Thursday 4 October 1917

Temperature 60°F (15°C);. overcast skies resulted in 0.18in (4.6mm) of rain (Source: All weather: McCarthy, 1995)

11th Brigade's objectives The two ANZAC Corps (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps - the New Zealanders and the 3rd Australian Division) had adjusted their boundary to the Ypres-Roulers railway, with the 11th Brigade attacking directly to its west. 11th Brigade (41st, 42nd, 43rd and 44th Battalions), of the 3rd Division, had the task of advancing between 1,200 and 2,000 yards on a 1,000 yard front, in two stages: first across the valley of the Nieuwe Beek to the 'Red Line' - 100 to 200 yards short of the crest where Tyne Cot Cemetery now stands; and then, after about an hours pause, rushing the crest and pushing forward to a 'Blue Line', 200 to 400 yards beyond Tyne Cot. As the railway veered to the north before cutting through the crest Maj. Gen. Sir John Monash commanding 3rd Division added two intermediate objectives, making four in all, one for each battalion. The 42nd's objective was the 'Red Line'. Right: 11th Brigade objective map Click on the map to open an A4 map of the whole battlefield.  This map is not north orientated. The names are orientated north. Source: Australian War Memorial - 42nd Battalion War Diary / October 1917 page 9

The plan of attack

The plan of attack was for the 43^rd Battalion to penetrate 700 yards depth, and while the barrage halted 200 yards beyond this point for 12 minutes, the 42^nd Battalion was to leap-frog through the 43^rd Battalion and penetrate a further 800 yards to the Red Line, which ran across the railway line at D 22 b 25.65 southwards through the T in Thames and northwards to D 22 a 5.9. [Note: the maps are based on those included in the Battalion Battle Narrative, which show different grid references.] (42^nd Battle Narrative in this font.)

'The artillery plan was changed to confuse the enemy. The Battle of the Menin Road had been preceded by a week-long bombardment, while the Polygon Wood action had only a twenty-four-hour preparatory bombardment. This time the artillery fire was to be laid down at zero hour, when the troops were to advance, but a series of 'practice barrages' were laid down from 27 September onwards. The plan of the barrage was also new. It would begin 150 yards (137m) in front of the jumping-off line and go forward in 100-yard (0.9-km) lifts until an infantry pause line was protected. It would then wander forward 1,000 yards (0.9km) before coming back to cover the advance to the final objective. Second Army had 796 heavy and medium guns and 1,548 field guns and howitzers to provide this barrage.' (Evans 2005, page 106)

This plan illustrates the increasing sophistication of the technological artillery war.

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Assembling behind Hill 40 and preparing to 'go-over'

The whole Brigade formed up 43rd in front, 42nd, 41st and 44th in rear. The front allocated was 500 yards from the Ypres to Roulers railway, inclusive, along a line running N.W.

The assembly position was very broken, slippery and boggy and the going was very difficult. By 3am of the morning of 4 October, all Companies reported ready for the attack. Battalion Headquarters was established in a dugout at D 27 A 2 9. ¹

On the right, adjacent to the railway, the troops of the 42nd were very close to the enemy. The night was quiet until shortly before dawn. 'At about 5.20 – a yellow flare went up, instead of a white (as heretofore). It was followed by a couple more and then a sheaf of them ... About seven minutes later, the German barrage began to come down, battery by battery. By 5.30 it was really heavy ... Of course we thought that the attack had been discovered. ...' (Brahms 1938) Most of the forward battalions suffered least; where there was room the rear lines edged forward to escape the worst of the storm. Most of the men, lying in shell holes with waterproof capes drawn over their heads against the rain, simply had to endure it.

