Battle of St Quentin Canal

850:, who wrote: "... the 30th Division did especially well. It broke through the Hindenburg Line on its entire front and took Bellicourt and part of Nauroy by noon of the 29th." There has since been considerable debate over the extent to which the American forces were successful. Monash wrote: "...in this battle they demonstrated their inexperience in war, and their ignorance of some of the elementary methods of fighting employed on the French front. For these shortcomings they paid a heavy price. Their sacrifices, nevertheless, contributed quite definitely to the partial success of the day's operations..." The objective of U.S. II Corps, the Catelet–Nauroy Line, was not captured by the Americans. During the battle, Monash was furious about the performance of the American divisions. Late on 29 September Rawlinson wrote: "The Americans appear to be in a state of hopeless confusion and will not, I fear, be able to function as a corps, so I am contemplating replacing them ... I fear their casualties have been heavy, but it is their own fault." 895:. In this sector the St Quentin Canal formed an immense, ready-made anti-tank "ditch" and the main Hindenburg Line trench system lay on the east (German) side of the canal. IX Corps was supported by tanks of the 3rd Tank Brigade, which had to cross Bellicourt Tunnel in the American 30th Division sector and then move south along the east bank of the canal. IX Corps had to cross the formidable canal cutting (which increased in depth as it approached Riqueval until its very steep banks, strongly defended by fortified machine gun positions, were over 15 m (50 ft) deep in places), and then fight its way through the Hindenburg Line trenches. The 46th Division's final objective for 29 September was a line of high ground beyond the villages of 678: 974: 687: 766: 958: 670: 292: 236: 311: 251: 178: 165: 739:'s strategy of keeping the Germans under the relentless pressure of coordinated assaults along the front. As a result of the confusion created by the failed attack (with the corps command being unsure of where the American troops were), the battle on 29 September on the American 27th Division front had to be started without the customary (and highly effective) close artillery support. The British artillery commander argued that attempting to alter the barrage timetable at this late stage would cause problems and the American divisional commander Major General 301: 212: 152: 283: 224: 200: 1007: 986: 137: 45: 838:

passing by Germans without realising that they were there, with the Germans causing severe problems to the Americans following the assault wave. Fog also caused problems for infantry/tank cooperation. The 30th Division broke through the Hindenburg Line in the fog on 29 September 1918, entering Bellicourt, capturing the southern entrance of Bellicourt Tunnel and reaching the village of Nauroy, where Australian troops joined them to continue the attack.

930:, led by Captain A. H. Charlton, managed to seize the still-intact Riqueval Bridge over the canal before the Germans had a chance to fire their explosive charges. The 46th Division captured the village of Bellenglise, including its great tunnel/troop shelter (which had been constructed as part of the Hindenburg Line defences). By the end of the day the 46th Division had taken 4,200 German prisoners (out of a total for the army of 5,100) and 70 guns. 878:

had very limited visibility and often could not see a threat which those outside the tank could see). The tanks could protect the infantry but they also needed the close cooperation of the infantry to alert them to the danger of concealed field guns. In the case of this attack, the machine gun fire was so severe that the infantry were ordered to withdraw, leaving the tanks well forward of them and prey to the German field guns.

588:, with its well-earned reputation, to spearhead the attack. Monash was unhappy, because his Australian force was by now short of manpower and many soldiers were showing signs of strain, having been heavily engaged in fighting for several months. There had been some episodes of mutiny by troops who were feeling unfairly put upon. Monash was however very pleased when Rawlinson offered him the 1083:

A number of U.S. divisions had trained in the British sector with British instructors, though Pershing had always resisted having their entire training carried out by the British. The 27th and 30th Divisions were the only ones which Pershing permitted to remain with the British by this time. Both had

933:

The assault across the canal met all of its objectives, on schedule, at a cost of somewhat fewer than 800 casualties to the division. The great success of the day had come where many had least expected it. The 46th Division assault was considered to be one of the outstanding feats of arms of the war.

