1/19 RNSWR

It was scattered in small units along almost the whole of the front. A Coy was at the Pimple near Lone Pine, B Coy was to its right, C Coy was between Wire Gully and the Chessboard, and D Coy was to its left, between Fisherman's Hut and Wire Gully. The companies were split into platoons, sections and smaller groups, and were mixed in with men of other battalions.

On 29 Apr when the situation had stabilised somewhat, the 1st Bn reorganised on the beach. It was found that in the first four days, the Bn had suffered 366 casualties from its landed strength of 972, i.e. 38% in four days. MAJ Swannell (OC D Coy) was killed on 25 Apr.

The 1st Bn was awarded the Battle Honour LANDING AT ANZAC for this operation. This honour is emblazoned on the 1/19 Regimental Colours. LT Shout was awarded the MC for conspicuous courage and ability in organising and leading his men in thick bushy country under very heavy fire. He frequently had to expose himself to enemy fire in order to locate the enemy, and led a bayonet charge at the critical moment.

On 19 May the Turks launched a heavy counter attack to drive the Anzacs into the sea. The 1st Bn repulsed a heavy attack on the Bluff, and sustained 52 casualties. The 1st Bn was awarded the Battle Honour DEFENCE OF ANZAC for this battle. Turkish casualties were so heavy that a truce was arranged to recover the wounded and bury the dead.

At 5:30 pm on 6 Aug 15, the 1st Bde (including the 1st Bn) launched an attack on the strong Turkish positions at Lone Pine in support of an additional landing by British troops at Suvla Bay, north of the Australian positions at Anzac. Lone Pine was to be the scene of some of the bloodiest fighting of the Gallipoli campaign. By dint of incredible spirit the positions were taken, and prepared against the counter attack which the assault had been designed to provoke. The counter attack came within 40 minutes, and violent fighting with bayonets and bombs continued for three days and nights. The 1st Bn was awarded the battle honours SUVLA and SARI BAIR-LONE PINE for this battle. Two members of the 1st Bn (and one member of the 3rd Bn) were awarded the VC in this operation.

LCPL Leonard Keysor was awarded the VC for most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on 7-8 Aug. On 7 Aug he was in a trench which was being heavily bombed by the enemy. He picked up two live bombs and threw them back at the enemy at great risk to his own life, and continued throwing bombs, although himself wounded, thereby saving a portion of the trench which it was most important to hold. On 8 Aug at the same place he successfully bombed the enemy out of a position from which a temporary mastery of his own trench was obtained, and was again wounded. Although marked for hospital he declined to leave and volunteered to throw bombs for another company, which had lost its bomb- throwers. He continued to bomb the enemy until the situation was relieved. During these fierce attacks he was throwing for fifty hours almost continuously.

He constantly smothered with his coat or sandbag the enemy's bombs which had fallen in the trench. He often threw them back.. Finally when the enemy cut down the time of the fuses, he caught several bombs in the air like cricket balls and threw them back before they burst.

CAPT Alfred Shout, MC was awarded the VC for most conspicuous bravery. On the morning of 9 Aug, with a small party, he charged down trenches strongly occupied by the enemy and personally threw four bombs among them, killing eight and routing the remainder. In the afternoon of the same day, from the position gained in the morning, he captured a further length of trench under similar conditions and continued personally to bomb the enemy at close range, under very heavy fire, until he was severely wounded, losing his right hand and left eye. This most gallant officer succumbed to his wounds on 11 Aug.

GEN Monash, the Aust Corps commander, made one of the few effective manoeuvres within Australian experience on the Western Front, at Mont St Quentin on 31 Aug 18. The 2nd and 5th Divs has pursued the Germans to Peronne, which was protected by a great bend in the River Somme. The Australian engineers built bridges across the river, and Monash transferred his main strength to the northern bank. The 3rd Div (already advancing along the northern bank) cleared an astonishing number of Germans from the bridgehead, enabling the 2nd Div to cross the river and make an approach march to an FUP for an assault on Mont St Quentin. This feature looked down on Peronne, which was the key to the whole position. The Germans still held the FUP, but were driven out of it in a night attack.

