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(Battalion Personnel)
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On the morning of 2nd April,1917, the Battalion along with the 50th Battalion attacked Noreuil, an outpost village near the Hindenberg Line. The attack was a success, but the Battalion suffered 239 casualties during the assault and subsequent defence of the village. The next major engagement of the 51st Battalion was the counter-attack at Villers Bretonneux on 24/25 April 1918, during which action the Battalion lost 389 men in just two days. Lieutenant C.W.K. Sadlier won the Victoria Cross for his valour during the engagement. For the action, the Battalion was awarded a total of 4l decorations. The depleted 52nd Battalion was incorporated into the 51st Battalion to make up the numbers for the rest of the war.
 
On the morning of 2nd April,1917, the Battalion along with the 50th Battalion attacked Noreuil, an outpost village near the Hindenberg Line. The attack was a success, but the Battalion suffered 239 casualties during the assault and subsequent defence of the village. The next major engagement of the 51st Battalion was the counter-attack at Villers Bretonneux on 24/25 April 1918, during which action the Battalion lost 389 men in just two days. Lieutenant C.W.K. Sadlier won the Victoria Cross for his valour during the engagement. For the action, the Battalion was awarded a total of 4l decorations. The depleted 52nd Battalion was incorporated into the 51st Battalion to make up the numbers for the rest of the war.
  
===Battalion Personnel===<br>
+
 
 +
===Battalion Personnel===
 
A
 
A
 
* [[Hubert Maitland Armstrong MM]] 15 Apr 1917 - 15 Oct 1918
 
* [[Hubert Maitland Armstrong MM]] 15 Apr 1917 - 15 Oct 1918
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* [[Edward Patrick Barker]] 3 Mar 1916 - 9 Feb 1919
 
* [[Edward Patrick Barker]] 3 Mar 1916 - 9 Feb 1919
 
* [[Joseph George Benton Jnr]] 6 Apr - 25 Apr 1918 WIA
 
* [[Joseph George Benton Jnr]] 6 Apr - 25 Apr 1918 WIA
* † [[Albert Victor Berry]] 23 Dec 1916 - 25 Apr 1918 (KIA Villers-Bretonneux)
+
* † [[Albert Victor Berry]] 23 Dec 1916 - 25 Apr 1918 - KIA Villers-Bretonneux
 
* [[George Edward Binns]] 3 Mar 1916 - 18 Apr 1918
 
* [[George Edward Binns]] 3 Mar 1916 - 18 Apr 1918
 
* [[Clyde Bird]] 2 Apr 1916 - 15 Sep 1918 (WIA x 4)
 
* [[Clyde Bird]] 2 Apr 1916 - 15 Sep 1918 (WIA x 4)
 
* [[Thomas Bird]] 30 Apr 1916 - 15 Aug 1916
 
* [[Thomas Bird]] 30 Apr 1916 - 15 Aug 1916
 
* [[Charles Blunt]] 15 Jul 1917 - 13 Mar 1918
 
* [[Charles Blunt]] 15 Jul 1917 - 13 Mar 1918
* † [[John McLeod Brown]] 2 Apr 1916 - 27 Jun 1916 (Accidental death)
+
* † [[John McLeod Brown]] 2 Apr 1916 - 27 Jun 1916 -Accidental death
 
* [[Henry (Harry) Butcher]] 24 Sep 1917 - 19 May 1919
 
* [[Henry (Harry) Butcher]] 24 Sep 1917 - 19 May 1919
 
* [[William Edward Butcher MM RMG MID]] 29 Feb 1916 - 12 Mar 1919
 
* [[William Edward Butcher MM RMG MID]] 29 Feb 1916 - 12 Mar 1919
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* [[Ernest Camp]] 6 - 30 Apr 1918  
 
* [[Ernest Camp]] 6 - 30 Apr 1918  
 
* [[Victor Norman Chandler MM]] 3 Mar 1916 - 1 Sep 1917 & 10 Feb 1918 - ?? Jan 1919
 
* [[Victor Norman Chandler MM]] 3 Mar 1916 - 1 Sep 1917 & 10 Feb 1918 - ?? Jan 1919
* † [[Bernard William Chatfield]] 29 Feb - 3 Sep 1916 (KIA Mouquet Farm)
+
* † [[Bernard William Chatfield]] 29 Feb - 3 Sep 1916 - KIA Mouquet Farm
 
