Shaking the Pedestal: General Sir John Monash and the Battle of Hamel, 4 July 1918
Clayton, Derek
Synopsis "Shaking the Pedestal: General Sir John Monash and the Battle of Hamel, 4 July 1918"
The Battle of Hamel on 4 July 1918 is often heralded as the 'perfect battle', with all objectives taken, as planned, by the Australians in 93 minutes. It was indeed an undoubted success in the end, but both the planning and the execution were far from perfect. General Monash's own claim that the battle was 'free from any kind of hitch' is revealed as false in this detailed analysis of the assault.There is much to commend in the conduct of this battle: perhaps first should come the bravery, skill, and determination of the ordinary Australian soldier; the planning process was meticulous, with details worked through and agreed at conferences with subordinate commanders; new Mark V tanks - and the opportunity for infantry to train with them before the battle - proved their worth, eliminating countless German machine gun posts; counter battery fire proved very effective. The contribution from the air was vital, including prior aerial reconnaissance, ground attack sorties and re-supply by parachute. The successful execution of this 'all-arms battle' led to the publication of pamphlet S.S. 218, a guide to the planning of future battles. It is often reported that the subsequent Battle of Amiens was 'Hamel writ large'.There were, however, negatives: the initial planning process was far from smooth, with Monash's first plan being rejected by his brigade, divisional and artillery commanders, forcing a drastic re-working. The last-minute withdrawal of American troops threatened the entire enterprise, and it was only a disingenuous fabrication by Monash and General Rawlinson that partly resolved the situation. Almost all units suffered casualties from short-firing by their own artillery, and when the barrage and tanks totally missed the German 'Pear Trench' redoubt, a very costly infantry-only scrap ensued. The loss of over 250 men in diversionary attacks north of the Somme might also be questioned.Monash enjoys an almost untarnished reputation: at the Sir John Monash Centre near Villers-Bretonneux his bust sits proudly on a pedestal. There is no doubt that he deserves the accolade, and this work does not attempt to knock him off his elevated position. The pedestal does, however, need shaking - just a little
