{"html":"  \u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-images\"\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-image js-timeline-anchor timeline-anchor \"\n        style=\"background-image: url(https://digitize-vwma.s3.amazonaws.com/I/images/36930/photo/zoom_The_gaps_in_the_wire_near_Anvil_Wood_through_which_the_53rd_Battn._rushed_the_machine_gun_posts_on_Aug_31st_1918_were_death_traps__3007145787_.jpg)\"\u003e\n      \u003c/div\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-image js-timeline-anchor timeline-anchor hidden\"\n        style=\"background-image: url(https://digitize-vwma.s3.amazonaws.com/I/images/43489/photo/zoom_E03139.JPG)\"\u003e\n      \u003c/div\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-image js-timeline-anchor timeline-anchor hidden\"\n        style=\"background-image: url(https://digitize-vwma.s3.amazonaws.com/I/images/43485/photo/zoom_E03183.JPG)\"\u003e\n      \u003c/div\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-image js-timeline-anchor timeline-anchor hidden\"\n        style=\"background-image: url(https://digitize-vwma.s3.amazonaws.com/I/images/60305/photo/zoom_E03138.JPG)\"\u003e\n      \u003c/div\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-image js-timeline-anchor timeline-anchor hidden\"\n        style=\"background-image: url(https://digitize-vwma.s3.amazonaws.com/I/images/74053/photo/zoom_2nd_Somme.jpg)\"\u003e\n      \u003c/div\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-image js-timeline-anchor timeline-anchor hidden\"\n        style=\"background-image: url(https://digitize-vwma.s3.amazonaws.com/I/images/74052/photo/zoom_E03198.jpg)\"\u003e\n      \u003c/div\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-image js-timeline-anchor timeline-anchor hidden\"\n        style=\"background-image: url(https://digitize-vwma.s3.amazonaws.com/I/images/74054/photo/zoom_ART02929.JPG)\"\u003e\n      \u003c/div\u003e\n  \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-description with-image\"\u003e\n  \u003ch4 class=\"js-timeline-anchor timeline-anchor\"\u003eMont St Quentin / Peronne\u003c/h4\u003e\n  \u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"tiny-mce-heading-color\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePeronne / Mont St Quentin, France\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"perhaps the greatest military achievement of the war.....\"  General Sir Henry Rawlinson Commander British 4th Army\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/h5\u003e\r\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cspan class=\"tiny-mce-heading-color\"\u003e Background\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/h5\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThis battle was in effect the culminating point of the evolution of the Australian Corps from the rag tag militia which had stormed ashore at Gallipoli four years earlier, to a seasoned, well-trained professionally led force that had carried all before it since August 8th at the Battle of Amiens. \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eDescribed as \"…\u003cem\u003ethe greatest military achievement of the war\u003c/em\u003e\", by General Sir Henry Rawlinson, the British Commander of  the Fourth Army to which General Sir John Monash's Australian Corps belonged, this battle more than any other exemplifies the level of capability the Australians had achieved by this late stage of the war.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"tiny-mce-align-center\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"//s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/rslvwm/comfy/cms/files/files/000/001/478/original/zoom_ART02929.JPG\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003ch5 class=\"tiny-mce-align-center\"\u003eCapture of Mont St Quentin, by Fred Leist. The 2nd Australian Division crossed the Somme River on the night of 31 August, and attacked Mont St Quentin at 5 am, from the unexpected position of northwest. It was a difficult position as it was an uphill fight for the troops, across very open ground where they were vulnerable to attack from the German-held heights above.\u003cbr\u003eAWM ART02929.JPG\u003c/h5\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn complete contrast to the static and attritional nature of trench warfare, this battle was an exemplary application of manoeuvre and battle craft at platoon and company level, executed against a well sited enemy position complemented by several major terrain obstacles; namely the Somme River and the line of the Canal du Nord, which at that stage had been largely constructed but critically, not filled with water.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe Australian Corps had advanced from the vicinity of Villers-Bretonneaux and Le Hamel on the 8th-13th August.  They had advanced on the southern side of the Somme and approached the great elbow in the river at the apex of which was the town of Peronne, dominated by the heights of Mont St Quentin to the north west.  Monash had gained approval to put the 3rd Division on the northern side of the river to protect his open flank as the British III Corps advance had diverged toward Bapaume.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe senior Commander's (Rawlinson) intent had been to hold short of the formidable defences of the Mont, and to allow the British III Corps and adjacent formations to catch up and carry on the approach to the Hindenburg Line.  Monash was chafing at this approach.  He believed the AIF needed to make an indelible mark so that it played a key role in any post war negotiations, but he was running out of time and the troops in numbers needed to do it.  \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eMonash was also under political pressure from Prime Minister Hughes.  Hughes was trying to play a populist line with the Australian public, by pulling troops out of the line and sending home all the surviving 1914/15 veterans.  With reinforcements having slowed to a trickle, and no prospect of conscription to boost the flow of reinforcements, Monash's Corps was under strength by as much as 50%, and close to exhaustion, with no let-up since August the 8th.  