{"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/35900/photo/zoom_large.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/10164/photo/zoom_640px-Illustration_of_the_German_retirement_to_the_Siegfriedstellung__Hindenburg_Line___1917_1_.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\"\u003eThe Outpost Villages - German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line\u003c/h4\u003e\n  \u003ch4 class=\"tiny-mce-heading-color\"\u003eThe Outpost Villages -  German Withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn February 1917 the Germans took the Allies by surprise by withdrawing from their front line to consolidate along the much stronger and straighter front along the Hindenberg Line.  In doing so they sought to eliminate what is known in military parlance as \"a salient\".  \"Salients\" are projections of the front line into enemy territory which leave the defender of the salient vulnerable to being outflanked and cut off, hence the German consolidation. However the speed of the process took the Allies by surprise. The Australian Divisions as part of the British 5th Army began a cautious follow up.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eWhen withdrawing in this way the absolute imperative for the withdrawing force is to achieve a 'clean break' so the withdrawal can be conducted in an orderly manner and out of contact.  This is achieved by good security and deception, concealing one's intent and then by imposing delay on the follow up force.  Defended posts, booby traps and defensive artillery fire are all used to achieve delay.  The Germans carried this out to very good effect.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e1st Bullecourt took place towards the end of this period as the Allies closed up to the Hindenburg Line of which Bullecourt was a part.  \u003ca href=\"/explore/campaigns/4\"\u003eIt is dealt with separately\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/campaigns/4)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAs part of their retreat German forces had left behind fortified towns and isolated fortified positions to slow down the Allied advance.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eButte du Warlencourt\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e - Second Division: 5th 6th and 7th Brigades.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca title=\"Loupart Bastion and Malt Trench March 1917\" href=\"https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/history/conflicts/australians-western-front/australian-remembrance-trail/bullecourt-diggerfrance-2\"\u003eLoupart Bastion and Malt Trench\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (anzacportal.dva.gov.au)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe 27th Battalion was responsible for attacking one of these isolated fortified positions near Warlencourt. As a result on the night 2/3 March 1917 the 27th Battalion attacked the German Malt Trench near the Butte du Warlencourt, a terrain feature that gave significant advantage in terms of observation.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAWM - 27th battalion \u003ca href=\"https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1343906\"\u003ewar diary\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (www.awm.gov.au)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e outlines the course of events leading up to a major attack on 2 March.  It is paraphrased here:\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe 27th Battalion went into the line near Warlencourt on 27 February 1917, relieving the 24th Battalion (Victoria) as part of the follow up of the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIts major operation there took place on 2 March which consisted of an attack towards a German defensive position (Malt Trench) and an attempt to link up with the 17th Battalion of the 5\u003csup\u003eth\u003c/sup\u003e Brigade on their right flank.  The assault was flanked and 'turned' by the Germans but a 27th Battalion counterattack was organised and executed successfully by Captain Devonshire and led by Lieutenant Davies securing the Grevilliers line of some 500m of trench.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe sum total of casualties was significant:\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e3 officers,\u003ca href=\"/explore/people/114945\"\u003e Lieutenants Botten\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/people/114945)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"/explore/people/83885\"\u003eLucas \u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/people/83885)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003eand \u003ca href=\"/explore/people/257035\"\u003eCaldwell \u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/people/257035)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003ewere KIA and Captain Joyce MC severely wounded.  22 OR were killed and 95 wounded.   Many of thse killed were interred in the \u003ca href=\"/explore/cemeteries/28\"\u003eWarlancourt British Cemetery\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/cemeteries/28)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe Battalion war diary reports 60 enemy killed and 29 PoW taken.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Outpost\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eVillages - Noreuil - \u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eFourth Division, 4th 12th and 13th Brigades\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eSouth west of Bullecourt lies the small sleepy village of Noreuil.  It lies in low ground and its approaches are marked by a series of 'sunken roads' which feature prominently in descriptions of the fighting there in early April as the Allies had closed up to it and its neighbouring villages.  These were all so-called \"Outpost Villages\" which were fortified and defended positions  prepared by the Germans on the approaches to the Hindenburg Line.  \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe 50th and 51st Battalions attacked Norueil on the 2nd April 1917, with the other Battalions (the 49th and 52nd) of the 13th Brigade in Reserve.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe battle on the 2nd of April was not only carried out in Noreuil, but other Divisions took part and it resulted in the capture of several villages. Noreuil is a village lying some miles north-east of Bapaume. In front and to the south of the village ran a low ridge almost east and west of the village of Queant is a valley – a dismantled railway track ran along this valley. On the north of the village and valley is a plateau running away to the north towards Bullecourt and the Hindenberg Line. Longatte is almost a mile to the west, slightly north of of Noreuil. Lagnicourt was less than a mile to the south-east of Noreuil, and just behind the ridge about three miles to the south-west lay Vaulx. Our outpost line through Lagnicourt on the east, along the reserve slope or crest of the ridge in front of Noreuil, around Longatte, and then north-west to Arras. The village of Noreuil formed a slight salient into our line.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Germans were slowly falling back upon the Hindenberg Line, destroying villages, etc., as they went. They defended their line by a system of rearguards and outposts, comprised of their best troops. Most of Noreuil had been destroyed or mined. Its evacuation was forestalled, by our attack, for twelve days. The Germans defended Noreuil with the 119th and 120th Regiments (3rd Guard Division). The village was very strongly held on the western side and by fortified, sunken roads on the south and eastern side. The German line ran along the southern ridge. This was protected by a belt of wire which could not be seen from the top of the ridge owing to the convex slope. The supports were in the sunken roads to the north and west of the village.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe action at Noreuil earned Private Jorgen Jensen a VC for his action in capturing 60 or so German prisoners.  However the attack took a particularly heavy toll of the Battalion's young officers, many of whom were veterans of the Gallipoli campaign where many had served in the ranks, being subsequently commissioned as a result of their performance under fire, and observed leadeship qualities.  \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"/explore/people/243533\"\u003eHarold Armitage\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/people/243533)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"/explore/people/242303\"\u003eWilfred Bidstrup\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/people/242303)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"/explore/people/290002\"\u003eBill Hoggarth\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/people/290002)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"/explore/people/173634\"\u003eWilfrid Jose\u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/people/173634)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"/explore/people/98366\"\u003eEsson Rule \u003cspan class=\"link-domain\"\u003e (/explore/people/98366)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eA full description of the battle is contained in the attached narrative;  the full letter by Major Harry Seager to Harold Armitage's father describing the circumstances of his son’s death at Noreuil on 2 April 1917.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLagnicourt\u003c/strong\u003e - work in progress\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBapaume\u003c/strong\u003e - work in progress\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eCompiled by Steve Larkins 2013\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n"}