Our Great Hearted Men
Page 42
Monash, John, The Australian Victories in France in 1918, on artillery transport problems 220; Canadians at Amiens 158; no mention of crossing Somme from west on 29 Aug 228–9; performance of Divisional Commanders 265–6; on Phase A of Amiens 137
Monash as Military Commander, Peter Pedersen, on 15–23 Aug rest break 195
Mons, Ludendorff at conference (11 Nov 1917) 3
Mont St Quentin, 31 August 1918 (map) 240
Mont St Quentin, Australian losses at 262; battle of 215–66; bombardment of (1 Sep) 248; breach of ‘Winter Line’ 268; important military attributes of 222; preparations for attack on (31 Aug) 237–9
Mont St Quentin – Péronne, 1 September 1918 (map) 249
Mont St Quentin–Bouchavesnes Road 245
Montague, Sir Edwin (Secretary of State for India), Rawlinson’s anti-Semitic letters about 359–60
Montgomery of Alamein, Field Marshal, fanciful view of Monash 359
Montgomery, Maj-Gen, The Story of the Fourth Army in the Battles of the Hundred Days, conditions on 29 Sep almost same as on 8 Aug 336–7; inadequacies in British performance 291
Montgomery, Maj-Gen (Rawlinson’s Chief of Staff), 23; on attack co-ordination 189
Mopping-up Sections of tanks 106
Morcourt, pursuit of Germans eastwards to Péronne from (22–29 Aug) 194–214
Morcourt Gully, 8 Btn at 166
Morcourt-Harbonnières ravine 129
Morlancourt 132; AIF at 23
Morshead, Lt-Col, 33 Btn Report on barrage and casualties (22 Aug) 198; report on cavalry charge (22 Aug) 199
Moss, Hannah, marries John Monash 81
Mott, Lt (7 Field Coy), reconnoitres Somme canal (29 Aug) 231
Mouquet Farm, AIF at (23 Jul–3 Sep 1916) 33
Moyenneville 196
Murdoch, Keith, advises Hughes on political solution 88–9; background 75–8; cables Hughes on formation of Australian Corps 87; carries letter from Ashmead-Bartlett to Asquith 77–8; expresses Australian troops’ desire for own control 86; flawed briefing by Bean 93, 94; influence on government policy 94; views on White 93; visits troops with Hughes and Cook (Jul 18) 97
Murray, Lt-Col (CO, 4 Div MG Btn) 320
mustard gas 224; British use at Hindenburg Main Line 323
mustard gas (Yellow Cross) 7
mutinies, as result of extreme demands made on troops 313; by French troops (May–Jun 1917) 10
Nauroy 315, 323, 331
Neillands, Robin, The Great War Generals, on plan for Passchendaele 67, 68
Neuve Chappelle, Battle of (10 Mar 1915) 31
Neuville-Vitasse, tanks at 50
New Zealand Division (Third Army), takes Bapaume (29 Aug) 267–8
‘nibbling’, by BEF 103
19-pounder Field Art, firing rate at Mont St Quentin 238
Nivelle, Gen Robert 9–10
noise reduction, in movement of guns and ammunition 146
North Melbourne Battery, Monash promoted to Maj in 82
Northcliffe, Lord (owner, The Times), Murdoch meets 77, 78
No. 3 Squadron (AFC), attacks retiring Germans (23 Aug) 205; key role in artillery plans for 18 Sep 277; in reconnaissance for 23 Aug attack 203; roles in Hindenburg Line attack 280
No. 10 General Hospital, Geddes sent to (5 Sep) 216
Nurlu 269
Nurlu Heights, III Corps (British) to capture (2 Sep) 254
oblique aerial photos, use of 59–60
observation posts, problems in allocation 165
observation sections, establishment of 40–41
officer casualties, through machine gun and sniper fire (29 Sep) 338
Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–18, Charles Bean, praise for 381
Official History, Charles Bean see Bean, Charles, Official History
Oise, River 14, 23
Old Quarry, fight by 3 Div for (31 Aug) 245
Old Roman Road see Roman Road
Older Trench 241
O’Loughlin, Mick, killed (31 Aug) 242
Omiécourt 223, 227, 229; 7 Btn (2 Div) to cross bridge at 244; bridgework at 254; canal lock at 232; crossing blown up (29 Aug) 232
Omiécourt-Les-Cléry 243
Omignon, River 270
On the Wool Track (1910), Charles Bean 74, 75, 99
106 fuse, invention of 37–8
