Our Great Hearted Men

Home > Other > Our Great Hearted Men > Page 41
Our Great Hearted Men Page 41

by Peter Brune

Fervaque Farm, Germans make ‘resolute stand’ at (18 Sep) 283

  Feuchy Chapel, tanks at 50

  Feuillaucourt 241, 243, 246, 247

  Feuillères, 7 Btn (2 Div) to cross bridge at 244; artillery support crosses Somme at (31 Aug) 246; repaired bridge at 232; road repairs at 254

  Field Artillery (BEF), accuracy 290; classification 395–6

  Field Marshal, conditions for appointment as 363–4

  Field Survey Battalions 41

  fighter aircraft, German and British 61

  firepower, improvement on Western Front 67

  ‘firepower not manpower’ dictum 114, 279

  First AIF, casualties in 70

  First AIF soldiers, possessed three advantages in 1918 380–81

  First Battle of Ypres (Oct 1914), British ammunition use 31–2

  Fischer, Tim, proposes Monash’s posthumous promotion to Field Marshal 355

  Fischer, Tim, Maestro John Monash, advocates Monash’s promotion to Field Marshal 361–2

  Fisher, PM Andrew, asks Murdoch to visit Middle East and Gallipoli 76–7; ‘collapse of mental powers’ claim by Bean 94

  Flamicourt 252, 259, 260

  Flamicourt Railway Station, German machine gun fortress 253

  Flanders (Belgium) 314

  flash spotting 38–9, 277; at Amiens after first day 165

  Flers, AIF at (Nov 1916) 33

  Flers-Courcelette battle, tanks at (15 Sep 1916) 48–9, 55–6

  Flesquières 7

  Florina Trench 250; cleared (31 Aug) 244

  Foch, Marshal 11, 22–3; endorses Haig’s plan for shift in offensive (Aug) 196; Fischer tries to rank Monash alongside 362–3; Haig stands up to 187; impending offensive by Belgians 211; planned four offensives for 26–29 Sep 314; Western Front initiative in hands of 128–9

  Fokker E.1 fighter (German) 61

  Fort Bell 285

  Fort Bull 285

  Foucaucourt 201

  Foucaucourt Plateau 206

  Framerville 156, 169, 170

  French Army, aircraft numbers (1912) 58; at Bullecourt 50; to attack Hindenburg Line 275–6

  Froissy Beacon 201; captured by 3 Bde (23 Aug) 205

  Froissy Valley 201

  front lengths, at Broodseinde (Amiens and Third Battle of Ypres) 139

  Frontal Attack, 29 August 1918 (map) 225

  Fuller, Brevet-Col, on infantry-tank cooperation at Hamel 113; emphasises tank lessons 173

  Fullerphone 64

  Gallipoli, Keith Murdoch visits 77

  Garrison Artillery, Monash commissioned (1885) 82

  gas, continued use by Germans 260; on Western Front 67

  Geary, Capt, killed at Amiens (8 Aug) 153

  Geddes, Aubrey 124

  Geddes, Corporal Clifford (13 Btn, 4 Bde, 4 Div), at Amiens (8 Aug) 152–3, 161; at Hamel 121; at visit by Hughes and Cook (Jul) 97; condition of troops (11–14 Aug) 185–6; describes deaths in trenches 127; diary (2 Jul) 118, 138; on joint training exercise at Vaux 112; sees brother wounded 124; sent to hospital (5 Sep) 216; war and later life 366, 368

  Gellibrand, Maj-Gen, 337; on 29 Nov 338–9; 3 Div at Amiens 137, 138, 150; 3 Div captures Suzanne, Vaux and Curlu and moves on Cléry (29 Aug) 212; 3 Div faces problem (22 Aug) 196–7; 3 Div relieved by BEF 17 Div (12 Aug) 194; 3 Div relieves brigades (10 Aug) 183; appointed commander 3rd Division 90; argument with Monash (30 Sep) 349; attack on 30 Sep 348; praise for leadership (22 Aug) 206; at Corps conference (29 Aug) 229; Btns from 3 Div to be disbanded 300–301; good leadership by (22 Aug) 197; has spirited discussion with Blamey (29 Sep) 339–40; orders 10 Bde to attack Bouchavesnes Spur (31 Aug) 234; rapidity of troop’s attacks on German machine guns (22 Aug) 198–9; thrust to capture Bray and La Neuville Peninsula 207; to advance (31 Aug) 245

