General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 19, 7 July - 30 July 1918- Part 12

GOC

Ig.

Australian Corps,

30th July, 1918.

4th Australian Division

G.O.C.R.A., Aust. Corps

B.G.H.A., Aust Corps

The following information regarding the HANGARD sector is forwarded:

Method of Holding the Line. Four divisions attached to the

2nd Army (General von MARWITZ) in the following order from north to

south: 41st Divn. - 109th Divn. - 225th Divn. - 21st Divn. 

41st Divn. D.H.Q. at CAPPY, apparently under the orders of the

14th Corps at CAPPY (?). Sector east of the MONUMENT.

109th Divn. 2nd Gren. Regt. - 26th R.I.R. - 376th I.R.: front

line sector L'ASTUCE - HANGARD WOOD - HILL 94 - and country north

of HANGARD (to within 200m. of the village). D.H.Q. in the neighbourhood 

of HARBONNIERES.

225th Divn. Sector, south of HILL 94 - country south of the

LUCE as far asthe main road AMIENS - MOREUIL. D.H.Q.  in the ROSIERES

direction.

These last two divisions are under the orders of the XI Army

Corps, H.Q. at FOUCAUCOURT.

21st Divn. From the main AMIENS - MOREUIL road to the AVRE.

This division is under the orders of the 51 st Army Corps, H.Q. at

FRAMERVILLE.

All these divisions have 3 regiments in the line, each having

1 battalion in the line, 1 in support, and 1 in rest 800 - 1,000m.

in rear, generally in camps.

In each battalion, 2 or 3 companies in line, 1 or 2 companies

in immediate support.

Enemy's Infantry. Alert, but unenterprising. Very few raids,

and these on a small scale.

Apart from the 41st Divn. which came into the line on July 9th,

the 3 other divisions have been in the line for a long time, the 109th

since April 26th, the 225th since May 21st, the 21st since the 2nd

or 3rd of May.

The 41st is a good division, the 109th and225th, both from the

eastern front, are trench divisions. The 21st, a fairly good division,

but very tired and worn out again recently by attacks west

of the AVRE.

Work. A systematic plan is not clearly apparent either from

the interrogation of prisoners, or from the study of photographs,

always with the exception, north of the LUCE, of a second line,

which exists at a mean distance of 2 km. from the first line.

[[?]]

 

- 2 -

its main feature being HERZOGOVINA, CROAT, and BOSNIA Trenches.

The front line is organized, in such a way that there are few

continuous trenches, and almost entirely pits, in places connected

for short distances. There is very little wire. A few dug-outs,

but chiefly shelters for 1 or 2 men.

The second line, consisting, north of the LUCE, of the trenches

just mentioned, is almost continuous.

South of the LUCE, it comprises only small bits of trench -

BASLE TRENCH, MAGYAR TRENCH, BOIS' de T REVES TRENCHES, all fairly

distant from one another.

To sum up, there is very little activity in trench work.

Hostile Artillery

A large number of positions, about 275,

but the greater part unoccupied. During the last period, from July

1st to 15th, only 55 batteries, compared with 75 in the previous

period, have been reported in action on the Corps front.

The enemy's artillery is constantly registering, but shelling

consists for the most part of harassing fire and the occasional use

of gas shell and yellow cross.

Hostile Aircraft.

Slight activity. Hardly ever leave their 

own lines except for night raids. Show no enterprise.

A.A. defence is on the other hand fairly vigilant.

Character of Divisions.

109th Divn. (2nd Gren. Regt. - 26 R.I.R. - 376 I.R.). Forced 

in COURLAND in May, 1915 and always on the Eastern front. Came

from ROUMANIA at the end of March, 1918. Has not taken part in

any big offensive. Short period training before being put into

the line between the MONUMENT and HANGARD WOOD. A trench division.

225th Divn. (18 R.I.R. - 217 R.I.R. - 373 I.R.). Came from

ROUMANIA at the end of November, 1917. In EPARGES sector, whence

it was withdrawn about 15th May to be put straight into the line in 

the HANGARD - HOURGES sector. A trench division.

21st Divn. (80 I.R. - 81 I.R - 87 I.R.). Has been on the 

eastern front. Since the end of November in a sector near RHEIMS.

Withdrawn end of April and put straight into the line south of
THENNES. A fairly good division.

S.A. Hunn Maj

for Brigadier-General

General Staff, Australian Corps

 

 

GOC

AUSTRALIAN CORPS.

S E C R E T

47/185

G.

Headquarters,

30th July, 1918.