Right: Map showing the planned attack Source: TNA, Trench map October 1917 Ref: 28NE1 D22a 2.4 Click on the image to open a full 84Kb gif A4 landscape map

	The Battalion attacked on a three Company frontage, each Company taking 200 yards 'C' Company on right [towards Thames Bunker], 'B' in the centre, 'D' on the left, and 'A' Company, in reserve, Each of the Front Companies had 1 platoon extended to follow the barrage, 2 platoons as Moppers-up and 1 platoon in reserve.
		Above: Sketch of the attack formation from the War Diary

The reserve Company moved in Artillery formation. Zero hour was set for 6am.

In Artillery formation the platoon moves in a four section diamond, lead by the platoon officer. The rifle section lead, (see bottom of illustration above) followed by rifle bombers on the left flank and bombers on the right flank. The Lewis gun section brought up the rear.

Footnote¹ Grid references: D - 36 squares of 1000 yards², 27 - one square of 1000 yards² divided into four smaller squares, A - the top left 500 yard² square in square 22 (C is the bottom left square), 2 - 2 of 10 units along the base of square A, 9 - 9 of 10 vertical units up the 2 grid line.

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The barrage was to fall on a line 150 yards east of our assembly line, for three minutes, then advance 100 yards, lifts every six minutes. In order to frustrate a possible enemy attack our Artillery, at 5.15am, put down an SOS barrage which moved forward three hundred yards and remained down until zero hour.

The unit history 44^th, who were crowded at the back of the assembly area, recorded:

'As the Australian guns were practically silent, the German troops on their assembly positions must have had a quiet time. Not so the Diggers. The German barrage started at 3 a.m. and from that time up to 6 o'clock the troops endured an ever-increasing storm of high explosive shells, which literally showered on the area in which the Diggers were crouching in shell boles, with no possible cover and only waiting the arrival of the "one" which must sooner or later fall in their particular shell hole. Casualties in the 44th were numerous. "D" Company lost fifty per cent, of its strength in those three hours, and the other companies also suffered heavily. In addition, the usual Flanders drizzle drenched everyone to the skin. Although under such circumstances the wetting was of minor importance, it was still another of those proverbial straws which, however, never broke the Diggers' backs. Only those who endured it can now imagine what the suspense was like.' (Longmore 2010, page 100)

The 41^st's unit history recorded:

'Half an hour after we arrived (5.30 a.m.) the Germans put down an intense barrage, which fortunately fell mostly on the Zonnebeke and Bremen Redoubts in rear of us. Rain commenced to fall steadily. In waterlogged shell-holes, all longed for the hour of action to arrive. Prompt to the second, at 6 a.m. the British barrage dropped with the sound of thunder. Perhaps never in the history of this war was there such a concentration of artillery in one place as in the Ypres salient at this period. It was impossible to pick out the sound of any one gun; the air was filled with a dull roar, and a scene such as Dante in his "inferno" could not have imagined was unfolded. Stretching away on both flanks, further than the eye could see, was nothing but pulsating waves of red and white and purple, belching forth a whirlwind of death in front of our advancing infantry. After three minutes of this—Furies let loose—the gathering of troops along the front moved forward, and we with them. The attack commenced in darkness. In the Hades, all recognised formations went by the board, and "columns of lumps" picked their way forward, recking (sic) nought of casualties caused by the enemy barrage.' (MacGibbon 2010, p.62)

... the enemy put his barrage down along the ZONNEBEKE-BREMAN REDOUBT LINE. Our rear troops sustained a fair number of casualties during this stage, to avoid which they moved forward up Hill 40 [Windmill Cabaret] until the whole brigade was crowded into a depth of a 100 yards.