  General Headquarters (GHQ), Maj-Gen Royal Artillery on staff 37

  George, Operation 4

  German air superiority (1915) 61

  German anti-tank fire, improved 333–4

  German Army, composition (1914) 29

  German artillery in Lamotte-Cerisy Valley 109

  German casualties at Cabaret Wood Farm 350

  German casualties and captures at Amiens (8 Aug) 158

  German counter-attack, at Cambrai (30 Nov 1917) 55; at Chalk Pit and ‘Happy Valley’ (22 Aug) 200; at Mont St Quentin (31 Aug) 239–41; recaptures Quarry Farm (31 Aug) 245

  German defences at Ypres, depth of 67

  German losses compared with British and French 69

  German Machine Gun Corps at R. Somme 221

  German prisoners taken at Amiens (8 Aug) 150

  German skeletons, road into Bray littered with 209

  German soldiers at Ypres, resilience of 67

  Germans, defensive advantages at bend in R. Somme 220; fought to the death 248; pursuit eastward of (22–29 Aug) 194–214; retreat to Hindenburg Line 274; surrender to 20 Btn 241

  Gheluvelt Plateau 68

  Gillemont Farm 315, 320, 321; taken (29 Sep) 340

  Gillemont Trench Line 338

  Glasgow, Maj-Gen, 1 Div advance (9 Aug) 169; 7 and 8 Btns advance to Lihons 176; appointed commander 1 Div 90; at Villers-Bretonneux (8 Aug) 170–71; communication problems (9 Aug) 170; ordered by Monash to undertake relief for III Corps attack 310; praise for leadership (23 Aug) 206; wants tougher mutiny penalties 311, 312

  Glisy aerodrome 203

  Goddard, Brig-Gen 337; 9 Bde unable to arrive on time (30 Sep) 348

  Gott Mit Uns Trench 250

  Gottlieb Trench 247

  Gough, Gen Sir Hubert 17–18, 22, 50

  Gouy 339

  Grand Priel Wood 283

  The Great War Generals, Robin Neillands, on plan for Passchendaele 67, 68

  The Great War, Les Carlyon, attitudes to Mont St Quentin and Péronne 264

  Griffith, Paddy, Battle Tactics of the Western Front 26; on phone cables 64

  ground-to-air communications 60–61

  gun areas, problems in allocation 165

  Gun Programmes 42

  guns, noise reduction during transport 146; problems with physical movement 164–5

  Haig, Field Marshal Douglas, 9, 10, 12–15, 16–19 passim 22, 33, 36, 136, 137; advises against independent control by AIF 88–9; advocates more aggressive tactics (22 Aug) 209–210; approves Rawlinson’s Hindenburg Line plan (13 Sep) 275; changes Rawlinson’s plans for Amiens 162–3; desire for break-out into mobile warfare 65–9 passim; fixation on cavalry 162; grants Monash two weeks delay in Hindenburg Line assault 305; ignorance of military and political masters 269; moves BEF offensive northwards 192, 194; Old Cliftonian 73; planned four offensives for 26–29 Sep 314; plans three-phase operation (Aug) 196; postpones offensive (14 Aug) 187; restructures British Army due to losses 297

  Halle 221, 223, 229, 232, 244

  Hallu 182

  Ham 4

  Hamel, 4 July 1918 (map) 107

  Hamel, 3rd Bde at (9 Aug) 170; as combined infantry-tank-artillery battle 110; first barrage (4 Jul) 120; as objective 103–4; tank plan for 105–6

  Hamel, Battle of, air support at 126–7; casualties 127

  ‘Hamel Spur’, German occupation of 104

  Hamel Village, as objective 106, 108

  Hamel Wood, as objective 104, 106

  Hamilton, Sir Ian 77, 78

  Hamilton, Snow, treated for influenza 371

  hand-to-hand fighting, along Le Catelet Trench Line (30 Sep) 347; at Péronne (1 Sep) 250

