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Battle of Hamel 1918


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The Battle of Hamel (4 July 1918) was a successful attack by Australian Army and US Army infantry supported by British tanks against German positions in and around the town of Le Hamel, in northern France, during World War I. The attack was planned and commanded by Lieutenant General John Monash, commander of the Australian Corps.

Many of the tactics employed, such as the use of combined arms, illustrated the evolution of military tactics, from the massed attacks mounted earlier in the war. All of the Allies objectives were achieved within 93 minutes, just three minutes longer than Monash's calculated battle time.

To give the newly arrived American Expeditionary Force (AEF) combat experience, the five Australian infantry brigades involved were augmented by 10 companies from US Army battalions. However, six of these US infantry companies were withdrawn from the front line before seeing action.

 On 29 June, Major General George Bell, commanding the American 33rd Division, selected two companies, each of 250 men,rom the 131st and 132nd Infantry Regiments of the 65th Brigade. Nevertheless, Monash had been promised 10 American companies, and on 30 June the remaining companies of the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 131st Infantry Regiment were sent. Each American platoon was attached to an Australian company. For the 41st Battalion, they had 'A' Company wiped out by a gas attack recently at Villers-Bretonneux, so Americans were embedded as 'X' Company into the battalion. A difficulty in integrating the 60-man American platoons into the 100-strong Australian companies was overcome by reducing the size of each American platoon by one-fifth and sending the removed troops, which numbered 50 officers and men, back to battalion reinforcement camps.The commitment of these companies represented the first time in history that US Army troops would fight under a foreign commander.

The four American companies that had joined the Australians during the assault were withdrawn from the line after the battle and returned to their regiments, having gained valuable experience. Monash sent Bell his personal thanks, praising the Americans' gallantry.They would subsequently play a significant role in the fighting that followed right up until the end of the war, as US reinforcements came to tip the manpower balance in favour of the Allies.

 

At Hamel the Americans were considered to have performed well. One Australian who observed a doughboy company in action noted: "If they showed a fault it was as always with first class fighting men until they get experience, the fault of excessive keenness, so that they suffered some casualties by pressing on into our barrage, but the ‘Australians’ are lavish in admiration of their ‘dash’. This elan, though born largely of ignorance and excessive enthusiasm, was fundamental to the maintenance of respect on the part of the Australians. The first signs of a friendly rivalry were evident, too, and Sapper William M. Telford remarked that its existence did "Fritz no good".

 

During the battle, American runners and stretcher-bearers were paired with Australians to assist in their training. The value of this pairing of experience with inexperience soon came to the fore as the commander of the 131st Infantry attested: "Considerable opposition was met near the western edge of Hamel where there were some dug-outs. A reserve platoon of Americans led by Lieutenant Symons worked around to the flank overlying the position. The lieutenant was wounded but his runner, the only Australian with the platoon, took charge and cleared up the situation"

 

 

 

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Pvt Harry Shelly, 132nd Infantry, receiving the British Distinguished Conduct Medal from the King.

 

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Australian and American troops dug in together at Hamel, 4 July- Independence Day in the United States.16x9.jpeg.d1ad3b18017b9c411da798ae68a94848.jpeg

American and Australian stretcher bearers working together in the front line area after the infantry had passed. 

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American and Australian dead on the battlefield at Hamel, in front of Vaire and Hamel Wood. In this encounter a battalion of Americans was distributed among the attacking Australian units and fought with great gallantry. At the point seen in the photograph the Americans, together with a company of the 13th Battalion, met fierce opposition from a trench known by its shape as Pear Trench, running down from the German lines on the hill seen in the background. This portion of the trench had mostly escaped the artillery barrage, and was thus crammed with Germans and several machine guns. Tanks assisted in overcoming the obstacles.

 

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An unidentified sergeant of the 16th Battalion on a child's bicycle and an American private sitting in a perambulator just prior to the Battle of Hamel which took place on 4 July 1918. Dugouts are in the background.

