| Place | Date | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|
| ALBURY CAMP | 2/2/17 | Health of the Battalion good. all available men employed on Railway and Road work. weather Continues fine but cold. great improvement in the wood supply the men are feeling the benefit of it. |
| ALBURY CAMP | 6/2/17 | Visited a French Training Camp yesterday and ??? their method of attack. I was much impressed with their Keenness and very smart turnout. I do not consider that the firing of the Automatic Rifle from the hip during the advance is an advantage. over rough ground it is very doubtful whether any shots would be effective. also the wast of Ammunition is Considerable, and would be of more value driving off Counter Attacks. The Rifle Grenade barrage is a splendid idea I like their Grenade attachment better than the one we use. The 37 mm Gun is also very valuable in trench warfare. It reminds me of the Pom.Poms, and would be very useful for dealing with Machine Gund and Trench Mortar positions. The demonstration was very instructive. |
| ALBURY CAMP | 9/2/17 | Brigade moved into the Front line tonight. This Battalion remained in Reserve on Corps work. Weather still Keeps Cold and dry our men are standing it exceedingly well. Health good. |
| TOWNSVILLE CAMP | 15/2/17 | Moved into this Camp on the 12th inst. 4 Officers 250 OR. moved in front line for work. Weather Warmer thaw Setting in. |
| TOWNSVILLE CAMP | 16/2/17 | The 48th BN move into Front line are tonight and relieve the 47th Bn. Rain Set in tonight. Weather much warmer. ground getting muddy. |
| TOWNSVILLE CAMP | 17/2/17 | Letter received from CO ANZAC Light Railways. expressing great appreciation of the good work done by the Battalion while supplying working parties during the past month. men on the whole in good health, left 20 who were suffering from Bronchitis and sore feet in this Camp to Assist Quartermaster and Supply ??? Guard. |
| BULLS TRENCH | 18/2/17 | Very quiet all night in this Sector. Very heavy Artillery strafe? by Boche on the Left Divisions fron, at about 6.30 am. heavy fog during day. work proceeding on Fire and Communication Trenches. |
| BULLS TRENCH | 19/2/17 | Visited front line during the night. also new works running from GOODWINS POST to N21 a POINT 24 this should make a good defensive line when Completed. Mud is very bad due to recent Thaw and rain. We hold an Outpost position in BAYONET TRENCH N20 N20 D. ??.9 There are a number of Duouts, mostly Broken in. one used as a Signal Station is to be cleaned out tonight. a large quantity of Stick bombs are available, but have plug unsecured and are therefore dangerous. |
| BULLS TRENCH BN. HQS. | 20/2/17 | Enemy exceedingly quiet. Very few shells fell in the Vicinity of Battn HQs. during the past three days, works proceeding in POSSUM RESERVE. CHALK LANE very Satisfactorily. new Trench completed to an average Depth of 5 feet up to point N21a. O24 near CROSS? ROADS. It has yet to be deepened and drained but is quite good to hold, and will now be occupied day and night. It has a splendid field of fire, and is a great improvement on old positions in GREASE TRENCH. |
| BULLS TRENCH | 21/2/17 | Enemy very active during night with Trench Mortars a large number of PINE APPLE bombs falling near GOODWINS POST. during lately his shelling has been more active than usual. Pushed out LEWIS GUN along right bank of SUNKEN ROAD to point N21a 5.6. So as to keep in touch with 45TH BN left. N21a.80.65. an Effort will be made tonight to assist the advance of the 45TH BN to establish a block at N21a 70.75. Weather still very damp and ground bad. however the health of the Battalion is good on the whole a number of men are suffering with Colds. Feet appear to be in a fairly good Condition so far. Our Patrols Keep very active, and report very few Enemy Patrols observed. one when they are ??? they do not wait. The Enemy moral has very much deteriorated. He will not Stand. |
| BULLS TRENCH | 22/2/17 | Enemy Artillery and Trench Mortars very heavy during last night and again this morning on GOODWINS POST, FRITZ FOLLY and GRASS LANE. much quieter during this afternoon. men Selected to attack PORK Trench specially execercised in the use of Rifle Grenade. Weather wet and ground very muddy. attack under existing Conditions exceedingly hard on account of the depth of mud on the ground. Both Officers and men jave been specially Selected for the work in hand the ground as been thoroughly reconnoitred during the past four night, and specially Selected Scouts will be used to lead the Attackers into position, Everything possible has been done to ensure Success. The men are in great heart. |