The Australian Corps was looking at the need to disband one Battalion in each Brigade in order to consolidate available troops into viable units and sub-units.  Additional troop withdrawals would only make this equation worse.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAt the same time he (Hughes) wanted Australian battlefield achievements to stake his place at the post-war negotiating table. \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eMonash could not do both.  His capacity to make the mark he sought and his Prime Minister so desperately wanted, was being eroded with every casualty and every new demand made by Hughes to appease electors at home.  He was between the proverbial rock and a hard place.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eMonash was about to play a very high risk game. \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cspan class=\"tiny-mce-heading-color\"\u003eThe Plan\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/h5\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eTo break the dilemma he planned to attack and capture Mont St Quentin essentially off the line of march and do so before any troops were withdrawn. \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eWithout the benefit of tanks and with much of the artillery support having been re-allocated further north, he framed his plan.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe 3rd Division was already on the north bank of the Somme.  It was tasked to protect the open left flank of the impending attack by moving to clear the Bouchavesnes spur, thus securing the Corps' open (northern) flank. \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe 5th Division was to hold the southern bank and then push a force across the Somme canal and river in order to mount an attack to clear Peronne.  The holding force on the south bank, the \u003ca href=\"/explore/units/584\"\u003e15th Brigade,\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/584)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e led by the redoubtable Brigadier \u003ca href=\"/explore/people/242100\"\u003ePompey Elliot,\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/people/242100)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e was to then to undertake an assault crossing of the river directly into Peronne. \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe 4th Division was to be the Corps Reserve behind the 2nd Division.  The 1st Division was held in depth.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eMonash briefed his plan to a sceptical Rawlinson who, under considerable pressure from Monash, and very aware that his subordinate had thus far achieved everything he set out to do, relented and let Monash proceed to execution.  The die was cast.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"tiny-mce-align-center\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"//s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/rslvwm/comfy/cms/files/files/000/001/476/original/Mont_St_Quentin_Scheme_of_Manouevre_2.png\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003ch5 class=\"tiny-mce-align-center\"\u003eThis map illustrates the general scheme of manoeuvre planned by Monash's staff.  The northernmost red arrow is the 3rd Division, securing the left flank to the east of the line of the Canal du Nord (which, importantly, had not been completed and filled with water at that time).   The 2nd Division is the red arrow through the centreline, having crossed the Somme further to the east.   They went on to capture the Mont after the 5th Brigade had initially been driven off the summit.   The 8th and 14th Brigades of the 5th Division crossed the Somme near Clery before attacking across the flats to the north of the river into Peronne.  They were joined by the 15th Brigade which conducted an assault river crossing into Peronne from the south bank.   Image courtesy of \u003ca href=\"http://www.somme-battlefields.com/sites/www.prod/files/assets/files/depliant_bataille_mont_saint_quentin_0.pdf\"\u003eL'Historial de la Grand Guerre museum in Peronne.\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (www.somme-battlefields.com)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/h5\u003e\r\n\u003ch5 class=\"tiny-mce-align-left\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGeography\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h5\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDominant feature -\u003c/strong\u003e Mont St Quentin, 3 km north of Peronne.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e9 km from Feuillaucourt Bridge to the west where the main body of troops crossed the river. \u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eThe town of Peronne itself.\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eThe Somme river and the parallel Somme Canal were significant obstacles. \u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eThe line of the Canal du Nord, excavated but not filled with water was also a key feature.\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLocation of Enemy Troops\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e(at the start of the battle)\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e The enemy occupied a series of trench systems including \u003cem\u003eGottlieb\u003c/em\u003e trench on the shoulder of the hill, and ‘\u003cem\u003eBrasso’\u003c/em\u003e redoubt on the slopes to the west. Trenchlines contoured the slopes and ran down across the flats to the Somme.  \u003cem\u003eElsa\u003c/em\u003e trench lay along the line of the Feuillacourt / Bapaume road.  Mont St Quentin was the dominating feature on the whole German line forward of the Hindenburg Line and Ludendorf had sent the 2\u003csup\u003end\u003c/sup\u003e Prussian Guards Division to hold the Mont “\u003cem\u003eto the death\u003c/em\u003e”.