Item 36: Narrative of the offensive operations south of the Somme, 8-13 August 1918 - Page 8

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                                                                            V.      CONSOLIDATION and RE-ORGANISATION.

1. The GREEN Line had been entirely captured and consolidation commenced by the 9th. Inf. Brigade at 6.50 a.m. and by the 11th. Inf. Brigade at 7.30 a.m., some of the platoons of the 41st Battalion being late as a result of the fog.   
2. The 9th. Inf. Brigade were in touch with the 5th. Inf. Brigade on their right; but on our left flank the 58th. Division (174th. Inf. Brigade) had met with heavy resistance at MALARD WOOD, which checked their advance.
3. As consolidation by the 9th. Inf. Brigade progressed, the 33rd. and 35th. Battalions took up defensive positions, each with three Coys. in the front line and one in support; whilst the 34th. Battalion was disposed with four Coys. in Reserve Line.   The  9th. A.L.T.M. Battery had four mortars covering the front line and four in Reserve, and the 9th. A.M.G. Coy.,  plus 8 guns of the 10th. A.M.G. Coy. was disposed with 24 guns in depth, 12 of which could bring direct fire to bear in front of the GREEN (front) Line. (See Map "E").
4. 11th. Inf. Brigade took up and consolidated defensive position on GREEN Line with 41st. Battalion in Line Right, 42nd. Battalion in Line Left and swinging back westerly along S. bank of Somme to cover our N. flank.   44th. Battalion were in support and 43rd. Battalion were in Reserve.   See Map "E".                            Meanwhile, the Assaulting Brigades (4th. and 12th.) of the Fourth Australian Divison moved forward into ACCROCHE VALLEY and from there followed the attacking troops of the Third Australian Division ready to move through the GREEN Line at ZERO   plus four hours.
5. At 8.10 a.m. the 10th. Inf. Brigade reported re-organisation complete and the units ready to move.
6. At 8.20 a.m. command of the battle front passed to the Fourth Australian Division.
7. At 8.22 a.m. the 10th. Inf. Brigade was ordered to take over the old enemy trench system running from P.22.d. to junction with our old front line in P.16.b, (the portion of the AMIENS Line which had been held by the enemy) as a reserve system and to improve HUNS WALK as a communication trench.
8. As the advance of the Fourth Australian Division had progressed very satisfactorily, at 11.50 a.m. the three infantry brigades were instructed to re-organise and rest in area between GREEN Line and our old front line; brigades to remain tactically disposed with local precautions against surprise, and to be prepared to move at one hour's notice after 3.0 a.m. on 9th August.
9. At 3.0 p.m. orders were received from Corps by telephone and repeated to the 10th Inf.Brigade immediately for them to move to Q.20.c. to come under orders of the Fourth Australian Division.   The Brigade was not to be used, except as a last resort, as it was expected that the Brigade might have to form a defensive flank of the North, owing to CHIPPILLY Ridge not having been taken by the 58th Division.   These orders were confirmed by wire from Corps at 3.43 p.m.   At 4.17 p.m. a wire was received to say that 10th. Inf. Brigade were moving and that report centre would be ALLWAYS CROSS until headquarters moved to old German gunpits at Q.14.c.80.80.   The move was carried out over open country in artillery formation, three battalions and Machine Gun Coy. moving around the South of ACCROCHE WOOD and one Battalion and the Trench Mortar Battery                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            P.T.O.