Review of 'General John Monash & the Battle of Le Hamel' by Paul Cobb (November 2017)

John Monash was born in Melbourne, Victoria, in 1865 to Louis & Bertha Monash who had emigrated from Germany to Australia in 1863. His parents were Jewish and the combination of German ancestry & Jewish connection would be a problem for Monash for most of his career. He studied Engineering at the University of Melbourne, graduating in 1895. While he studied at the university, he joined the militia, specialising in artillery and then intelligence. By 1913 he was a full colonel in command of the 13th Infantry Brigade.

When war broke out in August 1914, Monash became a full-time army officer and was initially given a desk job in Australia. He did not enjoy this and applied for a field commission. He was appointed commander of the 4th Infantry Brigade and sailed from Australia to Egypt in December 1914, arriving in Egypt in January 1915. His brigade came ashore on the Gallipoli peninsula April 26 1915 and his brigade defended the line between Pope’s Hill and Courtney’s Post.

The valley behind his brigade became known as Monash Valley. Monash was promoted to brigadier-general in July and his brigade took part in the August Offensive. After the evacuation he was based in Egypt until his brigade was sent to France in June 1916. In July he was promoted to major-general and placed in command of the Australian 3rd Division. His division took part in various battles of the 3rd Ypres campaign, usually with success but taking heavy casualties. In May 1918, Monash was promoted to lieutenant-general and made commander of the Australian Corps.

After the BEF’s response to the German Spring Offensive, the German advance had been held at Villers-Bretonneux in April 1918. In July 1918, the commander of the 4th Army, General Rawlinson, instructed Monash to plan an attack at Le Hamel, about 3km north-west of Villers-Bretonneux. Control of the village and the ridge would be a first step in the planned advance later in the year.

The battle was to use co-ordination between infantry, artillery, tanks and RAF. Before the battle, the artillery bombarded the German lines every night with a mixture of smoke and gas. Plans were put in place of a feint operation to keep the German High Command guessing. Monash used about 7000 troops in all, mainly from Australian 4th Division reinforced by two brigades from other divisions. Rawlinson suggested that Monash should also involve American troops, much to the annoyance of General Pershing who felt that the US troops should fight in American actions not as reinforcements. As a result, most of the American troops were ordered to withdraw. Monash employed over 600 British & French guns which opened fire as usual at 0300 but not with the usual gas & smoke but with HE & shrapnel. The targets hit moved back towards the German front line as the troops advanced at 0310. Eventually the artillery were firing a creeping barrage. While the artillery was firing, the RAF proceeded with a bombing campaign using Handley Page bombers of 101 Squadron dropping over 300 bombs in the German rear lines.

The attack on Pear trench (SW of Hamel) was held up temporarily as the barrage had not cut the wire and the tanks had got lost in the darkness. This resulted in the German defenders putting up a strong resistance. The resistance was overcome by the combination of Lewis gunners and Private Dalziel rushing the German machine guns with only a revolver, an action for which he won the Victoria Cross. Eventually the German front trench was taken by attacks from both flanks. 

South of both the village and Pear trench, the attack on Kidney trench was held up by machine guns in the woods and unbroken barbed wire. The problem was resolved by Lance Corporal Axford who charged the trench single handed and bombed his way down past the machine guns with numerous grenades finally attacking with enemy with his bayonet (an action for which he too was awarded the VC). He was ably supported by members of his platoon and the trench was taken along with numerous German prisoners. The British tanks moved up to support the infantry who dug in while more troops fanned out to take the woods so as to ensure their flanks were protected.  As the troops advanced, their reserve ammunition was dropped by parachute.

The attack on the village of Le Hamel was accompanied by flanking attacks on Notamel Wood (on the left) and to the right. Once again, the tanks allocated to this part of the attack were late in arriving so that fighting was fierce before the tanks arrived. This action may be the origin of the legend of the NCO who stood up and fired his Lewis gun from the hip over the tall crops which prohibited firing from a prone position. Further north it took a combination of air power, artillery and tanks to clear the German soldiers out of their positions in the wood. As the sun began to rise the last resistance in the village and a nearby quarry was quashed by tanks.

On the southern flank, initial light German resistance rapidly stiffened on an exposed position. After a German counter attack, tanks and reinforcements outflanked the German rear area in Accroche Wood, and eventually broke the German resistance.

Monash had arranged a feint attack north of Le Hamel and across the river. This deception was designed to confuse the Germans as to the true centre of attack. At the same time as the soldiers attacked Le Hamel, this feint attack went in at Ville-sur-Ancre. This was designed to resemble a trench raid supported by artillery and mortars. The German front line was taken but the casualty rate increased dramatically as German artillery opened up of the Australians. Eventually this and a German counter attack were broken up by accurate firing from Australian and British artillery.

The entire battle was over within 93 minutes, just three minutes more than Monash’s initial estimate. This battle is also noteworthy for the use of carrier tanks to bring up supplies after the battle. Mopping up in the woods and the village took until 7am at which time the reconnaissance aircraft photographed the new front line so that accurate maps could be issued. Once again, the RAF dropped supplies to the new front line by parachute.

Casualties for the battle were 1,400 for the Australian and American troops and for the Germans, 2000 killed and 1,600 taken prisoner.

Monash’s Australian Corps spear-headed the attack at the battle of Amiens, 8th August, along with the Canadian Corps and III Corps of the BEF. He was knighted by King George on the battlefield on the 12th August. The Australian Corps were involved in a series of victories against the Germans during the final 100 days of the war.

Soon after the conclusion of hostilities Monash was appointed Director-General of Repatriation and Demobilisation, heading a newly created department to carry out the repatriation of the Australian troops from Britain and Europe. He returned to Australia on 26 December 1919 to an enthusiastic welcome. Shortly after his return, on 27 February 1920, Monash's wife, Vic, died of cervical cancer. Later, Monash worked in prominent civilian positions, the most notable being head of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SECV) from October 1920. He was also vice-chancellor of the University of Melbourne from 1923 until his death eight years later.

He will be remembered as a fine general, one of the best leaders in the BEF during 1918. He was also held in great affection by his men as he cared for their wellbeing, in battle and in the rear.

Report by Peter Palmer