In the Official History, CEW Bean wrote:

'As if by coincidence a German attack had pre-empted that of the Allies by 30 minutes.' (Bean 1941, page 842)

'An officer of the 43^rd described [the barrage] as like a wall of fire. The battalions of the 3^rd Division followed it more or less in one crowded line at the outset, the rear waves pressing upon the front ones in their haste to avoid the enemy's barrage. The 43^rd, which led the right brigade, met the Germans at once from the crest of Windmill Cabaret ridge, [Hill 40], where this had not been seized on September 26^th. On the right a machine gun opened up from a pillbox near Zonnebeke station, on the left some posts threw bombs from the hill top. All were quickly suppressed. The Germans on the crest fled.' (Bean 1941)

'As it happened Fritz had decided to attack the Australian positions on the same morning (October 4), but he was 10 minutes too late, as his attack was timed to commence at 6.10 a.m. His troops, among whom were the famous Iron Division, which was noted as never having lost a trench or failed to take its objective, were assembling at the same time as the Australians, and when both had completed their arrangements there were, unknown to each other, two bodies of assault troops lying in some places with only fifty yards between them, and both waiting for the dawn to fly at each other's throats.' (Longmore 2010, page 100)

At 6am our barrage fell like a wall of fire, for about five minutes on the appointed line and the whole Brigade rose as one man and moved forward.

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Over-the-top

The 43rd Battn. reached its objective without difficulty. The 42nd advanced behind the 43rd, in preparation for the second objective. Two officers, 2/Lieut. WH Comper and 2/Lieut JP Kelly-Healy ['D' Coy, remembered on the Menin Gate] before Hill 40 was crossed. Here Sergeant CFW (Charlie) Harris, (Right) of 'D' Coy, assumed command and gained his Military Medal, gazetted 'for bravery in the field'. Charlie Harris returned to Australia in 1919 and his son, Ted, became webmaster for Digger-History.

At zero plus 41 minutes the 42nd Battalion leap-frogged through the 43rd and continued the attack. No resistance was met with and the fortified orchard and Alma gave no trouble. 'After the short halt the right brigade went on in excellent formation of section columns, the 42nd (Queensland) Battalion leading. Its right crossed the railway and reached the second objective of the 'Red Line', at 07.20 hours, after a little fighting.' (Bean, 1941)

Right: A Map showing the 42nd Battalion's line of attack. Click on the image for a full A4 landscape map.

Both the 43^rd and 42^nd Brigades swept over the crest and into the next valley, beyond which rose Gravenstafel Ridge. On the left there now occurred a splutters of firing around a pill box (Israel House). German bombs were bursting ten yards in front of the shooting Victorians, but a party could be seen working round through a hollow. Resistance ceased and the line swept on.

The enemy kept firing Very (Verey) light signals and his artillery kept shortening the range. He also heavily shelled Thames Wood. We sustained nearly all our casualties at this stage. The 10th Brigade on our left, lost direction and drew 'D' Company over to the left about 200 yards. The ground was very marshy which rendered the going difficult and slow and the left company fell 250 yards behind the barrage. The Reserve Company Commander, (Capt GA Dunbar) acted promptly and threw his men into the gap. All went well and the left Company regained their position.
	Above: A section of a contemporary aerial photograph of the battle field. Click on the image to open a 1314Kb A4 landscape jpeg of the whole photograph
Click here to open a 101Kb A4 landscape jpeg of the whole photograph with the Brigade objective superimposed. Note that Seine dugout has been relocated to the map position

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In the Official History, CEW Bean records: 'The left, however, was quickly held up by fire from the bed of the valley behind Alma. Perceiving that a dangerous gap had opened, the commander of the reserve 'A' Company, Lieutenant [later Captain] Gordon Dunbar swung two platoons across the front of Alma, filled the vacant space, and seized three pillboxes, which if left, may have held up the whole central division.' (Bean 1941) Right: Objects described, by the present owner of Alma Farm, as 'German bunkers'. They were destroyed many years ago. Source: Madame Emiel Vanlerberghe

Above: The signal, referring to Lieutenant Dunbar's action '...they advanced ... moving to ALMA ... 8:27am from Hill 40 Source: 11th Brigade War Diary, TNA, Kew, WO 94/2761

Above: A line drawing of a fortified farm such as Alma or Springfield Source: Andy Gammon in Barton 2007

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Large numbers of the enemy occupied the dugouts East of THAMES WOOD along the RAILWAY LINE, but they did not fight and surrendered readily.

