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Our Great Hearted Men Page 42

by Peter Brune


  Monash, John, The Australian Victories in France in 1918, on artillery transport problems 220; Canadians at Amiens 158; no mention of crossing Somme from west on 29 Aug 228–9; performance of Divisional Commanders 265–6; on Phase A of Amiens 137

  Monash as Military Commander, Peter Pedersen, on 15–23 Aug rest break 195

  Mons, Ludendorff at conference (11 Nov 1917) 3

  Mont St Quentin, 31 August 1918 (map) 240

  Mont St Quentin, Australian losses at 262; battle of 215–66; bombardment of (1 Sep) 248; breach of ‘Winter Line’ 268; important military attributes of 222; preparations for attack on (31 Aug) 237–9

  Mont St Quentin – Péronne, 1 September 1918 (map) 249

  Mont St Quentin–Bouchavesnes Road 245

  Montague, Sir Edwin (Secretary of State for India), Rawlinson’s anti-Semitic letters about 359–60

  Montgomery of Alamein, Field Marshal, fanciful view of Monash 359

  Montgomery, Maj-Gen, The Story of the Fourth Army in the Battles of the Hundred Days, conditions on 29 Sep almost same as on 8 Aug 336–7; inadequacies in British performance 291

  Montgomery, Maj-Gen (Rawlinson’s Chief of Staff), 23; on attack co-ordination 189

  Mopping-up Sections of tanks 106

  Morcourt, pursuit of Germans eastwards to Péronne from (22–29 Aug) 194–214

  Morcourt Gully, 8 Btn at 166

  Morcourt-Harbonnières ravine 129

  Morlancourt 132; AIF at 23

  Morshead, Lt-Col, 33 Btn Report on barrage and casualties (22 Aug) 198; report on cavalry charge (22 Aug) 199

  Moss, Hannah, marries John Monash 81

  Mott, Lt (7 Field Coy), reconnoitres Somme canal (29 Aug) 231

  Mouquet Farm, AIF at (23 Jul–3 Sep 1916) 33

  Moyenneville 196

  Murdoch, Keith, advises Hughes on political solution 88–9; background 75–8; cables Hughes on formation of Australian Corps 87; carries letter from Ashmead-Bartlett to Asquith 77–8; expresses Australian troops’ desire for own control 86; flawed briefing by Bean 93, 94; influence on government policy 94; views on White 93; visits troops with Hughes and Cook (Jul 18) 97

  Murray, Lt-Col (CO, 4 Div MG Btn) 320

  mustard gas 224; British use at Hindenburg Main Line 323

  mustard gas (Yellow Cross) 7

  mutinies, as result of extreme demands made on troops 313; by French troops (May–Jun 1917) 10

  Nauroy 315, 323, 331

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

  Neuve Chappelle, Battle of (10 Mar 1915) 31

  Neuville-Vitasse, tanks at 50

  New Zealand Division (Third Army), takes Bapaume (29 Aug) 267–8

  ‘nibbling’, by BEF 103

  19-pounder Field Art, firing rate at Mont St Quentin 238

  Nivelle, Gen Robert 9–10

  noise reduction, in movement of guns and ammunition 146

  North Melbourne Battery, Monash promoted to Maj in 82

  Northcliffe, Lord (owner, The Times), Murdoch meets 77, 78

  No. 3 Squadron (AFC), attacks retiring Germans (23 Aug) 205; key role in artillery plans for 18 Sep 277; in reconnaissance for 23 Aug attack 203; roles in Hindenburg Line attack 280

  No. 10 General Hospital, Geddes sent to (5 Sep) 216

  Nurlu 269

  Nurlu Heights, III Corps (British) to capture (2 Sep) 254

  oblique aerial photos, use of 59–60

  observation posts, problems in allocation 165

  observation sections, establishment of 40–41

  officer casualties, through machine gun and sniper fire (29 Sep) 338

  Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–18, Charles Bean, praise for 381

  Official History, Charles Bean see Bean, Charles, Official History

  Oise, River 14, 23

  Old Quarry, fight by 3 Div for (31 Aug) 245

  Old Roman Road see Roman Road

  Older Trench 241

  O’Loughlin, Mick, killed (31 Aug) 242

  Omiécourt 223, 227, 229; 7 Btn (2 Div) to cross bridge at 244; bridgework at 254; canal lock at 232; crossing blown up (29 Aug) 232