  Hankey, Maurice, on mechanical warfare 45–6; on Murdoch 78

  ‘Happy Valley’ 197, 200

  harassing fire, at Hindenburg Main Line bombardment 323

  Harbonnieres 156, 169

  Harding, Lt (Tank 9199), report on anti-tank fire (29 Sep) 333–4

  Hargicourt 281, 314

  Hartcup, Guy, The War of Invention, on 106 fuse 38, on tanks 45–6

  Hattencourt 182

  Haut Allaines 255, 262

  Hazebrouck, AIF at 23

  Heavy artillery 6-inch How
itzers, firing rate at Mont St Quentin 238

  Heavy artillery, accuracy of 290; to fire on Le Catelet Trench Line (30 Sep) 346

  heavy artillery (siege artillery) 395–6

  heavy guns, at Amiens 142

  ‘Heavy Section Machine Gun Corps’ established (Mar 1916) 48

  Hébuterne, AIF at 23

  Hem, 3 Div clears ground around (29 Aug) 234

  Herleville 196, 201

  Hesbecourt 341

  Hill 80 223

  Hindenburg, Gen 2

  The Hindenburg Line, 29 September 1918 (map) 352

  Hindenburg Line, attack on 267–96; BEF break-through 44, 51, 55; final assault on 314–53; from Arras to Soissons 269; German armies withdraw to 268; Horne’s thrust might pierce 210–211; Monash chooses crossing point 315–16

  The Hindenburg Line (map) 273

  Hindenburg Main Line attack (29–30 Sep) 321, 327–53; front 314; operation 275

  Hindenburg Outpost Line 272, 273, 275, 276, 278, 281; 1 Btn (3 Bde) on (18 Sep) 286

  Hobart, Maj-Gen Percy, Old Cliftonian 73

  Hobbs, Gen, 5 Div nears bend in R. Somme (28 Aug) 212; 8 Bde (5 Div) to capture Hill 80 223; approves Elliott’s request to replace 1 Div with 15 Bde 171; at Amiens 138; at Corps conference (29 Aug) 229–30; issues orders for 15 Bde (5 Div)’s role in 2 Sep attack 259; leapfrogs 2 Div at Amiens (8 Aug) 154–5; orders limited advance (1 Oct) 350; not recommended by Birdwood for command of Australian Corps 89–90; protest to Monash about condition of 5 Div troops 263–4; remits mutineer’s sentences after Armistice 312; succeeds Monash as Commander, Australian Corps 354; in temporary command at Amiens 136

  Holt Caterpillar Tractor 45

  Horne, Gen 17; First Army to advance beyond R. Scarpe (Aug) 196; next major BEF offensive on his First Army front 210–211

  horses, problems and losses 165

  Hostile Battery Lists 41–2

  Hotchkiss Gun, on Mark V tanks 54

  Howse VC, Maj-Gen 89; influence on high physical standard of troops 380–81; role in Bean’s intrigue 92–3

  Hughes, PM Billy, attempt by Murdoch to influence 93; behaviour reflects Australian political immaturity 94; instigates conscription referendums 70–71; makes four decisions about AIF (Sep) 299–300; meeting with Milner, Bonar Law and Wilson 95–6; Murdoch’s contact with 77; Murdoch’s support for in May 1917 election 86; visits troops with Cook and Murdoch (Jul) 97

  Hutier, Gen von 4, 6

  Indian Army, numbers (1914) 27

  infantry, challenges after 8 Aug 18 167–8; joint training with 5 Tank Bde 111

  infantry (German), in Operation Michael 8–9

  infantry-tank planning, need for 52

  infantry-tank-artillery coordination at Hamel 125

  influenza epidemic, Armitage suffers in 371

  Instructions for the Occupation and Care of Men, issued by Elliott 309

  inter-aircraft communication by wireless telegraphy 60

  inter-brigade communications, necessity for 294

  interlocking arms, doctrine of 145

  Italian front, losses 14

  Jackson, Lt-Col G H N, criticises British command (23 Jun) 100–101

  Jess, Lt-Col (3 Div GSO 1), advises McNicoll and Cannan (29 Sep) 339

  Joffre, Gen 9

  Johanesen, Paul Reginald (‘Reg’), on arrival in Melbourne 376; describes action at Amiens 179–80; letter (24 Apr 1917) 375; letter to parents (28 Jan) 376; letter to parents (1917) 375–6; war and later life 374–7; wounded again 376

  Joncourt 343

  junior officers, new expectations of 102

  Kenelly, Mick (3 Sep) 261

  King George V, visits Australian Corps HQ at Bertangles (12 Aug 18) 192

  Knob 351

  Knoll 316, 320, 321

  Koros Alley 248

  Koverla Trench 248

  La Chapelette, lock at 232

  La Maisonette 227

  La Neuville Peninsula 207

  lacrymator (gas) 7

  Lagnicourt, First AIF casualties at (1917) 70

  Lambert, Maj-Gen (32 Div BEF), at Corps conference (29 Aug) 229

  Lamire Farm 229, 232

  Lamotte-Cerisy Valley, German artillery in 109

  Laskey, Maj (Commander, 2 Tank Btn), complains about battle instructions 177; describes destruction of tanks 177–8; report (9 Aug) 190

