The Western Front
In 1904 France and Britain signed an alliance known as the Entente Cordiale, which encouraged armed co-operation against militaristic Germany. Negotiations were instigated with Czarist Russia, after which the German military feared the possibility of an attack on two fronts. Field Marshal Alfred von Schlieffen, German Army Chief of Staff, devised the ‘Schlieffen Plan,’ to counter a joint attack.
On 2nd August 1914, German troops crossed the border into Belgium, as part of the overall strategy of the ‘Schlieffen Plan.’ Great Britain had signed a pact in 1839 with Belgium, which pledged to protect her neutrality and in accordance declared war on Germany on 4th August. The war rapidly gathered a momentum that would engulf the world for the next four years. Australia offered Great Britain the services of 20,000 men and on 10th August recruiting commenced in earnest for three infantry brigades and one light horse brigade. The infantry brigades comprised the 1st Division, of which the Western Australian 11th Battalion was a part.
Menin Gate - Ieper (Ypres)
After the attenuation of the Somme Offensive, the Anzacs shivered through the winter in open trenches near Flers. After the Germans withdrew beyond Bapaume, the Anzac divisions advanced to the Hindenburg Line at Bullecourt, where four Australian divisions were spent in futile attacks. The focus was shifted to Belgium, where a resounding victory was attained at Messines, with a part played by the Western Australian 44th Battalion. Subsequent attacks were launched further north, to the east of Ypres, in a bid to capture the Belgian ports used by the German u-boats. All five Australian divisions were instrumental in highly successful attacks towards Passchendaele, where the offensive ground to a halt in impassable swamps created by incessant shelling and torrential rain.
The Anzac divisions were reformed during the winter of 1917. In March 1918, to the south in the Valley of the Somme, a last ditch German offensive smashed through the British front line and menaced the vital rail town of Amiens. The Australians, renowned as crack troops, were sent southwards to block the advancing Germans.
Australian National Memorial, Villers Bretonneux
Desperate actions were fought by the infantry battalions without the benefit of heavy artillery support. However, the German assault was checked, until it was renewed with an assault against Villers-Bretonneux in the Valley of the Somme. The Australian 13th and 15th Brigades were immediately ordered to retake the town in complete darkness, without benefit of a reconnaissance. The understrength battalions, which included the Western Australian 51st, drove the Germans back in a spectacular bayonet attack that is still celebrated in Villers-Bretonneux.
During the last days of October 1914, a convoy carrying the first contingent converged on the port of Albany in Western Australia and sailed for the Middle East on 1st November. On 25th April the Anzacs landed on the Gallipoli peninsula and soon wrought for themselves a well-deserved reputation as excellent albeit unorthodox soldiers. After the failure of the Gallipoli campaign, the Anzacs were withdrawn to Egypt where the Australian Imperial Force was expanded to four divisions, with another being formed in Australia.
Anzac Day, commencement of Dawn Service
British High Command was aware that the war had to be won on the Western Front, where massive armies were deadlocked in trench warfare. The Anzacs commenced arriving on the Western Front in March 1916 and were soon bloodied in the disastrous battle of Fromelles. In July, Western Australians were heavily engaged in the Somme Offensive with the 11th, 16th, 28th and 51st Battalions being decimated in the bitter fighting at Pozieres and Mouquet Farm.
Over the ensuing weeks, the Germans were slowly forced back eastwards in local attacks ironically known as ‘peaceful penetration.’ The Western Australian 16th and 44th Battalions participated in the brilliantly planned and executed battle of Hamel in July 1918. On the following month the Germans were comprehensively defeated by Australian and Canadian divisions in the battle of Amiens on 8th August 1918. The Germans fought a fighting withdrawal to the ‘impregnable’ bastion of Mont St Quentin, which was seized by under-strength Australian battalions.
The advance continued to the trench system known as the Hindenburg Line, which was seized in a series of battles in September 1918. Meanwhile, the Germans had tired of the war, which had resulted in starvation and riots in Germany. The German Navy mutinied and Turkey signed an Armistice at the end of October, followed by Austria-Hungary on 3rd November. A German delegation attempted to sue for peace, while the Kaiser abdicated and went into exile in Holland. World War I ended with an Armistice on 11th November 1918. Over the next six months the Anzacs returned home and over the years passed into history and legend.
Neville Browning
If you were interested in the above article, you may be interested to know that our next tour leaves Australia for France in April 2025:
WW1 Western Front 1916 – 1918 tour: Belgium & France
Frank Taylor Tour Director & Neville Browning OAM historian and author, team together to offer:
- 14 days tour - with 12 days actually touring the battlefields with Australian military historian Neville Browning, a tour director and experienced local team
- Small number of group participants
- Includes Anzac Day Commemorations – Dawn Service at Villers Bretonneux & afternoon service with the Bullecourt Village Community
- Search assistance for relatives and persons of interest
- No picnic or box meals and no war bore stuff ..
- Relaxing evenings - dining as you choose in rural
towns of Belgium and France - All breakfasts, 9 restaurant luncheons
Our programme is crafted for an exceptionally well informed and balanced tour of Australia’s military history in France and Belgium in The Great War – with the ability to assist with relatives’ research. We offer expert knowledge and commentary. Accurate, exploratory, but not overwhelming, and includes “tourist time” as well.
Get in touch here, or go here to find out more.
This article was kindly supplied by Neville Browning OAM. You can read more about him here, or order his book here.
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