1027:

capturing the village of Beaurevoir on 5/6 October) managed to clear the fortified villages behind the Beaurevoir Line, and capture the heights overlooking the Beaurevoir Line – resulting in a total break in the Hindenburg Line. The Australian Corps was subsequently withdrawn from the line after the

950:

fire from the south. On the evening of the 29 September orders were issued for IX Corps to seize the Le Tronquoy Tunnel defences to allow the passage of the XV French Corps over the canal tunnel. The following day, the 1st Division advanced under a creeping barrage and early in the afternoon the 3rd

941:

of the Manchester Regiment) crossed the canal and moved forward through the 46th Division. The whole of the 32nd Division was east of the canal by nightfall. On the right of the front in IX Corps sector, the 1st Division, operating west of the canal, had the task of protecting the right flank of the

877:

at the same location. This was during the attempt to subdue severe machine gun fire coming from the Le Catelet–Nauroy Line in the vicinity of Cabaret Wood Farm (a tank fort – see map) and showed the danger posed by German field guns to tanks operating without close infantry support (because the crew

872:

in August. Eight tanks were destroyed when they strayed into an old British minefield but the 29 September attack also highlighted the high vulnerability of tanks to strong German anti-tank measures. In one instance, four heavy tanks and five medium tanks were destroyed in the space of 15 minutes by

636:

runs underground for some 5,500 m (6,000 yd) through the Bellicourt Tunnel (which had been converted by the Germans into an integral part of the Hindenburg Line defensive system). The tunnel was the only location where tanks could cross the canal. Where the canal runs underground, the main

1015:

On 2 October, the British 46th and 32nd Divisions, supported by the Australian 2nd Division, planned to capture the Beaurevoir Line (the third line of defences of the Hindenburg Line), the village of Beaurevoir and the heights overlooking the Beaurevoir Line. While the attack succeeded in widening

727:

initially opposed using the Americans to take the outpost line, wanting to preserve them for the main attack. He was persuaded by Rawlinson to change his mind. The British III Corps had previously failed to capture the outposts, but that failure had been attributed by Rawlinson to the tiredness of

722:

Monash's plan assumed that the Hindenburg outpost line would be in Allied hands by the date set for the start of the battle. Whilst the Australians had already captured it in the southern part of the front (from where the American 30th Division would launch its attack), the northern section of the

751:

would now start at the originally-intended jump-off point, some 900 m (1,000 yd) beyond the actual starting point of the infantry, leaving them very vulnerable during their initial advance. 27th Division was required to make an advance greater than any that had been asked of its highly

837:

and then the Australian 5th Division moved forward whilst the units to their left did not, they had to contend with German fire from the side and rear as well as from ahead. An added difficulty was thick fog across the battlefield in the earlier stages of the attack which led to American troops

832:

suffered the worst casualties sustained in a single day by any U.S. regiment during the war. Rather than leapfrogging through the Americans, the Australian 3rd Division became involved in a desperate fight for positions that should already have been captured had Monash's plan run to timetable.

783:

fired had special fuses which made them very effective in destroying the German barbed wire. The British were greatly helped by the fact that they were in possession of highly detailed captured plans of the enemy defences (especially useful for the IX Corps sector). Monash's battle plan for 29

1010:

Part of British IX Corps sector, showing the St Quentin Canal and the villages of Bellenglise, Magny-la-Fosse, Lehaucourt, Le Tronquoy and Pontruet. The 32nd Division, which had crossed the canal, linked up with the 1st Division (attacking from the Allied side) above the Le Tronquoy canal

723:

line was still in German hands. The American 27th Division was ordered to attack on 27 September, to finish clearing German forces from outposts in front of their line, including the strong points of The Knoll, Gillemont Farm, and Quennemont Farm. Commander in Chief Field Marshal Sir