Our objective was reached on time [7.20am], protective posts were at once put out and the work of consolidation began. The barrage halted 200 yards beyond the Red Line for 47 minutes and during this period a large number of prisoners came in. Altogether about 100 were captured by this Battalion all in this area.

The dugout at D 22 b 36¹ [Thames] was an AID POST and the whole medical staff was captured. This dugout also contained a machine gun.

Nine enemy machine guns were captured altogether, four of which were new and did not appear to have been fired from. The enemy had evidently been consolidating on the high ground in front of our RED LINE as many half finished positions were discovered.

The consolidation of the RED LINE was commenced on the following plan. Each Company put out two Lewis Gun posts, 100 yards in front; these posts were manned by the Lewis Gun teams and two snipers.

Each Company also put down two Platoon positions on its front and each post being about 30 yards long. Three platoons of the reserve Coy, (one to each front line Coy.) helped with this work for two hours by connecting up the posts. The fourth platoon of the Reserve 'A' Company dug in on a line 130 yards in the rear of the RED LINE and after two hours other platoons of the Company came back and also dug in on this line.

The ground was very wet and shell-torn, which rendered the work very difficult; but in two hours, the men were under cover. According to Australian Red Cross witnesses, this was when John henry was wounded. Right: Map of Alma Farm showing the approximate positions of John henry's injury and burial Source: Trench map October 1917 Ref: 28NE1 D22a 2.4 TNA WO 297/718	The Reserve Line where John Henry was wounded
		First obelisk on the Australian walk
	John Henry killed and buried here or here

The work of the evacuation of the wounded, by the long heavy carry and the enemy barrage kept down for four hours after zero.

During the afternoon and night of the 4th the enemy also shelled our consolidation line, the RAILWAY LINE, HILL 40, and the ZONNEBEKE LINE.

The 42^nd reached their 'Red Line' objective at 07.20 hours. The attack halted until 8.10 for the battalions attacking the summit to reorganise; but this pause saw some of the hardest fighting of the day. The 44^th leap-frogged through the 42^nd, now digging in to consolidate their gain. Their objective lay to the east of the railway at the foot of the ridge.

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Thursday 4 October 1917: The later stages

The Flandern I Line ran diagonally across the ground. The right brigade encounter it at once, crossing the old wire-entanglements in swampy ground north of the railway. German pillboxes along the demolished trench brought machine-guns into action. The 44^th Battalion was held up by the Seine strong point until this was rushed, by party of the 41^st, who reached their Nieuwemolen cross-roads objective, the key of the ridge. The 11th Machine Gun Company established two guns which, and together with the Lewis guns of the 41st Battalion, swept the slopes from Keiberg to the railway.

'... isolated concrete dug-outs, protected from shell fire and manned by staunch machine gunners, held out, and each of these caused many casualties before they were wiped out. These survivors did not hold up the general advance, and the spectacle then was lines of casual Australians following the barrage with rifles slung, smoking cigarettes or "souvenired" cigars. If a machine-gun opened there was a converging rush on to it. A machine-gun post was always good for a few first-class revolvers and various pairs of field-glasses. Under these "picnic" conditions the advance went on, and, "according to plan" by 10 a.m. Broodseinde Ridge [Flemish pronunciation: Brodesayda - literally Bread End] was taken and was being consolidated by the 41st Battalion with the 44th three hundred yards in rear as supports.' (Longmore 2010, Page 101)

'Although actually our share in the fighting was not to commence until the other three battalions had captured their objectives, our more adventurous spirits pushed forward with the leading waves, and participated in all the fighting that came their way. All opposition was completely overcome. By the time the memorable Hill 40 was left behind, the majority of the men going forward were smoking German cigars, taken from "pill-boxes". The casual character of the Australian was borne out by many an incident that occurred, such as the following: — At the second halt of the barrage, to enable the 42nd Battalion to consolidate, four of our men, unmindful of the drama being enacted before their eyes, were seen sitting in a shell-hole playing "show-poker" for souvenired coins. The first two objectives were taken by the 43rd and 42nd Battalions.

