4 August Guns taken out of action 5 August Guns recalibrated 6 August Guns in position Villers Bretonneux [See Chapter 33] 8 August Advance commenced. Limbers and wagons went forward to old gun positions, the limbers going from there taking guns forward and the wagons following later. In the afternoon the guns took up position on the NE side of Bayonvillers with the wagon lines about 400 yds in the rear, on the outskirts of the village 10 August Moved forward the gun pits being between Harbonniers and Rosiers and the wagon lines in a sunken road south of Harbonnieres 20 August The guns moved across to Vauvillers 28 August Advance to Maricourt 29 August Guns into action near Clery. Supported attack on Mont St Quentin [See Chapter 35] 04 September Moved back to Cappy. Rested til 12 September. Artillery positions held. 12 September Wagon Lines established at Buire. 18 September Attack on Hindenburg Line defences. Successful. Battery moved forward to valley in front of Templeux. Wagon Lines to Roisel. 27 September Again moved forward to Harpicourt 28-30 September Took part in attack on Hindenburg Line covering 30th Division American troops 1 October Guns moved forward to Bellicourt and kept advancing 11 November Moving through Peronne and received news of the Armistice being signed.
Showing posts with label Villers-Bretonneux. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Villers-Bretonneux. Show all posts
Monday, 21 December 2020
Chapter 32: The Somme April to October 1918
April to October 1918
After leaving Flanders on 8 April, 1918, the 4th Australian Field Artillery Brigade returned once more to the Somme. Gargoo was transferred to the Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery (RBAA) on May 1, 1918. He arrived at the Heytesbury (near Warminster, Wiltshire) camp on 6 May 1918 and remained there until embarking for Australia on 2 February 1919.
However, the Second Division 4th Artillery Brigade remained very active, taking part in the major battles from May to October as the allies advanced on the Hindenburg Line. These battles are covered in following chapters - Le Hamel, Villers-Bretonneux, Mont St Quentin and Peronne.
8 April 1918
2am left Vieux Berquin, entrained at Strazeele Railway station, arrived St Roch Rway Stn (outside Amiens), disentrained then by road to Villiers Bocage, arrived same day.
9/10 April Left Villers Bocage, arrived in Querrieu (?) (outside Frechencourt)
10 April – 14 July Quarry. Guns in action near Bresle (May 14)
Photo of Field Artillery Brigade soldiers camouflaging blast marks scorched on the grass by an 18 pounder gun. Bresle, 21 April 1918 )church spire in background) [AWM E04783]
1 May
GARGOO TO RBAA
7 May Wagon Lines shifted back to Frechencourt
14 July Left Bresle, Wagon Line to Glisy, guns to near White Castle (Villers Bretonneux)
Watercolour sketch by Louis McCubbin of horse lines at Glisy. 1918 [AWM ART03074]
"Watercolour sketch depicting a view of horse lines and tents for stores and men near Glisy with observation balloons visible in the skyline. AIF Headquarters were located at Glisy during 1918. Louis McCubbin enlisted with the 14th Battalion AIF in 1916, serving in France from November 1917 with the 10th Field Ambulance. He undertook a camoflage course and was appointed as an Official War Artist working as Officer in Charge of Camouflage for 3rd Division AIF in 1918. His appointment was terminated in 1920, in which year he returned to Australia and joined the staff of the Australian War Memorial to paint backgrounds for dioramas and to perform a variety of other duties. McCubbin remained in the position until 1930."
Photo of dugouts for horses, Glisy [AWM P00098.004]
Chapter 33: Villers-Bretonneux
Above: The mairie (town hall) at Villers-Bretonneux, featuring kangaroos over the door. May 2003.From April-May 1916 this village was involved in the preparations for the Somme offensive.
The Germans reached here in early April 1918. The Australian army stopped the German army on 25 April 1918. The Australians had been in Ypres and were moved here.
From Australian War memorial website http://www.awm.gov.au/1918/battles/dernancourt.htm:
By 18 April (1918), it was clear that the Germans would attempt to push on to Amiens again. On 24 April, the Germans captured Villers-Bretonneux- which just a few weeks earlier the Australians had fought so hard to defend. The town's defence had been given over to British troops while the Australian divisions regrouped. The enemy attack was spearheaded by tanks which pushed through the British defences. This battle was unique in that it was the first involving tank-against-tank fighting, demonstrating the significance that tanks had increasingly come to assume in 1918.
