Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 61]
[29.8.18]
Bde moved during the afternoon to CURLU.
6.15 pm Line heavily shelled with 77's and big Howitzer shells. Captures for day were 75 prisoners, 6 M.G's. 40 of the enemy were killed. Total advance for the day on a front of 1500 yds was 4500 yds. English troops held up during the afternoon and at 7.50 pm 40th Bn A.I.F. placed 2 Companies in to fill the gap.
9 pm Bde ordered to advance in conjunction with 10th A.I.Bde. Objectives were Red Line B.24 c 7.3. to B.30 d 99.20 to H.12 b 5.7. First objective. Green Line from S.W. corner of MARRIERES Wood C.19 c 1,5 to junction of Mary Alley and Berlin Goats Trench, N. of Road Wood C.25 a 6.8 thence S. along trench I.I c to I.7 a 99.60. Second objective. Inter-Bde boundary, Trench running East and West through B.28 Ccntral and C.19 central.
2.30 am Advance began according to plan.
4 am First objective gained with little opposition. After passing first objective strong resistance was offered by the enemy at 6.30 am. after hard fighting 34th Bn reached line C.25 c 60.25 to C.25 a 40.70 and commenced consolidation, slightly short of the Green line. English infantrty failed to keep up and left flank exposed. 2 strong points were formed. Efforts were made several times during the day to reach final objective but without success. Heavy enemy shelling.
At daybreak 13th Aust. Light Horse reconnoitred Hill 150 in B.10 b and passed back good information. Advance was on a frontage of 1000 to 1500 yds to a depth of 1500 yds. 4 M.G's and 20 prisoners were taken.
[Casualties]
K. 2 Offs 12 O/R
W. 1 Offs 37 O/R
M. 12 O/R
During the advance 35th Bn moved to A.29 a and 33rd Bn to B.26 d; 42nd Bn (11th A.I.Bde) which was attached to Bde moved to B.25 c. One Company of the 33rd Bn still remained at tactical disposal of C.O. 34th Bn.
31.8.18
In the afternoon Bde was allotted objectives by Div H.Q. involving capture of high ground in C.20 and C.21 a & c which was to form a pivot of manoeuvre for the further advance of the Division. 33rd Bn was allotted the task with one Company of the 42nd attached (to be used in case of emergence). The objective was to be as follows :- Line C.14 c 7.6. - C.20 a 8.7. - C.25 b 7.8. - C.25 b 25.15; a pivot of manoeuvre to be formeed by establishing 8 posts. Owing to 58th Div. on our left arranging a plan that would have held up our attack, the whole scheme had to be altered causing orders to be issued to the attacking troops at the late hour of 2.45 am. The 58th Div. refused to alter their plans to fit in with ours.