Battle of Mont St. Quentin

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Battle of Mont St. Quentin
Part of the Western Front of World War I Hundred Days Offensive : Second Battle of the Somme (1918)
Mount St Quentin painting by Arthur Streeton (1918)
Date 31 August 1918 – 3 September 1918 Location Mont St. Quentin, near Péronne Picardie,  France Result Allied victory
Belligerents
British Empire Australia	German Empire
Commanders
John Monash
Casualties and losses
Twenty percent of the attacking force were listed as casualties[1]

The Battle of Mont St. Quentin was a battle on the Western Front during World War I. As part of the Allied counteroffensives on the Western Front in the late summer of 1918, the Australian Corps crossed the Somme River on the night of August 31, and broke the German lines at Mont St Quentin and Péronne. The British Fourth Army's commander, General Henry Rawlinson, described the Australian advances of August 31 – September 4 as the greatest military achievement of the war.^[2] During the battle Australian troops stormed, seized and held the key height of Mont St Quentin (overlooking Péronne), a pivotal German defensive position on the line of the Somme.

Contents 1 Background 2 Battle 3 Aftermath 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Background

The Allies were pursuing the Germans, and the greatest obstacle to crossing the Somme River in pursuit was Mont St. Quentin which, situated in a bend of the river, dominated the whole position. Mont St Quentin was only 100 metres high but was a key to the German defence of the Somme line, and the last German stronghold. It overlooked the Somme River approximately 1.5 kilometres north of Péronne. Its location made it an ideal observation point, and strategically, the hill's defences guarded the north and western approaches to the town.^[3]

[edit] Battle

The offensive was planned by General John Monash; Monash planned a high-risk frontal assault which required the Australian 2nd Division to cross a series of marshes to attack the heights. This plan failed when the assaulting troops could not cross the marshes. After this initial setback, Monash manœuvred his divisions in the only free manœuvre battle of any consequence undertaken by the Australians on the Western Front.^[4]

Australians of the Second Division crossed to the north bank of the Somme River on the evening of 30 August. At 5 am on 31 August 1918, supported by artillery, two Australian battalions, charged up Mont St Quentin. The Germans quickly surrendered and the Australians continued to the main German trench-line. In the rear, other Australians crossed the Somme by a bridge which Australian engineers had saved and repaired. The Australians were unable to hold their gains on Mont St Quentin and German reserves regained the crest. However, the Australians held on just below the summit and next day it was recaptured and firmly held. On that day also, 1 September 1918, Australian forces broke into Péronne and took most of the town. The next day it completely fell into Australian hands. In three days the Australians lost 3000 casualties but ensured a general German withdrawal eastwards back to the Hindenburg Line.^[5]

[edit] Aftermath

Looking back after the event, Monash accounted for the success by the wonderful gallantry of the men, the rapidity with which the plan was carried out, and the sheer daring of the attempt. In his Australian Victories in France, Monash pays tribute to the commander of the 2nd Division, Major-general Charles Rosenthal, who was in charge of the operation. But Monash and his staff were responsible for the conception of the project and the working out of the plans.^[6]

The Allied victory at the Battle of Mont St Quentin dealt a strong blow to five German divisions, including the elite 2nd German Guard Division. The Germans were driven back from a key French position to the Hindenburg Line, from which they had launched their offensive in the spring. 2,600 prisoners were taken at a cost of slightly over 3,000 casualties."^[1]

The following soldiers were awarded the Victoria Cross for their role in the battle:

• Albert David Lowerson, 21st Battalion, originally from Myrtleford, Victoria
• Robert MacTier, 23rd Battalion, originally from Tatura, Victoria
• Edgar Thomas Towner, 2nd Machine Gun Battalion, from Blackall, Queensland

All three men were with the Australian 2nd Division.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Mont St Quentin: Australian Military Units. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved on 2007-08-31.
• Mont St Quentin, 2nd Australian Division Memorial. Australians on the Western Front: 1914–1918. Australian Department of Veteran's Affairs and Board of Studies NSW (2007). Retrieved on 2007-08-31.