1917 - Battle at Baupame
- WW1 - Hindenburg Line - 13th Light Horse Regiment - Uhlans -
In March 1917 the German army moved back from their positions North East of Albert to the Hindenburg Line for the first time. The Anzac Corps followed up the withdrawal, and the light horse assumed the role of “special patrol duty” ahead of the advancing troops. Elation at being given the opportunity for effective mounted combat, was, however, short lived. The German withdrawal was definitely a fighting one, requiring more firepower that could be mustered by the small mounted forces.
It was during the advance to Baupame that the only recorded engagement between Australian and German mounted troops occurred:
“One advance troop engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand fight with a stronger party of Uhlans, both sides suffering. The Australians were armed with rifles and bayonets, the Uhlans with lances and sabres. At first the Australians were cut up but the fight finished with honours even.” (13th Light Horse Regiment Association Annual Report 1964.)
By 14 March 1917, the 2nd and 5th Infantry Divisions had forced the Germans back to the village of Baupame, here the country was open; the light horse were again called forward, B and C squadrons of the 13th Light Horse patrolled ahead. Lance Corporal Geoff Gilbert recalled the experience many years later:
“Out in front … riding over at the walk to draw enemy fire – rotten shots the Fritz must have been for any of us to survive.” (13th Light Horse Regiment Association Annual Report 1976.)
Geoff Gilbert gives another graphic description of an action on 20 March 1917.
“We were to ride over the rise where we would be in full view of the enemy between Bertincourt and Vulu Wood and draw fire. … We rode over at the walk and right away succeeded in drawing fire in plenty. … On the retire signal … we galloped back over the rise and handed our horses over to the No 3s who smartly galloped away to cover with the led horses. Surprisingly we had few casualties in men and horses.
We ran in dismounted, and assumed the super prone position. Fritz made it pretty warm for us as we must have been good targets. We gave them all we had with machine gun and rifle fire.” (13th Light Horse Regiment Association Annual Report 1976.)
By early April 1917 as the Hindenburg Line was approached, the infantry again were called upon to pressure the German rear guard, and the light horse withdrawn.