently
there was much aerial activity. Towards the close of day eight of
our planes went over to raid Fritz, and presently came back ,minus
two. High above them came several of the foe - movinga swifter
craft and smaller. One of our planes lagged behind and was suddenly
attacked by five of the foe's craft. Pluckily he banked and dived and
fought them, and gradually drew clear. But one pursued him closely
with another yet higher. Majestically our plane swerved round to meet
the lower - the lower turned and fled. But like a flash the higher
German plane dived, spitting forth a heavy fire. A thin trail of
smoke, thicker, thicker, and then a sudden burst of flame and down
came our machine, to fall with its dead heroes a few yards behind the
wood.
Sunday, 8/4/17.
After a quiet day again a quieter night, and yet again Easter
Sunday dawned a magnificent day. It proved peaceful. At nightfall
a fire could be seen about six miles from our lines south of Lille.
Monday, 9/4/17.
Much snow and wind - covering everything was the snow, and it grew
very cold. I had the dog watch, 12 to 3.30, but things were quiet.
Much"r egistering" by Fritz - the usual prelude to a raid. But we are
quite ready for him these times.
Tuesday, 10/4/174
Wednesday, 11/4/17.
Much "strafe" both on our side and his - we even too. Early in
the morning I got a bit of H.E. in the left leg. It bled for three
hours, but was a tiny scratch, no more. Developed a bit of a bad
leg, however, so got an injection. We strafed Fritz badly at nightfall,
and he had the wind up all night, squirting lights everywhere.
A heavy snowstorm kept No Man's Land free from patrols.
Thursday, 12/4/17.
We moved a bit further back at dawn and will indulge in much
labour. We ought to put inabout three weeks or so at that. Nothing
xx much doing there but machine-gun bullets, one of which got one of
my men this morning. Plenty of game here in the wood.
Friday, 13/4/17.
Beautifully bright day - birds singing, aeroplanes buzzing, whizz-bangs
whizzing - all the world seems bright. Owing to my crook leg I
did not go off with my platoon, but lay on my bunk - glad of a rest,
too. Our planes have grown much more daring.
Saturday, 14/4/17.
Got out early, breakfasted, and went off with the platoon
adigging. Fritz grew wise to our movement and shelled the cross-paths,
frightening not a few - it is so unprecedented a proceeding.
One man hurt. Our fellows generally are very even-minded - not
callous. For a long time they could not get a drain to run; something
blocked it. Down went one to remove the obstruction - he did so
exclaiming "That's the silly ----- who blocked it". "That" was the
decayed body of an officer of the Sherwood Foresters! I've got one

3.
of his buttons.
Another officer friend of mine saw a notice stuck up some twenty
yards off the duckboards. As all notices are to be read and observed,
he painfully and slowly crawled through knee-deep slime and mud to
find thereon written "This path must not be used"!.
Sunday, 15/4/17.
A cheerless day, full of rain and cold wind. Was driven off my
working ground by hostile fire, but the men all got off safely. The
Hun had a few sniping shots at me. In the evening after dinner he
opened up with a heavy artillery demonstration - not much appreciated -
but he got worse than he gave.
Monday, 16/4/17.
Same old working party - the boys are doing really good work.
Fritz kept potting away at us all day long, sniping, and finally at
nightfall let loose some H.E. on us. I judged it wise to move, and
we all adjourned. Got some more mail today, specially some from
Dorrie.
Tuesday, 17/4/17.
Another day of labour gone - I felt very seedy and didn't enjoy
life as usual, especially as a young blizzard was raging. Fritz
tried to drive us home by firing on us with snipers and"pineapples'
- but our fellows kept on working. More letters - and more letter
writing.
Wednesday, 18/4/17.
Thursday, 19/4/17.
Nice quiet days - calm, sunny weather, with much aerial
activity, but otherwise little doing. We moved out on Thursday night
to a new billet - a very excellent one, about the best we've yet had
in France.
Friday, 20/4/17.
Moved out to work asusual to most interesting work in new country.
The battalion mess is in order again, and our band is resuscitated,
and plays merrily the while. A raid is on at present, and much
cannonading fils the air.
Saturday, 21/4/17.
A fine day, and we put in our time well absorbing some very excellen
French coffee. Fritz opened out after noon with heavy stuff on a
supposed gun emplacement, and for a while made dust and earth and
wood fly and hurtle. It was very strenuous. At nightfall he xxxxxxx
repeated the performance a few hundred yards from us, and has not
yet entirely ceased. It's a queer feeling when one sees a solid
house suddenly vanish in thin wreathes of dust and smoke.