At dawn the 5th Bde (including the 19th Bn), "yelling like a lot of bushrangers", at once ran into crowds of Germans, who seemed bewildered and quickly surrendered. The Australians charged on, and the face of the Mount ahead of them was covered with Germans fleeing over both shoulders of the hill. The Australians swept on up the slope and over the summit, routing the German supports and reserves there. On the open right flank, one company cleared the woods of an extremely dangerous garrison, and thrust half way to Peronne.

The thin 5th Bde could not keep all its gains. The German reserve division drove back the scattered troops from the crest, but the Australians held on just below the summit. Next day the 6th Bde seized the summit again, and the 14th Bde (5th Div) captured the wood north of Peronne, and pressing on during a German panic, took the main part of the town. Next day the 7th Bde drove beyond the Mount, and the 15th Bde (5th Div) seized the rest of Peronne. In this brilliant action, without tanks or a creeping barrage, the Australians, at a cost of 3,000 casualties, dealt a stunning blow to five German divisions.

Of all the great battles on the Western Front, the Battle of Pozieres was the hardest experienced by the AIF. The Battle of the Somme which had been launched on 1 Jul 16 had driven deep into the German line, but had not led to a breakthrough. The fortified ruins of the village of Pozieres hemmed in the British left flank, and protected the Germans' unbroken left flank at Thiepval farther north. The German defence line was an immensely strong system.

The village was bombarded methodically for several days by the British artillery. At 12:30 am on 23 Jul, the 1st Div, including the 1st Bn, attacked and seized the front German position, secured most of the village, pushed the Germans back to their strong main position on the crest behind the village, and dug in on the objectives. As Pozieres was a key position, the Germans were determined that it should be regained, and methodically bombarded the Australian position, broke down the new trenches, and pounded landmarks out of recognition. At one point the Australian position was mistakenly bombarded by the British artillery, and LTCOL Owen Howell-Price (the CO of the 3rd Bn) had to stand up on the battlefield, before the Bde and Div
staff would believe his location, but even then the message to lift the fire from his trenches could not be got through. The German bombardment increased in weight in preparation for a major counter attack, which was called off. The three days bombardment was an experience such as the Australians had never suffered before, and on no part of the front in France were bombardments more severe than at Pozieres.

The 1st Div lost 5,300 men, and was relieved by the 2nd Div, including the 19th Bn. An eyewitness wrote that "They looked like they had been in Hell ....... drawn and haggard and so dazed that they appeared to be walking in a dream and their eyes looked glassy and starey." The 2nd Div attacked, and firmly seized the Pozieres crest and the main German line, but suffered the crowning German bombardment of the whole battle, lost 6,800 men, and was relieved by the 4th Div. The 4th Div attacked northwards towards Mouquet Farm, but were bombarded by the Germans from three sides, lost 4,600 men, and was relieved by the 1st Div again, then the 2nd Div again, then the 4th Div again, before I Anzac Corps was withdrawn.

The objectives were taken at heavy cost; 23,000 Australian casualties in 6 weeks. Pozieres Ridge was "more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth", and was the only sector in which the British forces on the Somme steadily pushed ahead. Those killed in the 1st Bn included MAJ Lindeman (Bn 2IC). Those killed in the 19th Bn included CAPT Heritage MC, LT Blacket from Bathurst, and PTE Ambler MM. The 1st and 19th Bns were awarded the Battle Honours SOMME 1916 and POZIERES for this battle. These honours are emblazoned on the Regimental Colours. The Battle of Pozieres is commemorated each year by 1/19 RNSWR. The Colours were paraded at this year's commemoration at Woollahra two weeks
ago on 6 Aug, in the presence of the Chief of Army (LTGEN Cosgrove) and many former members of the 2nd/1st Bn, 2nd AIF. This commemoration marked the 84th anniversary of the Battle.

