3. Second Battle

Second Battle of Amiens - 1918

The British Fourth Army which included both the Australian and Canadian Corps commenced the final advance of the First World War at dawn on 8 August 1918 with the assistance of 430 tanks. The British plan of attack was meticulous and the leading troops including the 2nd and 3rd Australian Divisions cut a clear path through the forward German defences. General Ludendorff, the German commander, later described the attack on 8 August as the black day of the German army. The attack was resumed next morning on the Australian front by the 1st and 2nd Divisions and further territory was gained. In the following eight weeks Australian troops successfully breached a succession of German defence lines including Mont St Quentin in early September and the Hindenburg line at the end of the month.