9th December 1915

A one-piece cylindrical flechette (aerial dart) with pointed tip - essentially a short steel

rod with a sharp point at one end, & a twisted fin at the other, dropped from aeroplanes or

airships in great numbers.  According to Major Hughes, Shell Green suffered such a dart

bombardment on the 9th December (below).

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - RELAWM03827]

Thursday 9th Dec

I apportioned the items overordered by the different Units & in the afternoon issued the Headquarters stores. There was a good deal of shelling to-day.

[Courtesy of State Library of New South Wales - William Sparkes diary]

9

(Captain Alan Percy Crisp, temporary O/C 7^th Battery)

The Battery did not fire.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - Official unit war diary, 7th Battery]

9.12.15

(Major Francis Augustus Hughes, temporary O/C 3rd Field Artillery Brigade)

0900 Enemy working party on GUN RIDGE fired on by 8th Bty.

1045 Enemy gunffrom OLIVE GROVE unlocated fired towards beach.  9th Battery retaliated, one round, presumably from OLIVE GROVE was fired at Grafton.

1055 Enemy gun from direction left of ANDERSONS KNOLL fired a few rounds on our Right Flank.

1105 8th Bty registered on Anti-Aircraft Gun Square 68-M-4-7 reported by 3rd Bttn.

1200 Unlocated enemy guns from OLIVE GROVE fired a number of rounds in quick succession towards beach.

1325 8th Bty fired on enemy working party at Square 68-W-1.

1435 H.M.S.Grafton commenced a series at enemy trenches on HARRIS RIDGE spotting being done by F.C.O. at CHATHAMS POST.  Most of the rounds were over the Ridge but about six effective rounds were got in.

1455 Enemy gun from Square 47-M fired at H.M.S.Grafton.  After this gun fired two rounds a gun from OLIVE GROVE fired at the Grafton.

1500 Another enemy working party on GUN RIDGE.  Engaged by 8th Bty.

1520 Three enemy guns from the Northern Section of WINE GLASS fired on 8th Bty.  Heavy, Seige and 8th Btys retaliated.

1525 A small unlocated enemy gun fired on to CHATHAMS POST.

1625 Hostile aircraft from South dropped three bimbs in vicinity of SHELL GREEN which did not explode, also some darts.  Our 12.Pr anti-aircraft gun drove off hostile biplane.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - Official unit war diary, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade]