Our Great Hearted Men

by Peter Brune

  aerial mapping, problems after first day at Amiens 166

  aerial photography and spotting (late 1917) 39–40

  aerial photos, improvements in 59; for maps of German defences 143; in Sep 277

  aerial reconnaissance aircraft, losses 60

  aeroplanes, in 1914 57; at Amiens 135; noise used to conceal sound of tank engines 202–3; replacing cavalry for reconnaissance 58–9

  The Age newspaper (Melbourne), Murdoch works for 75–6

  AIF, decisions by Hughes 299–300; desire for unification of five divisions 85; rapidly diminishing resource by end Aug 215–16

  air superiority, challenge for RFC 61–2

  aircraft patrolling, low-level 61

  Aisne, River 23, 269

  Aisne, Second Battle of (Apr 1917) 10

  Aizecourt-le-Haut 254

  Albatros fighter (German) 61

  Albert, AIF at 23; Fourth Army advances to 196

  Albert-Arras railway 196

  Allaines 255

  Allen, Capt (17 Btn) 253

  Allenby, Gen Sir Edmund, at the Somme 33

  American Expeditionary Force 11

  American II Corps, attack Albert (22 Aug) 267; offered to Monash 315

  American inadequacies in field (27, 29 Sep) 325, 326–7, 332, 335, 336, 342

  Amiens 19, 23

  Amiens, 9–11 August 1918 (map) 188

  Amiens, guns at 42; Monash’s objectives at 133; tanks at 140–41

  Amiens, Battle of 132–61; as crushing Fourth Army victory 192; last two days on southern front 184; preparations for 129–32

  Amiens offensive, Phases 137–8

  Amiens–Péronne Road (Roman Road) 133

  Amiens–St Quentin Road 183

  ammunition, carried by tanks and men 117; problems keeping up supply 165; supplied for Amiens 143; used by BEF artillery in Operation Michael 21

  ammunition wagons, noise reduction in 146

  Ancre, Battle of (13–14 Nov 1916), disaster for tanks at 49

  Ancre, River 132

  Andrews, Alf, killed (3 Sep) 261

  Andrews, Eric, on Bean 379; on British disorganisation 101

  Anvil Wood 244

  Anzac Army, formation (May 1916) 85

  ‘Anzac Leave’, Hughes decides on (Sep) 299–300; proposed by Pearce (29 May 1917) 299; shipping found 300

  Armitage, Gnr James 119–20, 148–50, 151–2, 208–9, 217–18, 341–2, 351, 370–72

  armoured cars, at Amiens 155–7, 163–4

  Army Council, receives telegraph from Australia and replies (30 Jul) 87–8; suggests to Haig that reduction of bde btns be done asap (29 Aug) 298

  Arras 4, 10, 19, 22, 196

  Arras, Battle of, 106 fuse first used 37–8; tanks at 50

  Arras-Cambrai front, breach of ‘Winter Line’ 268

  artillery, advances at Amiens 143–4; bombardment prior to the Somme 35–6; German barrage in Operation Michael 6; improvements after the Somme 36–7; intensity and accuracy 290; objectives at Hindenburg Main Line 322; plans for 18 Sep offensive 277; preparation for 23 Aug attack 203; problems with shells (1916) 33; production 21–2; resources at Hindenburg Main Line 323; sophistication by 1918 44; support for infantry-tank operations 52; transport problems with 220

  artillery barrage, absence on 9 Aug 172

  artillery boards 41, 120

  artillery bombardment (4-day) of Hindenburg Main Line 322, 323

  artillery duel, Great War as 30

  artillery support, for 14 Bde at Péronne 250; at Mont St Quentin 237–8; for capture of Mont St Quentin and Péronne 217–18; importance for Hindenburg Line crossing 316–17