2nd Australian Division,

3rd Australian Division,

4th Australian Division,

5th Australian Division,

D.A.Q.M.G.,

G.O.C., R.A.,

C.E.,

D.D.M.S.,

A.D. Signals,

G.O.C. 5th Tank Brigade,

B.G.H.A.,

C.R.A., 12th Division.
There will be a conference at Australian Corps Headquarters

BERTANGLES, at 10 a.m. on 31st. instant. The following will

attend :-

G.O's.C., Divisions,

G.S.D.'s. I,

C.R.A., all Divisions,

D.A.Q.M.G.,

G.O.C., R.A.,

S.O.R.A.,

C.E.,

D.D.M.S.,

A.D., Signals,

G.O.C., 5th Tank Brigade,

B.G.H.A.,

Counter Battery Staff Officer.

C.R.A., 12th Division.

TA Blamey,

Brigadier-General,

General Staff,

Australian Corps.

1
30/7/18
Conference of July 31/18
Introduction. Take full notes; - because of the bare Minimum, on paper of orders will be issued.
Secrecy. An Essential condition for success. -
Secrecy as to facts; - as to date & time. -
Measures:-
(a) Normality of our procedures. -
(b) Movement by night. -
(c) Concealment by day. -
(d) Don't tell ^anyone until ^his action ^is essential. -
(i) prisoners (ii) talk. by prisoners. (iii) spies
(e) Camouflage Stories.. - 
General Situations. -
German failure has seriously affected his strategy.
Maintenance of our Initiative. - 
Disengagement of Amiens & Abbeville.
Moral effect of another defeat on a large scale.
Therefore, Foch decides ^on a large offensive by. Fourth Army, within 8 or 9 days.
Reasons; - for our front -
minor offensives & their effect
enemy hold, weakly.
junction with French least suspected.
absence of organized enemy defences
Disengagement of Amiens & Abbeville
Army plan of battle. [tell so far as essential for Dxx^ivisions. to Know]
Action by four Corps:- III, Austr., Canadian, French.
 III Corps   one Division (18^th) perhaps 2 (58^th)
Aust    "          5           "
Canadian      4           "
& xxx French 1x         "   (Foch insists)
                         11 Divs. - & 1 Cav. Divisions
General objective- map - blue line.
Describe Boundaries on general map.
Austr. Corps task - describe - boundaries - final objective.
III Corps left Defensive flank
Canadian right   do          do
French - Moreuil
Cavalry - Le Quesnel - & behind Montdidier -
Camouflage Story - not active, - but acquiesce, tell as ^a Secret.
(a) French heavy loses on Marne demand shortening of front
.^.. Australians right close.

(b) Canadians to relieve Australians in line.
(c) Canadians meanwhile to cover Junction with French
as per XXII Corps, which known to have gone South.

2
Army Moves.
Relief of 5^th Div. by 58^th Div. to be complete by Aug 1^st
Relief of French Corps by 4^th Div. to be complete by Aug 2^nd
1^st Aust. Div. arrives by complete by Aug 7; 3 Arty. Bgdes by Aug 6. -
Canadians: - 
Corps H.Q. - July 30
2^nd Can. Div. by Aug 1
3^rd     "        "     "  Aug 3
1^st & 4^th  "  "    by midday Aug 5. -
Comments:- Object of 4^th Div. entry is to Conceal Canadians till
latest possible moment; & to get French out of way.
1^st Div. arrives too late for use except for Relief after
battle.
Resouces.
4 battle Divisions
1 Relieving Division
18 Brigades Field Artillery
9 Brigades Heavy Artillery
Tanks - 108 Mark V, 36 Mark V^*, 18 Whippets, 16 Stove Tanks 24 Carrying Tanks.
1 Regt Light Horse, 1 Bn Cyclists.
Corps Squadron A.F.C.; xxxx
Corps Plan of Battle
1. Green line - includes Accroche Wood, & Warfusee
& enemy guns.
2. Red line  describe.
3. Blue line - old Reserve System of 1916. -
4. Corps Boundaries - Somme inclusive & Railway Exclusive. -
4a. Inter-Divisional Boundaries.
5. Two Divisions to Capture Green Line - in a set-piece
attack, under Barrage, with Tanks, q.v. Hamel.
II Div. on right; III Div. on left.
each on a two-Brigade front - each 12 Tanks.. -
6. Two Divisions to leap frog; - and fight on principles
of open warfare - to red line -
V Div. on right; IV Div. on left, each
on a two-Brigade front, with one Bgde in
reserve. -
Each Inf. Brigade - of 1^st line - to have
1 Brigade of Artillery, & each 1^st line
Bgde to have 12 Tanks Brigade to have 12 Tanks.

