Fields of Battle - Amiens

Australian Memorial and trenches at Le Hamel. Battle: Australians attacked here on 4th July 1918: commanded by General John Monash this was perhaps the first all-arms battle and was a resounding success with all objectives being taken in just 93 minutes and then held. The attack had been preceeded during previous nights by barrages with gas and heavy explosive artillery attack to ensure that the Germans had to sleep with their gas masks on in their bunkers. The barrage on the night of the attack was the same but Monash omitted the gas in case it affected his own troops. The attack started with a barrage of smoke shells at 0302 and thr main barrage started at 0310 with the troops attacking at 0314. Despite the tank being lte, the ttck proceeded swiftly with the Germans being caught in their dug-outs. The attack reached its objective 3 mins late (Monash expected it to take 90 mins) and this included a hill to the east of Le Hamel known as Wolfsberg and which is now the site of the Australian Memorial. 2 VCs were awarded - Pvt Harry Dalziel at Pear trench and L/Cpl Tom Axford at Hamel Wood. This was the first major assault launched by American troops as Monash included 1000 of them in his force (hence the date). Monash used tanks to supply his men and also used aircraft to drop ammunition during the attack

0302 0310 0314 1000 Affected Ammunition Attacked Australians Axford Barrage Barrages Battlefields Bunkers Commanded Dalziel Despite Drop Ensure Expected Explosive Hamel Hence Launched Masks Maur Mins Minutes Monash Objective Objectives Omitted Pear Perhaps Preceeded Previous Proceeded Reached Resounding Sheil Shells Swiftly Ttck Wolfsberg

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