After the second objective was passed the " going " was very bad, especially north of the railway line. In a quagmire of mud knee-deep and tangled barbed wire, we lost the barrage, and after very heavy losses carried the objective at the point of the bayonet. ... One will remember vividly our line above Dash Crossing, where lies that gallant and ever-cheerful soldier, Captain J. Redmond, who was killed by a shell after consolidation was completed. Astride the railway on the left with the Lewis gun post in the cutting, "D" Company had their position. Along the ridge, amid old Boche trenches, ran "C" Company's line, with "A" Company on its right. "A" Company's sector included a road junction, with signboards still intact, and they also had a platoon from the 26th Battalion in their midst. Soon after this line was taken the Germans massed for a counter attack,

Above: Aerial photograph of Tyne Cot 16 June 1917

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but before it could be launched a party consisting of men of 'B' and 'C' Companies, under Lieutenant Skews, by a brilliant bayonet charge routed them. Unfortunately that brave officer was killed, and Lieutenant CH Butler, who went forward to recover the body, wounded.

Through out the day, repeated counter attacks were made, the cemetery on the left flank being the favourite, and one might say the appropriate, spot to assemble in. All efforts were frustrated by Lewis gun, rifle and trench-mortar, fire and for the attack, which assumed larger proportions, we called in the aid of the artillery with the S.O.S rocket - red over green over yellow. (MacGibbon 2010, p.63)

The 39th Battalion, to the left of the 44th, were held up by machine-gun fire from pill-boxes in the New Zealand Division's area, but these were dealt with by the 40th Battalion, who were in support. They went on and were forced to storm Hamburg Hill and consolidate. Sgt Lewis McGee of the 40th battalion, killed on 12 October, was awarded a Victoria Cross for this action. He is buried at Tyne Cot.

Before the 'Blue Line' final objective for the first day, lay three substantial German concrete pill-boxes in what is now Tyne Cot Cemetery. Capt Clarence Smith Jefferies of the 34th Battalion was killed during the taking of the right-hand Tyne Cot pill-box and was awarded a Victoria Cross. He is buried at Tyne Cot. The middle, particularly large pill-box was used as an Advanced Dressing Station after its capture and was later incorporated in the Cross of Sacrifice and a 3^rd Division memorial. Note the correction to the lettering on the memorial.

Friday 5 October 1917:

Friday 5 October 1917: Temperature 52°F (10°C). 50% cloud cover and showers brought 0.12" (3.1mm) of rain.

Saturday 6 October 1917:

Saturday 6 October 1917: Temperature 52°F (10°C). 50% cloud cover and showers brought 0.08" (2.1mm) of rain.

At 9am, on the morning of the 6th the battalion was relieved after sixty hours in the line. Our casualties were 4 officers killed and 7 wounded, Other Ranks. 220 killed and wounded.

'The Battle of Broodseinde was a fine achievement but cost the three Australian divisions involved 6,432 men. In return, 4,158 German prisoners were processed by the Corps cages and Casualty Clearing Stations.'
Source: (Bean, 1941)

Click on the Acrobat icon to open the 42nd Battalion's War Diary for October 1917 Source: Australian War Memorial October 1917

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Post mortem

Lt. Col. AR Woolcock, Commanding Officer of 42^nd Battalion, described the battle in a letter to the parents of Lt. Morris Hart, No. 3 Platoon, 'C' Company, killed in action in the area of Thames Bunker on 4 October 1917. The name of Morris Hart is also recorded on the Menin Gate.