Operation Michael 4, 19; artillery barrage 6
Operation Michael (map) 20
Orchard’s Post 285
O’Ryan, Gen, suggests attack postponement (28 Sep) 326
Outer Circle railway line, Monash supervises construction of 80
outflanking, infantry drill of 290
Outpost Line, attacked by Americans (27 Sep) 324–6
The Outpost Line Attack, 18 September 1918 (map) 328
Outpost Line attack (18–28 Sep) 282–95; conflicting and contradictory reports received (27 Sep) 326
Outpost [trench] Line (old British) 270, 273, 276
Painlev, Paul 11
Park Wood 239, 244
Parrish, Pte, No 3770 (13 Bn AIF), killed at Hamel 122
Passchendaele 65, 67; artillery at 42–3
‘Peaceful Penetration’ of German line 278; by Australian and New Zealand troops 103; need for resumption after 23 Aug 195
Pear Trench, artillery barrage 127; as objective 103–4, 106
Pearce, George, Murdoch’s contact with 77
Pearce, Sen George, and Birdwood’s proposals for Australian Corps 90
Pedersen, Peter, American officer shortage (27 Sep) 325; description of Monash 98; example of anti-Semitism regarding Monash 359–60; on Foch’s Montdidier plan 129; Haig qualifies order of 22 Aug 210; Hughes’ threat to Birdwood about AIF withdrawal 300; key attributes of Monash’s command 265; Monash confident on Hindenburg Line battle 276; Monash stayed away from battle lines 357–8; on Monash’s command on 29 Aug 228–9; on Monash’s conference method 114–15; on Monash’s inaccurate claims about Amiens 130–31; quotes Blamey on results of stress on Monash 313; reason for Monash’s first frontal assault on Péronne and Mont St Quentin 223; on setting limits to tasks 191; two fair criticisms of Monash’s command (22 Aug) 206
Pedersen, Peter, Monash as Military Commander, on 15–23 Aug rest break 195
Péronne 4, 14, 221, 246, 250, 262; Australian Corps pursuit from 272, 274; battle of 215–66; breach of ‘Winter Line’ 268; pincer movement attempt on 223; pursuit of Germans from Morcourt eastwards to (22–29 Aug) 194–214; R. Somme bridges at 221
Péronne–Bouchavesnes Road 24
Péronne–Mont St Quentin Road 259
Pershing, Gen, against US troops being used at Hamel 118–19
Pétain, Gen Philippe 10–11, 15, 22, 23
phosgene (Green Cross) 7
pioneer battalions, duties of (30 Aug) 230
Pioneer Btn, constructs footbridges over R. Somme (23 Aug) 207–8
Plevna Trench 247, 248
Plumer, Gen Sir Herbert 17; at Messines 53; Monash serves under at Messines 83
Poincaré, President 22
Polygon Wood 43
Power Buzzer 64
Pozières, AIF at (23 Jul–3 Sep 1916) 33
predicted fire, data needed for accuracy 142–3; development and implementation 38–42; use by Germans 43–4
Prior, Robin and Trevor Wilson, Command on the Western Front 33–4; comments on Rawlinson 131, 160; condition of Fourth Army troops by 11 Aug 185; consequences of artillery bombardment followed by infantry (29 Sep) 329–30; on counter-battery programme 191; evaluation of Hamel 132; Fourth Army attack on Hindenburg Outpost Line (18 Sep) 289; inadequacy of barrages 291; on interlocking arms 145; Rawlinson’s and Monash’s scathing criticism of Americans (29 Sep) 342
Proyart 184, 229
The Pursuit, 22–29 August 1918 (map) 213
Quarry Farm 236, 245
Quennemont Farm 287, 315, 320, 321
radio jamming by Germans 168
Rainecourt 184
Rawlinson, Gen Sir
Henry 16, 105; advocates attack on Hindenburg Line 275; amazed that Mont St Quentin attack to go ahead on 31 Aug 237; anti-Semitic letters about Montague and Monash 359–60; at Somme 33; attack between Somme and Villers-Bretonneux-Amiens railway 129; on ‘bite and hold’ 34–5; contribution to Battle of Hamel 132; declines attack postponement (28 Sep) 327; extends front on Monash’s plan (18–19 Sep) 317–18; Haig changes plan for Amiens 162–3; harsh choice for (28 Sep) 326; makes key changes to Monash’s plan (19 Sep) 318; orders for 30 Sep 343–4; orders advance late on 8 Aug 168; orders Monash to keep in touch with enemy (27 Aug) 211; orders for pursuit from Péronne 274; phone communication (Jul 1916) 63–4; resumes offensive (23 Aug) 194; section of Hindenburg Line to attack 269; sends Monash’s Hamel plan to GHQ 109; sends Montdidier plan to Haig 129–30; shows Currie’s information to Haig (14 Aug) 187; suggests using Americans at Hamel 111; on tank use at Montdidier 130; tells Monash that Fourth Army ‘marking time’ (25 Aug) 211; two operations on 23 Aug 201