 

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The band of the 132nd American Infantry Regiment at the 4th Australian Infantry Brigade Sports, held at Querrieu. The presence of the band was a compliment following the battle of Hamel on 4 July, when American troops were associated with the 4th and other Australian Brigades in the attack

 

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An observation post near Vaire Wood and Hamel Wood, occupied by members of the 13th Battalion. The central figures are: Lieutenant T. Dwyer MC and 1194 Corporal W. L. Blaw MM. An American Second Lieutenant of Engineers is on the left

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A group of Australian stretcher bearers and their American assistants

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The village of Hamel and the country in the direction of Corbie, seen from the trenches held by the Germans until the battle of Le Hamel on 4 July 1918. The enemy front line on the morning of the 4 July was on the crest of the hill in the middle distance but after the successful attack the trench in which the men are seen was occupied by the supports some 200 yards behind the new front line. Identified, left to right: American soldier; Corporal J. S. Finney, 44th Battalion; American soldier, American Expeditionary Forces; Cpl H. G. Dungey, 44th Battalion; Lieutenant J. M. Tweedie, 44th Battalion; 547 Sergeant William Francis Poland, 44th Battalion. Map Ref: (1:40,000) 62D R.10 d.00.50. See also E02844B. Notation reads, left to right: Pear Trench. Trees near which had their Dressing Station. 44th Battalion troops in support line. Vaire. Corner of Vaire Road where Dalziel won a VC. Somme Canal. Hamel village

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Americans and Australians visiting a park of captured guns at Tincourt. Following the operation at Hamel, on 4 July, when there was a sprinkling of American troops in the attacking Australian Brigades, the great battles of the Hindenburg Line resulted in a deepening of the comradeship between the Australians and the Americans. The two Americans are sitting on the barrel of a gun which has 18/9/18 painted on it, presumably its date of capture.


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American troops, resting on the roadside, on their way to the Australian lines to participate in the battle of Hamel the following day. They were all told about a battalion of United States troops 'attached in platoons to Australian Battalions, and, though brand new to fighting of any sort, they acquitted themselves that day most bravely.'4093513.JPG.b64f7f5008df985e3bd5aef45ca8c466.JPG

Hamel Wood and Vaire Wood, from Pear Trench, looking along the sunken road, which was lined with enemy trench mortars and machine guns, and which constituted the first obstacle captured by the 15th Battalion. Many Americans and Australians became casualties as a result of the fire from this position, the ground on the right being thickly strewn with dead.

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The furthest post towards Morlancourt taken by the Australians during the advance. It is within bombing distance (less than forty yards of the enemy). These trenches were taken by the 58th and 59th Battalions on 4 July 1918, in a night attack on the enemy positions at Morlancourt on the Ancre River. The attack was carried out simultaneously with the Battle of Hamel some miles to the south on the Somme and was completely successful. The American soldiers are two of a party of ten or twelve attached to the 15th Australian Infantry Brigade about this time for purposes of instruction. Back row, left to right (behind sandbags): 2856 Private (Pte) H. J. Ahearn, B Company, 58th Battalion; American soldier. Front row: American soldier; 2945 Pte A. G. Pontifex, B Company, 58th Battalion; 4760 Lance Corporal N. Rintel, B Company, 58th Battalion; 8837 Pte G. R. Piper, B Company, 58th Battalion (sitting, partially obscured); 1782 Sergeant A. Zimmer, B Company, 58th Battalion.

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The combined bands of the 4th Australian Infantry Brigade and unidentified members of the 132nd USA Infantry Regiment Band, with their musical instruments, at the Brigade's sports contest. The presence of the American regiment was a compliment following the Battle of Hamel, on 4 July, in which both American troops and Australian Brigades, including the 4th, where engaged. 

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1918 Sammy, Australian soldiers' relations with Americans.

The troops who had perhaps the most important impact on 1918 were those from the United States.

There was a feeling that the American troops were "green", and that often the more experienced Australian troops were the ones to bring the Americans up to battle standard. One such American soldier was Harry S. Truman.