  Omiécourt-Les-Cléry 243

  Omignon, River 270

  On the Wool Track (1910), Charles Bean 74, 75, 99

  106 fuse, invention of 37–8

  Operation Michael 4, 19; artillery barrage 6

  Operation Michael (map) 20

  Orchard’s Post 285

  O’Ryan, Gen, suggests attack postponement (28 Sep) 326

  Outer Circle railway line, Monash supervises construction of 80

  outflanking, infantry drill of 290

  Outpost Line, attacked by Americans (27 Sep) 324–6

  The Outpost Line Attack, 18 September 1918 (map) 328

  Outpost Line attack (18–28 Sep) 282–95; conflicting and contradictory reports received (27 Sep) 326

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

  Painlev, Paul 11

  Park Wood 239, 244

  Parrish, Pte, No 3770 (13 Bn AIF), killed at Hamel 122

  Passchendaele 65, 67; artillery at 42–3

  ‘Peaceful Penetration’ of German line 278; by Australian and New Zealand troops 103; need for resumption after 23 Aug 195

  Pear Trench, artillery barrage 127; as objective 103–4, 106

  Pearce, George, Murdoch’s contact with 77

  Pearce, Sen George, and Birdwood’s proposals for Australian Corps 90

  Pedersen, Peter, American officer shortage (27 Sep) 325; description of Monash 98; example of anti-Semitism regarding Monash 359–60; on Foch’s Montdidier plan 129; Haig qualifies order of 22 Aug 210; Hughes’ threat to Birdwood about AIF withdrawal 300; key attributes of Monash’s command 265; Monash confident on Hindenburg Line battle 276; Monash stayed away from battle lines 357–8; on Monash’s command on 29 Aug 228–9; on Monash’s conference method 114–15; on Monash’s inaccurate claims about Amiens 130–31; quotes Blamey on results of stress on Monash 313; reason for Monash’s first frontal assault on Péronne and Mont St Quentin 223; on setting limits to tasks 191; two fair criticisms of Monash’s command (22 Aug) 206

  Pedersen, Peter, Monash as Military Commander, on 15–23 Aug rest break 195

  Péronne 4, 14, 221, 246, 250, 262; Australian Corps pursuit from 272, 274; battle of 215–66; breach of ‘Winter Line’ 268; pincer movement attempt on 223; pursuit of Germans from Morcourt eastwards to (22–29 Aug) 194–214; R. Somme bridges at 221

  Péronne–Bouchavesnes Road 24

  Péronne–Mont St Quentin Road 259

  Pershing, Gen, against US troops being used at Hamel 118–19

  Pétain, Gen Philippe 10–11, 15, 22, 23

  phosgene (Green Cross) 7

  pioneer battalions, duties of (30 Aug) 230

  Pioneer Btn, constructs footbridges over R. Somme (23 Aug) 207–8

  Plevna Trench 247, 248

  Plumer, Gen Sir Herbert 17; at Messines 53; Monash serves under at Messines 83

  Poincaré, President 22

  Polygon Wood 43

  Power Buzzer 64

  Pozières, AIF at (23 Jul–3 Sep 1916) 33

  predicted fire, data needed for accuracy 142–3; development and implementation 38–42; use by Germans 43–4

  Prior, Robin and Trevor Wilson, Command on the Western Front 33–4; comments on Rawlinson 131, 160; condition of Fourth Army troops by 11 Aug 185; consequences of artillery bombardment followed by infantry (29 Sep) 329–30; on counter-battery programme 191; evaluation of Hamel 132; Fourth Army attack on Hindenburg Outpost Line (18 Sep) 289; inadequacy of barrages 291; on interlocking arms 145; Rawlinson’s and Monash’s scathing criticism of Americans (29 Sep) 342

  Proyart 184, 229

  The Pursuit, 22–29 August 1918 (map) 213

  Quarry Farm 236, 245

  Quennemont Farm 287, 315, 320, 321

  radio jamming by Germans 168

  Rainecourt 184

  Rawlinson, Gen Sir
Henry 16, 105; advocates attack on Hindenburg Line 275; amazed that Mont St Quentin attack to go ahead on 31 Aug 237; anti-Semitic letters about Montague and Monash 359–60; at Somme 33; attack between Somme and Villers-Bretonneux-Amiens railway 129; on ‘bite and hold’ 34–5; contribution to Battle of Hamel 132; declines attack postponement (28 Sep) 327; extends front on Monash’s plan (18–19 Sep) 317–18; Haig changes plan for Amiens 162–3; harsh choice for (28 Sep) 326; makes key changes to Monash’s plan (19 Sep) 318; orders for 30 Sep 343–4; orders advance late on 8 Aug 168; orders Monash to keep in touch with enemy (27 Aug) 211; orders for pursuit from Péronne 274; phone communication (Jul 1916) 63–4; resumes offensive (23 Aug) 194; section of Hindenburg Line to attack 269; sends Monash’s Hamel plan to GHQ 109; sends Montdidier plan to Haig 129–30; shows Currie’s information to Haig (14 Aug) 187; suggests using Americans at Hamel 111; on tank use at Montdidier 130; tells Monash that Fourth Army ‘marking time’ (25 Aug) 211; two operations on 23 Aug 201