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After its heavy losses at Pozieres, I Anzac Corps was withdrawn to a quiet sector in Flanders to recover. This rest did not last long, as a new offensive was planned for the Somme, and the Corps was tasked for it. Field Marshal Haig wished to get his army out of the lowlands and onto the Bapaume heights before winter.

By the time the Corps reached the Somme, the autumn rains had set in and the whole battlefield had become a vast expanse of mud. The trenches were in many parts impassable. Troops sank at every step, and battalions became dazed with exhaustion.

In these conditions, the worst ever known to the AIF, two attempts were made to carry the line forward. On 5 Nov 16, two attacks were launched; one near Gueudecourt at night in rain that made the attempt a nightmare; the other near Flers in mid-morning. In the first attack, the assaulting troops reached their front line half exhausted after their terrible journey over the mud. The 1st Bn was seen and shelled in its trenches. The troops advanced in the rain, but slithering over shellholes, they could not keep pace with the creeping artillery barrage which was supposed to protect them.

In both operations, part of the assaulting forces entered the enemy trenches, and held parts of them for a few hours, until the impossibility of keeping them was realised. Those killed in the 1st Bn included 2LT Phillips MM, SGT Cosgrave MM, LCPL Morrison from Dubbo, and PTE Burns from Wagga. LTCOL Owen Howell-Price, the CO of the 3rd Bn, was killed while placing machine guns to support the 1st Bn's attack, in which his brother Philip commanded the leading company.

The effort near Flers was repeated on 14 Nov, when part of the objective was seized and held for two days. The 19th Bn participated in this attack, and those killed included MAJ Sherbon MC, 2LT Helms DCM, CSM Lee, and PTE Griffin from Orange.

No specific battle honours were awarded to the 1st and 19th Bns for their ordeals at Gueudecourt and Flers; these battles were subsumed into the titanic Battle of the Somme. The clogging of attack after attack in the mud of the Somme convinced Haig that the Battle of the Somme was finally over.

Despite the conditions being the worst the British generals had seen, and the winter being the harshest in 100 years according to the French, the Australians emerged from that dreadful experience determined that no one should hold them inferior to those around them. Their spirit gradually regained its old elasticity, their sector was one of the best maintained on the battlefield, and their Corps was recognised as one of the finest fighting instruments on the Western Front.

After the Russians on the Eastern Front had surrendered in Nov 17, the Germans were able to transfer 35 divisions to the Western Front. Having built up a great army, on 21 Mar 18 the Germans launched the strongest offensive of the war, named Kaiserschlacht (or King Hit). This was a fully fledged attempt to win the war on the battlefield, and consisted of a series of attacks against Amiens on the Somme and Hazebrouck in Flanders.

On the Somme the Germans broke through the British front and forced the British into retreat. The Australian Corps was rushed to plug the gap and reassured the French civilians: "Fini retreat, Madame, beaucoup Australiens ici" (The retreat is over Madam, there are many Australians here). The 9th Bde stopped the Germans before Villers Bretonneux, but the hardest fighting fell on the 4th Div on the railway embankment at Dernancourt as depicted in this diorama. This was the strongest attack made against Australian troops in the War. The 4th Div held firm, and the Germans' primary and greatest offensive was stopped. The 5th Bde, including the 19th Bn, went into the line at Hangard Wood, south of Villers Bretonneux. The British lost
the town, but it was recaptured by the 13th and 15th Aust Bde.