907:, following behind, would then leapfrog the 46th Division. Following a devastating artillery bombardment (which was heaviest in this sector), and in thick fog and smoke, the 46th Division fought its way through the German trenches west of the canal and then across the waterway. The 1044:, where the missing are also commemorated. The U.S. 27th and 30th Divisions (and those other units which served with the British) are commemorated on the Bellicourt Monument, which stands directly above the canal tunnel. The Australian and British dead were interred in numerous 774:

The battle was preceded by the greatest British artillery bombardment of the war. Some 1,600 guns were deployed (1,044 field guns and 593 heavy guns and howitzers), firing almost 1,000,000 shells over a comparatively short period of time. Included in these were more than 30,000

769:

Soldiers of the 30th American Infantry Division and the 15th Australian Brigade (5th Australian Division) at the southern entrance of the Bellicourt Tunnel at Riqueval near Bellicourt. It was captured by the American 30th Division on 29 September 1918. (Photographed 4 October

728:

the troops. Rawlinson was convinced that the Germans were at breaking point and managed to persuade Haig that this was so. The American soldiers were inexperienced and problems were compounded by a shortage of American officers (there were only 18 officers in the 12 attacking

934:

Bean described the attack as an "extraordinarily difficult task" and "a wonderful achievement" in his official Australian war history. Monash wrote that it was "an astonishing success... materially assisted me in the situation in which I was placed later on the same day".

973: 1073:

Bean lists the following German divisions facing the attack: 54th, 121st, 185th, 75th Reserve, 21st, 2nd Guards, 2nd, 119th, 241st, 54th, 24th, 8th and 21st Reserve divisions. Note: this list is incomplete, as it does not include the forces facing the Allies after 5

681:

Map showing the operations of U.S. 27th and 30th Divisions affiliated to Australian Corps as part of British Fourth Army during the Battle of St Quentin Canal, 29 September 1918. The advance shown was actually made by combined American and Australian

957: 608:

was assigned to the U.S. troops for advice and liaison. The British high command considered that German morale was suffering badly and that their capacity to resist was much weakened. Monash believed that the operation would be "more a matter of

559:

as part of its defences. The assault achieved its objectives (though not according to the planned timetable), resulting in the first full breach of the Hindenburg Line, in the face of heavy German resistance. In concert with other attacks of the

788:

Line (the final fortified line) beyond that as the objective on the first day. Monash had originally intended to capture the Beaurevoir Line on 29 September, but Rawlinson removed this as a first day objective, considering it overly ambitious.

1048:

cemeteries scattered around the area, including Bellicourt British Cemetery; Unicorn Cemetery, Vendhuile and La Baraque British Cemetery, Bellenglise (UK dead only). Australian soldiers with no known grave are commemorated on the

845:

wrote: "By 10 o'clock Monash's plan had gone to the winds.... From that hour onward ... the offensive was really directed by Australian battalion or company commanders at the front..." The 30th Division won the praise of General

1111:

On the right of the IX Corps front the canal ran through the 1,200-yard (1,100 m) Le Tronquoy Tunnel, but there was no intention to launch an attack across the tunnel in the manner of the planned assault on the Bellicourt

756:

Rawlinson provided additional tanks. However, the absence of a creeping barrage in the 27th Division sector was to have a very detrimental effect on the initial operations of the battle on the front opposite the tunnel.

886:

The attack across the canal cutting, also known as the Battle of Bellenglise, saw IX Corps (commanded by Braithwaite), on the right of the American and Australian Divisions, launch its assault between Riqueval and

694:(with 'cribs' for crossing trenches) of the 8th Battalion, Tank Corps, which was one of four battalions of the 5th Tank Brigade allotted to the 5th Australian Division and American Corps for the operation. 805:, which was equipped with British tanks) in support of the four divisions. The objective of the Americans was the Le Catelet-Nauroy Line, a defensive line east of the canal. Here the Australian 600:), which still remained at the disposal of the British command, since American divisions were twice the numerical strength of their British counterparts. U.S. Corps commander Major General 653:, commander of IX Corps. Monash felt such an assault to be doomed to failure and would never have planned for it himself, believing it to be too risky. This view was shared by many in the 985: 979:

King George V at Riqueval Bridge, the scene of the exploit of the 137th Brigade when the 46th Division crossed the St Quentin Canal cutting on 29 September 1918 (photo taken 2 December).