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLocation or direction of approach of Australian troops\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e(at the start of the battle)\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eThe Australian Corps had advanced on the south bank of the Somme until the 'big bend' was in view. \u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eA critical factor was that the Australians were well under established strength; some Companies were less than half their normal strength due to losses that had not been replaced\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eMonash had earlier sought permission for the 3rd Division to cross the river (the Corps Boundary) to the north side to cover the Corps flank.  It was tasked to progressively secure the Bouchavesnes spur and village north west of the line of the Canal du Nord from 31 August.\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eThe 5th Division was to hold fast while the 2nd Division doubled back and crossed the Somme at Feuillieres 9km downstream.\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e2nd Division was to attack from the west / north west.\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eOn the night of 31 August 1918, 2 Div troops crossed the Somme using improvised bridging at Feuilleres and, following an artillery barrage that commenced at 05:00am, attacked Mont St Quentin from the north west. \u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e5 Div were tasked with the capture of Peronne to the south.  With the 15th Brigade remaining on the southern bank the remainder of the Division backtracked to Clery sur Somme and crossed the river again using improvised bridging.  The 4th and 1st Divisions were in Reserve. \u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBattlefield landmarks\u003c/strong\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eThe Mont (with quarry / crater at its summit)\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eThe town of Peronne\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eThe Bouchavesnes Ridge-line and spur\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eThe Feuillacourt bridge on the Peronne / Bapaume road\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eThe Somme river  and canal, and the line of the Canal du Nord (empty of water at the time)\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eThe towns of Clery and Halle\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cspan class=\"tiny-mce-heading-color\"\u003eThe Battle\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/h5\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe 3rd Division had largely secured the open northern flank over the period 30/31 August.  Although the 33rd Battalion only held part of their objective, a concerted effort was made, the spur was secured, and the left flank of the troops attacking Mont St Quentin was secured.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eOn the night of 31 August 1918, the Australian troops crossed the Somme and following an artillery barrage that commenced at 05:00, attacked Mont St Quentin from the north west. The 5th Bde formed up along the line of the Canal du Nord.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the infantry assault, Australian soldiers had to fight uphill across open ground where they were vulnerable to attack from the German-held heights above. \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe 17th Battalion headed up the \u003cem\u003eBrasso\u003c/em\u003e Redoubt, and climbed towards \u003cem\u003eGottlieb\u003c/em\u003e Trench.  They encountered the enemy almost immediately and charged their posts, yelling at the top of their voices.  The demoralised Germans, fearing they were being attacked by a superior force, surrendered in large numbers.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe 20th Battalion moved up to make a bayonet charge and captured the \u003cem\u003eGottlieb\u003c/em\u003e trench.  As the Australians reached the summit, large numbers of German soldiers were sent fleeing down the slopes. \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eBy 07:00 the troops had occupied the village of Mont St Quentin and the slope and summit of the hill.  However, the small size of their forces meant that their hold on the position was tenuous.  The reserve element of the 2nd German Guards Division, counterattacked and drove the Australians from the summit to positions just below it including the Elsa trench along the approximate line of the Feuillacourt Road.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn the rear, the 19th Battalion crossed the Somme at the Clery bridge, which Australian engineers had saved and repaired despite enemy barrages.   \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eOn 1 September, the \u003ca href=\"/explore/units/54\"\u003e6th Brigade\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/54)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e (\u003ca href=\"/explore/units/49\"\u003e21st,\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/49)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"/explore/units/299\"\u003e22nd,\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/299)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"/explore/units/315\"\u003e23rd\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/315)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"/explore/units/75\"\u003e24th Battalions\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/75)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e) took the summit on their second attempt, with fighting particularly heavy around the quarry where \u003ca href=\"/explore/people/270263\"\u003eTowner\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/people/270263)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"/explore/people/116427\"\u003eLowerson\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/people/116427)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e were to win their VCs. \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"tiny-mce-align-center\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"//s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/rslvwm/comfy/cms/files/files/000/001/473/original/AWM_EO3198.jpg\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003ch5 class=\"tiny-mce-align-center\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"/explore/people/76714\"\u003eCaptain James Sullivan MC and Bar MM,\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/people/76714)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e Officer Commanding A Company, 21st Battalion, in Elsa Trench with some of his men, immediately before going out to participate in the attack on Mont St Quentin, at 1.30 pm, on 1 September 1918. It was with this renewed assault that the enemy resistance was broken and the whole position of Mont St Quentin won.  