TranscriptBattle of Amiens: diary entry
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Page. 177
journeys shorter, and less frequent, for they can use the wires. Early morning of the 8th, we move off across to see [J]erry, and within a little while of the commencement of the attack, and while it is still in progress, I go forward with the Intelligence Officer, and the General. We find that things are progressing very favourable, and Jerry is hopelessly routed. All along the line, things are going A.1. General does not stop long, and is soon on his way back, leaving me with the Intelligence Off[icer], who leads me a dance, up and down the line. It is amusing to see Jerry running away, but I will give him his due, he puts up a bit of a scrap before he is compelled to move. Position now is, instead of our line facing due East, as it did previous to the attack, it now faces N[orth].N[orth].E[ast]., so that it has been a wheel almost, our left flank has only covered 1000 y[ar]ds, and the Div[ision]: on our left has not moved at all. The Div[ision]: on our right have an advance of roughly 5 kilo[metre]s to do, and the Aussies the other side of them have even more than that, so that if everything is satisfactory, it will be a nasty kick in the neck for Jerry. Early on, our right flank is held up in CHAPPELLY WOODS, but it is only a temporary success, for Tanks are soon up and break his back, Queens are having a great number of casualties, and our Int[elligence]: Off[icer]: takes over command of the front line. This Batt[alio]n seems to be devoid of decent officers, except for Col[onel] Bushell. Instead of the lads being spread out on their objective, they are bunched together in a trench. Captain Hayfield soon plans out their positions, and together, we post them. Whilst engaged upon this work, we watch the barrage that is covering the 12th Div[ision]: slowly advancing toward, and then we see the men that are following up. It is a good sight, more especially as we can see things (contd)
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