by Peter Brune
Fervaque Farm, Germans make ‘resolute stand’ at (18 Sep) 283
Feuchy Chapel, tanks at 50
Feuillaucourt 241, 243, 246, 247
Feuillères, 7 Btn (2 Div) to cross bridge at 244; artillery support crosses Somme at (31 Aug) 246; repaired bridge at 232; road repairs at 254
Field Artillery (BEF), accuracy 290; classification 395–6
Field Marshal, conditions for appointment as 363–4
Field Survey Battalions 41
fighter aircraft, German and British 61
firepower, improvement on Western Front 67
‘firepower not manpower’ dictum 114, 279
First AIF, casualties in 70
First AIF soldiers, possessed three advantages in 1918 380–81
First Battle of Ypres (Oct 1914), British ammunition use 31–2
Fischer, Tim, proposes Monash’s posthumous promotion to Field Marshal 355
Fischer, Tim, Maestro John Monash, advocates Monash’s promotion to Field Marshal 361–2
Fisher, PM Andrew, asks Murdoch to visit Middle East and Gallipoli 76–7; ‘collapse of mental powers’ claim by Bean 94
Flamicourt 252, 259, 260
Flamicourt Railway Station, German machine gun fortress 253
Flanders (Belgium) 314
flash spotting 38–9, 277; at Amiens after first day 165
Flers, AIF at (Nov 1916) 33
Flers-Courcelette battle, tanks at (15 Sep 1916) 48–9, 55–6
Flesquières 7
Florina Trench 250; cleared (31 Aug) 244
Foch, Marshal 11, 22–3; endorses Haig’s plan for shift in offensive (Aug) 196; Fischer tries to rank Monash alongside 362–3; Haig stands up to 187; impending offensive by Belgians 211; planned four offensives for 26–29 Sep 314; Western Front initiative in hands of 128–9
Fokker E.1 fighter (German) 61
Fort Bell 285
Fort Bull 285
Foucaucourt 201
Foucaucourt Plateau 206
Framerville 156, 169, 170
French Army, aircraft numbers (1912) 58; at Bullecourt 50; to attack Hindenburg Line 275–6
Froissy Beacon 201; captured by 3 Bde (23 Aug) 205
Froissy Valley 201
front lengths, at Broodseinde (Amiens and Third Battle of Ypres) 139
Frontal Attack, 29 August 1918 (map) 225
Fuller, Brevet-Col, on infantry-tank cooperation at Hamel 113; emphasises tank lessons 173
Fullerphone 64
Gallipoli, Keith Murdoch visits 77
Garrison Artillery, Monash commissioned (1885) 82
gas, continued use by Germans 260; on Western Front 67
Geary, Capt, killed at Amiens (8 Aug) 153
Geddes, Aubrey 124
Geddes, Corporal Clifford (13 Btn, 4 Bde, 4 Div), at Amiens (8 Aug) 152–3, 161; at Hamel 121; at visit by Hughes and Cook (Jul) 97; condition of troops (11–14 Aug) 185–6; describes deaths in trenches 127; diary (2 Jul) 118, 138; on joint training exercise at Vaux 112; sees brother wounded 124; sent to hospital (5 Sep) 216; war and later life 366, 368
Gellibrand, Maj-Gen, 337; on 29 Nov 338–9; 3 Div at Amiens 137, 138, 150; 3 Div captures Suzanne, Vaux and Curlu and moves on Cléry (29 Aug) 212; 3 Div faces problem (22 Aug) 196–7; 3 Div relieved by BEF 17 Div (12 Aug) 194; 3 Div relieves brigades (10 Aug) 183; appointed commander 3rd Division 90; argument with Monash (30 Sep) 349; attack on 30 Sep 348; praise for leadership (22 Aug) 206; at Corps conference (29 Aug) 229; Btns from 3 Div to be disbanded 300–301; good leadership by (22 Aug) 197; has spirited discussion with Blamey (29 Sep) 339–40; orders 10 Bde to attack Bouchavesnes Spur (31 Aug) 234; rapidity of troop’s attacks on German machine guns (22 Aug) 198–9; thrust to capture Bray and La Neuville Peninsula 207; to advance (31 Aug) 245
General Headquarters (GHQ), Maj-Gen Royal Artillery on staff 37
George, Operation 4
German air superiority (1915) 61
German anti-tank fire, improved 333–4