3
7. Exploitation - by IV & V Divisions
using
(a) Reserve Brigades - if necessary. -
(b) Each 18 Mark V^* Tanks x 20 men = 64 M.G's & Lewis Guns
(c) M.G. Battalion - (& Lewis Guns)
= avge 60 70 to 70 80 ^x per gun.
Inter divisional line, not to be encroached upon except by appeal
to Corps.
Corps Moves in Preparation. - Provisional only. -
1. 5^th Division comes into Corps Reserve, complete by Aug. 1
2. 4^th Division takes over French front, complete by Aug. 2.
3. 4^th Div. takes over from 2^nd Div. front as far north
as Railway (inclusive) - complete by night Aug 2/3
4. 2^nd & 3^rd Divs. rearrange frontages to junction
at P.21.b central. - complete by night Aug 2/3.
5. All three Divisions get onto a simple Brigade front, - [disposing
^these troops as a passive outpost line] by night of
Aug. 4/5. - The other 2 Brigades of each Division are
withdrawn to positions of readiness for ^commencement of approved march
as follows:- (complete on nights Aug 4/5 to be done on nights 3/4 & 4/5.)
IV Divn. - 2 Brigades - (replaced by 2 Canadian Brigades)
go to region of Corbie support of 3^rd Division next day.
II Div. - 2 Brigades - (replaced by 2 Bgdes of
5^th Division) go W. of Villers - Bretonneux.
III Div. - 2 Brigades - (replaced by 2 Brigades
of 4^th Div.) go to region of Corbie
V Div. - 2 Brigades - go into support of
2^nd Div. -
* G.O.C's II & III Div. remain in Control of Battle Fronts.
till Zero + till green line passed. -
Canadian Division takes over command of their line on August 5.
All above must be complete by dawn on. August 5.
Object. - To save 4^th & 5^th Divs. a long march on Z day. -
6. Last Bgde of 4^th Div, is relieved by Canadians on Aug 5/6
& moves to position of readiness
Last Bgde of 5^th Div. is relieved moves up to position of
readiness.
Positions of readiness:- 
(a) where troops can be instructed & equipped
(b) whence they can get onto their approved routes.
having regard to their tasks
(c) where they will be clear of routes of other troops
(d) in case of 4^th & 5^th Div. - where they can act in
Support of Outpost Brigades. -

4
Necessity for careful inter-divisional coordination.
& mutual conciliation.
Divisions to work in pairs. - II & V, III & IV. -
Commander & Staffs ^to Confer. - Corps can give little help
Interdivisional Line, not to be encroached upon except by Approval of Corps.
7.7 Actual battle programme. - [order of events]
(a) Assault Brigades of II & III move through IV & V, & get to tapes
(b) Time Table Barrage ^in time for Zero - to capture of green line.
(c) IV & V Divs. prepare to move at Zero.
(d) Assault Brigades of IV & V with their tanks & Arty. to have
moved up to Green Line - start, by Zero +
followed by Reserve Brigades with their Arty.
(f) Advance to red line
(g) After green line is passed, line Brigades of II & III Concentrate.
(h) After red line is reached, Assault Brigades of II & III Concentrate
& reorganize & move up to suitable support positions - predetermined
(i) Exploitation, to blue line by IV & V
(j) Garrisoning of blue line by IV & V - two Brigades in line
& one in reserve - disposed in depth.
blue line [Army policy in defences to be got later]
Time Table (Provisional)
Zero hours to be settled by Army. Assume 3.30 a m.
100^* lifts Advance 3500^x; 1^st 2000^x = 2 lifts of 100^x in 2 minutes then 100^x in 3 mins ^for 1000^x = 60 min
2^nd 2000^x balance = 100^x in 4 min = 60 min
This will take about 2 hrs.
Reach green line Z + 2 hrs.  | say 5.30 a.m. }2 hrs halt?
Leave green line  Z + 4 hrs.  |        7.30   "     }
Reach red line      Z + 7 hrs.  |       10.30  "
Exploitation starts Z + 8 hrs.|       11.30   "
         do  complete Z + 9 hrs.|       12.30  "
G.O.C. R.A. commands all ^Artillery till green line is reached. -
Artillery  Field Arty.
18 Brigades - in time table Barrage.
Protective Brigades - ½ guns stand ½ hrs; rest sweep search to extreme range.
6 Brigades - mobile - 1 to each Infantry Bgde of IV & V
(stet) - 6 Brigades to Divisions i.e. 3 each to IV & V for Defensive
6 xx Brigades as Corps Reserve, under G.O.C. R.A.
Heavy Arty.
In time table - Counterbattery.
Back barrage.
After green line - 1 mobile Brigade to each Div. IV & V
Remainder under G.O.C. R.A.
Counterbattery Map
Action in case of Gas bombardment
N.B. Infantry Start line;- must have it by 10 a.m Aug. 2. -

