Battle of Hamel

Battle of Hamel Part of the Western Front of World War I American and Australian troops dug in together during the Battle of Hamel Date 4 July 1918 Location Hamel, France Result Allied victory Belligerents Australia United States United Kingdom German Empire Commanders and leaders John Monash Casualties and losses 976 KIA, 338 WIA 2000 KIA, 1600 POW

The Battle of Hamel (4 July 1918) was a successful attack launched by the Australian Corps of the Australian Imperial Force and several American units against German positions in and around the town of Hamel in northern France during World War I. The battle was planned and commanded by Lieutenant General John Monash (later knighted).

Many of the tactics used were illustrative of evolution of modern military tactics such as the use of combined arms from the massed attacks of earlier in the war. The battle was a success, with all objectives being achieved only 3 mins over the planned battle time of 90 minutes. Using conventional tactics, the fighting could have lasted for weeks or months with much higher casualty rates. For example, a similar defensive position had resisted capture for two months in the Battle of the Somme.

The battle was notable because it was the first time in the war that American troops participated in an offensive action and it was the first time that American troops served under non-American command. Four American companies participated with Australian troops under Australian command (although three of the companies were recalled before the battle).

There were 1062 Australian casualties (including 800 dead), as well as 176 American casualties (almost 100 dead), while there were probably 2000 Germans killed and 1,600 captured, along with the loss of much of their equipment.

Prelude

Monash's detailed planning of the battle, as well as the briefing of all troops on their objectives, were instrumental in the victory. It also marked the novel use of a number of tactics such as aerial resupply (parachute drops) of ammunition and medical supplies, resupply by tank rather than by troops carrying supplies forward as well as the advanced coordination between infantry, artillery and armour - the battle would use the manoeuvrable and latest Mark V tank. It had been demonstrated to Rawlinson and Monash. Five companies (60 sabre and four supply tanks) of the 5th Brigade of the Tank Corps were provided for the assault.

The battle plan also called for a creeping barrage, (where the artillery barrage moves slowly in front of the advancing troops). This barrage protected the troops by suppressing enemy activity, thereby easing their advance. Some 600 British and French guns were used for the barrage and counter-battery fire including regular barrages in the days leading up to the attack. Monash was adamant that the infantry should not be sacrificed in an unprotected advance, hence his care in seeing that they were well covered.

The supply tanks and aircraft would bring stores quickly up to the troops as they advanced - the tanks carrying heavy items equated to about 1,000 troops doing the same job, the planes would drop rifle ammunition in cases.

American involvement

In late June General Rawlinson, commanding the British Fourth Army, suggested to Monash that American involvement in a set-piece attack alongside the Australians would both give the American troops experience and also strengthen the Australian battalions by an additional company each. On 29 June, General Bell, commanding the American 33rd Division, selected two companies each from the 131st and 132nd Infantry regiments of the 66th brigade. However, Monash had been promised ten companies of American troops and on 30 June the remaining companies of the 1st and 2nd battalions of the 131st regiment were sent. Each American platoon was attached to an Australian company. There was difficulty in integrating the American platoons (which numbered 60 men) amongst the Australian companies of 100 men. This difficulty was overcome by reducing the size of each American platoon by one-fifth and sending these troops, which numbered 50 officers and men, back to battalion reinforcement camps.

English, American and Australian troops lunching in a wood near Corbie the day prior to the attack and capture of the German positions at Hamel and Vaire Wood (AWM Photo E026797)

On the morning of 3 July, the day before the attack was scheduled to commence, the additional six companies of American troops were ordered to be withdrawn by General Pershing, the commander of the American Expeditionary Force in France. This meant battalions had to rearrange formations for the attack and there was a serious reduction in the size of the force available. For example, the 11th brigade was now attacking with 2,200 men, instead of 3,000. There was a further last minute call for the removal of all American troops from the attack but Monash protested to Rawlinson and received support from Haig.

Battle

At 2230 on the night of 3 July, the British Mark V and Whippet tanks began to move from Fouilloy and Hamelet to their assembly areas half a mile (0.8 km) behind the front lines. Guides from the infantry marked out tracks from there to the battalions, who had already sent parties ahead to cut paths through their own wire.