German Army, composition (1914) 29
German artillery in Lamotte-Cerisy Valley 109
German casualties at Cabaret Wood Farm 350
German casualties and captures at Amiens (8 Aug) 158
German counter-attack, at Cambrai (30 Nov 1917) 55; at Chalk Pit and ‘Happy Valley’ (22 Aug) 200; at Mont St Quentin (31 Aug) 239–41; recaptures Quarry Farm (31 Aug) 245
German defences at Ypres, depth of 67
German losses compared with British and French 69
German Machine Gun Corps at R. Somme 221
German prisoners taken at Amiens (8 Aug) 150
German skeletons, road into Bray littered with 209
German soldiers at Ypres, resilience of 67
Germans, defensive advantages at bend in R. Somme 220; fought to the death 248; pursuit eastward of (22–29 Aug) 194–214; retreat to Hindenburg Line 274; surrender to 20 Btn 241
Gheluvelt Plateau 68
Gillemont Farm 315, 320, 321; taken (29 Sep) 340
Gillemont Trench Line 338
Glasgow, Maj-Gen, 1 Div advance (9 Aug) 169; 7 and 8 Btns advance to Lihons 176; appointed commander 1 Div 90; at Villers-Bretonneux (8 Aug) 170–71; communication problems (9 Aug) 170; ordered by Monash to undertake relief for III Corps attack 310; praise for leadership (23 Aug) 206; wants tougher mutiny penalties 311, 312
Glisy aerodrome 203
Goddard, Brig-Gen 337; 9 Bde unable to arrive on time (30 Sep) 348
Gott Mit Uns Trench 250
Gottlieb Trench 247
Gough, Gen Sir Hubert 17–18, 22, 50
Gouy 339
Grand Priel Wood 283
The Great War Generals, Robin Neillands, on plan for Passchendaele 67, 68
The Great War, Les Carlyon, attitudes to Mont St Quentin and Péronne 264
Griffith, Paddy, Battle Tactics of the Western Front 26; on phone cables 64
ground-to-air communications 60–61
gun areas, problems in allocation 165
Gun Programmes 42
guns, noise reduction during transport 146; problems with physical movement 164–5
Haig, Field Marshal Douglas, 9, 10, 12–15, 16–19 passim 22, 33, 36, 136, 137; advises against independent control by AIF 88–9; advocates more aggressive tactics (22 Aug) 209–210; approves Rawlinson’s Hindenburg Line plan (13 Sep) 275; changes Rawlinson’s plans for Amiens 162–3; desire for break-out into mobile warfare 65–9 passim; fixation on cavalry 162; grants Monash two weeks delay in Hindenburg Line assault 305; ignorance of military and political masters 269; moves BEF offensive northwards 192, 194; Old Cliftonian 73; planned four offensives for 26–29 Sep 314; plans three-phase operation (Aug) 196; postpones offensive (14 Aug) 187; restructures British Army due to losses 297
Halle 221, 223, 229, 232, 244
Hallu 182
Ham 4
Hamel, 4 July 1918 (map) 107
Hamel, 3rd Bde at (9 Aug) 170; as combined infantry-tank-artillery battle 110; first barrage (4 Jul) 120; as objective 103–4; tank plan for 105–6
Hamel, Battle of, air support at 126–7; casualties 127
‘Hamel Spur’, German occupation of 104
Hamel Village, as objective 106, 108
Hamel Wood, as objective 104, 106
Hamilton, Sir Ian 77, 78
Hamilton, Snow, treated for influenza 371
hand-to-hand fighting, along Le Catelet Trench Line (30 Sep) 347; at Péronne (1 Sep) 250
Hankey, Maurice, on mechanical warfare 45–6; on Murdoch 78
‘Happy Valley’ 197, 200
harassing fire, at Hindenburg Main Line bombardment 323
Harbonnieres 156, 169
Harding, Lt (Tank 9199), report on anti-tank fire (29 Sep) 333–4
Hargicourt 281, 314
Hartcup, Guy, The War of Invention, on 106 fuse 38, on tanks 45–6
Hattencourt 182
Haut Allaines 255, 262
Hazebrouck, AIF at 23
Heavy artillery 6-inch How
itzers, firing rate at Mont St Quentin 238
Heavy artillery, accuracy of 290; to fire on Le Catelet Trench Line (30 Sep) 346