  Artillery’s Astrologers, Peter Chasseaud, on artillery accuracy 277

  Ashmead-Bartlett (British journalist) 77–8

  Atack, Lt, pros and cons of tanks 124–5

  attacks by BEF, characteristics of 199

  Aubigny 170

  Australian Corps, at Amiens 132–3, 140; casualties and captures (8 Aug–5 Oct) 365; in Fourth Army offensive (18 Sep) 276; guns at Amiens 142; message from Monash to 148; Monash holds conferences (25–26 Sep) 321–2; pursuit from Péronne (5 Sep) 272, 274; sector of Hindenburg Line to attack 270; strength (Sep) 280; striking victories in battles 31 Aug–3 Sep 262–3; to thrust south of the Somme (23 Aug) 201; on western bank of R. Somme (29 Aug) 220

  The Australian Corps – Ground Captured (map) 367

  Australian Corps engineers, work done by (1 Sep) 254

  Australian Corps Mission, created 319–20

  Australian Corps (proposed), staffing by Australians 87

  Australian divisions, at Ypres (Sep–Oct 1917) 43; desire by Britain to control 86

  Australian Flying Corps (AFC), No. 3 Squadron, difficulties with observations 325–6; key role in artillery plans for 18 Sep 277

  Australian Flying Corps Official Historian, allied advance on Hindenburg Line 274; on Battle of Hamel 126; on contact patrols 144–5

  Australian Government, approves Birdwood’s proposals for Australian Corps 90

  Australian Intelligence Corps (Vic Section), Lt-Col Monash commands (1908) 82

  Australian troops, characteristics of 380; to winter in France 299–300

  The Australian Victories in France in 1918, Sir John Monash, Canadians at Amiens 158; performance of Divisional Commanders 265–6; on Phase A of Amiens 137

  Australian War Memorial, Bean major advocate for 381

  aviation (military), German funding for 57–8

  Bapaume 4, 196, 201, 267–8

  Barleux 227

  battalions, disbandment of 297–8, 300–301

  Battle of Amiens, 8 August 1918 (map) 134

  Battle of Amiens see Amiens, Battle of

  Battle Tactics of the Western Front, Paddy Griffith, drawing and painting as war analogy 26; on phone cables 64

  Bayonvillers, 13 Btn at 166

  Bean, Charles (C E W) 6–7, 13, 14–15; on 1 Div (AIF) attack (23 Aug) 205–6; 1 Div dispenses with artillery barrage 172; activities and later life 379–82; American task (27 Sep) 324; background 72–5; clouded judgment of 98; conflict between 12 Bde (AIF) and 1 Div (British) orders 293; diminishing strength of 5 Bde 2 Div 215–16; Dyson’s view of White 91; flawed briefing of Murdoch 93, 94; great strain on British troops 293; Haig’s attitude after fall of Mont St Quentin and Péronne 268; Haig’s misplaced faith in cavalry 163–4; inaccurate criticisms of Monash 98; inaccurate information by 1 Div (British) commander 293–4; intrigues by 90–91; letter to White 96; letter to White in full (28 Jun) 406–410; mis-assessment of White and Monash 93, 94; on Monash 358–9; Monash and Blamey interpret events differently (29 Sep) 339; Monash’s command in Hindenburg Line attack 295–6; on Monash’s plans for Mont St Quentin and Péronne 264–5; no record of 1 and 2 Div timing 182; poor visibility in advance and creeping barrage 197–8; shortcomings of American army 337; toll taken on 3 Div at Cléry 233–4; tribute to soldiers of First AIF 381–2; on use of guns at Amiens 142

  Bean, Charles, Official History, Australian Corps casualties (31 Aug–2 Sep) 262; men’s opinions of Monash 357; reasons for heavy casualties (9–11 Aug 18) 187, 189; two incidents of mutiny (Sep) 306

  Bean, Charles, Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–18, praise for 381

