Centenary of the battle of Hamel

On July 4, we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Hamel, one of the most significant Australian actions of the First World War.

Hamel was Lieutenant General John Monash’s first battle as commander of the Australian Corps and it was the first occasion United States and Australian soldiers fought alongside one another.

The battle was fought to straighten out a bulge in the British line, but for Monash it was also a testing ground for tactics he believed could be used on a larger scale in future offensives.

Drawing on more than three years’ experience in wartime command, and the lessons of past successful actions by both sides, Monash devised a combined arms assault using artillery, tanks, aircraft and infantry.

The attack was planned in exhaustive detail, and the preparations were kept from an unsuspecting enemy.

Hamel was a stunning success—the battle was over in 93 minutes and all along the line the Aus- tralians and Americans had seized their objectives.

General Monash was hailed for his success. Journalists and staff officers came to his headquarters to hear how he did it, congratulations flowed in from all quarters and his reputation as one of the Allies’ finest generals grew.

Monash, who had commanded Australians since the beginning of the war, said of Hamel “No battle within my previous experience passed off so smoothly, so exactly to timetable, or was so free of any kind of hitch.”

The methods used at Hamel were used on a far larger scale when Australian and Canadian troops spearheaded the mighty Allied offensive that began in August 1918 and ultimately led to German defeat in November.

We remember Hamel today for the importance of the victory there, for the part it played in elevating General Sir John Monash’s military career and for cementing the significant contribution made by the Australians on the Western Front.

We remember all who served and made the ultimate sacrifice.

Lest we forget.