heavy artillery (siege artillery) 395–6
heavy guns, at Amiens 142
‘Heavy Section Machine Gun Corps’ established (Mar 1916) 48
Hébuterne, AIF at 23
Hem, 3 Div clears ground around (29 Aug) 234
Herleville 196, 201
Hesbecourt 341
Hill 80 223
Hindenburg, Gen 2
The Hindenburg Line, 29 September 1918 (map) 352
Hindenburg Line, attack on 267–96; BEF break-through 44, 51, 55; final assault on 314–53; from Arras to Soissons 269; German armies withdraw to 268; Horne’s thrust might pierce 210–211; Monash chooses crossing point 315–16
The Hindenburg Line (map) 273
Hindenburg Main Line attack (29–30 Sep) 321, 327–53; front 314; operation 275
Hindenburg Outpost Line 272, 273, 275, 276, 278, 281; 1 Btn (3 Bde) on (18 Sep) 286
Hobart, Maj-Gen Percy, Old Cliftonian 73
Hobbs, Gen, 5 Div nears bend in R. Somme (28 Aug) 212; 8 Bde (5 Div) to capture Hill 80 223; approves Elliott’s request to replace 1 Div with 15 Bde 171; at Amiens 138; at Corps conference (29 Aug) 229–30; issues orders for 15 Bde (5 Div)’s role in 2 Sep attack 259; leapfrogs 2 Div at Amiens (8 Aug) 154–5; orders limited advance (1 Oct) 350; not recommended by Birdwood for command of Australian Corps 89–90; protest to Monash about condition of 5 Div troops 263–4; remits mutineer’s sentences after Armistice 312; succeeds Monash as Commander, Australian Corps 354; in temporary command at Amiens 136
Holt Caterpillar Tractor 45
Horne, Gen 17; First Army to advance beyond R. Scarpe (Aug) 196; next major BEF offensive on his First Army front 210–211
horses, problems and losses 165
Hostile Battery Lists 41–2
Hotchkiss Gun, on Mark V tanks 54
Howse VC, Maj-Gen 89; influence on high physical standard of troops 380–81; role in Bean’s intrigue 92–3
Hughes, PM Billy, attempt by Murdoch to influence 93; behaviour reflects Australian political immaturity 94; instigates conscription referendums 70–71; makes four decisions about AIF (Sep) 299–300; meeting with Milner, Bonar Law and Wilson 95–6; Murdoch’s contact with 77; Murdoch’s support for in May 1917 election 86; visits troops with Cook and Murdoch (Jul) 97
Hutier, Gen von 4, 6
Indian Army, numbers (1914) 27
infantry, challenges after 8 Aug 18 167–8; joint training with 5 Tank Bde 111
infantry (German), in Operation Michael 8–9
infantry-tank planning, need for 52
infantry-tank-artillery coordination at Hamel 125
influenza epidemic, Armitage suffers in 371
Instructions for the Occupation and Care of Men, issued by Elliott 309
inter-aircraft communication by wireless telegraphy 60
inter-brigade communications, necessity for 294
interlocking arms, doctrine of 145
Italian front, losses 14
Jackson, Lt-Col G H N, criticises British command (23 Jun) 100–101
Jess, Lt-Col (3 Div GSO 1), advises McNicoll and Cannan (29 Sep) 339
Joffre, Gen 9
Johanesen, Paul Reginald (‘Reg’), on arrival in Melbourne 376; describes action at Amiens 179–80; letter (24 Apr 1917) 375; letter to parents (28 Jan) 376; letter to parents (1917) 375–6; war and later life 374–7; wounded again 376
Joncourt 343
junior officers, new expectations of 102
Kenelly, Mick (3 Sep) 261
King George V, visits Australian Corps HQ at Bertangles (12 Aug 18) 192
Knob 351
Knoll 316, 320, 321
Koros Alley 248
Koverla Trench 248
La Chapelette, lock at 232
La Maisonette 227
La Neuville Peninsula 207
lacrymator (gas) 7
Lagnicourt, First AIF casualties at (1917) 70
Lambert, Maj-Gen (32 Div BEF), at Corps conference (29 Aug) 229
Lamire Farm 229, 232
Lamotte-Cerisy Valley, German artillery in 109