  Lawrence, Gen 23

  Le Catelet 271

  Le Catelet Line 315, 346

  Le Catelet-Nauroy Line 331

  Le Catelet-Nauroy support trench line, positions consolidated at (29 Sep) 335

  Le Mesnil 259

  Le Tronquoy 271

  Le Tronquoy-Riqueval canal, breached (29 Sep) 343

  Le Verguier 281, 287

  Leane, Brig-Gen (12th Bde) Report on Operations 10–20 September, poor performance of 2 Bde (British) 294, 295

  Leane, Brig-Gen Ray, lack of leapfrogging by 293; tank failure at Bullencourt 51–2

  leapfrogging, on 18 Sep 292; at Amiens 138–9, 140, 147, 151, 154, 159, 171

  Lempire-Hargicourt-Le Verguier Line 323

  Lewis Guns, on Mark IV tanks 54; use at Mont St Quentin 243; use in Outpost Line attack 290

  Lewis Guns (German), inflict heavy losses 179

  Liddell Hart, contentions about Monash had War continued 359; on Monash (1938) 355, 355–6

  Liddell Hart, Through the Fog of War, on Monash 358, 359

  Light Trench Mortars, at attack on Péronne 250

  Lihons 169, 170, 176, 178, 184; high ground around unacknowledged 189

  limits, long-term effects of pushing troops beyond 263–4

  limits to tasks, setting 191

  Litchfield, Lt, effect of tanks on enemy 125

  Lloyd George, David, 10, 11–16 passim; briefed by Murdoch on Australian electorate 87; on factors in Army promotion 360; his reasons why Robertson and Haig would never have been replaced as C-in-C BEF 360–61; Murdoch meets 78; praises Monash in memoirs 355; speculation on Monash 359

  logistics, achievements in 219; importance for Hindenburg Line crossing 317

  long-term effects of pushing troops beyond limits 263–4

  Loos, Battle of (Sep 1915) 31, 34

  losses, to Lewis Guns on 9 Aug 179; see also casualties

  losses, German, compared with British and French 69

  low-level aircraft patrolling 61

  Luce, River 132

  Ludendorff, Gen Erich 2–9, 18, 19, 22, 24; defence along ‘Winter Line’ 267–8; Der Schwarze Tag of German Army (8 Aug) 185; Der Wendepunkt der Kriegslage 128

  Lys 23, offensive at 129

  machine gun posts, crushed by tanks 154; impediment to crossing no-mans-land 120

  machine guns, for Hindenburg Line attack 279; intensity and accuracy (18 Sep) 290; in support at Péronne 250

  Macintyre, Stuart, working class social agenda 380

  MacKay, Brig-Gen (Commander 1 Bde), reports Stacey’s call for tougher mutiny penalties 311

  Maestro John Monash, Tim Fischer, advocates for Monash’s posthumous promotion to Field Marshal 361–2

  Magny 329

  Main Body Sections of tanks 106

  Main [trench] Line (old British) 270, 271, 273, 276

  Mangin, Gen Charles, at River Marne 128

  manpower, need for preservation of 114

  Mansfield, Capt (17 Btn) 253

  mapping sections, establishment of 40–41

  maps provided across Fourth Army for 18 Sep attack 277

  Mark I tanks 46–9; crew challenges 49–50; mechanical unreliability of 52; uselessness at Bullecourt 50–52

  Mark IV tanks, at Messines 53–4; as supply tanks 166, 202

  Mark V One Star (Mark V*) tanks, at Amiens 140–41

  Mark V tanks 54, 56–7; on 9 Aug 169; on 29 Sep 330; at Amiens 140; at Vaire and Hamel Wood 123–4, 125; at Vaux 105; four destroyed at Amiens (9 Aug) 175; losses at Amiens 167; shortcomings of 109–110; in support (23 Aug) 202; supporting 5 Div Btns (29 Sep) 332

