Villers-Bretonneux sight of world’s first tank battle

THE Germans were nothing if not persistent. They had failed to break through to Amiens in late March and early April 1918. So on the morning of April 24, a century ago today, they unleashed their secret weapon.

Meal time at a machinegun post of the 5th Australian Machine Gun Battalion (mainly Queenslanders) on Hill 104, Villers-Bretonneux, France. Picture: Australian War Memorial

THE Germans were nothing if not persistent. They had failed to break through to Amiens in late March and early April 1918. So on the morning of April 24, a century ago today, they unleashed their secret weapon. This time they hit the enemy lines, mostly British troops, with gas attacks and an artillery barrage. When the smoke and mists parted, giant lumbering A7V German tanks emerged, scattering the British troops and helping to punch a gap nearly 5km wide in the Allied lines.

The Germans captured the village of Villers-Bretonneux, a town already known from an earlier battle, but one that has since become famous in Australian military history. Its fame rests largely upon the moonlight raid conducted by British and Australian troops on the eve of Anzac Day in 1918 to retake the town. But the battle is also famous for being the first time tanks met tanks in battle.

Night attack by 13th Brigade on Villers-Bretonneux, oil painting by Will Longstaf, depicts the dramatic action at night at Villers-Bretonneux on the eve of Anzac Day in 1918. That action saw Cliff Sadlier, from Perth, WA, awarded the Victoria Cross and Charlie Stokes, from Subiaco, WA awarded the DCM. Through the trees, on the far horizon, the remaining ruined tower of the church at Villers-Bretonneux can be observed. Picture: Australian War Memorial

Since the start of the war the Allies had worked on developing armoured vehicles armed with guns — under the codename tank, pretending they were working on water carriers. They were first deployed during the battle of the Somme in 1916. The Germans soon began working on their own version, but it was not until March 1918 that they introduced their first tanks.

The German machines were large, heavy, slow and had a tendency to tip over on hilly land. But at the battle for Villers-Bretonneux, which was fought on flat land, it was thought they might have more success.

When several A7V tanks rumbled out of the smoke and mist on April 24, 1918, initially they had the desired effect. Moving unchecked across the land between the lines, they took up position near the British trenches, raking them with machinegun fire, driving off British troops and giving cover to infantry who made enough ground to break through the line and capture Villers-Bretonneux, an important objective on the road to Amiens.

French troops stand around a toppled German A7V tank, Mephisto, at Villers-Bretonneux in 1918.

The Mephisto WW1 A7V German tank on permanent display at Qld Museum takes its name from the painting of Germanic evil spirit Mephistoheles depicted with an English tank under his arm. The tank is the only one in existence and was captured by Australian (mostly Queensland) troops after becoming stuck in a trench.

But the German tanks didn’t have it all their way. One German tank, named Mephisto, rolled on its side and was later captured by Allied troops (it is now in a museum in Queensland).

At the town of Cachy three German tanks were met by three British Mark IV tanks (one male and two females), it was the first time tanks had ever fought tanks in battle. The two British “female” tanks (they were armed only with machineguns), fled to safety after realising they were outgunned by the Germans. However, the remaining “male” tank fired on the Germans, disabling one of their machines and driving the other two off.

With Villers-Bretonneux in German hands, the Allied Commander-in-Chief General Ferdinand Foch became worried that Amiens was within Germany’s grasp, since it could be seen from the village. He issued orders for a counter-attack and stressed the urgent need to take back Villers-Bretonneux. Among those tasked with the job of kicking the Germans out of the town were Australian troops, including the 13th Brigade of the 4th division, under Brig-Gen William Glasgow and the 15th Brigade of the 5th division under Brig-Gen Harold “Pompey” Elliott.

Australian Brig-Gen Pompey Elliott.

With the third anniversary of the Anzac landings looming, the Australians were emotionally charged to meet their objective. The attack began under moonlight at 10pm and the Australians attacked with a formidable ferocity. The cry of “Into the bastards boys” went up and stunned Germans were shot dead, then bayoneted, few prisoners were taken.

Lt Cliff Sadlier won a VC for his part in the battle when he took a small group of men, including Sgt Charles Stokes, to attack machinegun nests hidden in a wood south of Villers-Bretonneux. Sadlier was shot in the thigh by a German who pretended to surrender, Sadlier shot him dead and moved on to the next machinegun. Another wound forced him back to the Australian lines but Stokes captured two more machinegun nests. Stokes was also recommended for a VC but only received a Distinguished Conduct Medal.

The counter attack was costly, with the Australians sustaining nearly 1500 casualties. But the combined might of the British and Australian troops at Villers-Bretonneux destroyed any chance of success for the German offensive.

After the war Villers-Bretonneux was chosen as the site for the Australian National Memorial, honouring soldiers killed on the Western Front. The village, badly damaged during the conflict, was rebuilt with significant donations coming from Victoria.