Laskey, Maj (Commander, 2 Tank Btn), complains about battle instructions 177; describes destruction of tanks 177–8; report (9 Aug) 190
Lawrence, Gen 23
Le Catelet 271
Le Catelet Line 315, 346
Le Catelet-Nauroy Line 331
Le Catelet-Nauroy support trench line, positions consolidated at (29 Sep) 335
Le Mesnil 259
Le Tronquoy 271
Le Tronquoy-Riqueval canal, breached (29 Sep) 343
Le Verguier 281, 287
Leane, Brig-Gen (12th Bde) Report on Operations 10–20 September, poor performance of 2 Bde (British) 294, 295
Leane, Brig-Gen Ray, lack of leapfrogging by 293; tank failure at Bullencourt 51–2
leapfrogging, on 18 Sep 292; at Amiens 138–9, 140, 147, 151, 154, 159, 171
Lempire-Hargicourt-Le Verguier Line 323
Lewis Guns, on Mark IV tanks 54; use at Mont St Quentin 243; use in Outpost Line attack 290
Lewis Guns (German), inflict heavy losses 179
Liddell Hart, contentions about Monash had War continued 359; on Monash (1938) 355, 355–6
Liddell Hart, Through the Fog of War, on Monash 358, 359
Light Trench Mortars, at attack on Péronne 250
Lihons 169, 170, 176, 178, 184; high ground around unacknowledged 189
limits, long-term effects of pushing troops beyond 263–4
limits to tasks, setting 191
Litchfield, Lt, effect of tanks on enemy 125
Lloyd George, David, 10, 11–16 passim; briefed by Murdoch on Australian electorate 87; on factors in Army promotion 360; his reasons why Robertson and Haig would never have been replaced as C-in-C BEF 360–61; Murdoch meets 78; praises Monash in memoirs 355; speculation on Monash 359
logistics, achievements in 219; importance for Hindenburg Line crossing 317
long-term effects of pushing troops beyond limits 263–4
Loos, Battle of (Sep 1915) 31, 34
losses, to Lewis Guns on 9 Aug 179; see also casualties
losses, German, compared with British and French 69
low-level aircraft patrolling 61
Luce, River 132
Ludendorff, Gen Erich 2–9, 18, 19, 22, 24; defence along ‘Winter Line’ 267–8; Der Schwarze Tag of German Army (8 Aug) 185; Der Wendepunkt der Kriegslage 128
Lys 23, offensive at 129
machine gun posts, crushed by tanks 154; impediment to crossing no-mans-land 120
machine guns, for Hindenburg Line attack 279; intensity and accuracy (18 Sep) 290; in support at Péronne 250
Macintyre, Stuart, working class social agenda 380
MacKay, Brig-Gen (Commander 1 Bde), reports Stacey’s call for tougher mutiny penalties 311
Maestro John Monash, Tim Fischer, advocates for Monash’s posthumous promotion to Field Marshal 361–2
Magny 329
Main Body Sections of tanks 106
Main [trench] Line (old British) 270, 271, 273, 276
Mangin, Gen Charles, at River Marne 128
manpower, need for preservation of 114
Mansfield, Capt (17 Btn) 253
mapping sections, establishment of 40–41
maps provided across Fourth Army for 18 Sep attack 277
Mark I tanks 46–9; crew challenges 49–50; mechanical unreliability of 52; uselessness at Bullecourt 50–52
Mark IV tanks, at Messines 53–4; as supply tanks 166, 202
Mark V One Star (Mark V*) tanks, at Amiens 140–41
Mark V tanks 54, 56–7; on 9 Aug 169; on 29 Sep 330; at Amiens 140; at Vaire and Hamel Wood 123–4, 125; at Vaux 105; four destroyed at Amiens (9 Aug) 175; losses at Amiens 167; shortcomings of 109–110; in support (23 Aug) 202; supporting 5 Div Btns (29 Sep) 332
Mar
ks, Lt-Col (CO, 13 Btn), conference on Battle of Hamel (22 Jun) 116–17
Marne, River, French counter-attack on 128
Marne, Second Battle of, casualties at 24
Marriott, Hugh 45
Mars, Operation 4
Martin, Brig-Gen (5 Bde), orders attack on Mont St Quentin (31 Aug) 237; to attack Mont St Quentin (30 Aug) 231
Marwitz, Gen von 4, 6 Maurepas 234