784:

September envisaged breaking through the main Hindenburg Line defences, crossing the canal tunnel mound, breaching the fortified Le Catelet–Nauroy Line beyond that, and reaching the

1016:

the breach in the Beaurevoir Line, it was unable to seize the high ground further on. However, by 2 October, the attack had resulted in a 17 km breach in the Hindenburg Line.

604:

handed command of his American force for the duration of the action to Monash. However, the American soldiers lacked battle experience. A small group of 217 Australian officers and

735:

The U.S. attack was unsuccessful. Monash asked Rawlinson for permission to delay the main attack due on 29 September, but this was refused because of the priority given to Marshal

797:

On 29 September, the two American divisions attacked, followed by the two Australian divisions, with approximately 150 tanks of the 4th and 5th Tank Brigades of the British

2970: 833:

Despite some individual acts of heroism the lack of progress on the left of the front had an adverse effect on the progress of the right of the front too. As the American

2975: 3010: 951:

Brigade of the division linked up on the tunnel summit with the 14th Brigade of the 32nd Division, which had fought its way forward from the German side of the canal.

613:

and organisation than of fighting." Whilst there had been some evidence of poor German morale from previous operations, this proved to be a dangerous assumption.

2793: 342: 926:

from cross-Channel steamers) to cross the water. Scaling ladders were used to climb the brick wall lining the canal. Some men of the 1/6th Battalion, the

673:

Detail of a British trench map of Bellicourt. The canal tunnel is coloured red. The Hindenburg Line runs west of the tunnel and east of the canal cutting.

2985: 2965: 645:, would be deployed in support of the main assault. To Monash's plan Rawlinson made a very significant change: IX Corps would launch an assault directly 2307:. Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918. Vol. VI (1st ed.). Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial. 779:

shells (the first use of a British-made version of this weapon). These were specifically targeted at headquarters and groups of batteries. Many of the

544:

launched a coordinated attack on a 9.5 km (6 mi) front. The objective was to break through one of the most heavily defended stretches of the

2658: 690:

Men of the American 30th Division at rest with German prisoners following the capture of Bellicourt, 29 September 1918. In the background are British

83: 2980: 521: 1050: 752:

experienced Australian allies, an advance of some 4,500 m (5,000 yd) in a single action. In an attempt to compensate for the lack of a

2279: 868:

By this stage in the war the Tank Corps had suffered greatly and there were fewer tanks available for the battle than had been deployed in the

2990: 2855: 335: 282: 223: 199: 142: 802: 914:

The ferocity of the creeping artillery barrage contributed greatly to the success of the assault, keeping the Germans pinned in their

2579: 1121:

The bridge had not been destroyed previously by the Germans because it was a major link to the ground they held west of the canal.

829: 3000: 834: 825: 597: 593: 328: 967:

VC addressing troops of the 137th Brigade (46th Division) from the Riqueval Bridge over the St Quentin Canal on 2 October 1918

2606: 2534: 2418: 2316: 2171: 2152: 1738: 1695: 1664: 1645: 2487: 1028:

fighting on 5 October, for rest and reorganisation. They would not return to the front before the Armistice on 11 November.

