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The Development of Australian Infantry on the Western Front 1916-1918: an Imperial Model of Training, Tactics and Technology

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The Development of Australian Infantry on the Western Front 1916-1918: an Imperial Model of Training, Tactics and Technology The Development of Australian Infantry on the Western Front 1916-1918: An Imperial model of training, tactics and technology Lewis Frederickson A thesis in fulfilment for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Humanities and Social Sciences UNSW Canberra 28 August 2015 i THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Thesis/Dissertation Sheet Surname: Frederickson First Name: Lewis Other Name: Charles Abbreviation for degree as given in the University Calendar: PhD School: Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty: History Title: The development of Australian infantry on the Western Front 1916-1918 Abstract The Anzac myth enshrines a popular history of Australian superiority on the battlefields of the Great War. Australian infantrymen were superior because Australia was a frontier nation whose people possessed independent initiative, resourcefulness, and moral and physical courage. These qualities were transferred straight into the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). This thesis makes a critical examination of the myth. It details how Australian infantry on the Western Front developed into a highly disciplined and professional element of the wider British Army in the period from 1916-1918. This occurred through standardised training and tactics, hard earned operational experience, and with technically enabled mastery. After Gallipoli, Australia was a relative latecomer to Europe, and arrived in mid-1916. The force experienced comparable losses to the British Army on the Somme, becoming a benefactor of the British learning process. Contrary to the Anzac myth, the five Australian divisions on the Western Front only realised their potential in 1918 when they were amalgamated into a corps. In this thesis, Chapter 1 provides a historiography of the Australian infantry's experience on the Western Front in comparison to a similar sized formation, the Canadian Corps. The Canadians are also used as a comparison in subsequent chapters. Chapter 2 highlights how all British and Dominion infantrymen undertook standardised basic training after 1916. Chapter 3 shows how Australian infantry benefitted from tactical developments in the Sritish Army after the Somme experience. Chapter 4 details how this was consolidated by robust reinforcement, and by a specialist training system of Army Schools. Chapter 5 shows the Australian use of platoon level weapons systems in line with the British Army. Chapter 6 highlights the reality of the qualities of the individual Australian soldier and exposes the Anzac myth. Chapter 7 indicates how Australian leadership provided a top down impetus for the development of Australian infantry. Finally, Chapter 8 presents the apogee of Australian battlefield effectiveness in 1918 with the infantry coming under Monash as a homogenous corps. The conclusion ties these threads together by indicating how Australian development occurred in conjunction with remarkable British activity in the last year of the war. Declaration relating to disposition of project thesis/dissertation I hereby grant to the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or in part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all property rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstracts International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). Signature Witness Date The University recognises that there may be exceptional circumstances requiring restrictions on copying or conditions on use. Requests for restriction for a period of up to 2 years must be made in writing. Requests for a longer period of restriction may be considered in exceptional circumstances and require the approval of the Dean of Graduate Research. For Office Use Only Date of completion of requirements for Award: 11 Originality Statement 'I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and to the best of my knowledge it contains no materials previously published or written by another person, or substantial proportions of material which have been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at UNSW or any other educational institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in the thesis. Any contribution made to the research by others, with whom I have worked at UNSW or elsewhere, is explicitly acknowledged in the thesis. I also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work, except to the extent that assistance from others in the project's design and conception or in style, presentation and linguistic expression is acknowledged.' ,, . ,;( r- 1015 S1gned ....... .r~').