* [[Henry Thomas Cockram]] 1 Mar - 16 Aug 1916 (WIA Mouquet Farm)
 
* [[Henry Thomas Cockram]] 1 Mar - 16 Aug 1916 (WIA Mouquet Farm)
 
* [[William Francis Combs]] 13 May 1917 - 24 Mar 1918 (WIA x 2)
 
* [[William Francis Combs]] 13 May 1917 - 24 Mar 1918 (WIA x 2)
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* [[Francis Crowe]] 3 Mar - 9 Aug 1916 (WIA Mouquet Farm)
 
* [[Francis Crowe]] 3 Mar - 9 Aug 1916 (WIA Mouquet Farm)
 
D
 
D
* † [[Walter Edward Dalziell]] 29 Feb 1916 - 14/16 Aug 1916 (KIA Mouquet Farm)
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* † [[Walter Edward Dalziell]] 29 Feb 1916 - 14/16 Aug 1916 - KIA Mouquet Farm
 
* [[Charles Henry Davis]] 1 Mar 1916 - 9 Jan 1919 (WIA Mouquet Farm)
 
* [[Charles Henry Davis]] 1 Mar 1916 - 9 Jan 1919 (WIA Mouquet Farm)
 
* [[Gordon Devereux MM]] 29 Feb - 27 Aug 1916 & 2 May - 18 Aug 1918
 
* [[Gordon Devereux MM]] 29 Feb - 27 Aug 1916 & 2 May - 18 Aug 1918
 
* [[Alexander Donald]] 2 Apr 1916 - 9 Jun 1917 (WIA Messines Ridge)
 
* [[Alexander Donald]] 2 Apr 1916 - 9 Jun 1917 (WIA Messines Ridge)
* † [[Thomas William Dowell]] 21 Aug - 5 Sep 1916 (KIA Mouquet Farm)
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* † [[Thomas William Dowell]] 21 Aug - 5 Sep 1916 - KIA Mouquet Farm
* [[Victor Emanuel Durling]] 1 Mar 1916 - 10 Jul 1916 (WIA Petillon Sector)
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* [[Victor Emanuel Durling]] 1 Mar 1916 - 10 Jul 1916 - WIA Petillon Sector
 
E
 
E
 
* [[Albert John Egan MID]] 1 Mar 1916 - 27 Jan 1919
 
* [[Albert John Egan MID]] 1 Mar 1916 - 27 Jan 1919
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G
 
G
 
* [[William Alfred Gallant MBE]]
 
* [[William Alfred Gallant MBE]]
* † [[Charles Maul Glover]] 1 Mar - 3 Sep 1916 (KIA Mouquet Farm)
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* † [[Charles Maul Glover]] 1 Mar - 3 Sep 1916 - KIA Mouquet Farm  
* † [[John Francis Grabham MM]] 19 Apr 1916 - 15 Nov 1918 (Died of illness)
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* † [[John Francis Grabham MM]] 19 Apr 1916 - 15 Nov 1918 - Died of illness
 
H
 
H
* † [[William Harwood]] 20 May 1916 - 14 Oct 1917 (KIA Passchendaele)
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* † [[William Harwood]] 20 May 1916 - 14 Oct 1917 - KIA Passchendaele
* [[Leslie Hetherington]] 25 Apr  - 26 Sep 1917 (WIA Polygon Wood)
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* [[Leslie Hetherington]] 25 Apr  - 26 Sep 1917 -WIA Polygon Wood
 
* [[Ellis Henry Hill]] 10 Feb 1917 - 5 Nov 1918
 
* [[Ellis Henry Hill]] 10 Feb 1917 - 5 Nov 1918
 
* [[John Henry Holroyd]] 20 May 1916 - Jun 1919
 
* [[John Henry Holroyd]] 20 May 1916 - Jun 1919
* † [[John Huntley]] 2 Apr - 18 Aug 1916 (KIA Poziéres)
+
* † [[John Huntley]] 2 Apr - 18 Aug 1916 - KIA Poziéres
 
J
 
J
* † [[Fritz Robert Jaentsch]] 29 Jan 1916 - 12 Oct 1917 (KIA Passchendaele Ridge)
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* † [[Fritz Robert Jaentsch]] 29 JFeb 1916 - 12 Oct 1917 - KIA Passchendaele Ridge
 
