Australian 11th Battalion
Encyclopedia
The Australian 11th Battalion was a World War I
Australian Army
unit. It was among the first infantry units raised for the 1st AIF
during the First World War. It was the first battalion recruited in Western Australia
, and with the 9th, 10th and 12th Battalions it formed the 3rd Brigade
.
Following a brief training period in Perth, the battalion sailed to Egypt where it undertook four months of intensive training. During the landing at Anzac Cove, the battalion landed on the left flank as part of the first wave and was heavily involved in defending the initial Australian positions on the cliffs above the Cove. Before the battle of Lone Pine, the battalion launched diversionary attacks on the southern end of the Australian positions. Following the withdrawal from Gallipoli, the battalion returned to Egypt where it was split to form the 51st Battalion.
In March 1916, the battalion was deployed to the Western Front where it took part in trench warfare until the end of the war in 1918.
By the end of the war, 11th Battalion suffered casualties of 1,115 killed
and 2,249 wounded
(including gassed). It was disbanded in 1919.
, W.A and at the end of October sailed from Fremantle
on the SS Ascanius and SS Medic
. After stopovers in the Cocos Islands and Colombo
it arrived at Mena Camp in Cairo, Egypt at the start of December. The battalion trained in Egypt until early March 1915 when it sailed on SS Suffolk and SS Nizam from Alexandria
, its destination unknown. En route, the orders were opened and it was revealed that the battalion was heading to the island of Lemnos
in the Aegean sea, in preparation for the Landing at Anzac Cove
.
, which was bound for Gallipoli
in the Dardanelles. At 4.30 on the morning of 25 April, 'A' and 'C' companies of the battalion landed at Anzac Cove around Ari Burnu Knoll, a mile south of Fisherman's Hut, on the left flank of the first wave. Under heavy machine gun and rifle fire, the battalion stormed the cliffs, driving the Turks back. However, the battalion became disorganised during the landing and became mixed with other units. Small sections of the battalion were engaged in firefights all along the Australian front. Major Brockman, one of the battalion's senior officers, tried to sort the scattered men into their battalions: 9th on the right, 10th in the middle and 11th on the left. Meanwhile, the second half of the battalion landed further north of the first wave, directly under heavy machine gun fire from Turks fully prepared and alerted by the first wave.
Over the next few days, the battalion dug in on the first and second ridges under heavy fire from the Turks. Casualties were heavy, but a defensive line was established. On the 30th, the battalion was withdrawn and moved into reserve on the beach. The next day, it reoccupied its section of the front. At this stage, the battalion was 450-strong. By 1 May, 30 officers and 940 other ranks from the battalion had landed.
At this point, the battalion estimated that it had suffered 38 killed, 200 wounded and 197 missing. On 15 May, the battalion received 244 reinforcements, bringing its total strength to 23 officers and 723 other ranks.
In the early morning on 19 May, Turkish forces launched an attack against the left flank of the Australian lines, which developed into a major battle along the whole Australian front. The attack was repulsed with heavy losses. The 11th battalion suffered nine killed and eight wounded, mainly from shrapnel. One Turkish officer and five soldiers surrendered. On 21 May, a truce was declared and a burial party from the 12th battalion was sent out. However it was fired at by the Turks and as a result burial parties were discontinued. A similar truce was declared on 24 May. A line was drawn halfway between the two lines and each side sent out parties to bury the dead and collect equipment.
were ordered to capture a section of Turkish trenches in front of the battalion's position. After engineers detonated three mines prepared near Turkish communications trenches, the storming party captured the Turkish trench following a bayonet charge, with the loss of one officer and 36 other ranks killed. 70 other members of the battalion were wounded during the attack, including Captain Leane, who was mentioned in dispatches
. Turkish casualties were estimated by the battalion to be 60 killed.
On 6 August, the battalion held off a fierce Turkish counter-attack on the trench, which became known as "Leane's Trench". Heavy casualties were sustained on both sides. The battalion suffered 41 killed, 94 wounded and 19 missing.
around Chatham Post until it was withdrawn, with the 9th battalion, from Anzac Cove. The withdrawal had been planned for the 14th, but due to bad weather this was delayed until on the night of the 16/17 November 1915.