  Read, Maj-Gen (American II Corps) 315; harsh choice for (28 Sep) 326–7; to be helped by Aust Corps Mission 319

  reconnaissance, aircraft replace cavalry for 58–9

  Reims 314

  Reinforced Concrete & Monier Pipe Construction Company, Monash forms 81

  Reserve [trench] Line, old British 270, 273

  rest period for five AIF Divs 194–5

  Ribchester, Lt W (Commander, Tank 9388), in action (23 Aug) 204

  Ribot, Alexandre 10

  rifle grenades, use of 290

  Riga, Battle of (3 Sep 1917) 6, 43

  ‘right-of-way’ orders 244

  Riqueval, intact bridge taken (29 Sep) 329

  Riqueval-Le Tronquoy canal, breached (29 Sep) 343; taken (29 Sep) 329

  Road Wood 234, 236, 245

  Robertson, Gen Sir William, 12–16; attack plan and outcome for 1 Sep 247–8, 250; orders for 6 Bde to pass 5 Bde (31 Aug) 246; sets zero hour for 1 Sep (31 Aug) 246

  Roisel 341

  Rollings, Lt E J, captures maps and Hindenburg Line documents 270; describes armoured cars 156–7

  Roman Road 133, 169; pioneers work on 141

  Rosenthal, Maj-Gen, 2 Div at Amiens 137, 138; 2 Div nearing bend in Somme (28 Aug) 212; appointed commander 2 Div 90; at Corps conference (29 Aug) 229; at ‘Hamel Spur’ 104; briefs 2 Div Bde commanders for Mont St Quentin attack (29 Aug) 232; Btns from 2 Div to be disbanded 300; Mont St Quentin attack plan for 2 Div 223

  Rosières 176, 178

  Roxburgh, John, treated for influenza 371

  Royal Air Force (RAF), formation 61–2; plan for Amiens 144; size (1918) 58

  Royal Engineers, mapping, observation and sound-ranging sections in 40–41

  Royal Field Artillery 170

  Royal Flying Corps (RFC), aerial photography by 40; growth 1914–18 58; need for planning and liaison with 37; spotting by 39

  Roye 182

  Roye-Chaulnes-Bray-Dernancourt, objective (9 Aug) 168

  rum, issued to fatigued troops (31 Aug) 239

  Sadler, Lt-Col (17 Btn), mistiming (9 Aug) 182

  Sadler, Peter (biographer of Gellibrand), on divergence of opinion between Gellibrand and Blamey (29 Sep) 340

  St Christ 220; R. Somme bridge at 221

  St Denis 246, 250, 262; Germans withdraw from 258

  St Denis Wood, German fire from (1 and 2 Sep) 251, 260

  St Denis–Mont St Quentin Road 260

  St Pierre Vaast Wood 263

  St Quentin 4, 269, 271

  St Quentin Canal 271

  Saluting Monash Council 355, 361

  Salvage Companies for tanks 56

  Scanlan, Lt-Col (59 Btn), men of 60 Btn handed over to 305; tells Elliott that 60 men from 59 Btn refuse orders to move 306–7

  Scarpe, River 196; first army advances beyond (Aug) 196

  Scheldt, River 271

  Scullin, PM James, promotes Monash and Chauvel to rank of General (11 Nov 1929) 354

  Second Battle of the Aisne 10

  Second Battle of the Marne, casualties at 24

  secrecy, at Amiens 145–7; emphasis on Hamel and Amiens 130, 133, 135; lack after first day at Amiens 164; near jeopardisation of Amiens 147–8

  Secretary of State for Colonies, telegraph from Australian Government to 87–8

  Serle, Geoffrey, Monash, Monash suggest sentence remittal for mutineers 312; on Monash’s mother 79

  set-piece battle doctrine 276–7

  Shelley, Lt M (No. 3 Squadron AFC) 326

  siege artillery (heavy artillery) 395–6

  Siegfried Position (Siegfriedstellung) see Hindenburg Line

  Sinclair-Maclagan, Maj-Gen, 4 Div at Amiens 138, 147; at Amiens (10 Aug 18) 183; at ‘Hamel Spur’ 104; disagrees with Hamel plan 109; to command Aust Corps Mission 319–20

  smoke, use on Western Front 67

  smoke cover for infantry 218

  sneezing gas 224, 261

  Soissons 269

  soldiers see troops

  Somme, Battle of 23, 65; artillery bombardment before 35–6; artillery improvements after 36–7; artillery rounds fired 66; casualties and losses 12, 19, 32–3; defective artillery shells at 34; guns at 42