Read, Maj-Gen (American II Corps) 315; harsh choice for (28 Sep) 326–7; to be helped by Aust Corps Mission 319
reconnaissance, aircraft replace cavalry for 58–9
Reims 314
Reinforced Concrete & Monier Pipe Construction Company, Monash forms 81
Reserve [trench] Line, old British 270, 273
rest period for five AIF Divs 194–5
Ribchester, Lt W (Commander, Tank 9388), in action (23 Aug) 204
Ribot, Alexandre 10
rifle grenades, use of 290
Riga, Battle of (3 Sep 1917) 6, 43
‘right-of-way’ orders 244
Riqueval, intact bridge taken (29 Sep) 329
Riqueval-Le Tronquoy canal, breached (29 Sep) 343; taken (29 Sep) 329
Road Wood 234, 236, 245
Robertson, Gen Sir William, 12–16; attack plan and outcome for 1 Sep 247–8, 250; orders for 6 Bde to pass 5 Bde (31 Aug) 246; sets zero hour for 1 Sep (31 Aug) 246
Roisel 341
Rollings, Lt E J, captures maps and Hindenburg Line documents 270; describes armoured cars 156–7
Roman Road 133, 169; pioneers work on 141
Rosenthal, Maj-Gen, 2 Div at Amiens 137, 138; 2 Div nearing bend in Somme (28 Aug) 212; appointed commander 2 Div 90; at Corps conference (29 Aug) 229; at ‘Hamel Spur’ 104; briefs 2 Div Bde commanders for Mont St Quentin attack (29 Aug) 232; Btns from 2 Div to be disbanded 300; Mont St Quentin attack plan for 2 Div 223
Rosières 176, 178
Roxburgh, John, treated for influenza 371
Royal Air Force (RAF), formation 61–2; plan for Amiens 144; size (1918) 58
Royal Engineers, mapping, observation and sound-ranging sections in 40–41
Royal Field Artillery 170
Royal Flying Corps (RFC), aerial photography by 40; growth 1914–18 58; need for planning and liaison with 37; spotting by 39
Roye 182
Roye-Chaulnes-Bray-Dernancourt, objective (9 Aug) 168
rum, issued to fatigued troops (31 Aug) 239
Sadler, Lt-Col (17 Btn), mistiming (9 Aug) 182
Sadler, Peter (biographer of Gellibrand), on divergence of opinion between Gellibrand and Blamey (29 Sep) 340
St Christ 220; R. Somme bridge at 221
St Denis 246, 250, 262; Germans withdraw from 258
St Denis Wood, German fire from (1 and 2 Sep) 251, 260
St Denis–Mont St Quentin Road 260
St Pierre Vaast Wood 263
St Quentin 4, 269, 271
St Quentin Canal 271
Saluting Monash Council 355, 361
Salvage Companies for tanks 56
Scanlan, Lt-Col (59 Btn), men of 60 Btn handed over to 305; tells Elliott that 60 men from 59 Btn refuse orders to move 306–7
Scarpe, River 196; first army advances beyond (Aug) 196
Scheldt, River 271
Scullin, PM James, promotes Monash and Chauvel to rank of General (11 Nov 1929) 354
Second Battle of the Aisne 10
Second Battle of the Marne, casualties at 24
secrecy, at Amiens 145–7; emphasis on Hamel and Amiens 130, 133, 135; lack after first day at Amiens 164; near jeopardisation of Amiens 147–8
Secretary of State for Colonies, telegraph from Australian Government to 87–8
Serle, Geoffrey, Monash, Monash suggest sentence remittal for mutineers 312; on Monash’s mother 79
set-piece battle doctrine 276–7
Shelley, Lt M (No. 3 Squadron AFC) 326
siege artillery (heavy artillery) 395–6
Siegfried Position (Siegfriedstellung) see Hindenburg Line
Sinclair-Maclagan, Maj-Gen, 4 Div at Amiens 138, 147; at Amiens (10 Aug 18) 183; at ‘Hamel Spur’ 104; disagrees with Hamel plan 109; to command Aust Corps Mission 319–20
smoke, use on Western Front 67