\}· .............. Date ......................................... iii Table of Contents Page Thesis/Dissertation Sheet i Originality Statement ii Acknowledgement iv Glossary v Introduction 1 Chapter-1 Comparing the Australian and Canadian Experience 15 Chapter-2 Infantry Recruit Training in the AIF 41 Chapter-3 Infantry Tactical Development 1917 73 Chapter-4 Reinforcement Training and the Schools in France 100 Chapter-5 Weapons Systems and Specialist Training 124 Chapter-6 Enlisted Men 150 Chapter-7 Leadership and Training: Officers 174 Chapter-8 The Australian Corps of 1918 204 Conclusions 236 Bibliography 244 iv Acknowledgement I gratefully and sincerely thank Dr. John Connor for his guidance, understanding and patience during the preparation of my thesis at UNSW. John’s quiet mentoring and example had a profoundly positive effect on my views of history and wider experience of heritage. He was foremost in developing in me the persistent and balanced approach intrinsic to research. John has encouraged me to not only grow as an historian, but also as a person and independent thinker. I feel privileged to have conducted my research in such fine company. John, for all you have done in assisting me, I thank you. I would also like to thank all of the staff within the Humanities and Social Sciences Department at UNSW for their hard work, expertise and patience. In particular, I am deeply appreciative to the student liaison officer, Mrs Bernadette McDermott for her unwavering support and administrative guidance during my tenure within the department. Bernadette, thank you for easing the way for all the students you have helped over the years. I would also like to thank several colleagues from the Royal Australian Air Force for their support and understanding of my desire to undertake this work. Tony Dolin and Jason Lind, we three serve in a technical organisation; though, you have both provided me the encouragement and motivation to complete a thesis on the intangibles of history and human endeavour. I am deeply grateful to both of you for your support. The value that you placed on my work adds to my faith in our roles as airmen and officers. Vale, Richard Archie Long, my hometown mate and personification of the Anzac legend. My very good friend, Morteza Tehrani, fighter pilot and Renaissance man, you have been a constant study companion. Morteza, I thank you for your comradeship and many interesting discussions; “Per Ardua Surgo”, my friend. Finally, and most importantly, I would like to thank my wife Elizabeth. Her support, encouragement, quiet patience and love are the foundation upon which my life is built. To our beautiful children, Bryce and Olivia, your tender years and transparent enthusiasm for everything life has to offer are a constant inspiration to me. My family, you are a joy! v Glossary of Terms and Acronyms AAMC Australian Army Medical Corps AASC Australian Army Service Corps ABD Australian Base Depot ACD Australian Convalescent Depot ADBD Australian Divisional Base Depot Adm Admitted ADS Advanced Dressing Station AFA Australian Field Artillery AFC Australian Flying Corps AGBD Australian General Base Depot AGH Australian General Hospital (1AGH) Heliopolis, Egypt physical injuries, diseases, shell shock. (1AGH) Rouen, France general battle casualties. (1AGH) Sutton Veny, England. (2AGH) Boulogne, France general battle casualties. (3AGH) Abbeville, France gas patients. AN & MEF Australian Navy & Military Expeditionary Force AI Accidentally Injured AIBD Australian Infantry Base Depot AIF Australian Imperial Forces ANZAC Australian and New Zealand Army Corps Anzac In reference to an individual soldier or the mythology of the ANZACs APC Australian Provost Corps APM Australian Provost Marshal Aux Auxiliary AW Accidentally Wounded AWL Absent without leave Bar Second award of same bravery Bde Brigade BEF British Expeditionary Force BN Battalion CCS Casualty Clearing Station C De G. Croix De Guerre Medal CEF Canadian Expeditionary Force CMG Companion of the order of St Michael and St George CO Commanding Officer Coy Company CSM Company Sergeant Major DCM Distinguished Conduct Medal DIV Division DOA Died of Accident DOD Died of Disease DOI Died of Illness DOW Died of Wounds DSO Distinguished Service Order F Amb Field Ambulance FP Field Punishment (No.1 or No.2) vi GHQ General Head Quarters GOC General Officer Commanding GSW Gun Shot Wound HE High Explosive HQ Headquarters KIA Killed in Action LMG Lewis or Light Machine Gun MC Military Cross MO Medical Officer MIA Missing in Action Mid Mentioned in Despatches MM Military Medal MSM Meritorious Service Medal OC Officer Commanding OTC Officer Training College POW Prisoner of War QM Quarter Master RAP Regimental Aid Post RSM Regimental Sergeant Major RTA Returned to Australia Sect Section Sig Signals SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield SW Shrapnel Wound TRNG Training VC Victoria Cross VD Venereal Disease WIA Wounded In Action WOAS While On Active Service The Development of Australian Infantry on the Western Front INTRODUCTION ‘Australians will stand beside their own to help defend her to our last man and our last shilling’1 Leader of the Opposition, Andrew Fisher, July 1914 Insanity engulfed Europe in July 1914 and its tendrils spread quickly to open warfare. On one side lay the Central Powers: Germany, Austro-Hungary, Bulgaria and by November, the Ottoman Turks.
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