Sunday, 22/4/17.
To my great astonishment I was sent off to another school after
a night of intermittent shelling on the part of the enemy - which
continued till daylight. I woke up to find myself due to depart at
once - so I did, in charge of our quota for the school. Had a tramp
of about eight miles, and go to the La Boudrelle place again, where
I spent the day loafing about while things got ready. Fritz bombed
this place by plane last night!
I heard today that a party of our men digging in the wood had
found a hoard of coins, some dating back to the twelfth century.- and
later. Also, a German officer was found dead outside our lines - a

4.
Bavarian with the Iron Cross.
Monday, 23/4/17.
Began another school course - not very interesting. But we
had an exciting time watching hostile planes who were much in the
picture. Ours came on the scene later - possessed of extraordinary
speed. We gathered much of the falling shrapnel. A great
cannonading began about 4 p.m. and still rages.
Tuesday, 24/4/17.
Continued aerial activity. Kennedy of the 41st stopped a
large bit of shell from A.A. guns - but was not much hurt. We went
to Estaires, Hogge, Kennedy, and I - picked up some stuff for
souvenirs and had quite a good dinner at the Hotel de Ville
establishment. Came home about 11 p.m. A great bombardment is
raging up by Messines.
Wednesday, 25/4/17.
Still cloudy and cold. Nothing much doing at all during day.
Walked to Sailly-su-la-Lys with Hogge and came back as quickly as
possible.
Thursday, 26/4/17.
Friday, 2/4/17.
Delightful days of ease and warmth. Visited Sailly-sur-Lys
and Steenwerck and dined at the Cafe Anglais at the latter, remaining
there till 10 p.m., and then had a delightful walk home across
the fields in the light of a new moon. Felt all at peace with the
world.
Saturday, 28/4/17.
The school finished today - quite a good rest it has been, too.
Much aeroplane activity as usual, mostly on our part at last.
We've got some very fast planes now, as we saw the morning when one
of ours chased him home.
Sunday, 29/4/17.
Wandered about, and about ten a.m. set out for Armentieres
with the brigade school. Got a lift in by waggon, and, as it was
very warm - quite as warm as any November days at home - we much
appreciated it. We slept there the night. Got a bit merry and had
a funny time - played hell with the other fellows - those of us
who were out.
Monday, 30/4/17.
Preparing for our trek tomorrow - drill, route-marching, and
inspections. Refereed a football match in the afternoon, and wrote
letters at night. Spring is well upon us, and the days are warm
and the nights magnificent.
Tuesday, 1/5/17.
Set out at 6 a.m. on our long journey - some 50 miles we are
to go. We soon got out of A, passed S, and xxxxxxxxx to a country
hitherto unknown to me - rural France in the first days of spring.
The men stuck to it gamely, and at 4 p.m. we halted for the night
without having lost a man from the battalion. We were billetted in
a farm, and had a great time. The farm was clean for a wonder, and
the red tiled roof and white walls, set in a setting of green grass
and budding trees, made all a pleasing picture. We saw several
quaint features of the times and country - carts drawn by dogs, men
and women yoked to ploughs and harrows. Our host was a French
sergeant just come back from Saint Quentin. At night we bought and

5.
got souvenirs, in the shape of coins of all denominations.
Wednesday, 2/5/17.
On with the trek - over country that was rather more variegated.
In the distance loomed hills, and woods and dales made a pleasing
picture. Every three or four miles were churches, all with steeples.
One can quite understand why spires are shelled by the foe - and by
everyone for that matter, I suppose. The men were rather fatigued,
but still we got on and fixed up billets in a xxxx pleasant little
village on the main road from C to S. It is busy with traffic of
all sorts.
Thursday, 3/5/17.
We today had quite a decent march, and so far have not lost a
man - quite a creditable performance in view of the fact that we are
fresh from the trenches. We passed through magnificent country -
green and fresh - delightful to the eye and unscarred by war.
Friday, 4/5/17.
The men were in great fettle and pushedxx pressed on quickly.
The heat, however, was intense - the haze danced on the ridges - the
dust arose and it was quite like a summer's day at home. The whole
outfit - heat, dry roads, mountainous country sparsely populated,
and the brass band - was strangely reminiscent of our parades and
route marching in far-away Queensland - it brought it all back to me.
We finished in fine fettle, and clambering down a mountainside found
ourselves in a small village named A----, whose church dates back to
1414. But yet I have and will yet again curse this place - it
pleases me not.
Saturday, 5/5/17.
Started on our training work - in an orchard. It was not at all
bad. Of course this place is quite isolated - the soil is poor
though much used for cultivation. Still it is much better than the
line or near the line - il van sans dire.
