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Sapper S.L. Bruth, Engineers 29.6.1916 (23)
I gave my life
For my god
My king and country
Farewell loved ones
Private H.V. Dogral 24
th
battalion 27.7.1916 (27)
Fighting
For home and country
He like a hero fell.
Further Research
What do the epitaphs have in common?
ANZAC LEGEND REVISITED
The leaders of the AIF in 1918 and their troops were older and more
tactically “savvy” than the soldiers who initially stepped ashore at
Marseilles and then were involved in the disastrous and unnecessary
battles of Fromelles and Pozieres in 1916. For example, in 1918 due to
General Monash’s innovative battle strategies, the Australians had
developed approaches which were more productive and less crippling in
battle casualties.
A new approach called “peaceful penetration” was practised around
Villers Bretonneux in 1918. It involved harassment, shelling with gas,
night attacks and the capture of prisoners, and small advances that
unsettled German defences and demoralised German soldiers, who at this
point, included many young and inexperienced men. Night time
skirmishes allowed the AIF to determine any weaknesses in the German
lines.
Another example of this new approach was the use of aircraft noise to
hide the advance of tanks in the successful battle of Hamel in 1918.
The Australian’s five AIF Divisions were brought together in November
1917 to form one body, the Australian Corps, under an Australian General
assigned to the Corps in May, 1918, Lieutenant General John Monash.
While in a way General Haig’s tactics of attrition had been successful
with the AIF facing very young and dispirited German troops, the
Australians now under the command of Monash had learnt the value of
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