The Battle of hamel
The battle of Hamel took place in the final year of the war on the 4th of July 1918.
This was the first battle in the war that an Australian Corps was commanded by an Australian general. This man was Lieutenant General John Monash.
The battle began as a surprise attack at 3am in the morning. Within ninety-three minutes the Australian and American troops had achieved their objectives which was to capture the town of Hamel and take Germans prisoners. However, fighting continued for the next two days while the allies defended their gains.
Eight hundred Australians and 170 Americans were killed in action and there more were injured. On the other side, 1400 Germans were captured and 2000 killed.
This was the first battle in the war that an Australian Corps was commanded by an Australian general. This man was Lieutenant General John Monash.
The battle began as a surprise attack at 3am in the morning. Within ninety-three minutes the Australian and American troops had achieved their objectives which was to capture the town of Hamel and take Germans prisoners. However, fighting continued for the next two days while the allies defended their gains.
Eight hundred Australians and 170 Americans were killed in action and there more were injured. On the other side, 1400 Germans were captured and 2000 killed.
This battle was considered a success for Monash and this was due to several factors:
While World War One continued until November, future attacks were modelled in the same style as the Battle of Hamel.
- Monash had planned the attack carefully and had ensured that everyone was aware of the plan.
- Monash kept the attack a surprise- everything was planned undercover and there was effective use of diversionary tactics.
- The attack was launched in the middle of the night.
- Monash had planned the attack with the use of every technology and weaponry (including tanks and artillery) available to him. This allowed the troops to conserve their energy and made them less vulnerable to attack.
While World War One continued until November, future attacks were modelled in the same style as the Battle of Hamel.
"A tank conducting mopping up operations in a ruined street of Hamel, the day after its capture by troops of the 11th Australian Infantry Brigade, 5 July, 1918."
From the Australian War Memorial.
From the Australian War Memorial.