General Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 17, 11 February - 18 March 1918, Part 15

G.O.C.
5/3/1918.
Telephone message from CORPS "I".
Examination of wounded prisoners taken on night of
3/4th March.
Two Australian prisoners taken by Germans during our
raid on 10th. February.  One is an officer, name unknown
to prisoner being examined, and the other a private.
The officer gave his name but refused to give any other
information.  This fact is well known and is spoken about
by the men in the trenches.  The private spoke of his
Battalion, saying they were "stoss trup^pen", but gave no
further information. One German Company which was opposed 

to our raiders suffered thirty-four casualties. The
32nd. Div. (Saxon) have relieved the 5th. Bav. Div.
Time - 10.30 p.m
S H Jackson Capt

G.3
Ensure that 10^th Bde get a copy of above
& let me have this paper back
J.M.
6/3/18
G.O.C. 6/3/18
I have now sent a copy of
the above to 10^th Bde.
SH Jackson Capt 

A.H.
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
SECRET
Divisional Headquarters,
5th. March, 1918.
Headquarters,
Australian Corps.
S.G.6/48.
MINOR OFFENSIVE - NIGHT, MARCH 4th./5th., 1918.
1.- In amplification of reports already telegraphed during the night
and this morning - my G.1. to G.5. - I beg to submit the following
further particulars as to above Operation.-
2. - PLAN
The organisation of the enterprise and the plans for the action
and co-ordination of all Arms and Services were in all respects
identical with those employed during the Operation of the preceding
night, with the exception that a slight alteration was made in the
timing of the 10-pdr. Artillery barrage and of the Machine Gun barrage
with a view to bringing a portion of the fire behind the enemy objectives 

at an earlier moment;  so as to prevent his withdrawal such as
occurred on the preceding night. -
3. - EXECUTION.
(a). ZERO Hour was 12.50 a.m. -
The cylinder gas bombardment upon FRELINGHIEN planned to take
place at 12.40 a.m. was abandoned by the Special Brigade owing to the
adverse conditions of the wind.-
The approach march to LA BASSE VILLE and the assembly in NO MAN'S
LAND were carried out without interruption, although the enemy was
active with machine guns, firing over the forward system and sweeping 

approaches. -
in the following paras. reference letters are to the points as
marked upon plans attached to the Brigade Orders for the Operation.
(b). At ZER0 hour, 12.50 a.m., the artillery barrage opened and proceeded 

according to plan. - Owing to the number of guns which had
been detailed for other tasks, the front line barrage appeared rather
thin. - The raiders commenced to close up on the barrage. - The passage 

of NO MAN'S LAND proceeded satisfactorily and a listening post of
two men in the SPINNEY was dealt with. -
The tape line to Point "E" was not laid exactly to the required
point in consequence of which the first 30 yards of the route from "E"
to "K" had to be overland. - As a result, there was a little delay in
reaching "K". - The point "E" was found to be strongly organised with
a machine gun covering the gap in the wire with a party of bombers
evidently detailed to assist in its defence. - The machine gun was
rushed and captured, its crew killed, and the dugout which was found
nearby was bombed. - A machine gun firing from "D" was troublesome
but was eventually bombed back to the ground between "D" and "J". -
The communication trench "E K" was quickly cleared, including
two dugouts about midway between "E" and "K", and the deep dugout at
"Q" was bombed. - Five of the enemy were killed at the dugout at "L".
The communication trench "Q P" was then cleared and a Lewis Gun was
held in readiness at "P". -
The Left Assaulting Party was met by considerable organised
opposition at the point of entry "G" in the shape of a machine gun
and bombers. - This party was also subjected to enfilade machine gun
fire from the North East. - At this point, the O.C. Left Assaulting
Party was severely wounded and later died. - Forcing an entry at
"G" so delayed parties that there was not sufficient time to reach
"R" and deal with the dugouts there. -
Thus, the whole of the objectives, as planned, were reached by
all parties with the exception of the point "R". -
(1)
P.T.O.