2267: 533: 204: 747:. All of the Allied commanders therefore agreed to proceed with the original artillery fire plan. The result was that the 828:

began at a disadvantage, none of the objectives were met on the first day and the Americans suffered severe losses. The

2839: 1045: 892: 2951:

C.E.W. Bean, Volume VI – The Australian Imperial Force in France during the Allied Offensive, 1918 (1st edition, 1942)

2786: 706:

brought the Allies back up against the outposts of the Hindenburg Line by the autumn of 1918, close to the village of

2891: 2871: 2821: 2771: 2749: 2727: 2708: 2686: 2635: 2462: 2440: 2377: 2341: 991:

Riqueval Bridge in 2003. The canal banks are much more overgrown than when the bridge was captured during the battle.

677: 408: 2907: 2503: 477: 2428: 517: 3015: 2396: 1024: 904: 489: 2923: 908: 654: 482: 3020: 2646: 927: 865:, of 46th Division, which had crossed the canal and were now present in force east of the Hindenburg Line. 628:

to follow behind and then exploit the breakthrough. Monash intended to attack the Hindenburg Line south of

525: 391: 2674: 765: 686: 465: 433: 423: 398: 649:

the deep canal cutting south of the Bellicourt Tunnel. This plan originated with Lieutenant-General Sir

2945: 2623: 2596: 854: 638: 376: 2261: 1093:

The two American divisions were reliant on British guns because they did not have their own artillery.

2254: 642: 448: 2995: 1983: 818: 810: 806: 658: 605: 589: 443: 386: 1019:

Continuing attacks from 3 to 10 October (including those by the Australian 2nd Division capturing

3005: 1037: 869: 862: 814: 729: 699: 637:

Hindenburg Line trench system was sited to the west of the line of the canal. Two British corps,

625: 621: 381: 366: 2450: 1054: 915: 703: 633: 413: 352: 32: 891:. The assault was spearheaded by the British 46th Division under the command of Major-General 2737: 2370:

Warfare and Armed Conflicts: A Statistical Reference to Casualty and Other Figures, 1500–2000

964: 569: 565: 494: 470: 438: 403: 371: 2334:

The Battle of Bellicourt Tunnel: Tommies, Diggers and Doughboys on the Hindenburg Line, 1918

657:

of IX Corps, which was tasked with spearheading the assault. The Germans believed the canal

616:

Monash was tasked with drawing up the battle plan. He would use the Americans to breach the

780: 610: 255: 669: 8: 841:

The advancing Australians came across large groups of leaderless, disoriented Americans.

798: 748: 540:

also supported the attack. South of the Fourth Army's 19 km (12 mi) front, the

529: 460: 2950: 2809: 2140: 1988: 1726: 650: 601: 537: 240: 228: 711: 418: 2817: 2767: 2745: 2723: 2704: 2682: 2650: 2631: 2602: 2571: 2561: 2549: 2530: 2513: 2507: 2479: 2458: 2436: 2414: 2392: 2373: 2356: 2337: 2308: 2271: 740: 541: 2159: 1683: 1652: 1633: 1146: 847: 817:" through the American forces and press on towards the Beaurevoir Line. Australian 753: 581: 556: 453: 2302: 1006: 2473: 919: 617: 561: 552: 76: 2263:

American Armies and Battlefields in Europe: A History, Guide, and Reference Book

900: 736: 53: 44: 2575: 1053:

and the missing British soldiers killed in the battle are commemorated on the

2959: 2696: 2553: 2483: 2360: 942:

46th Division by clearing the Germans from the ground east and north-east of

744: 545: 310: 291: 250: 235: 182: 177: 170: 98: 85: 2654: 2517: 2312: 2406: 2298: 938: 842: 724: 2875: 2565: 2275: 1865: 2764:

1918 Year of Victory: The End of the Great War and the Shaping of History

2304:

The Australian Imperial Force in France during the Allied Offensive, 1918

1041: 1020: 937:

Later in the day the leading brigades of the 32nd Division (including Lt

888: 776: 691: 585: 513: 320: 216: 36: 2946:

Military History Encyclopedia on the Web – Battle of Cambrai-St. Quentin

2781: 2759: 2170: