General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 21, 10 September - 3 October 1918 - Part 16








Copy No 40
SECRET
Australian Corps.
28th September, 1918
OPERATIONS AGAINST THE HINDENBURG LINE . 29TH Sept .1918
Vide attached map
1.INFORMATION
(i) On the 26th instant, the French and the Americans attacked
the enemy on either side of the ARGONNE FOREST on a frontage of
about 40 miles. Attack was completely successful. A penetration
of 7 miles has been effected in placed and over 20,000 prisoners
taken.
(ii) On the 27th instant, the First and Third British Armies
attacked on a frontage of about 13 miles opposite CAMBRAI.
Attack reached a depth of 5 miles in places and over
10,000 prisoners and 200 guns were taken. MARCOING and the whole
of BOURLON WOOD were taken. Canadians are within 1 mile of CAMBRAI.
(iii) This morning the Second British Army in conjunction with
the French and Belgians attacked between YPRES and the sea.
Reports indicate that the attack is proceeding successfully,
HOOGE has been taken. The Belgians reported 1,000 prisoners are
before breakfast. POELCAPELLE, VELDHOEK & TOWER HAMLETS ^are captured.
(iv) The Fourth British and First French Armies are attacking
between EPEHY and the OISE tomorrow morning on an approximate
frontage of 25 miles.
The boundaries between the two Armies runs north of the
following towns:- LESDINS-FONTAINE-BEAUTROUX- BOUKINCAMP.
(v) The Fourth British Army is attacking with the IX Corps
on the right in touch with the French. on the left of the IX
Corps are the II American & Australian Corps, which have been
affiliated on one Corps frontage.
III Corps is attacking on the left of Australian Corps.
XIII Corps is in Army Reserve.
2.GENERAL PLAN ATTACK
(I) The Australian Corps will attack opposite the underground
portion of the ST QUENTIN CANAL between BELLICOURT and VENDHUILLE.
The 30th Americian Division is on the right and the 27th
Americian Division is on the left.
Behind these are respectively the 5th and 3rd Australian
Divisions who will pass through the Americians.
The 2nd Australian Division is in Corps Reserve.
The attack will be carried out under a creeping field
artillery barrage as far as the green line.
The Australian Divisions will pass through the American
Divisions on the green line and advance on the red line in open
formations.
(ii) RIGHT FLANK
IX Corps on the right are attacking across the CANAL as far
South as LESDINS.
When the passage across the LE TRONQUAY tunnel has been
forced the XVth French Corps will take over their sector as far
north as GRICOURT and move across the CANAL at LE TRONQUAY working
eastwards and south eastwards to protect the right flank of the
IX Corps.
(iii) LEFT FLANK
III Corps are to keep in close touch with the 27th American
Division on the left of Australian Corps. Should the first advance
P.T.O.
-2-
(iii) Continued.
of the Americans cause the enemy to retreat from VENDHUILLE, the
III Corps will mop up the village and prepare crossings for the
33th division ( V Corps.)
If however the enemy still remain firm here, the 27th
American Division after crossing the CANAL will push northwards,
this threatening the enemy from the rear. III Corps will
co-operate and mop up the area west of the CANAL.
(iv) CAVALRY
The 5th Cavalry Brigade will pass through the infantry
on the 5th Australian Divisional front when the BEAUREVOIR line
has been captured.
Their role is to seize the high ground on the general
line VILLIERS OUTREAUX- BRANCOURT- SEQUEHART and hold it until
the infantry arrive.
Should the enemy retreat they will maintain contact and
two squadrons are being pushed forward with this object, ono
towards PREMONT and BISIGNY , and the other towards BOHAIN.
If opportunity offers, these squadrons will operate against
enemy headquarters, communications and railways.
(v) TANKS AND ARMOURED CARS
Tanks will support the attack of all Divisions.
Armoured Cars and Whippet Tanks will be pushed through
the advanced infantry as soon as possible and will operate
against enemy Headquarters, and centres of communication
towards BUSIGNY.
3. Time Table of events in chronological order on the Australian
Corps front is attached.
signed
J. D. Rogers Capt
for Brigadier-General
General Staff.
Australian Corps.