  Bean, Charles, On the Wool Track (1910) 74, 75, 99

  Bean, Charles, The Dreadnought of the Darling (1911) 74, 75, 99

  Bearer Sub-Division, 15 Field Ambulance 335

  Beaucourt 196

  Beaurevoir Line 315, 319

  BEF Field and Heavy Artillery, classification 395–6

  Bellenglise 318, 323

  Bellicourt 318, 323

  Bellicourt–Bony Line 315

  Bellicourt–Vendhuile tunnel, dimensions 322

  Below, General Otto von 4, 6

  Benjamin Post trench system 337

  Biaches 227, 229

  ‘Big Willie’ tank prototype (2 Feb 1916) 46

  Birdwood, Gen William (‘Birdy’), advocates delay in btn r
eduction 298–9; appointed Commander, Fifth Army (May) 89; assessment of Foch’s Montdidier plan 129; background and Old Cliftonian 71, 73; Haig’s distrust of 86; retains command of First AIF 99; threatened by Hughes if troops not withdrawn from front by 15 Oct 300

  Birkett, Gnr, wounded at Hamel 122

  ‘bite and hold’ concept 34–5

  ‘bite and hold’ operation, at Amiens 161; on ‘Hamel Spur’ 103–4

  ‘bite and hold’ strategy, Rawlinson happy with 211

  Blamey, Brig-Gen Thomas, appointed Chief of Staff (May) 90; describes Monash’s Amiens planning 136; disagrees with Hamel plan 109; has spirited discussion with Gellibrand 339–40; Monash’s assessment of 102

  Blangy-Sur-Ternoise 57

  Blue Cross gas 261

  Bonar Law, Murdoch meets 78

  Bond, L/Cpl, wounded at Hamel 122

  Bony 323, 346; German infantry evacuating 349

  Bony Point 351

  Bouchavesnes Spur 221–2, 230, 233, 263, 265; importance to German defences 228

  Bourne, J M, casualties in commander ranks 65; vilification of Western Front generals 62

  Bourne, J M, Australian Army History Conference (1998), Monash’s personal qualities 357

  Braithwaite, Lt-Gen Sir Walter, British IX Corps joins Fourth Army 276; error of judgement by 292; too great expectations of 294–5

  Brasy–Friscourt Road, cavalry charge along 199

  Bray 197, 200, 207; captured (24 Aug) 208, 233

  Bray–Corbie Road 183, 200

  break-in, at Amiens (8 Aug 18) 185; in Battle of Amiens 158; to German perimeter 66

  break-out, into mobile warfare 66

  Brewery Farm, Querrieu, Australian correspondents’ HQ 91

  Briand, Premier 10

  Brickworks 258

  bridge crossings of R. Somme 221

  bridges on Omiécourt-Brie front covered or destroyed 232

  Brie 220, 227; R. Somme bridge at 221, 232

  Bristol F.2b fighter (British) 61

  British Army, strength in mid-1916 33

  British Expeditionary Force (BEF) 2, 4, 16–17, 19; ammunition use in Operation Michael 21; casualties at the Somme (1 Jul 1916) 32; expansion 28; perceived as ‘Imperial Army’ (May 1916) 85

  British Logistics on the Western Front, Ian Brown, achievements by Aug 219

  British Regular Army, numbers (1914) 26–7

  Broodseinde Ridge 43; Monash and 3 Div at 83–4

  Brook, Col David, RAA (Retd), on ammunition 32; learning in battle 28–9

  Brosse Wood 283

  Brown, Ian, logistics of BEF 21–2; Staff College limitations 27–8

  Brown, Ian, British Logistics on the Western Front, achievements by Aug 219

  Browne, D G, The Tank in Action 45

  Bruchmüller, Oberst (Col) Georg 6, 7, 18; use of predicted fire by 43–4

  Bullecourt, First AIF casualties at (1917) 70; tanks at 50–51

  bush soldier image (Bean) 379

  Bussu 254

  Butler, Lt-Gen, ability to command III Corps questioned 160; at Amiens 132, 133, 168–9; in Fourth Army offensive (18 Sep) 276; requests relief support for attack on 21 Sep 309–310; on sick leave 183