  Mar
ks, Lt-Col (CO, 13 Btn), conference on Battle of Hamel (22 Jun) 116–17

  Marne, River, French counter-attack on 128

  Marne, Second Battle of, casualties at 24

  Marriott, Hugh 45

  Mars, Operation 4

  Martin, Brig-Gen (5 Bde), orders attack on Mont St Quentin (31 Aug) 237; to attack Mont St Quentin (30 Aug) 231

  Marwitz, Gen von 4, 6 Maurepas 234

  Maxse, Maj-Gen, Monash examines report on Thiepval by 83

  McKernan, Michael, Bean’s motivation for War Memorial establishment 381

  McLennan, Pte William, on Australian troops (1 Sep) 253–4; crosses Somme at Feuillères (30 Aug) 235–6; on 18 Btn (5 Bde) progress across Somme Canal near Cléry (29 Aug) 226; 18 Btn refuses to cross river and attack 306; background and experience 223–4; diary for 31 Aug 242; effect of gas on (Mar–Aug) 223–4, 226; gas use and casualties (3 Sep) 260–61; observations on birds (9 Apr, 21 May, 3 Jun) 377–8; on souvenir hunting (19 May) 378; war and later life 377–9

  McNicoll, Brig-Gen 337; 10 Bde to attack Bouchavesnes Spur (30 Aug) 234–5; on 30 Sep 348; advised to employ strong patrolling (29 Sep) 339

  ‘Mechanical Warfare Supply Department’ 48

  Menin Road battle (20 Sep 1917) 43

  Mental Care of Men instruction, issued by Elliott 309

  Mercatel 196

  Méricourt 184

  Messines, Battle of (7–14 Jun 1917) 53–4; First AIF casualties at 70; Monash’s 3rd Division at 83

  Meuse, River 314

  Michael, Operation 4, 19; artillery barrage 6; map 20

  military aviation, German funding for 57–8

  Milner, Lord 22

  minenwerfers (mortars) captured 289

  mistakes made, from Amiens to Mont St Quentin and Péronne 263

  Mitchell, George, 1–2; esprit de corps of men going into battle 301; war and later life 365–6

  Moffatt, Capt, traces source of mutiny 311

  Monash, Bertha 79

  Monash, Geoffrey Serle, on Monash’s mother 79

  Monash, Gen Sir John, ability to push men beyond limits 216–17; advocates delay in btn reductions 298–9; appointed Commander of 3 Div (AIF) (Jul 1916) 83; appointed Director-General of Repatriation and Demobilisation, London (21 Nov) 354; appointed general manager, State Electricity Commission of Victoria (Jun 1920) 354; argument with Gellibrand (30 Sep) 349; awareness of intrigue by Bean, Murdoch et al 95–7; background and first part of War 78–84; command strengths of 355–9; comments on Robertson and Stewart’s plan 246–7; comparing battle victories 184; concerns about Chipilly Spur 147; method 114–15; confidence about Hindenburg Line battle 276–8; confidence in Corps methods 278; creates Aust Corps Mission 319–20; detailed staff planning by 317–18; dies (8 Oct 1931) 354; on effect of Australian losses 114; effects of strain on 313; four basic requirements for Hindenburg Line crossing success 316–17; harsh choice for (28 Sep) 326–7; interprets Rawlinson’s order to justify aggressive policy (28 Aug) 211; knighted by King George V (12 Aug) 192; long-term effects of pushing troops beyond limits 263–4; major battle with 3 Div (AIF) at Messines (Jun 1917) 83; message to troops at Amiens 148; notes for conference (30 Jun) 115–16; notes for conference with divisional commanders (31 Jul) 397–405; objectives at Amiens 133; outlines plan to divisional commanders (29 Aug) 229–30; Pedersen’s description of 98; persuades Rawlinson to ask Haig for two weeks delay in Hindenburg Line assault 305; planning Amiens offensive (Jul) 136–7; planning and command at Mont St Quentin and Péronne 264–5; requests control at Chipilly 183; requires tanks at Hamel ‘bulge’ 105; sees opportunity to achieve two aims 211–12; sends three-phase plan for 9 Aug 18 to commanders 169–70; at start of Hamel offensive (4 Jul 18) 119; striking victories from 31 Aug–3 Sep 262–3; submits preliminary Hamel attack plan (21 Jun) 106, 108–9; suggests attack postponement (28 Sep) 327; to command Australian forces (May) 89–90; two fair criticisms of command (22 Aug) 206; two-phase plan for capture of Péronne 222–3

 

‹ Prev