(2).      5/3/18.
(c). During our occupation of the enemy trenches, a hostile Local counter
attack was launched from a North Easterly direction (and probably
from the dugout at "R") as well as along the WARNETON Road. -
Another local counter-attack was attempted by the enemy from the South,
from the river bank between "D" and "J". - On the latter occasion, the
enemy was observed to form up in line kneeling when attacking one of
our parties with bombs. -
The enemy appeared to be organised for strong resistance, as
indicated by the fast that he had strong bombing parties at "E" and
"G", each with a machine gun covering those points, and also had
ready counter-attacking positions on both right and left flanks. -
As a result of the interrogation of the officers who took part in
the enterprise, it is ascertained that a very conservative estimate
of the number of enemy killed by the raiding party is forty (40). -
This is exclusive of casualties probably inflicted by our Artillery
and by our Infantry action with bullet and bomb beyond the range of
our penetration. -
At least five dugouts viz;- one at "E", two between "B" and "K"
one at "Q" and one at "I", all of which held a number of the enemy,
were thoroughly bombed. -
There is no doubt that this caused the enemy many additional
casualties in addition to the forty enumerated above, as having actually
been seen by the Officers concerned. -
We captured and brought in two light machine guns and a quantity
of smaller stores. -
The Identification established was 228. R.I.R. Normal.
A total of about twelve (12) prisoners were actually taken by the
various parties, but all resisted capture energetically and refused
to be brought in., - Time did not permit of any other action, but to
dispose of them and leave them behind.
(d) During the raid, hostile artillery responded feebly. - Hostile
machine guns were very active from South of the River LYS and WARNETON
Enemy trench mortars were only moderately active. -
(e) Normal line dispositions were resumed at 3.0 a.m. -
No casualties were suffered by the normal trench garrison. -
4. - OUR CASUALTIES.
Our losses, so far as can be ascertained at present, pending a
final check, are :-
                 Officers.      Other Ranks.
Killed.             1.                   3.
Wounded      1.                 21.
Total. 26.
5.- Although the actual result of the operation, in the number of
Prisoners captured, was not nearly so satisfactory as that of the
previous night, the enterprise may be considered to have been
extremely satisfactory from the point of view of the fighting spirit
and determination of the troops engaged, and of the total damage
inflicted upon the enemy. - The co-ordination of all Arms and
Services was excellent.
Those two actions have, apart from other advantages, operated
greatly to benefit the moral and fighting spirit of the 9th.
Australian Infantry Brigade and of the whole Division.
John Monash
Major-General.
Commanding Third Australian Division.
 

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISIONAL "C00 - EES".

Tuesday - 5th March. 1918.-
 P R O G R A M M E
At 6__0 p.m.-
1. - OVERTURE. (a) March - "Entry of the Gladiators" ).  000-EES

(b) Selection "Cheep" ) ORCHESTRA. -

2. - OPENING CHORUS: "Merry and Bright". - The "Coo-ees".-

3. - SOLO. - "Hail Caledonia". - Pte. J.S.THOMSON. -

    - RAG DUO. - "Piney Ridge". - Ptes. A. BROWN and

GEO. STEVENSON. -

5. - SOLO. - 'Song of the Smithy". - Cpl. H.F.WILLIAMS.-

  . - DUET. - "Have A Heart" - L/Cpl. F.J.WATSFORD 

(From - "The Boy"). -  and

Pte. - F.D.JONES.-

7. - HUMOROUS SKETCH:  "The Actor"". - Ptes. F.ELTHAM and

GEO. HARVEY.-

8. - QUARTETTE. - "In Absence". - "Coo-ees" Male Party.