DISTRIBUTION
1-3 |
Aust.Mission with 2nd American Corps. |
31 | Aust.Corps M.T.Col. |
4-7 | Ist Aust. Division | 32 | A.D. Signals |
8 | 2nd Aust. Division | 33 | O.C. Corps Sig. Coy. |
9 | 3rd Aust. Division | 34 |
H.Q. Spec.Coys Fourth Army |
10-13 | 4th Aust. Division | 35 | A |
14 | 5th Aust. Division | 36 | Q |
15 | 27th American Divn. | 37 | Corps Transport Offr. |
16 | 30th American Divn. | 38 | Iga. |
17 | 4th Tank Bde. | 39 | Br. Intell. Section. |
18 | 5th Tank Bdo | 40 | A.D.C. for G.O.C |
19 | 5th Bde R.A.F. | 41 | Corps Topo Section. |
20 | 15th Wing R.A.F. | 42 | Aust.Corps School |
21 | 5th Balloon Wing R.A.F. | 43 | C.A. |
22 | 3rd Squadron A.F.C. | 44 | A.P.M. |
23 | Corps Mounted Troops. | 45 | A.D.O.S. |
24 | G.O.C., R.A. | 46 | Labour Commandant |
25 | B.G., H.A. | 47 | Camp Commandant |
26 | AQ | 48 | Corps Rfct Camp. |
27 | C.E. | 49-51 | War Diary |
28 | C.R.E. C.T. | 52 | File. |
29 | D.D.M.S | 53-60 | Spares. |
30 | S.M.T.O |
AUSTRALIAN CORPS. |
|||
SECRET |
Headquarters 28th September 1918 |
||
TIME TABLE OF EVENTS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. |
|||
Date. | Time. | Unit or formation concerned. |
Remarks. |
28th Sept |
12 noon
5 p.m. |
Staff Officer leaves Corps Headquarters to synchronise Time with 27th and 30th American Divisions. do. do. |
|
28th Sept | 6 p.m. | Fourth Army, General Staff, synchronises on telephone with Corps |
|
Night 28th/29th Sept. |
- |
2nd Australian Division |
Move from PERONNE and MESNIL areas to assembly positions in area TINCOURT-ROISEL-VILLIERS FAUCON |
Night 28th/29th Sept. |
- |
5th Cavalry Brigade. |
Move from LE MESNIL to vicinity of BOUCLY – HAMELET via CARTIGNY And BOUCLY |
Night 28th/29th Sept. |
(Z-6 hours) ( ) |
1st and 301st Tank Bttns. |
Move from “lying up” positions to starting points ) 1,000 yds in rear of Infantry Start line). Low flying planes in the air. |
29th Sept | - |
6th ) Balloon 14th ) Sections. 22nd) |
Move to forward positions. |
29th Sept |
Zero. ( ) |
27th and 30th American Divns. |
Barrage opens on Artillery Start line. |
29th Sept |
Z plus 3 minutes ( ) |
Work |
First lift of barrage. Advance roads forward of Start Line. |
29th Sept |
(Z plus 30) to (Z plus 100) ( ) |
Aircraft drop smoke bombs on high ground on approx. line NAUROY – LE CATELET. |
|
29th Sept |
(Z plus 85 minutes) ( ) |
Barrage halts for 15 minutes on a line 500 yds East of the CANAL TUNNEL. |
|
29th Sept |
(Z plus 2 hrs) ( ) |
24 Tanks of IX Corps cross Tunnel after (Z plus 2) hours at G.10.c. |
|
29th Sept [*29.*] |
(Z plus 3 hrs) ( ) |
Barrage reaches GREEN LINE protector. |
P.T.O.
-2-
Date. | Time. | Unit or formation concerned. |
Remarks. |
29th Sept |
(Z plus 3½ hrs to (Z plus 4) hrs |
Aircraft drop smoke bombs on high ground on approx. line H.7 – B.1. |
|
29th Sept | 9 a.m. |
Roads should be open for H.T. as far forward as the LE CATELET allowed on these roads East of start line until after 9 a.m. |
|
29th Sept | (Z plus 4 hrs) | Contact patrol machines fly over Green Line. |
|
29th Sept | 9 a.m. |
Artillery supporting “C” American Regiments has priority if they have to move E. of CANAL. |
|
29th Sept | 9 a.m. |
17th Armoured Car Battalion has priority on YELLOW Road. |
|
29th Sept |
9 a.m. to 11 a.m. |
Artillery detailed to support “C” American Regiments and “A” and “B” Brigade Groups of Australian Divisions have priority of control line. |
|
29th Sept |
(Z plus 5¼ to Z plus 5¾ hrs) |
Aircraft drop smoke bombs on High ground on approx.line H.7. – B.1. |
|
29th Sept | 11 a.m. |
Heavy artillery fire lifts East of approx.. line H.8.d.- B.26.c.-B.2.a.- T.19.central.