5
18/72
Machine Guns.
All left to Divisions:- 
Green line - barrages & consolidation
Red line - for exploitation
for consolidation
Suggest Suggestion only:- Each Div. (IV & V)
32 guns for Consolidation
= 16 per Assault Bgde
32 guns for Mark 5* Tanks
40
16 Mark V^x Tanks to carry 2 Vickers & 2 Lewis Guns each & Crews.
2/18  do         do     to carry Infantry & Officers
Tanks. Allocation
II Division - 27 Mark 5 Tanks = 13 per front Brigade
= 1 Tank per 100^x 150^x of front
Use some in support
II Division, Mark V = 27 i.e. 12 per Bgde & 3 in Reserve
12 Tanks in 1750^x = 1 Tank per 150^x.
Stove Tanks - 1 per Brigade = 2
Carrying Tanks                        = 3
III Division     do               do         do.
IV      "
Mark V 27, 13 to right Brigade 12 per Bgde & 3 in Reserve
1x to left Brigade
Mark V* 18,            8 to each Brigade
2 in Support
Whippets 9,           4 per Brigade & 1 in reserve
Stove Tanks 6,        2 per Brigade
Carrying Tanks 9,   3 per Brigade
V      do.     do.    do.
Totals:-   

Mark V         108
  "        V*        36
Whippets      18
Stove Tanks  30  16
Carrying Tanks   24
Loading of Stove Tanks, - each carries 8 tons.
Time for their movements.
(Courage) Green line Tanks - ^some to join in advance to Red Line, if
available - in own Brigade Zones.
balance to rally & act under orders of Division. -
Div. Commanders to decide
(a) Distribution of Tanks to their Infantry
(b) Times of movements of Whippets & Stove Tks
(c) Withdrawal of Tanks.
Tank Commanders to be detailed forthwith & to Liaise.

6
Engineers & Pioneers
Need for pooling.
Corps Pool
1 Field C^o from IV Div.
1         do   from V    "
2        do   from II    "
2        do   from III   "
6 Field Companies
5^th Pioneer Battalion
3^rd Pioneer Battalion
2 Pioneer Battalions
2^nd Pioneer Bn will serve II & III Div - 2 C^os to each
4^th Pioneer Bn will serve IV & V   "      2 C^os to each
Div. C.R.E's will control
II Div  1 Field C^o & 2 C^os Pioneers
III  "     1 Field C^o & 2 C^os Pioneers
IV  "     2 Field C^os & 2 C^os Pioneers
V   "     2 Field C^os & 2 C^os Pioneers
C.E will
(a) Coordinate work as between himself & the C.R.E's
(b) Inform Divs. as to works to be done by Corps.
(c) Draw up a Scheme of roads & tracks to be opened
having regard to grades, visibility, surface.-
Preparatory Measures.
Div. H.Q. - V Reg. dugouts IV Corbie organize
Cable buries - Divs. in line to do.
Stop leave xxx if desired
Reduce present activities to a minimum, except patrols for
identifications.
Tank Training
Settle & Advise me of Brigades to be used & order of battle.
Use of Americans - postpone advance beyond platoon training
cyclists
Mounted Troops - 1 troop to II & III        |
& cyclists                                                       |
2 troops 1 squadron to IV & V                  |
6 troops for A.P.M.                                      |
Medical - question of Ambulances with
red line Brigades

7
Forward Roads
Routes for
(a) Artillery & Ammunition
(b) Mule Transport - infantry
(c) Evacuation of wounded.
(d) Infantry routes.
Detailing of Divisions
II -
Alteration of fronts
Leaving Bgde in line
Battle dispositions - tanks & M. Guns.
Capture of Warfusec
Digging in on green line
Dumps
Tapes
Approach march
III -
Alteration of front
Leaving Brigade in line
Refuse Cerisy flank
Capture of guns
Accroche woods (tanks)
Avoid Somme valley.
Be ready to mop up Cerisy re-entrant. -
IV -
Preliminary moves.
Move on a narrow front - straight for Shrine, S of Morcourt.
leaving 2 tanks & defensive flank on left.
Push rapidly along high ground & encompass valleys.
V 
Preliminary moves
Bayonvillers.
Woods on left of red objective
Normality up to Zero.
Further Conference, with detailed plans ready. -
Final Relief - by 1^st Div. & either II or III