Capt Sullivan was killed in the final AIF attack of the war at Montbehain four weeks later.\u003c/h5\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"/explore/units/803\"\u003e14th Brigade\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/803)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e of the 5th Division (\u003ca href=\"/explore/units/94\"\u003e53rd,\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/94)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"/explore/units/323\"\u003e54th,\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/323)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"/explore/units/350\"\u003e55th\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/350)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"/explore/units/205\"\u003e56th Battalions\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/205)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e) captured the woods north of Peronne and, after pressing on during a short-lived German counter attack, took the main part of Peronne.  An attempt to pass the northern side of the town was stopped by heavy fire from the ramparts. \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"tiny-mce-align-center\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"//s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/rslvwm/comfy/cms/files/files/000/001/474/original/E03183.JPG\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003ch5 class=\"tiny-mce-align-center\"\u003eSoldiers from a machine-gun position established in the fighting in the ruins of Péronne, photographed on 2 September 1918.\" AWME03183 An Australian Lewis gun detachment cover a street in Peronne after the 5th Division captured it on 2/3 September 1918. Two of the men appear to be holding Mills bomb grenades.\u003c/h5\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eOn 2 September the \u003ca href=\"/explore/units/233\"\u003e7th Brigade\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/233)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e (\u003ca href=\"/explore/units/187\"\u003e25th,\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/187)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"/explore/units/313\"\u003e26th,\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/313)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"/explore/units/2\"\u003e27th\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/2)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"/explore/units/127\"\u003e28th Battalions\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/127)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e) drove through beyond the mount, the 15th Brigade (\u003ca href=\"/explore/units/263\"\u003e57th,\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/263)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"/explore/units/216\"\u003e58th,\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/216)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"/explore/units/321\"\u003e59th\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/321)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"/explore/units/86\"\u003e60th Battalions\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/units/86)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e) seized the remainder of Peronne and the 3rd Division advanced on the northern flank. \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eBy the evening of the 3 September, the Australians held Peronne.  They captured Flamicourt the next day and then advanced three kilometres to the east on the 5th\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cspan class=\"tiny-mce-heading-color\"\u003eSummary and Conclusion\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/h5\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"tiny-mce-body-color\"\u003eThis battle represented the culminating point of the Australian Corps on the Western Front.  A deliberate Corps attack off the line of march, it was executed with amazing speed.  The Battle procedure involved - adjusting the initial plan and then manouevring the three key Divisions into position across a major terrain obstacle and in the final stages under observation and fire from the enemy - is an undertaking of a scale that the Australian Army has not done before or since.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"tiny-mce-body-color\"\u003eSome commentators, who appear determined to be-little the achievement or undermine Monash, have made various observations that are trite and fail to grasp the complexity of the operation.  Some have declared that the German Army was in effect collapsing at this point,  overlook the fact that it was still operating effectively along the line of the Front and inflicting grievous casualties on the advancing Allies.  The Americans for example sustained 53,000 killed in little more than six months in this last phase of the war.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe AIF itself was nearing the point of exhaustion.  Grossly under strengh and well under the 3:1 ratio of attackers to defenders that normally predicate success in attack, they still managed to wrest control of the objective from the enemy with no tanks or the level of artillery support they had enjoyed in early August.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eSome criticise Monash for not 'directing the attacks' of the Brigades and Battalions.  He was the Corps Commander and once battle had been joined his capacity to influence the outcome other than by positioning resources to afford the best chance of success, his role at 'the sharp end' was necessarily limited by the fact that he had three Divisions all in close contact with the enemy.  