LT Percy Storkey of the 19th Bn was awarded the VC for most conspicuous bravery, leadership and devotion to duty when in charge of a platoon in an attack at Hangard Wood on 7 Apr. On emerging from the wood the enemy trench line was encountered and LT Storkey found himself with six men. While continuing his move forward a large enemy party - about 80 to 100 strong - armed with several machine-guns, was noticed to be holding up the advance of the troops on the right. LT Storkey immediately decided to attack this party from the flank and rear, and while moving forward in the attack was joined by LT Lipscomb and four men. Under the leadership of LT Storkey this small party of two officers and ten other ranks charged the
enemy position with fixed bayonets, driving the enemy out, killing and wounding about 30 and capturing three officers and 50 men, also one machine- gun. The splendid courage shown by this officer in quickly deciding his course of action, and his skilful method of attacking against such great odds removed a dangerous obstacle to the advance of the troops on the right, and inspired the remainder of our small party with the utmost confidence when advancing to the objective line.

To shorten their line, to reduce the number of divisions required to defend it, and to dislocate the planned Allied offensive, in Feb 1917 the Germans constructed the Hindenburg Line from Arras to Laon. It lay 10-30 miles behind the German front, and had immense strength, particularly in broad, boldly planned wire entanglements. On 17 Mar the Germans withdrew to the Hindenburg Line. By 9 Apr the British had closed up to the Line, and struck the first blow of the Allies' great offensive at Arras.

Bullecourt was a village incorporated like a bastion in the Hindenburg Line. The British 5th Army commander, GEN Gough, wanted I Anzac Corps to break the Hindenburg Line at Bullecourt so he could feed the 4th Cav Div through the breach to operate in the enemy's rear. On 11 Apr the 4th Aust Div attacked and penetrated the Hindenburg Line, despite the failure of the tanks which were supposed to break down the wire, and of the artillery which failed to protect the infantry. The 4th Div had to withdraw after having suffered 3,300 casualties. On 15 Apr the Germans counter attacked the 1st Div at Lagnicourt just to the south of Bullecourt with four divisions. The 1st Div (including the 1st Bn) held the attack, but suffered 1,000 casualties.

On 3 May the 2nd Div (including the 19th Bn) launched a second great attack east of Bullecourt, broke into the Hindenburg Line again, and held on, throwing back repeated German counter attacks. The 1st Div extended the toehold on the flanks. The 5th Div was also put in, and the Germans were forced to withdraw from Bullecourt. The Australians had suffered 7,000 casualties.

Those killed in the 1st Bn included MAJ Woodforde from Dubbo (administering command of the Bn), 2LT Richmond Howell-Price MC, 2LT West from Orange, PTE Mackley MM, PTE Munday from Dubbo, and PTE Bolton from Wagga. Those killed in the 19th Bn included 2LT Avard MC, PTEs Demead and Allen from Bathurst, and PTEs Rosenwax and Sibley from Dubbo.

LCPL George Howell of the 1st Bn was awarded the VC on 6 May 17 near Bullecourt for conspicuous bravery. Seeing a party of the enemy who were likely to outflank his battalion, CPL Howell, on his own initiative, single-handed and exposed to heavy bomb and rifle fire, climbed on to the top of the parapet and proceeded to bomb the enemy, pressing them back along the trench. Having exhausted his stock of bombs, he continued to attack the enemy with his bayonet. He was then severely wounded. The prompt action and gallant conduct of this NCO in the face of superior numbers was witnessed by the whole battalion and greatly inspired them in the subsequent successful counter attack.

The 3rd Battle of Ypres (also known as Passchendaele after its climactic Battle) was the major British offensive in Flanders in 1917. It consisted of eleven separate deliberate attacks, in corps to army group strength. Anzac troops participated in seven of these attacks. The Battle started with the same old attrition method used on the Somme (including Pozieres) in 1916, developed into the "step my step" approach, which in fine conditions resulted in the three brilliantly successful Battles of Menin Road, Polygon Wood, and Broodseinde, followed by reversion to heavy losses for minimal gains in the mud at Passchendaele.

