General Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 18, 28 March - 20 April 1918, Part 2

Copy.
To the Commanding Officer,
47th. Battalion.
The undersigned would like to draw your attention
to the work done by 4061 Sgt. S.R.MacDOUGALL on the morning of
28th., when the enemy attacked us near DERNANCOURT.
They had got through our line, about 100 of them, where the Vicker
Gun was, and were spreading out and another wave was coming on.
I was on the right flank firing my revolver at them when I saw
Sgt. MacDOUGALL bayonetting them on his own.
He must have killed about 7 with his bayonet when he got a
Lewis gun and fired it from his hip scattering them and killing a
lot more.
He then went after those who were attacking my party and caused
them to surrender.  When his magazine ran out, he used a bayonet
again and a revolver.
If it hadn't been for him on one side of Lieut. REID and
ROBINSON on the other the enemy would have got through.   He did
most of the work.
(sgd) (HMN) 2779 Sgt. W.E.BROWN,
Above statement on oath before me.

30/3/18.

(sgd) A.P.IMLAY, Lieut-Colonel,
C.O. 47th. Battalion, A.I.F. 

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
Divisional Headquarters,
30th March, 1918.
General Sir W.R.BIRDWOOD, K.C.S.I.,K.C.M.G.,C.B.,etc.,
Commanding AUSTRALIAN Corps.
My dear General,-
Since I sent you my second despatch this forenoon
we have had our first considerable brush with the Bosche, and I
am pleased to be able to write you that we have scored a very
striking success.
During last night as the result of pressure exerted
by us over night, my line was established just East of a North
and South line between BUIRE-SUR-l'ANCRE, on the ANCRE, and SAILLY-
LAURETTE, on the SOMME, a frontage of 7,500 yards. CANNAN'S Brigade
was holding the Southern half of this front and McNICOLL'S Brigade
the Northern half, while ELLIOTT'S Brigade held the River Line
of the SOMME from SAILLY-LAURETTE Westward to the SOMME.   The enemy
had been observed reinforcing himself in MORLANCOURT and in the
SOMME VALLEY.- Our lines consisted firstly of a picket line, on
the line given above, and secondly of two wired well dug in lines
in rear of the picket line, the total depth of the position being
about 2,000 yards.
At 11 a.m. while I was with CANNAN at his Headquarters 

at the Quarry, situated on the main CORBIE-BRAY Road to ^∧ on a
bearing South-East of SAILLY ^∧ HEILLY, the enemy commenced heavily to bombard
the whole of our position with all calibres up to 5.9, and maintained 

this bombardment until about 12.15 p.m. at which hour his 

- 2 -   30/3/18.
Infantry action commenced.   He advanced wave after wave along my
whole front and was engaged by Artillery and Infantry.   We waited
for him to get to short range and then swept his lines, wiping them
out one after the other.  Supports and Reserves in Artillery formation, 

particularly on the slopes of the Northern bank of the SOMME,
were dealt with by our Artillery who, most of the time, were firing
by direct observation over open sights. - The engagement lasted
about an hour and the whole situation was completely dealt with
by our picket line and our Artillery, our main lines not becoming
involved in the fight. - No ground whatever was lost by us.
The ground in front of us is literally covered with
enemy dead, and a moderate estimate ^∧ is that, of the total strength of
about two brigades which attacked, more than half were made casualties. -
Several considerable bodies of the enemy were completely destroyed
by Artillery fire as they issued from the Woods North-east of
SAILLY-LAURETTE.
By two o'clock the enemy's attack had completely
petered out.
Our total casualties, so far as can be ascertained,
are under 100, chiefly from Artillery fire.   On this occasion our
Artillery suffered as much as the Infantry, several gun detachments
having suffered severely.  The men are in very high spirits over
their victory and we shal, take advantage of the inevitable confusion 

of the enemy to take further ground to the East tonight.
Our antagonists were the 13th Division on the North and the 18th
(Schleswig-Holstein) Division on the South.    We took prisoners from 
both divisions.   The latter of the two is a crack division and G.H.Q. 

