General Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 17, 14 January - 11 February 1918, Part 13

11/2/18

Aust Corps.

Tally of prisoners last night's raid now

stands thus, unwounded 23 wounded 8
Total prisoners 31 aaa  Particulars of Considerable ^other damage
to enemy personnel material and works ^ particulars of which follow
later and Addssd Aust. Corps repeatd
Flank Divisions. 

B M 6

9.40 AM

11/2/18
 

11/2/18

10^th Brigade

Please convey to Captain Fairweather and the raiding 
party my heartiest congratulations upon their fine success,
which has been due as much to the valour and determination
of the assaulting troops as to the splendid cooperation of the
Corps and Divisional Artillery and Trench Mortars and ^to the highly
efficient staff work ^of the Staffs and Services throughout aaa Congratulations  also
received from Flank Divisions, aaa Corps Commander also
wishes his ^warmest congratulations to be promulgated to this Division aaa
Following also received from General Rawlinson begins
aaa Please convey to 3^d Aust. Div. my warm thanks and
Congratulations on very successful raid last night aaa It
was well arranged and very gallantly carried out and

reflects great credit on all ranks engaged both in the
Inf. and Arty aaa ends. - General Monash aaa
Addssd 10^th Bde, repeated C.R.A, 9^th & 11^th Bdes.
ADC 76

12.35 PM    3^d Aust Div.

11/8/18
AQ. Above to be repeated also in a Special Div. order, as
reproduction of telegram sent. JM

11/2/18

[2 Spare copies of this order to me]

[* Sir

Telegrams
despatched 

1.15 pm 11/2/18

CW.E.B

11/2/18
 

11/2/18

Australian Corps 
Raid on Warneton front very successful aaa
Twenty one prisoners already at Collecting Stations aaa

Identification 228 R.I.R. normal aaa First
Interrogation as follows

prisoner from No 1 Co. ^interrogated states all four Companies
in front line, 5 posts in each Company front,
Company strength 160, 6 days in line, 6 in
support 6 in rest aaa. Bridge at U.12.d.7.5
trench used aaa Another prisoner states 5^th
Bavarians still on South but this requires
Confirmation. -  Addssd Aust. Corps
repeated Flank Divisions.

B M 5

12.46 AM

11/2/18
 

11/2/18
 Enemy artillery reaction feeble aaa Power buzzer
worked well after our forward phones had been cut out.

[ * aaa An off Two of our officers who reentered enemy
front line after raid searching for missing officer met
enemy patrol of 8 killing 2 and dispersing remainder.*]

- aaa. Addssd. Aust. Corps, repeated Flank

Divisions. -
[Send copy to C. R. A. by hand]
B M 7

1.15 PM

11 /2/ 18
 

11. 2. 18
Australian Corps. - 
In addition to 31 prisoners

Reference last nights raid, in addition to 31 prisoners
already reported we know of 2 additional pris account for
2 additional further prisoners aaa We have also taken three machine
guns, one pine apple mortar, and much smaller booty aaa
Apart from ^numerous casualties inflicted by our Artillery prior to assault

[[?]] ^Infantry accounted for 30 enemy who had advanced into N. M. L
to avoid our barrage aaa Twelve other additional prisoners  who
attempted to escape when crossing N. M. L. had to be disposed
of there aaa Our right assaulting party was strongly opposed

from outset by M.G's and bayonet aaa This party
bombed several dugouts in Second line killing 15 enemy
therein, also dealt with 18 others by bayonet. aaa Left
party met no opposition in front line, but strong resistance
from dugo in and near Second line from dugouts

5 of which were bombed success and  including 3 definitely
destroyed, aaa  This necessitated continuous bomb and
bayonet fight during which party this party claim to have
disposed of 25 enemy. aaa At Zero plus 28 minutes

a counterattack along Warneton road was successfully
repelled by. Lieut Eason aaa Enemy in second line

were wearing gas masks aaa Enemy works found badly
smashed by our bombardment aaa Our barrage
admirable aaa Enemy wire proved no obstacle aaa