The "step by step" approach was a tactical innovation. Its key elements were a heavy preliminary bombardment, followed by a swift infantry advance to escape the German counter bombardment. The infantry attacked under the protection of its own creeping barrage. There was a very dense concentration of force on narrow frontages (about 1,000 m per division) against limited objectives, followed by long pauses (about 1 hr) to enable reorganisation and the continuation of the attack. The Battle was planned as a succession of limited offensives, to follow one another at a few days interval, pausing to push forward the artillery, and to relieve the tired infantry with fresh troops.

The Battle of Menin Road opened on 20 Sep, and met with almost complete success. 1st Div (including 1st Bn) and 2nd Div (including 19th Bn) formed the centre of the attacking force. Never before had two Australian divisions attacked side by side, and the Diggers were consequently elated with a confidence and enthusiasm which British leaders did not, at that time, understand.

The Battle of Broodseinde was fought on 4 Oct, and again the 1st and 19th Bns participated as part of the 1st and 2nd Divs. The Broodseinde Ridge was won, and for the first time since May 1915, troops on the British side looked out on the green, tree-fringed Flemish lowlands beyond.

The 3rd Battle of Ypres ended in the mud at Passchendaele on 10 Nov. The Australians suffered 38,000 casualties in eight weeks. Those killed in the 1st Bn included MAJ Philip Howell-Price DSO MC, SGT Bellchambers MM, PTE Connell from Bathurst, and PTEs Lamprell and Sinclair from Wagga. Those killed in the 19th Bn included LTCOL Pye DSO (CO), 2 LT Tickner DCM, SGT Hill MM and Bar, SGT Pascoe and PTE Curley from Wagga, and PTE Wright from Orange.

Seven VCs were awarded to Australian soldiers. The 1st and 19th Bns were awarded the Battle Honours YPRES 1917, MENIN ROAD, POLYGON WOOD, BROODSEINDE, POELCAPPELLE and PASSCHENDAELE for these battles. YPRES and PASSCHENDAELE are emblazoned on the Regimental Colours.

The 6th and 7th Aust Light Horse Regt were awarded the Battle Honour ROMANI for this battle. In 1956 the 6th ALH Regt was converted to an infantry battalion. In 1957 the 7th ALH Regt joined the 4th Bn. These regiments thereby brought this battle honour to the RNSWR. The honour is emblazoned on the Regimental Colours, and the BHQ of 1/19 RNSWR at Orange was named Romani Barracks in commemoration of this Battle.

The gallantry and sacrifice of this one family is unique in Australian arms. The five Howell-Price brothers all served as officers in World War I. Each of them was decorated for gallantry; three of them twice. Between them they were awarded four DSOs, one DSC, and three MCs.

LTCOL Owen Howell-Price was the CO of the 3rd Bn. He was awarded the MC at Lone Pine, and the DSO on the Somme. He was shot in the head by a German sniper while placing machine guns to support the 1st Bn's attack at Gueudecourt, in which his brother Philip commanded the leading company. LTCOL Howell-Price lingered for two days, and only once briefly regained consiousness. When the RMO asked him if there was anything he could do for him he replied "Only one thing, Doc. Will you write a note to the Padre and ask him to give my love to the battalion." Those were his last words, as he relapsed into unconsciousness and died shortly afterwards, aged 26.

MAJ Philip Howell-Price was a company commander in the 1st Bn. He was awarded the DSO and MC on the Somme. After the death of his brothers, the Corps Commander (LTGEN Birdwood) had posted MAJ Howell-Price to the Corps staff in an effort to safeguard his life, however on hearing that the 1st Bn was going into action at Broodseinde, he pleaded to be allowed to return to the Bn. He was killed shortly afterwards by German artillery bombardment, aged 23.

World War 1

Gallipoli

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LONE PINE

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MONT ST QUENTIN, 1918

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POZIERES, 1916

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SOMME WINTER, 1916-17

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DERNANCOURT, 1918

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BULLECOURT

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YPRES, 1917

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ROMANI, 1916

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THE HOWELL-PRICE BROTHERS

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