K
 
K
* [[Walter David Francis Kerridge]] 3 Mar 1916 - 14/16 Aug 1916 - (WIA Mouquet Farm)
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* [[Walter David Francis Kerridge]] 3 Mar 1916 - 14/16 Aug 1916 - WIA Mouquet Farm
* † [[Thomas William Kerry]] 3 Mar 1916 - 2 Apr 1917 (KIA Noreuil)
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* † [[Thomas William Kerry]] 3 Mar 1916 - 2 Apr 1917 - KIA Noreuil
 
* [[James Kershaw]] 1 -14 Mar 1916 - to 4th Pioneer Battalion
 
* [[James Kershaw]] 1 -14 Mar 1916 - to 4th Pioneer Battalion
* [[Edward Joseph King]] 23 Dec 1916 - 12 oct 1917 (WIA)
+
* [[Edward Joseph King]] 23 Dec 1916 - 12 oct 1917 - WIA
* † [[George Andrew King]] 14 Dec 1916 - 28 Nov 1917 (DOW Passchendaele)
+
* † [[George Andrew King]] 14 Dec 1916 - 28 Nov 1917 - DOW Passchendaele
* [[Roy Walden King]] 19 Dec 1916 - 9 Jun 1917 (WIA Messines Ridge)
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* [[Roy Walden King]] 19 Dec 1916 - 9 Jun 1917 - WIA Messines Ridge
 
L
 
L
 
* [[Daniel Adkins Lewis]] 22 Jan 1917 - 11 Aug 1918
 
* [[Daniel Adkins Lewis]] 22 Jan 1917 - 11 Aug 1918
* [[Herbert George Lewis]] 3 - 23 Apr 1916  & 23 Jul  - 26 Aug 1916 (POW Mouquet Farm & DOW)
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* [[Herbert George Lewis]] 3 - 23 Apr 1916  & 23 Jul  - 26 Aug 1916 - POW Mouquet Farm & DOW  
* † [[Charles Leonard Lockhart]] 13 May - 12 Oct 1917 (DOW Westhoek Ridge)
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* † [[Charles Leonard Lockhart]] 13 May - 12 Oct 1917 - DOW Westhoek Ridge
 
M
 
M
* [[Stanley Thomas Marsh]] 15 Jul 1917 - 25 Apr 1918  (WIA Villers-Bretonneux)
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* [[Stanley Thomas Marsh]] 15 Jul 1917 - 25 Apr 1918  - WIA Villers-Bretonneux
* † [[Leonard Roy Matthews]] 3 Mar 1916 - 3 Sep 1916 (KIA Mouquet Farm)
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* † [[Leonard Roy Matthews]] 3 Mar 1916 - 3 Sep 1916 - KIA Mouquet Farm
 
* [[Charles Frederick McKay]] 2 Apr 1916 - 8 Jan 1917
 
* [[Charles Frederick McKay]] 2 Apr 1916 - 8 Jan 1917
* † [[Ernest James Mead]] 1 Jan 1917 - 24 Apr 1918 (KIA Villers-Bretonneux)
+
* † [[Ernest James Mead]] 1 Jan 1917 - 24 Apr 1918 - KIA Villers-Bretonneux
 
* [[Henry Joseph Milne]] ?? Apr - 29 Sep 1916
 
* [[Henry Joseph Milne]] ?? Apr - 29 Sep 1916
 
* [[Leonard George Morgan]] 28 Jan 1917 - 11 Mar 1918
 
* [[Leonard George Morgan]] 28 Jan 1917 - 11 Mar 1918
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* [[James Richard Parry (Dick) Murray]] 2 Feb - 20 May 1919
 
* [[James Richard Parry (Dick) Murray]] 2 Feb - 20 May 1919
 
O
 
O
* [[William Richard (Billy) Orr]] 25 Feb - 25 Apr 1918 (WIA Villers-Bretonneux)
+
* [[William Richard (Billy) Orr]] 25 Feb - 25 Apr 1918 - WIA Villers-Bretonneux
 
