The 2nd Australian Division memorial is located at the side of the Bapaume-Peronne road in the village of Mont St. Quentin. The occupying German army removed the original memorial, depicting a Digger about to bayonet a German eagle, in 1940. It was replaced with a 2.5 metre tall slouch-hatted Digger in battle dress.
2nd Australian Division Memorial
"Battle Honours 2nd Australian Division, August 8th 1918: Bullecourt, Menin Road , Broodseinde, Passchendaele, Ville sur Ancre, Morlancourt, Hamel, Villers Bretonneux, Herleville, Herbecourt, Biache, Mont St Quentin, Beaurevoir Line, Montbrehain".
The Plaque to the side gives the following information : Mont St. Quentin
"The great German offensive of March 1918 was halted near Amiens and by august the allies has forced the Germans back to a major defence line on the east bank of the Somme river.
This hill, Mont St. Quentin, although only 100 metres high was a key position in this line and with a maze of interconnecting trenches and barbed wire was considered impregnable. It provided imposing westerly views over the allied lines across the Somme River and was protected by Peronne 1.5 kilometres to the south.
A small force of 1,300 Australian troops "yelling like bushrangers" attacked up the rise before you at dawn on 31 august and completely overran the Germans. The summit was held briefly in the region of today's road (n37) but the Germans with numbers forced the Australians back.
Early next morning Australian reinforcements renewed the assault capturing the summit and beyond. At the same time Peronne was captured by the Australians. The loss of these positions and defeats by the British and Canadians near Cambrai forced the Germans to rapidly withdraw along much of their front. Their last and most formidable defence position, lay 22 kilometres to the east the Hindenburg line. "
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