|
|
29th Sept |
11. a.m. to 12 noon |
Reserve Brigade Groups of 3rd and 5th Australian Divisions followed by “D” American Regts have priority on all “coloured” roads East of control line. |
|
29th Sept | 12 noon | 2nd Aust.Div. |
Held in readiness to move at 2 hours notice. |
29th Sept | 12 noon |
Heavy artillery fire lifts East of the N. & S. grid line |
|
29th Sept | 1 p.m. |
Heavy artillery fire lifts East through H.10.c.0.0. |
|
29th Sept | 1.30 p.m. |
Heavy artillery fire lifts East of the N. and S. grid East of the RED Line.) |
-3-
Date. | Time. | Unit or formation concerned. |
Remarks. |
29th Sept |
(Z plus 8) to (Z plus 8½) hrs ( ) |
Aircraft drop smoke bombs on high ground on approx.. line H.21.- H.10.- B.22. T.27.c |
|
29th Sept | 2 p.m. |
5th Cav. Brigade not to cross after that hour. |
|
29th Sept | (Z plus 10 hors) |
Contact patrol machines fly Over RED LINE. |
|
29th Sept | 5 p.m. |
No M.T. may use “ coloured” Roads before 5 p.m. |
[*29/9/18*]
Fifth Division will employ its reserve Brigade at
earliest possible ^[[?]] [[?]] [[?]] tomorrow morning employ its
Reserve Brigade to advance North along astride Le Catelet
line, passing north between through the 8th and 15th Brigades.
aaa These latter Brigades and Third Division will
^keep touch with and confirm ^to this movement so as to fore clear enemy from all
country South & West of Le Catelet and to get into touch
with the Americans in latter locality aaa All concerned
must picket & search all entrenchments
subterranean exits met with. -
A U S T R A L I A N C O R P S .
Wounded admitted to Field Ambulance, -- OPERATIONS.
Formation | From To |
From Zero 22-9-18 To 6.p.m. 29.9.18 |
||
Officers | O. Ranks. | Officers | O. Ranks. | |
1st Australian Division |
1 |
1 |
||
2nd Australian Division |
2 |
13 |
||
3rd Australian Division |
1 |
36 |
||
4th Australian Division |
- |
17 |
||
5th Australian Division |
10 |
150 |
||
Australian Total |
14 |
217 |
||
Corps Troops |
2 |
92 |
||
Other formations |
12 |
131 |
||
27th American Division |
5 |
1119 |
||
30th do Division |
19 |
864 |
||
Grand Total |
52 |
2423 |
||
Prisoners of War |
|
94 |
C G Collins Major
for Colonel
D.D.M.S.Australian Corps
Headquarters.
29-9-18
Copies to;- A.C.C.
B.G. G.S.
A.
Inf. Bureau.
[*JM*]
A U S T R A L I A N C O R P S .
Wounded admitted to Field Ambulance, -- OPERATIONS.
Formation | From 6 p.m. 28-9-18 To 6 a.m. 29-9-18 |
From Zero 27-9-18 To 6 a.m. 29.9.18 |
||
Officers | O. Ranks. | Officers | O. Ranks. | |
1st Australian Division |
|
2 |
|
9 |
2nd Australian Division |
|
1 |
|
13 |
3rd Australian Division |
|
2 |
|
4 |
4th Australian Division |
|
- |
|
9 |
5th Australian Division |
|
- |
1 |
5 |
Australian Total |
|
5 |
1 |
40 |
Corps Troops |
|
5 |
- |
22 |
Other Formations |
1 |
37 |
10 |
213 |
27th American Division |
|
66 |
7 |
860 |
30th do Division |
|
10 |
2 |
244 |
Grand Total |
1 |
123 |
20 |
1379 |
Prisoners of War |
|
|
|
46 |
C G Collins Major
for Colonel
D.D.M.S.Australian Corps
Headquarters.
29-9-18
Copies to;- A.C.C.
B.G. G.S.
A.
Inf. Bureau.
[*JM*]

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