P
 
P
 
* [[Henry Ivor Passmore DCM]] 13 Mar 1918 - 10 Jun 1919
 
* [[Henry Ivor Passmore DCM]] 13 Mar 1918 - 10 Jun 1919
* [[Keith George Harman Podger]] 19 Apr - 16 Aug 1916 (KIA Mouquet Farm)
+
* [[Keith George Harman Podger]] 19 Apr - 16 Aug 1916 - KIA Mouquet Farm
 
R
 
R
 
* [[William Rawlinson]] 3 Mar - 20 Oct 1916  
 
* [[William Rawlinson]] 3 Mar - 20 Oct 1916  
 
* [[John George (Jack) Ray]] 20 Aug 1918 - 10 May 1919
 
* [[John George (Jack) Ray]] 20 Aug 1918 - 10 May 1919
* † [[Charles Joseph Gerald Raynor]] 3 Mar - 3 Sep 1916 (KIA Mouquet Farm)
+
* † [[Charles Joseph Gerald Raynor]] 3 Mar - 3 Sep 1916 - KIA Mouquet Farm
* [[Francis Henry Ryniker]] 3 Mar - 3 Sep 1916 (POW)
+
* [[Francis Henry Ryniker]] 3 Mar - 3 Sep 1916 - POW
 
S
 
S
* † [[Felix Edmund John Sainsbury]] 10 Feb - 9 Jun 1917 (KIA Messines)
+
* † [[Felix Edmund John Sainsbury]] 10 Feb - 9 Jun 1917 - KIA Messines
 
* [[George Sanderson]] 19 Jan - 6 Apr 1917
 
* [[George Sanderson]] 19 Jan - 6 Apr 1917
* † [[William Savage]] 13 May - 26 Sep 1917 (KIA Polygon Wood)
+
* † [[William Savage]] 13 May - 26 Sep 1917 - KIA Polygon Wood
 
* [[Henry Giles Schmidt]] 1 Mar 1916 - 10 Feb 1917
 
* [[Henry Giles Schmidt]] 1 Mar 1916 - 10 Feb 1917
* † [[Ernest Selkirk MID]] 3 Mar 1916 - 9 Jun 1917 (KIA Messines)
+
* † [[Ernest Selkirk MID]] 3 Mar 1916 - 9 Jun 1917 - KIA Messines
 
* [[Frederick Selkirk]] 16 May 1918 from the 52nd Battalion  
 
* [[Frederick Selkirk]] 16 May 1918 from the 52nd Battalion  
* † [[Frank Leslie Sexton]] 2 Apr 1916 - 2 Apr 1917 (KIA Noreuil)
+
* † [[Frank Leslie Sexton]] 2 Apr 1916 - 2 Apr 1917 - KIA Noreuil
 
* [[John (Junior) Shepherd]] 13 Mar 1918 - 31 Jan 1919
 
* [[John (Junior) Shepherd]] 13 Mar 1918 - 31 Jan 1919
* [[William Simpson]] 23 Dec 1916 - 11 Apr 1917 (WIA Bullecourt)
+
* [[William Simpson]] 23 Dec 1916 - 11 Apr 1917 - WIA Bullecourt
 
* [[Ernest (Roy) William Sladden]] 15 Feb - 7 Sep 1917
 
* [[Ernest (Roy) William Sladden]] 15 Feb - 7 Sep 1917
* † [[Herbert Charles Smith]] 19 Feb -  2 Apr 1917 (KIA Noreuil)
+
* † [[Herbert Charles Smith]] 19 Feb -  2 Apr 1917 - KIA Noreuil
* [[Harold Hopgood Surman]] 15 Jul - 26 Sep 1916 (WIA Polygon Wood)
+
* [[Harold Hopgood Surman]] 15 Jul - 26 Sep 1916 - WIA Polygon Wood
 
T
 
T
 
* [[Mount (Mont) Alexander Taylor]] 20 Oct 1916 - 13 Jan 1919
 
* [[Mount (Mont) Alexander Taylor]] 20 Oct 1916 - 13 Jan 1919
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* [[Edward William Tink]] 3 Apr - 13 May 1916 to AASC
 
* [[Edward William Tink]] 3 Apr - 13 May 1916 to AASC
 
V
 
V
* † [[Samuel James Verrier]] 7 Feb - 1 Apr 1917 (KIA Noreuil)
+
* † [[Samuel James Verrier]] 7 Feb - 1 Apr 1917 - KIA Noreuil
* [[Samuel Arthur Vincent]] 16 Aug - 15 Sep 1918 (WIA near Péronne)
+
* [[Samuel Arthur Vincent]] 16 Aug - 15 Sep 1918 - WIA near Péronne
 