smoke cover for infantry 218
sneezing gas 224, 261
Soissons 269
soldiers see troops
Somme, Battle of 23, 65; artillery bombardment before 35–6; artillery improvements after 36–7; artillery rounds fired 66; casualties and losses 12, 19, 32–3; defective artillery shells at 34; guns at 42
Somme Canal 221
Somme offensive (1 Jul–18 Nov 1916), lessons from 32–3
Somme, River 196, 202, 245; crossing challenges 221–2, 231; pontoon bridge to Halle (1 Sep) 254
sound ranging 39, 277, 324
sound-ranging sections, at Amiens after first day 165–6; establishment of 40–41
Stacy, Lt-Col, calls for tougher penalties for mutiny 311; favoured tougher penalties for mutineers 312
Staff College, limitations 27–8
Staff Corps, numbers (1914) 27
staff planning by Monash, example 317–18
staff work, importance of 291
Steel, Will, letter on leadership from Monash to 80
Stewart, Bdr-Gen, ordered to deploy 14 Bde in attack towards Péronne and St Denis (31 Aug) 246; to attack along Le Catelet Line and advance along Railway Ridge (30 Sep) 345–6
Stokes Mortars, supporting 7 Bde (2 Sep) 255; use at Mont St Quentin 238, 243
stores, problems keeping up supply 165
The Story of the Fourth Army in the Battles of the Hundred Days, Maj-Gen Montgomery, conditions on 29 Sep almost same as on 8 Aug 336–7; inadequacies in British performance 291
Story, Lt-Col, letters of protest about disbandments 301
Streseman, Capt von, captured (18 Sep) 283
Sturmtruppen in Operation Michael 8, 18
Styles, Bert, wounded on 31 Aug 242
Sugar Factory 251
supplies, carried by armoured cars 156; carried by tanks and men 117
supply tanks, introduction 56
Supreme War Council, appointment of Allied Commander-in-Chief 15; changes in (Feb) 16; formation (Nov 1917) 14
surprise, lack after first day at Amiens 164
surprise factor, of aircraft 144
Suzanne, captured (28 Aug) 233
Swinton, Lt-Col Ernest, and tank development 45, 46, 48
Sydney Evening Sun, Murdoch as correspondent for 77
Sydney Morning Herald, Bean as war correspondent for 74
Sydney World, Murdoch as news editor for 77
synchronised machinegun fire on aeroplanes 61
Tailles Wood 197
Tank 9026, crushing machine gun posts 124
Tank 9044, hit at Hamel 121–2
Tank 9055, effect on enemy 125
Tank 9097, crushing machine gun posts 124; pros and cons of 124–5
Tank 9183, crushing machine gun posts 124
Tank 9199, report on anti-tank fire (29 Sep) 333–4
Tank 9292, at Hamel and Vaire Wood 123–4
Tank 9385, report on operations (29 Sep) 334–5
Tank 9388, in action (23 Aug) 204
Tank 9403, at Hamel 122–3
The Tank in Action, D G Brown 45
Tank Corps, changes in (Jan) 104; need for planning and l
iaison with 37; report by Fourth Army on Hamel 125–6; structural initiatives by 1918 56; tanks as finite resource 190
tank crews, availability and condition of 166–7
tank-infantry planning, need for 52
tanks, advent of 38; allotted to 4 and 12 Bdes (18 Sep) 281; ammunition and supplies carried by 117; with armoured cars for towing purposes 155; at Fleurs-Courcelette (15 Sep 1916) 48–9, 55–6; crews 49–50; distribution (9 Aug) 173; failure at Bullencourt (Apr 1917) 51–2; identification with troops 113; importance for Hindenburg Line crossing 317; improvements (1916–18) 55–6; knocked out on Le Catelet-Nauroy Line (29 Sep) 333; losses and sustainability of numbers 167; low numbers at Hindenburg Line 278–80; Mk I 46–9; more careful use of 279–80; in Outpost Line attack (18 Sep) 284; petrol fumes inside 207; rapidly knocked out (29 Sep) 338; reduced numbers of tanks and crews in 5 Tank Bde 218–19; shortcomings of Mk V 109–110; support for attack on Estrées (29 Sep) 333; supporting 15 Bde advance (29 Sep) 332; use in infantry advances 141–2; usefulness at Amiens 154
Task Tables 42
tasks, setting limits to 191
technological expertise, need for 29