  Somme Canal 221

  Somme offensive (1 Jul–18 Nov 1916), lessons from 32–3

  Somme, River 196, 202, 245; crossing challenges 221–2, 231; pontoon bridge to Halle (1 Sep) 254

  sound ranging 39, 277, 324

  sound-ranging sections, at Amiens after first day 165–6; establishment of 40–41

  Stacy, Lt-Col, calls for tougher penalties for mutiny 311; favoured tougher penalties for mutineers 312

  Staff College, limitations 27–8

  Staff Corps, numbers (1914) 27

  staff planning by Monash, example 317–18

  staff work, importance of 291

  Steel, Will, letter on leadership from Monash to 80

  Stewart, Bdr-Gen, ordered to deploy 14 Bde in attack towards Péronne and St Denis (31 Aug) 246; to attack along Le Catelet Line and advance along Railway Ridge (30 Sep) 345–6

  Stokes Mortars, supporting 7 Bde (2 Sep) 255; use at Mont St Quentin 238, 243

  stores, problems keeping up supply 165

  The Story of the Fourth Army in the Battles of the Hundred Days, Maj-Gen Montgomery, conditions on 29 Sep almost same as on 8 Aug 336–7; inadequacies in British performance 291

  Story, Lt-Col, letters of protest about disbandments 301

  Streseman, Capt von, captured (18 Sep) 283

  Sturmtruppen in Operation Michael 8, 18

  Styles, Bert, wounded on 31 Aug 242

  Sugar Factory 251

  supplies, carried by armoured cars 156; carried by tanks and men 117

  supply tanks, introduction 56

  Supreme War Council, appointment of Allied Commander-in-Chief 15; changes in (Feb) 16; formation (Nov 1917) 14

  surprise, lack after first day at Amiens 164

  surprise factor, of aircraft 144

  Suzanne, captured (28 Aug) 233

  Swinton, Lt-Col Ernest, and tank development 45, 46, 48

  Sydney Evening Sun, Murdoch as correspondent for 77

  Sydney Morning Herald, Bean as war correspondent for 74

  Sydney World, Murdoch as news editor for 77

  synchronised machinegun fire on aeroplanes 61

  Tailles Wood 197

  Tank 9026, crushing machine gun posts 124

  Tank 9044, hit at Hamel 121–2

  Tank 9055, effect on enemy 125

  Tank 9097, crushing machine gun posts 124; pros and cons of 124–5

  Tank 9183, crushing machine gun posts 124

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

  Tank 9292, at Hamel and Vaire Wood 123–4

  Tank 9385, report on operations (29 Sep) 334–5

  Tank 9388, in action (23 Aug) 204

  Tank 9403, at Hamel 122–3

  The Tank in Action, D G Brown 45

  Tank Corps, changes in (Jan) 104; need for planning and l
iaison with 37; report by Fourth Army on Hamel 125–6; structural initiatives by 1918 56; tanks as finite resource 190

  tank crews, availability and condition of 166–7

  tank-infantry planning, need for 52

  tanks, advent of 38; allotted to 4 and 12 Bdes (18 Sep) 281; ammunition and supplies carried by 117; with armoured cars for towing purposes 155; at Fleurs-Courcelette (15 Sep 1916) 48–9, 55–6; crews 49–50; distribution (9 Aug) 173; failure at Bullencourt (Apr 1917) 51–2; identification with troops 113; importance for Hindenburg Line crossing 317; improvements (1916–18) 55–6; knocked out on Le Catelet-Nauroy Line (29 Sep) 333; losses and sustainability of numbers 167; low numbers at Hindenburg Line 278–80; Mk I 46–9; more careful use of 279–80; in Outpost Line attack (18 Sep) 284; petrol fumes inside 207; rapidly knocked out (29 Sep) 338; reduced numbers of tanks and crews in 5 Tank Bde 218–19; shortcomings of Mk V 109–110; support for attack on Estrées (29 Sep) 333; supporting 15 Bde advance (29 Sep) 332; use in infantry advances 141–2; usefulness at Amiens 154

  Task Tables 42

  tasks, setting limits to 191

  technological expertise, need for 29

 

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