Initial barrage

The Australian artillery opened fire at 0300 on the morning of 4 July with its usual harassing bombardment, providing cover for the noise of the sixty tanks as they moved the last half-mile to the front line. As additional cover, No. 101 Squadron, RAF, dropped 350 25-pound bombs to the east of the Australian front. Each pilot in the squadron flew at least three missions between dusk and dawn.

A photograph taken during the attack by the Australian and American troops at Hamel. Hamel Wood is seen in the background on the left. Two parachutes can be seen having previously been dropped from aircraft with ammunition for the forward troops. The supply of ammunition by parachute was a pre-arranged part of aircraft cooperation. (AWM photo E03840)

The artillery batteries gradually shortened their range until the start line for the creeping barrage was reached and then at 0310 the main barrage began with flanking smoke screens laid down by the artillery and trench mortars. The creeping barrage began 200 yards in front of the attacking troops and continued 600 yards beyond that. The infantry rose along the whole line and began following the barrage at a distance of 75 yards. Although the barrage was mostly accurate, a part fell short at the junction of the 4th and 11th brigades, virtually wiping out one American squad and one platoon of the 43rd battalion. Further to the south, a dozen men of the 15th battalion were killed and 30 wounded in a similar incident.

At 0314, the barrage advanced and the infantry continued to follow it into the cloud of smoke and dust, which made observing the line of the barrage difficult. The American troops, keen to keep up with the experienced Australians, dashed into the shell-fire and at least one Australian was killed turning an American platoon round which had entered the barrage.

Pear Trench

Pear Trench, named this way due to its shape, was one of many German Defenses that the soldiers had to overtake.

Aftermath

While it was a small-scale battle, it was to have far-reaching consequences in trench warfare, as it provided, along with the Battle of Cambrai (1917), a practical demonstration of tactics for attacking an entrenched enemy. The strategy was then successful on a much larger scale in the Battle of Amiens, and was a major factor in Allied successes later in the war. Field Marshal Montgomery, the famous World War II British army commander later described John Monash as the best World War I general on the western front in Europe.

Two Australians, Thomas Axford and Henry Dalziel, were awarded Victoria Crosses for their conduct during the battle. In actions following the battle (18 August) two men were decorated, Lieutenant Thomas Roberts (Military Cross) and Sergeant Ivan Eldredge (Military Medal), when they led their sections in an out-flanking movement and the capture of a key enemy machinegun position.

American Corporal Thomas A. Pope received the British Distinguished Conduct Medal from King George V on 12 August 1918. Cpl. Pope and seven other doughboys were awarded the US Army's Distinguished Service Cross for actions during the battle of Le Hamel. They were Cpl. Albert C. Painsipp, Company A., 132d Infantry, Sgt. James E. Krum, Company E, 131st Infantry, Pvt. William F. Linzky, Company E, 131st Infantry, Cpl. Andrew C. Shabinger, Company E, 131st Infantry, Cpl. Lester C. Whitson, Company E., 131st Infantry, Pvt F. B. A. Wilkins, Company A, 132d Infantry, and Pvt. Christopher W. Keane, Medical Detachment, 131st Infantry.

Corporal Pope was the first recipient of the Medal of Honor during the war and a member of Company E, 131st Infantry, 33rd Division. General Pershing presented Cpl. Pope with his Medal on 22 April 1919.

See also

Media related to Battle of Hamel at Wikimedia Commons

References

• C.E.W. Bean Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918. Volume VI - The Australian Imperial Force in France during the Allied Offensive, 1918.
• Huidekoper, Fredrick L (1921). The History of the 33rd Division, A.E.F.. Springfield, Ill.:: Illinois State Historical Society. .
• The Battle of Hamel: History and Memory
• ABC Documentaries | Australia | http://www.abc.net.au/tv/documentaries/interactive/monash/%7C Monash - The Forgotten ANZAC

External links

• http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/lehamel.htm
• http://www.historynet.com/world-war-i-battle-of-hamel.htm
• http://www.abc.net.au/tv/documentaries/interactive/monash/