The fighting was conducted at Platoon and Company level and the gains were hard won.  As always, audacious and determined action by a few individuals often inspired their comrades at critical times.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"tiny-mce-body-color\"\u003eThe fact that the 5th Brigade was forced off the Mont on the first day by German counter-attacks, or the fact that the 6th Brigade needed two attempts to wrest the objective from the enemy do not signify failure or demean the level of accomplishment as is inferrred by some.  Rather it exemplfies the depth in attack they were able to generate, and dogged adherence to their aim, despite low numbers and further casualties.  Further, the determination with which it was carried was emblematic of what experienced, well trained, well led and highly motivated troops can achieve.  Resilience was, as was so often the case, exemplified by the capacity of Privates and Corporals to step up and assume tactical command when more senior leaders became casualties.  This in an Army that had been rank amateurs just three and a half years previously when landed on Gallipoli's fatal shore.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"tiny-mce-body-color\"\u003eExperienced soldiers and leaders,  when familiarised with the detail of this battle are generally in awe of the men at all levels who delivered this result.  And so they should be.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIt came at a cost though, and the AIF's capacity to continue was being run down.  Just one month later it would fight its last battle, having breached the Hindenburg Line, at Montbrehain, so closing a tract of history that made an enduring indelible mark on Australian society and its national identity.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cspan class=\"tiny-mce-heading-color\"\u003ePostscript\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/h5\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn recent years it has been established that many of the remarkable images by originally unatributed photographers, were in fact captured by the redoubtable \u003ca href=\"/explore/people/48560\"\u003eCaptain George Hubert Wilkins MC*. \u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/people/48560)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThis battle formed the basis of the very popular dioramas that became a feature of the Australian War Memorial.  Executed by Charles Web-Gilbert, he was also responsible for a number of public sculptures including the somewhat controversial original 2 Division Memorial, depicting a hatless Australian soldier bayonetting the German eagle (removed and destroyed by the invading Germans in 1940), \u003ca href=\"https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/ww1/display/20542-broken-hill-and-district-war-memorial\"\u003e\"the bomber\" in Broken Hill\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (monumentaustralia.org.au)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e, and the \u003ca href=\"/explore/memorials/795\"\u003eRose Park Memorial in Adelaide\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/memorials/795)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e.  The twice life size figure of the latter is derived from one that features in the Mont St Quentin diorama at the AWM.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA total of eight Victoria Crosses were awarded\u003c/strong\u003e in this battle and its immediate aftermath\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"/explore/people/141860\"\u003ePrivate George Cartwright 33rdBattalion \u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/people/141860)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e (securing the northern bank of the Somme) \u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"/explore/people/116427\"\u003eSergeant Albert Lowerson, 21st Battalion\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/people/116427)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e (the summit of the Mont)\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"/explore/people/268262\"\u003ePrivate Robert Mactier (KIA), 23rd Battalion\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/people/268262)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e (approaches)\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"/explore/people/270263\"\u003eLieutenant Edgar Towner, 2nd MG Battalion\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/people/270263)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e (summit) \u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"/explore/people/149857\"\u003eCorporal Arthur Hall, 5th Battalion\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/people/149857)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e (Peronne)\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"/explore/people/339753\"\u003eCorporal Alexander Buckley, 54th Battalion\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/people/339753)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e (Peronne)\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"/explore/people/293074\"\u003ePrivate William Currey, 53rd Battalion\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/people/293074)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e (Peronne)\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"/explore/people/164298\"\u003eLance Corporal Lawrence Weathers, 43rd Battalion\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/people/164298)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e (north of Peronne).  LCPL Weathers Died of Wounds in another engagement just three weeks later.\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eBased on original work by an esteemed colleague, the late Lieutenant Colonel Peter Morrissey, 2008\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eCompiled edited and added to by Steve Larkins July 2013\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eEdited expanded and updated Aug 2018\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n"}