Le Hamel: A 93-Minute Victory

The village of Le Hamel was liberated on 4 July 1918 by the Australian Army Corps, with the aim of recapturing the high ground occupied by German artillery and thereby averting the threat to Amiens.

This battle was the first to be planned by Lieutenant-General John Monash and proved a resounding success. The main objectives were captured in just 93 minutes thanks to the coordinated efforts of the infantry, tanks, artillery and air force. This new tactic was to be employed again during the fighting in August 1918. As we can see in the photograph, on 4 July, the Australians continued to comb the village in search of the wounded or German soldiers still hiding there.

To find out more about this battle, do visit the Australian memorial before continuing on your way.

During the capture of the village of Le Hamel, Captain John Thomas Moran of Company A, 43rd Australian Infantry Battalion, hoisted the tricolour flag on one of the ruined houses.
He had brought the flag with him, having been challenged by one of his friends to hoist it during the fighting. Captain Moran hoisted it whilst the Germans had not yet been completely driven out of the village.
The house, which was badly damaged, was not rebuilt after the war.