Maxse, Maj-Gen, Monash examines report on Thiepval by 83
McKernan, Michael, Bean’s motivation for War Memorial establishment 381
McLennan, Pte William, on Australian troops (1 Sep) 253–4; crosses Somme at Feuillères (30 Aug) 235–6; on 18 Btn (5 Bde) progress across Somme Canal near Cléry (29 Aug) 226; 18 Btn refuses to cross river and attack 306; background and experience 223–4; diary for 31 Aug 242; effect of gas on (Mar–Aug) 223–4, 226; gas use and casualties (3 Sep) 260–61; observations on birds (9 Apr, 21 May, 3 Jun) 377–8; on souvenir hunting (19 May) 378; war and later life 377–9
McNicoll, Brig-Gen 337; 10 Bde to attack Bouchavesnes Spur (30 Aug) 234–5; on 30 Sep 348; advised to employ strong patrolling (29 Sep) 339
‘Mechanical Warfare Supply Department’ 48
Menin Road battle (20 Sep 1917) 43
Mental Care of Men instruction, issued by Elliott 309
Mercatel 196
Méricourt 184
Messines, Battle of (7–14 Jun 1917) 53–4; First AIF casualties at 70; Monash’s 3rd Division at 83
Meuse, River 314
Michael, Operation 4, 19; artillery barrage 6; map 20
military aviation, German funding for 57–8
Milner, Lord 22
minenwerfers (mortars) captured 289
mistakes made, from Amiens to Mont St Quentin and Péronne 263
Mitchell, George, 1–2; esprit de corps of men going into battle 301; war and later life 365–6
Moffatt, Capt, traces source of mutiny 311
Monash, Bertha 79
Monash, Geoffrey Serle, on Monash’s mother 79
Monash, Gen Sir John, ability to push men beyond limits 216–17; advocates delay in btn reductions 298–9; appointed Commander of 3 Div (AIF) (Jul 1916) 83; appointed Director-General of Repatriation and Demobilisation, London (21 Nov) 354; appointed general manager, State Electricity Commission of Victoria (Jun 1920) 354; argument with Gellibrand (30 Sep) 349; awareness of intrigue by Bean, Murdoch et al 95–7; background and first part of War 78–84; command strengths of 355–9; comments on Robertson and Stewart’s plan 246–7; comparing battle victories 184; concerns about Chipilly Spur 147; method 114–15; confidence about Hindenburg Line battle 276–8; confidence in Corps methods 278; creates Aust Corps Mission 319–20; detailed staff planning by 317–18; dies (8 Oct 1931) 354; on effect of Australian losses 114; effects of strain on 313; four basic requirements for Hindenburg Line crossing success 316–17; harsh choice for (28 Sep) 326–7; interprets Rawlinson’s order to justify aggressive policy (28 Aug) 211; knighted by King George V (12 Aug) 192; long-term effects of pushing troops beyond limits 263–4; major battle with 3 Div (AIF) at Messines (Jun 1917) 83; message to troops at Amiens 148; notes for conference (30 Jun) 115–16; notes for conference with divisional commanders (31 Jul) 397–405; objectives at Amiens 133; outlines plan to divisional commanders (29 Aug) 229–30; Pedersen’s description of 98; persuades Rawlinson to ask Haig for two weeks delay in Hindenburg Line assault 305; planning Amiens offensive (Jul) 136–7; planning and command at Mont St Quentin and Péronne 264–5; requests control at Chipilly 183; requires tanks at Hamel ‘bulge’ 105; sees opportunity to achieve two aims 211–12; sends three-phase plan for 9 Aug 18 to commanders 169–70; at start of Hamel offensive (4 Jul 18) 119; striking victories from 31 Aug–3 Sep 262–3; submits preliminary Hamel attack plan (21 Jun) 106, 108–9; suggests attack postponement (28 Sep) 327; to command Australian forces (May) 89–90; two fair criticisms of command (22 Aug) 206; two-phase plan for capture of Péronne 222–3