However, the Americans, nicknamed "Sammy" a reference to Uncle Sam or "doughboys" as they were also called, soon gained the respect of the Australians. In July 1918, Private Ronald Simpson noted that

"By the way the Yanks shape up they are going to be good fighters, they think the world of the Aussies we mostly have a few of their N.C.O. in the line with us learning the ropes. They reckon with the Brothers on one side that's us and the cousins on the other that's Canadians we will just about win they are a fine body of men."

The American army magazine Stars and Stripes printed the following:

THE DIGGERS
Most Australians have been out since 1914, going through the hell of the Dardanelles and later being transported to France, where they earned the right, if ever soldiers did, to wear that natty bonnet of theirs at such a cocky angle.
Without exception, the Aussies all hope to be sent home "by the other way so that we can see America". We hope they will be sent home that way if they want to. Besides wishing to have them see America which we are pardonably proud of, we should like to have America see them.

 

 

 

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A wounded American  waits for an ambulance, supported by an unidentified Australian corporal

 

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An American sister and Australian patients at the (5th USABH) American Hospital at Camions. Identified are: Sister Walsh, Private Daly and Private Wilson on the right and two Imperial soldiers on the left.

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Australian sergeants attached to an American Machine Gun Company for instructional duties. Before the cooperative attack of the American and Australian troops against the Main Hindenburg Line, Australian staff and regimental officers selected from the units of the 1st and 4th Divisions were attached to 2nd American Corps units to show them  methods and procedures employed by the Australians. Every American Company had a senior Australian NCO attached to it.

 

 

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American soldiers armed with .303 rifles along with Australian soldiers of the 11th Brigade and tanks move into battle near Bellicourt.

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American troops visiting A Company Headquarters, of the 37th Battalion. About this time small detachments of Americans were attached to various Australian units for instructional purposes. 

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American troops arriving at Templeux, to join the Australians in the attack on the Hindenburg Main Line which took place two days later.6544114.JPG.e435328d77f4d38b780ecea9bff8599b.JPG

Querrieu  1918 American and Australian soldiers standing outside the gated entrance of a chateau which was used as a battalion headquarters.

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Australians assisting a wounded American near Ronssoy.

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English and American soldiers standing on the steps which lead to the Waterloo Monument, on the Field of Waterloo. The obscured outline of the monument is visible in the background.

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A group of French, American and Australian soldiers gathered in a trench at the International Post. Identified in the back row, centre, is 740 Lance Corporal William Methven, 37th Battalion. The post was established at the junction of the French and Australian lines in the trenches near Monument Wood, on the right of Villers-Bretonneux. The sign on the right reads 'International Post, Front Line', written in both English and French, and 'U.5.b.20.'.4074429.JPG.db6e40ad7767eed38b434493defd5ded.JPG

German prisoners resting with a wounded comrade at one of the access entrances to the St Quentin Canal Tunnel, in the captured Hindenburg Defence System. Identified, left to right: American Stretcher Bearer; German prisoner; 3417 Private (Pte) G. Jones; 4966 Pte J. Gilbert (partially obscured by Jones); American Stretcher Bearer (behind Gilbert); 2646 Pte C. W. Cheverly, (partially obscured beside American); Despatch Rider, 13th Australian Light Horse; wounded German (on stretcher); 1222 Sergeant J. J. Blair, (giving the wounded German a drink); German prisoner; German prisoner; 250 Pte A. H. Chenhall, (partially obscured by German prisoner). Group of four men on the right are unidentified American Stretcher Bearers. This entrance was captured from the Germans by the Americans and Australians on 29 September 1918, when they broke through the Hindenburg Line. The Australians in this photograph are members of the 60th Battalion whose duty it was to guard the entrance to prevent any Germans who may be concealed in the tunnel from coming out and firing on our troops from the rear.