W
 
W
* † [[William Paul (Layton) Walton]] 14 Dec 1916 - 2 Apr 1917 (KIA Noreuil)
+
* † [[William Paul (Layton) Walton]] 14 Dec 1916 - 2 Apr 1917 - KIA Noreuil
* [[Clarence Victor Watson]] 20 Oct 1916 - 22 Apr 1918 (WIA 2 Apr 1917 Noreuil)
+
* [[Clarence Victor Watson]] 20 Oct 1916 - 22 Apr 1918 - WIA 2 Apr 1917 Noreuil
* [[John Whittaker]] ?? Jun 1916 - 10 Jun 1917 (KIA Messines)
+
* [[John Whittaker]] ?? Jun 1916 - 10 Jun 1917 - KIA Messines
 
* [[John Henry Wilkinson]] 17 Nov 1916 - 10 Apr 1919
 
* [[John Henry Wilkinson]] 17 Nov 1916 - 10 Apr 1919
 
* [[Vernon Claude Witney]] 13 May 1917 - 20 Apr 1918
 
* [[Vernon Claude Witney]] 13 May 1917 - 20 Apr 1918
* [[William Charles Woodland]] 2 Mar - 3 Sep 1916 (POW & WIA Pozieres)
+
* [[William Charles Woodland]] 2 Mar - 3 Sep 1916 - POW & WIA Pozieres
  
 
==Battle Honours==
 
==Battle Honours==

Revision as of 19:18, 30 August 2021

51st Battalion
51st Battalion.jpg
Shoulder patch
51st Bn.jpg
Sheepskin vests worn to ward off the cold of 1916/17 winter. AWM photo P10550.056


Brief History

The 51st Battalion, Australian Imperial Force was raised at Tel-El-Kabir, Egypt, on 1 March 1916 from half of the 11th Battalion (veterans of the Gallipoli landing) and reinforcements of the 11th and 28th Battalions, all personnel being Western Australian volunteers. The Battalion was granted the colour patch chocolate brown over saxe blue.

The new Battalion was allotted to the 13th Infantry Brigade, 4th Australian Division with the 49th, 50th and 52nd Battalions, disembarked at Marseilles, France on 11 June 1916 and moved into the front line at Fleurbaix three days later.

The 51st Battalion's first major engagements with the enemy occurred at the ruins of Pozieres and Mouquet Farm during the period August - September 1916. During these engagements, the Battalion reached its objectives but was unable to hold the captured positions. In less than three weeks the Battalion had suffered in excess of 650 casualties. The Battalion then shifted to the quieter section of the battlefield in Belgium. There its major battle was with the rain and the mud and at one stage the Battalion was down to approximately 300 men due to the shocking conditions they fought in.

On the morning of 2nd April,1917, the Battalion along with the 50th Battalion attacked Noreuil, an outpost village near the Hindenberg Line. The attack was a success, but the Battalion suffered 239 casualties during the assault and subsequent defence of the village. The next major engagement of the 51st Battalion was the counter-attack at Villers Bretonneux on 24/25 April 1918, during which action the Battalion lost 389 men in just two days. Lieutenant C.W.K. Sadlier won the Victoria Cross for his valour during the engagement. For the action, the Battalion was awarded a total of 4l decorations. The depleted 52nd Battalion was incorporated into the 51st Battalion to make up the numbers for the rest of the war.


Battalion Personnel

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

J

K

L

M

O

P

R

S

T

V

W

Battle Honours

  • Egypt 1915-1916
  • Somme 1916
  • Somme 1918
  • Pozieres
  • Bullecourt
  • Messines 1917
  • Ypres 1917
  • Menin Road
  • Polygon Wood
  • Passchendaele
  • Ancre 1918
  • Villers-Bretonneux
  • Hamel
  • Amiens
  • Albert 1918
  • Hindenburg Line 1
  • Hindenburg Line 2
  • Epehy
  • France and Flanders 1916-1918

Individual Honours

Notes

Information obtained from 51st Battalion Association[1]

External Links