ABSTRACT
But before their translation from the Flanders front, 5th Australian Division was committed with the British 61st Division in a venture ill-devised by Haig to tap the enemy front to see whether, owing to the reinforcement demands on Prince Rupprecht’s army for the Somme, it was hollow. General Sir Charles Monro believed that the best way to do this was a frontal attack in full daylight with singular lack of coordination between either of the attacking infantry forces or their artillery. He had the opportunity, as the weather was bad, to cancel the operation – Haig had left his decision in his hands. But he lacked the moral courage to do so. 1