From Anzac Cove, it sailed to Lemnos where it recuperated at Sampi Camp, following seven months in the trenches. The battalion's war diary records particularly bad weather on Lemnos during this period, noting "Mudros seems a most unsuitable place to send troops for a rest". During this rest period, the battalion reported its first and only case of diphtheria
, following which the whole brigade was quarantined. On 17 December, Private Hayes died from meningitis
.
In early 1916, the battalion sailed to Alexandria on the Empress of Britain. From Alexandria, it traveled by train to bivouac at Tall al Kabir
.
where it billeted until the 19th when it moved to Sailly
, where it commemorated Anzac Day
on 25 April.
, of 'A' company was in command of an important picket post
on the right of the battalion's positions outside Louverval, France, with orders to "hold the position at all costs". The Germans attacked the position with overwhelming numbers and surrounded the post. Having used up their ammunition, the remainder of the post charged with fixed bayonets into the surrounding German positions. Lieutenant Pope's body was later found with those of his men, having killed 80 Germans. Pope was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross
, Australia's highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
unit. It was among the first infantry units raised for the 1st AIF
First Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
during the First World War. It was the first battalion recruited in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, and with the 9th, 10th and 12th Battalions it formed the 3rd Brigade
Australian 3rd Brigade
The 3rd Brigade is a combined arms brigade of the Australian Army, based around the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment . It was originally formed in 1914 for service during World War I, taking part in the fighting at Gallipoli and on the Western Front in Europe...
.
Following a brief training period in Perth, the battalion sailed to Egypt where it undertook four months of intensive training. During the landing at Anzac Cove, the battalion landed on the left flank as part of the first wave and was heavily involved in defending the initial Australian positions on the cliffs above the Cove. Before the battle of Lone Pine, the battalion launched diversionary attacks on the southern end of the Australian positions. Following the withdrawal from Gallipoli, the battalion returned to Egypt where it was split to form the 51st Battalion.
In March 1916, the battalion was deployed to the Western Front where it took part in trench warfare until the end of the war in 1918.
By the end of the war, 11th Battalion suffered casualties of 1,115 killed
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
and 2,249 wounded
Wounded in action
Wounded in action describes soldiers who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during war time, but have not been killed. Typically it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing to fight....
(including gassed). It was disbanded in 1919.
Formation and training
The battalion began training in August 1914 at BellvueBellevue railway station, Perth
Bellevue railway station was an important junction station when the Eastern Railway first route passed through to Greenmount in the 1880s, when the second route passed through to Swan View, in the 1890s - until the closure of the two routes in 1966 when the station was removed...
, W.A and at the end of October sailed from Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
on the SS Ascanius and SS Medic
SS Medic (1899)
The SS Medic was a steamship built by Harland and Wolff in Belfast for the White Star Line in 1899. Medic was one of three "Jubilee Class" ocean liners, the other two being the SS Afric and SS Persic, built specifically to service the Liverpool-Cape Town-Sydney route.Medic, like her sisters, was a...
. After stopovers in the Cocos Islands and Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
it arrived at Mena Camp in Cairo, Egypt at the start of December. The battalion trained in Egypt until early March 1915 when it sailed on SS Suffolk and SS Nizam from Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, its destination unknown. En route, the orders were opened and it was revealed that the battalion was heading to the island of Lemnos
Lemnos
Lemnos is an island of Greece in the northern part of the Aegean Sea. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within the Lemnos peripheral unit, which is part of the North Aegean Periphery. The principal town of the island and seat of the municipality is Myrina...
in the Aegean sea, in preparation for the Landing at Anzac Cove
Landing at Anzac Cove
The landing at Anzac Cove was part of the amphibious invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula by Australian and New Zealand forces on 25 April 1915. The landing, north of Gaba Tepe on the Aegean coast of the Peninsula, was made by soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and was the first...
.
Landing at Anzac Cove
On 24 April 1915, the battalion disembarked from SS Suffolk and boarded HMS LondonHMS London (1899)
HMS London was a Formidable class battleship in the British Royal Navy, often considered to be part of the London class or subclass.-Technical Description:...