France, November 2nd, 1917 Dear Mr. Hart, It is always a hard job for me to write to parents and wives, sometimes, of my Officers who have paid the supreme price, made the ultimate sacrifice, and so it is now, when I write to convey to you and Mrs. Hart the sympathy of the battalion and myself in the loss of your son Morris. As no doubt you have been officially informed he was killed in action on October 4th, gallantly doing his duty. It may be of comfort perhaps for you to know that I reckoned him one of my most promising subalterns, that he was popular with his men and his brother officers, and that he showed a fine type of courage and the best qualities of leadership. On October 4th the battalion took part in the big attack, and were bound for the second objective, a penetration of some 1000 yards. Other battalions went through us and as you have read the operation was most successful. C Company, your sons Company, was on the right flank, and had a fairly difficult job. At the assembly one officer was wounded and early in the advance the second platoon leader was killed; the Company Commander Capt. J. Leshy (who has I understand already written to you) was kept behind having to pilot these to leaderless

platoons through rather broken country, and Morris for some time thought himself to be the sole remaining officer of the company, and took hold accordingly, and handled the situation extremely well. Had he survived I should certainly have recommended him for the Military Cross. However he was killed by a fragment of shell and is buried on the battlefield.

Source: Family letter of Robin B. Hart AM, Morris Hart's nephew, whom I met at Tyne Cot on 04 October 2007. With permission.
Note: In World War 1 the Military Cross could not be awarded posthumously.

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A contemporary account

Along with his iconic photograph, taken 12 October 1917, Captain Frank Hurley Official Photographer of the Australian Imperial Force, narrates a vivid account of the Zonnebeke to Roulers railway.

Right: Australian troops sheltering in their funk holes, sharing the Zonnebeke to Roulers railway cutting with the dead of perhaps, 4 October Source: Hurley, AWM E03864 … Here we got on to the Zonnebeke railroad which has been shelled and blown to fragments during the past two years of straffing (sic). It is now a raised bank of mud and bits of scrap iron rails. Already we are starting to rebuild it, and about 1000 labourers were at work rail-laying. It will be of incalculable value to support the front lines and artillery, as the roads will be impassable during the winter. It's a bloody work, however, for it is being constantly shelled and numbers are daily being killed.

It is littered with bodies both of our own men and Boche. Things were reasonably quiet till we got near to Zonnebeke - But the mud! Trudge, trudge — sometimes to the knee in sucking, tenacious slime - a fair hell of a job under ordinary conditions, but with a heavy camera up and being shelled, I hardly thought 'the game worth the candle'. Nearing Zonnebeke we got into the Boche barrage, and as he was paying particular attention to the railway line (or rather what once was), it being the only possible means of communication with the front line about here: we had more than an exciting time. Shells lobbed all around and sent their splinters whizzing everywhere — God knows how anybody can escape them, and the spitting ping of machine gun bullets that played on certain points made one wish he was a microbe; under these conditions one feels himself so magnified that he feels every shell Boche fires is directed for his especial benefit. This shelled embankment of mud was a terrible sight. Every 20 paces or less lay a body.

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The Generals write

Major General Sir John Monash was delighted. He jotted a hasty letter:

‘We have had a magnificent success … A fine bag of prisoners is pouring in. All are most elated, particularly the fine feat of pulling off so big a job with only three days for our local preparation.’

'After the 3rd Division had been relieved on the morning of 7 October, [the optimistic] Monash wrote again, at greater length, looking forward to the next operation:

'Great happenings are possible in the very near future, as the enemy is terribly disorganized, and it is doubtful if his railway facilities are good enough to enable him to re-establish himself before our next two blows, which will follow very shortly and will be very severe. My next objective will be Passchendaele, unless the 66th succeed in getting so far in the next battle. . . . Our success [on 4 October] was complete and unqualified. Over 1,050 prisoners and much material and guns. Well over 1,000 dead enemy counted, and many hundreds buried and out of reach. We got absolutely astride of the main ridge. Both corps and army declare there has been no finer feat in the war.' (Evans 2005, pages 112/113)

Monash was too optimistic for, when the 3^rd Division again entered the action on 11/12 October at First Passchendaele, Monash expected them to carry Passchendaele village with an advance of 3000 yards (2750m). As a result of boggy ground and enfilade machine gun fire from Bellevue and Crest Farm, the Australians advance about 1000 yards (900m). It was left to the Canadians to take the village on 6 November 1917 and to secure the high ground beyond four days later.