  Byng, Gen 17; advocates attack on Hindenburg Line 275; Third Army line 192, 194; Third Army to advance on Bapaume (Aug) 196; Third Army to attack Hindenburg Line 275–6

  Byrnes, Les (3 Sep) 261

  Cabaret Farm 346

  Cabaret Wood Farm 347

  cable (buried), phone communication by 63–5

  Cambrai 6, 7, 314

  Cambrai, Battle of (20 Nov–7 Dec 1917) 43–4, 54–5; casualties 12; tanks at 54–5

  cameras, improvements for aerial photos 59

  Canadian Corps, accomplishments under Currie match those of Australians under Monash 361; advance on 9 Aug 18 168; breaks through Drocourt-Quéant switch line (2 Sep) 268; deployment at Amiens 135, 158–9; timing problems (9 Aug 18) 170–71

  Canadian divisions, at Amiens 133

  canal crossing, innovative plan for (29 Sep) 329

  Canal du Nord 221, 232, 247, 260

  Cannan, Brig-Gen, advised to employ strong patrolling (29 Sep) 339; at Hindenburg Line (29 Sep) 337; thrust to Bony Ridge (30 Sep) 348

  Caporetto 6

  captured maps 324

  Carlyon, Les, The Great War, attitudes to Mont St Quentin and Péronne 264

  Carson, Sir Edward, Murdoch meets 78

  casualties, in First AIF 70

  casualties see also losses

  casualties and captures, at Amiens (8 Aug) 158

  cavalry, attempted break-through (22 Aug) 199; redundancy of for break-out 66

  Central Workshops for tanks 56

  Cerisy Valley 150; 15 Btn at 166

  chain of command, problems after 8 Aug 168

  Chair Wood, seized (4 Sep) 260

  Chalk Pit position, captured (22 Aug) 200

  Chapman, Capt (5 Div AIF), evaluates captured Hindenburg Line intelligence 271

  characteristics of AIF soldiers 380

  Chasseaud, Peter, Artillery’s Astrologers, on artillery accuracy 277

  Chaulnes 170, 178

  Chauvel, Gen, compared with Monash 363

  Chief of General Staff (Melbourne), replies to Army Council’s refusal to support AIF requests 88

  Chipilly Spur, at Amiens 133; German guns at 151; III Corps failure to capture 159–60; Monash’s concerns about 147; taken (10 Aug) 183

  Chuignes 201, 202; smokescreen around (23 Aug) 203

  Chuignes Ridge 205

  Chuignolles 169, 201, 205

  Chuignolles Wood 203

  Churchill, Winston, and tanks 46; on timing of supplies 269

  Clarkson, Len, at Amiens (8 Aug 18) 154–5; deaths at Mont St Quentin 262; fighting German rearguard action (28 Aug) 212; letter to father on rum (24 Sep) 372; letters home (25 & 30 Dec) 374; letters to parents (12 & 23 Oct) 373; war and later life 372–4; wounded and evacuated (30 Sep) 344–5

  Clemenceau, George 11, 22

  Cléry 220, 230, 232; 3 Div clears (30 Aug) 234; bridgework at 254; German defences at 233

  Cléry Copse 234, 236, 245

  Clifton College (Bean’s school in England) 73

  Coffman, Edward M, intense fighting along Outpost Line (27 Sep) 324–5

  Cologne, River 221, 250, 270

  Command on the Western Front, Robin Prior and Trevor Wilson 33–4; comments on Rawlinson 131, 160;condition of Fourth Army troops by 11 Aug 185; on counter-battery programme 191; evaluation of Hamel 132; inadequacy of barrages 291; on interlocking arms 145; scathing criticism of Americans by Rawlinson and Monash (29 Sep) 342

  commanders, casualty rates 65

  communication problems, in American attack (27 Sep) 325

  communications, breakdown on 9 Aug 181; by buried cable 63–5; difficulties on 9 Aug 170–73; effects of lack of 62–3; ground-to-air 60–61; problems after 8 Aug 167–8