, which was bound for Gallipoli
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula is located in Turkish Thrace , the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. Gallipoli derives its name from the Greek "Καλλίπολις" , meaning "Beautiful City"...
in the Dardanelles. At 4.30 on the morning of 25 April, 'A' and 'C' companies of the battalion landed at Anzac Cove around Ari Burnu Knoll, a mile south of Fisherman's Hut, on the left flank of the first wave. Under heavy machine gun and rifle fire, the battalion stormed the cliffs, driving the Turks back. However, the battalion became disorganised during the landing and became mixed with other units. Small sections of the battalion were engaged in firefights all along the Australian front. Major Brockman, one of the battalion's senior officers, tried to sort the scattered men into their battalions: 9th on the right, 10th in the middle and 11th on the left. Meanwhile, the second half of the battalion landed further north of the first wave, directly under heavy machine gun fire from Turks fully prepared and alerted by the first wave.
Over the next few days, the battalion dug in on the first and second ridges under heavy fire from the Turks. Casualties were heavy, but a defensive line was established. On the 30th, the battalion was withdrawn and moved into reserve on the beach. The next day, it reoccupied its section of the front. At this stage, the battalion was 450-strong. By 1 May, 30 officers and 940 other ranks from the battalion had landed.
Raid on Gaba Tepe
On 4 May 1915, a party of 100 men from the battalion, led by Captain Raymond Leane and a detail of engineers, launched an unsuccessful attack on a Turkish fort at Gaba Tepe which was being used to observe artillery fire onto Australian positions around Anzac Cove. The Turks opened heavy fire on the party which was forced to withdraw. The Australians lost 4 killed, including a 2nd Lieutenant, and 19 others were wounded. The raid was the AIF's first of the war.At this point, the battalion estimated that it had suffered 38 killed, 200 wounded and 197 missing. On 15 May, the battalion received 244 reinforcements, bringing its total strength to 23 officers and 723 other ranks.
In the early morning on 19 May, Turkish forces launched an attack against the left flank of the Australian lines, which developed into a major battle along the whole Australian front. The attack was repulsed with heavy losses. The 11th battalion suffered nine killed and eight wounded, mainly from shrapnel. One Turkish officer and five soldiers surrendered. On 21 May, a truce was declared and a burial party from the 12th battalion was sent out. However it was fired at by the Turks and as a result burial parties were discontinued. A similar truce was declared on 24 May. A line was drawn halfway between the two lines and each side sent out parties to bury the dead and collect equipment.
Lone Pine
On 27 July 1915, after two weeks in reserve, the battalion relieved the 12th battalion at Tasmanian Post, on the right on the Australian front line. On 31 July, A party of around 200 men led by Captain LeaneRaymond Leane
Brigadier General Sir Raymond Lionel Leane CB, CMG, DSO & Bar, MC was an Australian Army Brigadier General who served in World War I, and later served as Chief Commissioner of Police in South Australia.-Early life and career:...
were ordered to capture a section of Turkish trenches in front of the battalion's position. After engineers detonated three mines prepared near Turkish communications trenches, the storming party captured the Turkish trench following a bayonet charge, with the loss of one officer and 36 other ranks killed. 70 other members of the battalion were wounded during the attack, including Captain Leane, who was mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
. Turkish casualties were estimated by the battalion to be 60 killed.
On 6 August, the battalion held off a fierce Turkish counter-attack on the trench, which became known as "Leane's Trench". Heavy casualties were sustained on both sides. The battalion suffered 41 killed, 94 wounded and 19 missing.
Withdrawal
In November, the battalion supported the 5th Light Horse2nd Light Horse Brigade
The 2nd Light Horse Brigade was a mounted infantry brigade of the First Australian Imperial Force which served in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I. The brigade first saw action during the Dardanelles Campaign in the Battle of Gallipoli. After being withdrawn to Egypt in February 1916 they...
around Chatham Post until it was withdrawn, with the 9th battalion, from Anzac Cove. The withdrawal had been planned for the 14th, but due to bad weather this was delayed until on the night of the 16/17 November 1915.
From Anzac Cove, it sailed to Lemnos where it recuperated at Sampi Camp, following seven months in the trenches. The battalion's war diary records particularly bad weather on Lemnos during this period, noting "Mudros seems a most unsuitable place to send troops for a rest". During this rest period, the battalion reported its first and only case of diphtheria
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an upper respiratory tract illness caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a facultative anaerobic, Gram-positive bacterium. It is characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity...
, following which the whole brigade was quarantined. On 17 December, Private Hayes died from meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
.
