As German forces withdrew to the Hindenburg line, the Allies encountered numerous well prepared and important defensive positions that had been established earlier in the war. Mont Saint Quentin was one such stronghold.
A hill rising about to 100m, the Mont dominated the surrounding countryside including a strategic bend in the river Somme and the nearby fortress town of Péronne. Mont Saint Quentin lay in the path of the Australian 2nd Division’s advance, and General Monash was determined to pursue its capture.
On 31 August 2018, the Australian 5th Brigade commenced its assault on Mont Saint Quentin, spearheaded by the understrength 17th and 20th Battalions. According to Charles Bean, the attacking force comprised no more than “550 rifles and a handful of machine gunners, and four companies of 22 in close support”.
Nonetheless, the Australians charged the Mont ‘screaming like bushrangers’, following Monash’s explicit orders. The German defenders were soon overwhelmed and surrendered. A subsequent German counter-attack forced a retreat to a position just beneath the hill’s summit, but the Australians retook and held the crest during the following day.
Given the depleted state of the Australian brigade responsible for the assault on Mont Saint Quentin, the success of the attack relied greatly upon the extraordinary acts of individual soldiers. This is exemplified by the three Victoria Crosses awarded for the action, as well as numerous Military Medals.
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