Volume 2: Letters written on active service, M-W, 1914-1919 - Page 487

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[Page 487]

[Interior of the card on page 477. Pasted onto the card is part of the medal ribbon for a Military Cross – see page 456 for mention of this being sent to the Dunlop family by Major Clem Walsh.

Card contains printed text and coloured paintings showing the capture of Hamel Village and a German tank; text transcribed below:]
Villers-Bretonneux – The Start of the Great Attack 8.8.'18.

On the night of 24th April, 1918, the Australians made a daring and clever counter attack in the darkness, recaptured Villers-Bretonneux, stopped the German advance and saved Amiens. This, and the Battle of Hamel, were only a prelude to the smashing advance which commenced on 8th August.

Extract from Australian Corps Order, issued on 7th August –
"For the first time in the history of this Corps all five Australian Divisions will to-morrow engage in the largest and most important battle operation ever undertaken by the Corps."

85,000 Australians were engaged (with Canadians on their right and British Divisions on their left) supported by powerful artillery, tanks and aeroplanes. In this battle 7,000 prisoners, 150 guns with an immense number of Machine Guns and war material were captured. On August 31st and September 1st and 2nd Mont St. Quentin and Peronne fell to the Australians in three days, defeating the flower of the Prussian Guard.

In the centre of the picture a dead German is seen behind a captured gun. During the months following many important pitched battles were fought and won, over 20,000 prisoners taken, and over 250 guns, heaps of munitions, machine guns and stores, together with over 120 villages.

[Painting, with caption:]
Capture of Hamel Village, July 4th 1918. Australians assissted by a detachment of Americans.
From Original Painting specially executed for teh Australian Comforts Fund by A. Pearse, War Artist.

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