In his memories Erich Ludendorff, Quartermaster General and effectively joint head of the German Army, made this observation:

'The infantry battle commenced on the morning of the 4th. It was extraordinarily severe, and again we only came through it with enormous loss. It was evident the idea of holding the front line more densely, adopted at my last visit to the front in September, was not the remedy. I now followed my own judgement without asking for further outside opinions, and recommended the Fourth Army to form an advanced zone, that is to say, a narrow strip between the enemy's front line and the line which our troops were to hold by mobile defence. The enemy would have to cross this strip in making his attack, and our artillery would have time to get onto him before he could reach our main line of resistance. The great difficulty lay in withdrawing the garrison of the advanced zone in case of attack, and in bringing the artillery barrage back to our own line.'  (Ludendorff, E, 'My War Memories, Volume 1', Hutchinson, London, 1929 quoted in Evans 2005, pages 112/113)

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Contemporary photographic evidence

Click on the camera to open a contemporary photograph, with the original descriptions - positions approximate.

The battlefield today Today's Institut Georgaphique National 1:20 000 map 28 3-4, Zonnebeke-Moorslede, places the same farm house at 994 365. Though internally a modern residence, it remains similar to that rebuilt after the War. I believe that the rebuilt house took the pre-war footprint. To the left of the house is a farm drive to the rear of the property, now shaded by trees. The dense Alma Wood abuts the farmyard boundary. To the right of the house a new farm building bounds an open courtyard, beyond which are areas for exercising horses. Beyond that, the grazing land over which 'D' Company fought.

Above: Alma Farm as it was rebuilt in the 1920s: believed to be similar to the house destroyed by warfare.

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Although there have been slight modifications to the road system those that existed in 1917 can be identified. The trench map for October 1917 shows the house and wooded enclosure of Alma at reference 28NE1 D22a 2.4, 750 yards due north of Zonnebeke church. Alma Forest has grown to be a dense wooded area. On 4 October 2007 the farmland comprised of pasture and maze. Near Springfield Farm a gate-way hollow, full of water, gave an indication that the land was still wet, but nothing like it was in October 1917.

Above: A modern photograph of the battlefield taken 4 October 2007, showing the slope of Hill 40 (right) down to the swamp lands of the Nieuve Beek drain. It is possible that 'D' Coy, of the 42^nd, attacked deviated through field tinged blue. The 38^th Battalion, 10^th Brigade, attacked over the grass area.
Click on the photograph to open a large 'screen-only' image (506Kb jpg at 5400x450, viewed at 300%), taken from Israel House, showing a panorama of the battlefield from the slopes of Hill 40 to Tyne Cot Cemetery.

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Key to the modern photographs - Click on the camera to open a larger image, generally 700 x 525 pixels.