In early 1916, the battalion sailed to Alexandria on the Empress of Britain. From Alexandria, it traveled by train to bivouac at Tall al Kabir
Tall al Kabir
Tall al Kebir or Tel-el-Kebir is 110 km north-north-east of Cairo and 75 kilometres south of Port Said on the edge of the Egyptian desert at the altitude of 29 m...
.
Western Front
On 30 March 1916, the battalion sailed from Alexandria aboard the HMT Corsican. It arrived 5 April at Marseilles, France and then moved by train to FlêtreFlêtre
-References:*...
where it billeted until the 19th when it moved to Sailly
Sailly
Sailly may refer to the following places in France:*Sailly, Ardennes, a commune in the Ardennes department*Sailly, Haute-Marne, a commune in the Haute-Marne department*Sailly, Saône-et-Loire, a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department...
, where it commemorated Anzac Day
ANZAC Day
Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all...
on 25 April.
Louverval
On 15 April 1917, Lieutenant Charles PopeCharles Pope
Charles Pope VC was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, of 'A' company was in command of an important picket post
Picket (military)
In military terminology, a picket refers to soldiers or troops placed on a line forward of a position to warn against an enemy advance. It can also refer to any unit performing a similar function...
on the right of the battalion's positions outside Louverval, France, with orders to "hold the position at all costs". The Germans attacked the position with overwhelming numbers and surrounded the post. Having used up their ammunition, the remainder of the post charged with fixed bayonets into the surrounding German positions. Lieutenant Pope's body was later found with those of his men, having killed 80 Germans. Pope was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, Australia's highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy.
Battle honours
- Somme 1916Battle of the Somme (1916)The Battle of the Somme , also known as the Somme Offensive, took place during the First World War between 1 July and 14 November 1916 in the Somme department of France, on both banks of the river of the same name...
- Somme 1918
- Pozieres
- BullecourtBullecourtBullecourt is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region in France.-Geography:Bullecourt lies on the Upper Cretaceous plain of Artois between Arras and Bapaume and east of the A1 motorway. This shows Bullecourt just north of centre. Quéant is the larger of the two...
- YpresYpresYpres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
1917 - Menin Road
- Polygon Wood
- Broodseinde
- Poelcappelle
- Passchendaele
- LysLysLys may refer to any of the following:Places*The Lys or Leie, a river in France and Belgium*Lys , a stream of Aosta Valley in Italy*Lys, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in France...
- HazebrouckHazebrouck-Communications:The town enjoys excellent rail connections, with frequent daily services to Lille and Paris, some by High Speed Line. There is a small international airport, concentrating on business flights, at Merville-Calonne just 12 kilometre / 8 miles away...
- AmiensAmiensAmiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
- Albert 1918
- Hindenburg LineHindenburg LineThe Hindenburg Line was a vast system of defences in northeastern France during World War I. It was constructed by the Germans during the winter of 1916–17. The line stretched from Lens to beyond Verdun...
- Epehy
- France and Flanders 1916–1918
- ANZACAnzac CoveAnzac Cove is a small cove on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey. It became famous as the site of World War I landing of the ANZAC on April 25, 1915. The cove is a mere long, bounded by the headlands of Ari Burnu to the north and Little Ari Burnu, known as Hell Spit, to the south...
- Landing at ANZAC
- Defence at ANZAC
- Suvla
- Sari Bair
- GallipoliBattle of GallipoliThe Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Dardanelles Campaign or the Battle of Gallipoli, took place at the peninsula of Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916, during the First World War...
1915–1916 - EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
1915–1917
Decorations
- 1 VCVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
- 1 CB
- 2 CMGOrder of St Michael and St GeorgeThe Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
- 7 DSODistinguished Service OrderThe Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
- 1 OBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
- 30 MCMilitary CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, 1 bar - 25 DCMDistinguished Conduct MedalThe Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
, 1 bar - 96 MMMilitary MedalThe Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
, 2 bars - 3 MSMMeritorious Service Medal (United Kingdom)The Meritorious Service Medal is a silver medal for distinguished service, or for gallantry, principally by non-commissioned officers of all of the British armed forces and of Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service.-Summary:...
- 85 MIDMentioned in DispatchesA soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
- 7 foreign awards
External links
- 11th Battalion's War Diary – Australian War Memorial
- Mena Camp – Digger History
- Gerald Patrick McKenna – Biography of one of the battalion's Lieutenants.