10th Battalion patch. Image courtesy Australian War Memorial
10th Battalion – September 1917
September 1 – BLEU
Battalion drill. Specialist training.
2.
Battalion church parade.
3.
Battalion training.
4.
Route march. Bathe during lunch hour. No stragglers.
5.
Battalion training.
6.
Battalion training. Brigade drill competition. Won by 10th battalion. 11th battalion 2nd.
7-8
Battalion training.
9.
Battalion church parade. Bath at divisional baths.
10.
Battalion training. Inspection and presentation of Challenge Cup by G.O. C. 3rd A.I. brigade.
11.
Battalion field training.
12.
Battalion training. Lecture to all ranks on forthcoming operations by C.O. [commanding officer]
13.
Move by route march to new area. No stragglers.
14.
Move by route march to new area. No stragglers.
15.
Battalion training. Specialist training.
16 – OUDERDOM
Move by route march to new area. No stragglers.
17.
Bathing and preparing for action.
18 – CHATEAU SEGARD
Inspection of kit for action. Move to new area.
19.
Final preparation for action. Moved out for action at 11.30pm.
20-22
Action at Polygon Wood.
23 – STEINVOORDE
Battalion moved by bus to new area.
24.
Battalion training and re-organising.
25-26
Battalion training.
27.
Battalion training. Route march.
28.
Battalion training.
29 – CHATEAU SEGARD
Move by bus to new area.
30.
Fitting out for action. Moved to line at midnight.
SELECTED APPENDIX NOTES
Appendix 1 – Nature of training for week ending September 8th, 1917 [between 8am-4pm, inclusive, with activities such as] passing orders with mask on and changing from box respirator…bayonet fighting…rifle exercises and firing positions…musketry rapid loading and aiming…
Appendix 3 – Order no. 36…Each man except signaller, runners and Lewis gunners will carry: 180 rounds SAA [standard army ammunition], 2 sandbags, 2 bombs, 2 ground flares, 48 hours’ rations…
Appendix 8 – Preliminary Order no. 37 ‘…Use your rifles, aimed fire – do not use your bombs where rifles can be used…It may be difficult to get your rations up first night. Keep your issue of chocolate as long as you can as a reserve.’
Appendix 8 – “First Australian Division – After a lengthy period of rest and training we are being called upon to participate in an operation, the success of which will have the most important results for not only the British armies, but all the Allies. The part this Division has to play is the most important of all. The position we are to attack is the keystone of the whole. If we fail the tasks of the Divisions on our right and left will be rendered extremely difficult. I am full of confidence that the 1st Australian Division will achieve success and add to its already enviable record, and that having carried our objectives we shall hold them against all counter attacks living up to our Divisional motto ‘what we gain, we hold’. Last year we took Pozieres under much more difficult circumstances and with little preliminary preparation or reconnaissance. In the impending operations we shall have the best of artillery support and everything is in our favour. Each Australian soldier is equal to any two Germans. Let every officer and man know where he starts from, the direction of the attack, what everyone has to do and all be determined to succeed in spite of any difficulties”.
Major-General H.D Walker
Appendix 9 – “Account of recent capture of Green Line in Polygon Wood”…Luminous paint for direction boards would be a great asset to the battalion in securing for its runners a line for night work.