1. The assembly point for the 11^th and 10^th Brigade, who crammed into this hollow behind Hill 40, below the 20m contour.
2. The reverse slope of Hill 40, taken from the 25m contour, showing how little shelter there was. The modern bungalows are at 35m, with the Langemarck road beyond them.
3. Hill 40 on the Zonnebeke to Langemarck road, taken from the area of the old station on the 30m contour. The blue car, in the road, is on the position of the old railway crossing. Albertstraat, the road to Alma farm begins in front of Tegel, Tuin en Terras.
4. Zonnebeke Station is recognisable in its rebuilt form and now houses the fire station.
5. The modern Alma Forest taken from Albertstraat.
6. An observation pill box that remains in the grounds of Alma Farm. The concrete cylinder, built on a solid base, has a metal door, facing away from the British lines, but no weapons slit facing the advancing enemy.
7. The land over which 'D' Coy attacked, taken from the rear of Alma Farm courtyard.
8. Alma Farm House, now Albertstraat 22, on 4 October 2007. Building extensions have taken place.
9. The start of the Australian Walk marks the location where John Henry was killed and buried. The course of the railway is now a tarmac walk. Note how the line of the track swings to the left in order to negotiate the gradient to the Passchendaele ridge at 55m.
10. One of the two possible sites for John Henry's burial taken from the start of the Australian Walk.
11. The bunker beyond Thames attacked 44^th Battalion, from the railway line, now the Australian Walk.
12. Seine Bunker once stood behind the wire fence, at this T junction.
13. Daring Crossing, showing the red tarmac of the railway track and Australian Walk.
14. Dash Crossing marking the limit of advance for 41^st Battalion. The red tarmac, bollards and obelisk mark the railway and the Australian Walk. The white dome marks the position of Tyne Cot Cemetery and the objective of 40^th Battalion, 10^th Brigade.
15. The red tiled roof of Springfield Farm, captured by 38^th Battalion, taken from Israel House, with Tyne Cot Cemetery and the Passchendaele Ridge on the horizon.
16. From the Tyne Cot left blockhouse, one of the three captured by 40^th Battalion, looking back toward Alma Farm over the land taken by 11^th Brigade.
17. Looking back to Hill 40 from Tyne Cot Cemetery.

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The Ypres to Roulers railway, once derelict, has gained a new lease of life as the 'Road to Passchendaele Australian Walk 4 October 1917': a historic walk devised by the Memorial Museum of Passchendaele 1917, based in Zonnebeke. The Museum has collected 24 biographies of soldiers who died in the area, and eight biographies of survivors. These will make the basis for historical re-enactments along the attack line of the 42nd Battalion. Right: Obelisks mark the Australian Walk along the Ypres to Roulers railway

Source:

• '11th Brigade War Diaries', WO 95/3425, The National Archives, Kew, London
• '42nd Battalion War Diary October 1917', Australian War Memorial AWM4 23/59/12 (With thanks to Grey Lynch of Canberra, whose great uncle 2nd.Lt. James Patrick Kelly-Healey, of ‘D’ Company, 42nd Battalion, was Killed in Action 4 October 1917 on the reverse slope of Hill 40 and is remembered on the Menin Gate.
• The Battle Narrative of the 42^nd Battalion, 11^th Brigade, Australian Imperial Force, from their War Diary October 1917, Australian War Memorial 4 23/59/12
• Barton, Peter, 'Passchendaele', Constable, London, 2007
• Bean CEW, 1933, 'The Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-18, Vol. IV, AIF in France 1917', Chapter XX Third step – Broodseinde pp 833, Angus & Robertson, Sydney, 11th Edition 1941
• Brahms Vivian, 1938, 'The Spirit of the Forty-Second: narrative of the 42nd Battalion, 11th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division, Australian Imperial Forces, during the Great War, 1914-1918', Brisbane: W.R. Smith and Paterson (printers), Published for the 42nd Battalion AIF Association, Reprinted: The Naval and Military Press, Uckfield, 2010
• Evans, Martin Marix, 'Passchendaele The hollow victory', Pen and Sword, Barnsley, 2005
• Green FC, 'The Fortieth - a record of the 40th Battalion AIF', Reprinted: The Naval and Military Press, Uckfield, 2007
• Hart, Robin B, AM, 'Visit to the Battlefields', published privately, 2007
• Keow, AW, ‘Forward with the Fifth’, Naval and Military Press, Uckfield, East Sussex, Reprinted 2009
• Longmore, Captain Cyril, ‘Eggs-a-Cook the story of the Forty-Fourth, War – as the Diggers fought it’, Colortype Press, Perth, 1921 Reprinted: Naval and Military, Uckfield, Sussex, 2010
• Imperial War Museum (IWM), Photographic Archives, London.
• McCarthy C, 1995, 'Passchendaele: The day-by-day account', Arms and Armour, London - weather reports
• Trench map, 'Zonnebeke 28NE1, Edition 7a, 08 September 1917', WO 297/718, The National Archives, Kew, London

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