9. - DAME IMPERSONATION. - "I want to got Married". - Cpl. GEO. HARPER.-

10. - RAGTIME PARADIES.   -   -   Ptes. V. BRAHMS

and GEO.  HARVEY.-

11. - MUSICAL SCENE:  (a) " A Bachelor Gay"   Cpl. H. F. WILLIAMS

(From "Maid of the Mountains"). -

(b) "Mr. Nightingale".     L/Cpl. F.J. WATSFORD

(and Chorus).-

INTERVAL. -

12. - SELECTION:   "By the Swanee River". - "Coo-ees" ORCHESTRA

13. - BURLESQUE  "East Lynne-Oleum"

DRAMA or

How Mrs. Henry. Wood-n't

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Sir Francis LeFison.  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ... Lieut. F. G. Lowis.-

Archibald Carlyle       ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  Pte.  A.  Brown. -

Barbara Hare.              ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  Pte. Geo. Harvey. -

Lady Isabel)                  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  L/Cpl. F. J. WATSFORD. -

Madame Vine)

Joyce.                               ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  Pte. Geo. STEVENSON. 

Policeman.                     ...  ...  ...  ...  ... ...  Pte. V. Brahms. -

The Author  -  Dvr. C.S. TREWAVIS. -

 

GOD SAVE THE KING

Orchestral Conductor and Pianist - L/Cpl. Geo Pearce. -

 

Australian Corps
Assembly in N.M. L. completed without
Incident aaa Barrage opened punctually at
12-50 aaa Enemy Artillery fire so far slight
but enemy M. G's. fairly active aaa
3^rd  Aust Div.
1.3 AM
G1
5/3/18
 

Australian Corps
Machine Gun fire easing off aaa minenwerfer
active on La Basse Ville aaa Left Assault has
entered enemy trenches aaa Communications still
intact.
3^d Aust Div
G2 1.7 AM
5/3/18
 

Australian Corps
From
Communications broken since 1 oclock and
partin Partial reports so far received indicate that both parties
entered successfully but met considerable opposition,
enemy being alert and xxx active  aaa Two Machine Guns
captured but no word yet of any prisoners aaa Our
casualties thought not to be heavy and Enemy is now
heavily enjoying xxxx xxxx xxxx front of Centre Division with Artillery & Trench
Mortars. aaa S.O.S. went up just north of Douve
aaa My Artillery has switched north to help. -
G3 2.14 PM
5/3/18
 

Australian Corps.
This Division front not involved in attack at
S.O.S. has extended South of Douve to
present in progress on Centre Division.
front of my extreme left Battalion
Raiders penetrated ^Warneton as far as enemy second line
but could get no further aaa A number of prisoners
which had been taken could not be brought in and had
to be dealt with aaa We have xxxx taken two
Machine guns aaa Our estimated casualties are
3 OR Killed 2 officers & 28 OR wounded.
G4  2.25 AM
5/3/18
 

Australian Corps
5 Aust Div
38  Div
11 Infty Brigade
Reference WARNETON RAID last night
aaa Nothing to add to previous reports which
are now confirmed except that all our storming parties
reached their objectives except one small party aaa
over forty enemy definately ascertained to have been
killed and two MG's brought in aaa Enemy
attempted counter attacks during raid from SE
and NE but these were repulsed by our raiders
with casualties to enemy number unknown aaa
Enemy put up strong resistance on his second line
where principal fighting took place aaa
Enemy M.G. fire. was heavy and hampered
om withdrawal rendering it necessary to dispose
of prisoners who had been taken aaa
Identification from shoulder straps is No RIR
normal aaa Our total losses so far
ascertained are 1 offer 3 0R killed 1 0ff 20 OR
wounded aaa Previous report that an S.OS
was sent up at 12.50 AM on our front
was incorrect but refers to front of Centre
Division aaa Our cylinder gas offensive
Upon FRELINGHEIN was again abandoned
by Special Brigade owing to unfavorable
weather wind conditions aaa Addressed Aust
Corps reptd Flank Divisions.
G5  9.25 AM
5/3/18