-3-   30-3-18.
have been looking for them for some time.
As foreshadowed, to-night MACLAGAN comes forward
into the line between BUIRE and DERNANCOURT and will join hands
with me at BUIRE so that we shall present a continuous front from
ALBERT to the SOMME, there ^∧ thus forming the Right Flank of the British
Armies.
I am getting on famously with General CONGREVE
of the 7th Corps, and I believe that he is well satisfied with
the work which we have done for him.
Yours very sincerely,
(Signed)  John Monash

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
Divisional Headquarters,
30th. March, 1918.
General SIR W. R. BIRDWOOD, K.C.M.G., &c. &c.,
G.O.C.,  A.I.F.,

My Dear General,
Your letters of March 25th. and 26th. have just reached
me. - The latter refers to the question of Church Services. -
I apprehend it will be some little time before I can give any
attention to this, and indeed before the matter will need any
action. -
I was very delighted to hear a rumour that it is quite
possible that the Corps will soon be together again. -
Since my previous report to you, matters of late
^∧ here have
gone very smoothly. - We have had some fighting, which has resulted 

entirely in our favour, and I have now pushed out my line
2000 yards Eastward of the line previously described, which lies
between the ANCRE and the SOMME. - I am now 
wi thin a 1000 yards
of MORLANCOURT. - We have done a good deal of execution and have
captured a number of prisoners, in twos and threes, giving us good
identifications. - If all goes well I will be able to make MORLANCOURT 

quite untenable to the enemy. -
There is some prospect that McLAGAN will come up into
the front line on my left tonight, in which case the Australians
will form a continuous line from the neighbourhood of SAILLY-
Laurette past BUIRE along the ANCRE and opposite ALBERT, and
McLAGAN and I have resolved to make every effort to ^∧ further straighten
and shorten our line. -
My casualties have so far not been serious, a total of
less than 300, chiefly the 10th. Brigade. - I had the misfortune
to have two Battalion Commanders (PAYNE of the 40th. and HENDERSON
of the 39th.) wounded, but neither seriously. -
Last night my 9th. Brigade was ordered South of the 

- 2 -    30/3/1918.
SOMME to be attached temporarily to the 61st. Division of the
Fifth Army, concentrating at CACHY, as a support and for the
purpose of counter-attack duty. - To take it's place, they have
sent me General ELLIOTT with his 15th. Brigade, and this Brigade
is at the present moment bussing in and will take up the roles
of watching the line of the SOMME on my right flank and of forming 

my divisional reserve. -
All my troops are in the highest fettle and departments
are working most smoothly; ammunition and food are all right, and
fully 50% of the fighting troops are getting regular rest at a
time, so that the fighting efficiency of the Division so far has
not been in any way impaired. -
I feel confident that the advent of Australian troops
in this part of the world has had an instant and extraordinary
effect in steadying the whole line and in giving confidence to a
lot of people who had become very "windy" as to the further
developments of the situation.
In great haste and with kindest regards,
Yours sincerely 

7^th Corps. -
CHJ 66  30th
Enemy launched an attack at 12 noon along
whole of my front in considerable strength  aaa Attack
has been repulsed without any loss of ground by us aaa
[[?]] attack South of the Somme appears also to have been
held up by us   aaa.   Enemy has ^∧ is using many low flying planes
Repeated  flank Divn
Sent 1.10 pm
CHS 30/3/18
66 

7^th Corps
I should be glad if G. H. Q. could be asked
[[?]]  allow ^∧ permit Officers and N.C.O's of this Division at
present being held up ^∧ by traffic authorities, presumably under G.H.Q. orders at Boulogne and Calais
to rejoin this Division without delay.
A66. of 30/3/18
despatched 4.28pm
[[L?]]
 30/3/18 

7^th Corps. (Rept Flank Divisions 

Information collected from front line shows that attack
at noon today on my front was delivered xx in strength
estimated at two Brigades   aaa   Enemy advanced in at
least four waves which were successively mown down
[[b?]] our ^∧ picket line with machine and Lewis Guns and rifles by our

aaa   Our main line of defence not involved in the fight  aaa
picket line  aaa   Our Artillery ^∧ also successfully engaged many
excellent targets, in many cases by direct observation ^∧ firing with open sights.   aaa

In particular a party of 300 enemy emerging from Woods
N.E. of Sailly-Laurette were blotted out by artillery. aaa
Brigadiers estimate we inflicted more than 3000 casualties 
on enemy   aaa   Our losses were very slight.
C.H.J.  71 
6P.M
30/3/18 

6
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ARMY
AYC-31.III 18
31/3/18

TELEGRAPHS

Handed in at WCO Office 11.2pm.  Recd 1.11am.

TO                 Genl Monash

                        3 Aust Divn

Sender's Numbe     C 4 

Day of Month    30
In reply to Number.
AAA

Heartiest congratulations from

us all on your

last few days work
 

1.12 AM|
CHJ

[[AG?]]

FROM                   Genl Godley
PLACE & TIME