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[Page 48]
24-4-18
3-15 am Enemy shelled PONT-NOYELLES-FRECHENCOURT Road with heavy calibre gun.
3-45 am Violent enemy bombardment broke out along the whole of our front extending to the South.
4 am All lines cut but restored immediately.
6 am All quiet.
10-15 am 34th and 35th Bns ordered to stand to owing to enemy succeeding in taking the high ground north of VILLERS-BRET. Situation as follows :-
3rd Div front intact - South of R. SOMME 5th Aust, Div Front intact, but compelled to form a defensive flank facing south, owing to enemy breaking line opposite 8th Div. - Enemy reported to be in occupation of VILLERS-BRET. - 8th Div about to counter attack.
10-30 am Heavy bombardment South of the R. SOMME.
11-45 am Following relief ordered :-
3rd Aust. Div (less Arty and 1 Bde Group) to be relieved in B Div. Sector and Area by 4th Aust Div (less Arty and One Bde Group) on night 25/26th and 26/27th April. The 9th A.I.Bde to remain as at present disposed for tactical purposes and placed under the orders of the 4th Aust. Div. On relief 3rd Aust Div (less Arty and one Bde Group) to form Corps Reserve with 2 Bdes in close support disposed as follows, "A" MONTIGNY Area, "B" QUERRIEU Area.
25-4-18
10 am Battle still raging at VILLERS-BRET. Situation 3rd Aust Div and 5th Aust Div remain the same. The retirement of the 8th Div necessitated the employment of the 13th and 15th A.I.Bdes, being Reserve Bdes of 4th and 5th Aust Divs respectively. These Bdes succeeded in brilliantly re-capturing VILLERS-BRET and restoring the line in a night operation.
[Australians never lost possession of Villers Bretonneux]
2-27 pm Reported large concentration of enemy opposite VILLER-BRET. Enemy attacked 15th A.I.Bde unsuccessfully. Line now thoroughly consolidated.
9 pm Bde spent day re-organising and re-equipping.
26-4-18
All quiet on Divisional Front.
27-4-18
G.H.Q. decided to place 4 Aust. Divisions in the line on the French left from HANGARD Northward. The other Aust. Div being engaged in the Northern Battle area near METEREN.
3 pm G.O.C. and A/B.M. visited D.H.Q. and Corps H.Q. Proposal announced to re-organise Brigades on a three-Battalion status, owing to lack of recruiting efforts in AUSTRALIA.
29-4-18
Our artillery heavily bombarded enemy approaches and assembly points.
12 noon Brigade carried out re-organision on three-Battalion basis.