  ‘concentration of force’ Principle of War 139

  conference method of Monash 114–15

  conscription referendums, instigated by Hughes 70–71; Murdoch supports 86

  contact patrols by aircraft 144–5

  continuous wave (CW) wireless communications 168

  Cook, Joseph (Dep PM), with Hughes and Murdoch on visit to troops (Jul) 97

  Cook, Professor Tim, views on Currie 362

  coordination, difficulties on 9 Aug 170–73

  Corps engineers, duties of 230

  Corps HQ, General Officer Commanding Royal Artillery on staff 37

  counter-battery fire, at Hindenburg Main Line bombardment 323, 324; by heavy guns 142

  counter-battery programme (8 Aug) 191

  counter-battery support for infantry-tank operations 52

  Counter-Bombardment staffs 41

  Courage, Bdr-Gen Anthony 57, 104–5; acquiesces to absence of artillery barrage (9 Aug 18) 173; submits tank plan to Monash (20 Jun) 105–6

  Court of Enquiry, into 5 Div mutinies 308–9
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br />   Court Martial, 127 men tried by 310–311; judgment and sentences 312

  Cox, Gen 16

  Coxen, Bdr-Gen Walter, disagrees with Hamel plan 109; observes Monash (4 Jul 18) 119

  creeping barrages 198, 203, 205, 277, 279, 333, 346

  Curlu, 38 Btn (10 Bde) at 234

  Currie, Gen Arthur, at Amiens 133, 158–9; breaks through Drocourt-Quéant switch line (2 Sep) 268; Haig moves Canadians northwards 192; has similar approach to Monash 362; opposes extension of offensive (13 Aug) 186–7

  Cutlack, F M (Fred), on aerial photography 40; aeroplanes in 1914 57; with Bean 91; supports White as Australia Corps commander 92; on vertical aerial photos 59–60

  Dawson, Geoffrey (editor, The Times), Murdoch meets 77

  Debeney, Gen (First French Army), advance on 9 Aug 18 168

  defensive advantages of Germans at bend in R. Somme 220–22

  Degoutte, Gen Jean, at R. Marne 128

  Démuin 132

  Deputy Chief Censor, Monash appointed as (1914) 82

  Dernancourt, AIF at 23

  disbandment of Btns 297–8, 300–301

  disobeyment by men of orders to disband 302–3

  Doingt 223, 254

  Doullens conference (26 Mar) 22

  Draper, Lt C T, at Hamel and Vaire Wood 123–4

  The Dreadnought of the Darling (1911), Charles Bean 74, 75, 99

  Drocourt-Quéant switch line 268

  dummy tanks 279

  Dunlop, Lt (Tank 9385), report on operations (29 Sep) 334–5

  Dyson, Will (official AIF artist), anti-Monash views of 91

  Eastern Front 3, 6

  ‘economy of force’ Principle of War 280

  18-pounder guns at Amiens 142

  Elles, Hugh 104; Old Cliftonian 73

  Elliott, Brig-Gen ‘Pompey’ (5 Div), 15th Brigade handicaps on 9 Aug 171–2; addresses 60 Btn on mutiny (26 Sep) 303–4; attempts to cross R. Somme 251–3; meets difficulties and surmounts them (2 Sep) 259–60; orders received for disbandment of a 15th Bde Btn (24 Sep) 303; persuades men to acquiesce in Btn mergers (26 Sep) 304–5; troops take Cabaret Wood Farm 350

  Elsa Trench 248

  Elveden Camp, Norfolk 48

  engineers (Australian Corps), work done by (1 Sep) 254

  Entente, chain of command 131

  esprit de corps of battalions 301

  Estrées, attack on (29 Sep) 333

  Eterpigny, R. Somme bridge at 221

  Etherton, Lt G H, Commander, Tank 9044 121–2

  Etinehem Spur 183, 184

  ‘exemplary Australian’, Bean’s concept of 379