| BULLS TRENCH | 23/2/17 | The attack on the Enemy's trench did not succeed. due to Causes I will point out I ahve had the ground thoroughly reconnoitred during the past five days by LT WATSON and Special Scout patrols. They reported the ground very much Cut up by Shell fire and heavily wired in front of Trench between SUNKEN ROADS. reference map 1/2500 N21a 70.75. N21a 26.64. but were unable to ascertain whether there was a gap in the wire at the road?. for that reason blankets were carried to Cross the wire, Every precaution possible was taken to make the attack a Success. I selected Special Officers whom I could thoroughly rely on and who Knew the ground to lead the attack. Scouts also were delosted? to guide the parties in position. I had only my barrage of Rifle Grenades to depend upon and it proved exceedingly effective and I am Keen to use it on a future occassions. Rifle Grenade party under 2ND LIEUT. STABBACH formed along the Left bank of SUNKEN ROAD. N21a 30.45. N21a 55.60 and placed barrage along Enemy's Trench, the effect of this was soon apparent as S.O.S. signals were fired and horns kept Sounding which proved he was suffering Casualites. at 12 midnight 22/23 I received a message that attackers were in position, 12.15 am that the advance was Commenced 12.36 am Bombers have entered Trench. from then on to 1.22 am messages continued to arrive that everything was going well. On inquiring I was informed that no one had returned from the attackers with a message Since 12 36 am. I became anxious and insisted on touch being maintained. It was then I found that things were not Satisfactory, however the reason will be seen, The Bombers made there way towards Enemy Trench and Struck Strong Wire entanglements. they Crossed two lots and then came near the Boche trench in front of which has very thick wire running right to parapet. The Trench was full of Boche manning the parapet. Flares were continually sent-up and the men had to lie flat against the wire. This and the very thick Fog saved them being observed. the bombers found it impossible to get through the wire. The Enemy fired accross [sic] it Continually. the men had to lie Still for over two hours. this accounts for the fact that Scouts sent forward by O C attack to Connect Could not find them, but reported trench Strongly manned. Consolidating Party was close behind Bombers insde wire. It was only by Crawling that men able to get away at all. the thick fog covered them. three? men were wounded, but were got away. The ground in front of Boche line is only a moss of Shell holes filled with liquid mud no road? exists. Many times men were Stuck up to their middle and had to be pulled out. Officers consider Trench must be good as Enemy appeared to move without difficulty. It is heavily manned and he appeared to be expecting attacks. Rifles were covered with mud and it was impossible to use them OC attack thought the attack was procedding Satisfactorily because he could see the Bombs Exploding. these however were fired by the Rifle Grenadiers. although my men were unable to Secure Enemy Trneches. yet in my opinion they ???? assisted the Battalion on the right to gain their objective and a large force of the Enemy was held on our front, preventing his sending reinforcements to the right. |
| MAMETZ | 25/2/17 |
The 48th Bn occupied PORK TRENCH on the night of the 24th of February
This trench had been specially reconnoitred during the previous 5 days
with a View to its Capture. The information I received was that except
for positions near N20 B.8.8. it was lightly held, an attempt was made
on the night of 22/23 but failed owing to reason given previously.
Scouts on duty might 23rd reported that Trench was very quiet until
about 8.30 when a good deal of movement was observed. I therefore
decided to send a special Officers Patrol and Bombing party out
from our line on the right between 6 pm and 8 pm with orders
to Capture the TRench up to a point beyond SUNKEN ROAD
N21a 25.65
and arranged to push forward posts to occupy immediately it was taken
Observation posts were placed at 6 pm to report Enemy flares. these were
reported until 7.45 pm from different points in the Trench, at 8.15 pm
the patrols entered the Trench and worked along accross [sic] the Sunken
ROAD. N21a 25.65. from here they advanced cautiously along Trench
nothing was seen of the Enemy by this patrol, although Post N21a 5.8
reported Enemy Patrol seen in front. Patrol worked forward to N20b.1.9
and block was placed at N20 b 4.9. just forward of BACON TRENCH
The Trench is in Splendid order and appears to have been cleaned
out recently. over 27 Dugouts some of them with double Entrances
were Counted. at least 300 men Could be accomodate. The Trench
was duckboarded in places. Flares Ammunition and Tools also
a larg quantity of Grenades were in the Trench, It gives us a
much Stronger position, and can be held with less men than the
old line. also there will now be ample Cover for the Troops.
58th BN relived the 48th Bn on the night 24/25th relief Completed 2.40 am. Battalion moved to MAMETZ BRIGADE CAMP. |
| BECOURT | 26/2/17 | Feet Inspection Carried out. Cleaning of Arms Clothing & Equipment, drying Socks Boots. |
| BECOURT | 27/2/17 | Moved to to [sic] BECOURT Camp at 10 am today. Camp very dirty. |
| BECOURT | 28/2/17 | Inspections. Physical training Bayonet Fighting Carried out |
Attached are 2 typed pages:
Battalion Operation Order No.50