Sunday, 6/5/17.
Went off to Lumbres, some ten miles off, after church service
in the morning. The road was good - the country just great - great
rolling downs, forests and green touches where the fields met the
forests and woods. We had a road for miles along a great plateau,
whereon the wind beat fiercely against us. The last few miles were
down hill. We stayed a few hours in the town, met a New Z. officer
who was awfully decent, and had a great ride home by the light of
the moon.
Monday, 6/5/17.
Started our preliminaries for training. Magnificent day
indeed, and the country looks great.
Tuesday, 8/5/17.
We saw today how fine France can be away from the fire zone.
Green fields, hedgerows lined with violets, bluebells, and all sorts
of flowers - fields smothered in flowers - bright sunlight and
crisp air made everyone feel glad and bright. Got another Australian
mail in - letters from everywhere everyone at home and good news.
Wednesday, 9/5/17
Wandering now all day as usual on our usual stunts. Am feeling
very fit and weight 13 stone 2 lb as I stand - i.e., without any
extra weight but ordinary clothes. It's a great life and one gets

6.
to enjoy it. All letters from home are quite cheerful and have good
news, so that bucks one up too.
Thursday, 10/5/17.
Out on brigade stunts all day long - rather tiring, and very
hot indeed - no question about that. But spring is still more with
us - and nothing to worry us. Writing home.
Friday, 11/5/17.
Had a loaf all the morning - theoretical at any rate. It was
very hot indeed. We spent the afternoon on manoeuvres - awful time
in gorse and bracken. More letters home. Got home very tired.
Saturday, 12/5/17.
Very hot - very tired, very fed up. Got leave to go away for
tomorrow, but can't get any way of going, so am more than fed up.
Sunday, 13/5/17.
Stayed at home all day as no means of transport were available.
So rested and read and slept all day long. At night went for a
short walk into the country - it looks just great. The spring does
come on quickly here.
Monday, 14/5/17.
Out as usual. At night went across to Licques - a village
about 7 miles away - had a great ride on the horse I pinched for the
occasion. Had dinner and a ripping ride home in the twilight. All
were well tired and retired early. Spring is now well with us and
the new growth in living things proceeds apace.
Tuesday, 15/5/17.
Wednesday, 16/5/17.
We finished off our training and fill in the hours till our
time for return is due with football, sports, and small route
marching. No mail yet - though I expect some. Rumours have been
brought us by the latest reinforcements that a ship with outgoing
C.3 men has been sunk - I hope this proves to be one of the
numerous groundless, yet disturbing rumours that are in constant
circulation. Ted would most probably be on board about the time
mentioned. Am feeling rather uneasy about it all. Cabled home so
that they ought to be a bit ahead of my letters for some little
while. Very tired these days - am adjourning.
Wednesday, 16/5/17.
Just an easy time - a few hours' drill and then a rest before
we set out tomorrow or the day after. Refereed another football
match, when all the bad luck of the battalion seemed to follow one
chap in particular - he finally ended up with a broken collarbone.
Thursday, 17/5/17.
Again rest and inspection - and so forth, as usual, before
wandering back. Spelled in the afternoon and did nothing but read
"Punch" and various "Bulletins" which Gilchrist was lucky enough to
get from Australia.
Friday, 18/5/17.
Set out on the road back and covered the ten miles to T easily,
by lunchtime. Got the men settled, fitted up, and then went off to
St. Omer with Joseph. We had a look at the church - dating back to
the 13th century. St Omer is the biggest town of France I've yet

7.
seen - and it is a treat to be among people again. The environs of
the city are most prepossessing. The delicate greenery of new growths
sets off the French architecture and taste for colouring with great
and pleasing effect. Got home though with some difficulty, and fooled
around a bit.
Saturday, 19/5/17.
Carried on amid much xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ^straying (? strafing) by the major, who is
carrying on while the colonel is away on leave in Paris!. But got
to our destination early and am at time of writing well established in
my billet for the morning and till the morning. The estimable lady
of the house will for long provide pleasant memories of our short
sojourn at La Crosse - she makes us so very comfortable and one can
appreciate that in a land where so little of that spirit is met - at
least let me say in justice to the French, in the zone of destruction
and desolation where our home so often is situate.
Sunday, 20/5/17.
A very hot tramp today which made the men get rather bad tempered.
In fact, continual strafing from upstairs seemed to get on everyone's
nerves. We had a long march - and at the end came into touch with
our --- division. Tomorrow ends our pilgrimage and I think we will
all be pleased.
