In mid July 1916, Thomas was based near the town of Fromelles. Away from the rank and file, senior commanding officers of the 5th Division, met to prepare a major offensive against the Germans. This offensive, which was initially scheduled for 17 July 1916, would involve Thomas' 8th Brigade. Thomas' commanding officer, Brigadier General Tivey, protested against the decision to use his troops from the 8th Brigade. Tivey believed men like Thomas, though well trained and fit, were too inexperienced to lead a major assault against a heavily defended and seasoned enemy. Though Tivey's concerns were supported by fellow brigadier generals from the 14th and 15th Brigades, their protestations were dismissed by senior command.
The purpose of the battle was to distract the Germans from sending military reinforcements to the 'Battle of the Somme', which continued to rage 80kms south of Fromelles. Though the battle plan changed several times, the final orders included a 7 hour artillery bombardment, followed by a military assault.
The purpose of the battle was to distract the Germans from sending military reinforcements to the 'Battle of the Somme', which continued to rage 80kms south of Fromelles. Though the battle plan changed several times, the final orders included a 7 hour artillery bombardment, followed by a military assault.
On the morning of 17 July 1916, the battlefield was shrouded in fog. Because of poor visibility, the attack was rescheduled for 19 July 1916. On the morning of 19 July 1916 there was a hive of activity and feverish haste as Thomas and his comrades prepared for battle. The soldiers were ordered to wear full battle uniform. Thomas was equipped with rucksack (including pay book), rifle and bayonet, 12 rounds of ammunition, two grenades, two sandbags and a slouch hat (only the 31st and 32nd Battalions of the 8th Brigade were provided with metal helmets). Every third soldier carried a pick and shovel.
The 8th Brigade occupied less than 1km of the frontline (see map). The 31st and 32nd Battalions were ordered to position themselves along the front line trench, just 100 metres from the German trenches. The 31st and 32nd were chosen to be the first wave of soldiers to go over the top of the trenches into no man's land. The 30th Battalion was positioned in the reserve trenches, which were located 300 metres behind the front line trench. Once the battle was under way, the 30th Battalion would move into the front line trench. Thomas and his 29th Battalion, which were positioned in the reserve section approximately 650 metres behind the front line, would then move into the reserve trench after the battle commenced.
The German's were strategically positioned on slightly elevated land and used this vantage point to look down on the Australian's preparing for trench warfare. Thomas would have observed in the sky German aircraft gathering intelligence. As the day unfolded, the weather conditions and visibility were recorded as excellent. Despite the pleasant conditions, the heavy rains in early July had made the ground soggy.
 |
| This map is sourced from Laffin (1987) and shows the location of the 8th Brigade along the front line. |
The 8th Brigade occupied less than 1km of the frontline (see map). The 31st and 32nd Battalions were ordered to position themselves along the front line trench, just 100 metres from the German trenches. The 31st and 32nd were chosen to be the first wave of soldiers to go over the top of the trenches into no man's land. The 30th Battalion was positioned in the reserve trenches, which were located 300 metres behind the front line trench. Once the battle was under way, the 30th Battalion would move into the front line trench. Thomas and his 29th Battalion, which were positioned in the reserve section approximately 650 metres behind the front line, would then move into the reserve trench after the battle commenced.
The German's were strategically positioned on slightly elevated land and used this vantage point to look down on the Australian's preparing for trench warfare. Thomas would have observed in the sky German aircraft gathering intelligence. As the day unfolded, the weather conditions and visibility were recorded as excellent. Despite the pleasant conditions, the heavy rains in early July had made the ground soggy.
A few kilometers behind the ally’s front line, the Australian
artillery assault began sharply at 11am on the morning of 19 July 1916 and continued for 7 hours. At first
the German’s responded with rifle fire. However, by late morning their heavy
artillery, located behind the rise of the land and out of sight from the
allies, inflicted ferocious and deadly carnage on the allies. For instance, by midday the German’s had destroyed the 8th Battalion's headquarters, killing all signallers and medical staff, bar one.
The screaming sound of shells, exploding phosphorus, flames and
pieces of deadly hot metal flying through the year would have frightened Thomas. Nothing prepared Thomas for this carnage and additionally for the death that would follow over the next
several hours. Through the day, the German shelling intensified and with accuracy as they had the ally’s
range.
The allies reciprocated by returning heavy artillery shelling. At
around 1pm they aimed their artillery at the German wire that had been placed
in front of the enemy’s trenches. It was important that the razor-sharp
wire was cut by the shelling so advancing Australian soldiers would gain access to
German front line trenches.
At around 2pm the Germans targeted their big guns behind the 8th Brigade’s lines, near where Thomas was positioned. The German artillery was accurate and destroyed
the 8th Brigade’s
ammunition dump, killing and injuring many men. The ammunition site
bellowed smoke across no man’s land throughout the afternoon. Many
soldiers from the 8th Brigade
were also killed or injured by their own artillery fire that fell short of German targets.
Whilst the artillery bombardment continued, a tunnelling division
was busy digging a tunnel from the ally’s front line to the German’s front
line. When the tunnellers reached their underground destination, a 1200lb bomb of ammonal explosives was positioned underneath the
German’s defensive position, near a section of the line called Sugarloaf.
The bomb would be detonated the moment the order was given for the soldiers to 'hop the bags' into no man's land.
The 7 hour artillery bombardment was ferocious and it had some believing
that the German defences had been annihilated and therefore the allies would not
be met with resistance. However, this was wishful thinking.
The German defensive positions were deep and reinforced with concrete.
.
At around 4pm, Thomas and other soldiers from the 8th Brigade had been given orders to take up
their positions. Thomas saw soldiers from the 31st and 32nd Battalion slip into a communication
trench, which was a sunken road known as Cellar Farm Avenue. He watched
them make their way along a series of breastworks, to eventually arrive in the
front line trenches, located about 100 metres from the German trenches.
Similarly, soldiers from the 30th Battalion positioned themselves in the support trench. With the 29th Battalion, Thomas stayed in reserve with his Section.
At around 4PM the allies artillery began shelling behind the German's defensive. This prompted the German’s to increase their firepower and aim
directly at the 8th Brigade’s
frontline trenches. The 31st and
32nd Battalions
suffered heavy casualties. At around 4.30pm the enemy shelled the stretcher bearers and medical staff who were attending to the wounded soldiers from the 31st and 32nd, killing them outright. The war records reveal that the 8th Brigade
suffered the most number of casualties than the other brigades during the
pre-battle artillery fire.
At 5.55pm, the remaining able-bodied soldiers of the 31st and 32nd stood nervously in their trenches to await their fate. The ladders were propped up and would soon be scaled when the order, “hop the bags”
was given. As they steadied their nerves awaiting the order, an eerie
silence fell across the battle ground.
 |
| This photo was taken moments before the battle and shows soldiers from the 14th Brigade, which was located next to the 8th Brigade (see map). Only three soldiers pictured would survived the battle. Unlike these soldiers, Thomas was not issued with a metal helmet as there was an inadequate supply of them. Instead he went into battle wearing only his slouch hat. |
References
Austin, R (1997) Black and Gold: The History of the 29th Battalion, 1915-18. Slouch Hat Publications
Corfield, R (2000), Don't Forget Me, Cobber: The Battle of Fromelles, Corfield and Co, Vic
Lindsay, P (2007) Fromelles. Hardie Grant Books, Vic.
Wilkinson, C (2011), Fromelles: Australia's Bloodiest Day at War. Black Dog Books, Vic.