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American Engineers and members of the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company building a dugout and machine gun post, in the reserve line. In the back row, left, is Sapper (Spr) Johnson. Standing in the dugout is Spr E.B. Williams. At the tree line is the main Amiens-Albert Road. In the right background is Lahoussoye. Under the tarp is the machine gun pit

 

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The 3rd Australian Divisional Artillery passing through Busigny on their way to the fighting zone to support the advancing American infantry4118097.JPG.1aca29bb37aec80f7a4bb49674ea9aee.JPG

Five unidentified soldiers unloading small arms ammunition, at a dump near Premont, shared jointly by the Australians and Americans fighting beyond the Hindenburg Defence System

 

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An outdoors portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) L Morgridge (left), and Lt George Hubert Goddard, 59th Battalion standing in front of a tent. Lt Morgridge was the American Liaison Officer at the Inter Allied Games and Lt Goddard was a member of the Administrative Staff of the Australian Section

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Group portraits of unidentified Australian and American soldiers. 

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6185581-2.JPG.0873a0ddb55656e0e95206bf9a5cb2da.JPGGroup portrait of unidentified Australian and American soldiers. The soldiers have Group Portrait of unidentified Australian and American soldiers. The soldiers have swapped hats for the photo

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This American Model 1910 pattern water bottle carrier was part of the kit of one of the American servicemen attached to the 13th Battalion during their attack on Vaire Wood on 4 July 1918, as part of the Battle of Hamel. The 13th Battalion was enhanced by 5 officers and 222 men of A Company, 132nd Regiment; they were attached to provide them with the experience of the veteran Australians. Their attack had a frontage of a mere 400 yards (365 metres) and was designed to envelope Vaire Wood around its southern end, to the south of Hamel. 
This item, and accompanying items of American kit were presented to the 13th Battalion after the battle was over, and was subsequently handed over to the Australian War Records Section a week later. 
Of the performance of these troops, Lieutenant Colonel Marks, commanding officer of the 13th Battalion, reported: "'A' Company, 132nd Regiment fought well, but with a dash that needs to be tempered by experience. Their Officers were cool and capable, but apparently NCOs had not attained the ascendency necessary, as when officers become casualties the men lost their cohesion. This, of course, will adjust itself when the NCOs have an opportunity of showing themselves in a 'stunt' of their own.
"Some casualties were occasioned through approaching too close to the barrage, and there was a noticable tendency to "bunch". The men dug willingly and seemed to have a fair knowledge of field entrenchments. Their handling of the Lewis Gun and Rifle grenades was highly satisfactory." 

 

 

 

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Signal flag of A Company, 132nd Regiment U.S Army. The flag was carried by the Americans who fought alongside Australians at Hamel. It was presented to the 13th Battalion after the battle as a memento

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Two Australians, Thomas Axford and Henry Dalziel, were awarded the Victoria Cross for their conduct during the battle. Fourteen Americans were also decorated by the British, including four Distinguished Conduct Medals, four Military Crosses, and six Military Medals. Corporal Thomas A. Pope, who had rushed a German machine-gun during the German counter-attack on 5 July, was one of those who received the DCM, being awarded the medal personally by King George V on 12 August 1918. He would also later receive the Medal of Honor. Joseph B. Sanborn recommended twenty-two members of the 131st Infantry Regiment for valor awards. Pope and seven other doughboys were also awarded the US Army's Distinguished Service Cross for actions during the Battle of Hamel.

 

Corporal Thomas A. Pope  was later awarded the congressional medal of honour in 1919 for his actions at Hamel.

 His citation reads "His company was advancing behind the tanks when it was halted by hostile machinegun fire. Going forward alone, he rushed a machinegun nest, killed several of the crew with his bayonet, and, standing astride his gun, held off the others until reinforcements arrived and captured them".

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 6 months later...
illinigander

Outstanding post!  My great-uncle, Wm. Fennell, was one of those American Engineers of the 108th Engineers, 33rd Division, Illinois National Guard, as federalized.  He told me, and his diary mentions that he thought the Australian's were great, the French...  Little did he know that he was to send the rest of the war in the French section.

illinigander

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