Orders for the immediate recapture of Villers-Bretonneux were met with a plan to launch an attack by two brigades, the 13th and the 15th. The unconventional night attack began on the 24th. One brigade approached from the north and one from the south, meeting at the village's eastern edge, thereby surrounding the Germans and driving them from Villers-Bretonneux and the adjacent woods.
Although it is clear that Australian troops played a very important role in halting the German offensive at Villers-Bretonneux, some claim it has been exaggerated. By the time the Australians arrived, British troops had borne the brunt of the German offensive attack, and the Germans were exhausted. Regardless, it is at Villers-Bretonneux that France and Australia hold the main annual commemoration of Anzac Day.
“Never Forget Australia”
The victorious Australian troops formed close links with the people of Villers Bretonneux.
Today there is a Franco-Australian Museum on the first floor of the Victoria school, which was built with funds raised by the school children of Victoria.
[insert own pics of V-B school, mairie, and Anzac Day celebrations]
Australian National Memorial and Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery
Nearby is the Australian National Memorial, honouring the Australian soldiers who died and who have no known grave.
On 25 April 1918, the two Australian brigades which encircled Villers Bretonneux met. The memorial here commemorates the 10 797 Australians who died on the Western Front and who have no known grave. The wall of the main memorial consists of a wall carrying the names of all the missing and a 100 foot high central tower. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, who also designed the British/South African memorial to the missing at Thiepval.
The Germans reached here in early April 1918. The Australian army stopped the German army on 25 April 1918. The Australians had been in Ypres and were moved here.
From Australian War memorial website http://www.awm.gov.au/1918/battles/dernancourt.htm:
By 18 April (1918), it was clear that the Germans would attempt to push on to Amiens again. On 24 April, the Germans captured Villers-Bretonneux- which just a few weeks earlier the Australians had fought so hard to defend. The town's defence had been given over to British troops while the Australian divisions regrouped. The enemy attack was spearheaded by tanks which pushed through the British defences. This battle was unique in that it was the first involving tank-against-tank fighting, demonstrating the significance that tanks had increasingly come to assume in 1918.
Orders for the immediate recapture of Villers-Bretonneux were met with a plan to launch an attack by two brigades, the 13th and the 15th. The unconventional night attack began on the 24th. One brigade approached from the north and one from the south, meeting at the village's eastern edge, thereby surrounding the Germans and driving them from Villers-Bretonneux and the adjacent woods.
Although it is clear that Australian troops played a very important role in halting the German offensive at Villers-Bretonneux, some claim it has been exaggerated. By the time the Australians arrived, British troops had borne the brunt of the German offensive attack, and the Germans were exhausted. Regardless, it is at Villers-Bretonneux that France and Australia hold the main annual commemoration of Anzac Day.
“Never Forget Australia”
The victorious Australian troops formed close links with the people of Villers Bretonneux.
Today there is a Franco-Australian Museum on the first floor of the Victoria school, which was built with funds raised by the school children of Victoria.
[insert own pics of V-B school, mairie, and Anzac Day celebrations]
Australian National Memorial and Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery
Nearby is the Australian National Memorial, honouring the Australian soldiers who died and who have no known grave.
On 25 April 1918, the two Australian brigades which encircled Villers Bretonneux met. The memorial here commemorates the 10 797 Australians who died on the Western Front and who have no known grave. The wall of the main memorial consists of a wall carrying the names of all the missing and a 100 foot high central tower. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, who also designed the British/South African memorial to the missing at Thiepval.
The Australian memorial - Anzac day commemorations, April 2005:
Not sure if this headstone above belongs to a distant relative of mine.
The school at Villers-Bretonneux was re-built through donations of Victorian school children. It looks just like a typical Victorian school - includign the shelter shed; here champagne and cake are served after the Anzac Day commemorations at the Australian Memorial :
The school hall, which features beautiful wooden carvings of Australian animals and birds:
The British monument at Thiepval (May 2003):
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