Monday, 21/5/17.
Entered on the final trek of our return - and things were rather
overdone methinks. But anyhow the battalion finished very well - so
well that officers of other brigades were loth to believe we had come
such a distance, the men looked and marched so well. Billeted in our
old billets - and slept hard.
Tuesday, 22/5/17.
Everyone slept in till late and looked very sleepy-eyed.
Meandered about the town renewing old acquaintances and getting our
photos taken.
Wednesday, 23/5/17.
Nicely quiet again - nothing to do. We go in the line again
tonight again to our old position. Wrote letters home but had bad
luck in missing the mail. This place has totally changed in appearance.
Where before were snow and dreary desolation, now are to be
found sunlight and verdure of flowering shrubs and trees. It would
delight the eye of anyone at all to see the brightness of life.
Thursday, 24/5/17.
After a somewhat wearisome night spent in relieving, I woke up
tired - very tired. However, breakfast and a walk around soon
refreshed me - the wood is just magnificent, the nightingale and the
cuckoo are heard in the land, and save for the continuous work of
artillery and machine guns, all was to be desired in the circumstances.
Friday, 25/5/17.
Much strafing by our ancient foe over the way, and also by us,
in which, as also in aerial activity, we won hands down. Got a mail
in from Australia - good news and cheering. Much uproar at night.
We are all tired these days too.
Saturday, 26/5/17.
Very warm in every way from early morning - sun hot, artillery
hot, aerial activity very pronounced, and to our credit, let it be
said. Had a long journey out to brigade. Met Wilson G.C.C. and
Fryer, both of Varsity, and hear Eric Francis is quite close at hand.

8.
Lots of our chaps are getting leave, it may fall to our lot perhaps
some day. The cuckoo absolutely refuses to be still - as also does
the foe with his artillery. Still as before, we win.
Sunday, 27/5/17.
Everyone seems to be gradually getting annoyed and bad tempered
- due no doubt to heat, sleepiness and general cussedness. Much
row all day and night - we have been giving Fritz an awful amount
of stuff all the while. Had a letter from Edith, saying Ted had
left England on the 29th April. Am writing to her again - got my
other letters away luckily this morning. Nothing to do but read
mostly Australian papers, thank goodness.
Monday, 28/5/17.
Increasing and ever increasing artillery duels and general
strafings make one get the impression of a crescendo of violent
sounds due to burst forth in overwhelming frenzy of noise and uproar.
We are under no delusion as to what is ahead of us, though most
probably I shall have little or no opportunity to chronicle any of
our doings or sufferings. I have written home and am anxiously
awaiting a mail from home.
Tuesday, 29/5/17.
A dull leaden sky, great weariness - for I was awake and up almost
all night with stunts going on everywhere - make me and everyone on
whom rexxxt rests responsibility feel depressed and fed up. Today
many left us for a place not to be spoken of - M-. Continual
artillery practice makes us grow used to its constant xxxxxxxx
banging, wailing, and shrieking. One of our chaps got 29 wounds
yesterday, and was as bright and cheerful as ever. When the M.O.
asked him, "Well, and what have you got?" -- "Everything," he
answered, "except the b---- nose cap!" He may pull through, Casey
is his name.
Wednesday, 30/5/17.
A never ceasing roar fills the air - artillery fight artillery
and pound positions and emplacements day and night - dumps blow up
and gas goes over - minnies hiss and bang - everything is full of
activity, deadly and uncompromising. Fritz gets everything, and so
far puts comparatively little back. He's got the wind up all right.
But just at present he's sending over minnies on to "D" Coy - he'll
catch retaliation shortly.
Thursday, 31/5/17.
Encore beaucoup bombardment. The whole air rings and vibrates
with banging crashes of our guns - always two or more batteries are
at it, and all day and all night long the messengers of death go
hissing, sliding, or slithering over onto the foe. The great big
ones just slither across gently - right up in the blue voids of what
once we called Heaven. I'm going on watch in a few minutes - he
slathered in our front line a bit. But then his is a crumbled mass.
A little after sunset we saw a Hun plane attack one of our
balloons again. In spite of tremendous shelling from our AA xxxx guns
he stuck to his task and brought the balloon down in flames. As a
spectacle it was magnificent - the observers got away in parachutes - 
as also did the Hun.
Friday, 1/6/17.
Last night the air was full of uproar and bits or iron - two
stunts were on. The concussion is never ending, and many of us have
constant headaches, no doubt due to that cause. Myself I have a
dizziness and dulled feeling in the head. The guns never cease,
though it is but a trifle to what we will hear and see in a few days.