| Place | Europe: France, Picardie, Somme, Corbie Albert Area, Morlancourt |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | RELAWM15098.003 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Uniform |
| Physical description | Cotton, Wool |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Germany |
| Date made | Unknown |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
German 449th Infantry Regiment shoulder strap : Lieutenant General Sir John Monash, AIF
Description
Shoulder strap for the 449th Infantry Regiment. Field grey strap with white piping and red chain stitched number '449'. With the strap is a handwritten note, in indelible pencil on the back of a piece of a German postcard, that reads: '449th I.R. / 233rd Div. / captured by / 5th Div. on / 16/6/18 at / Morlancourt'.
History / Summary
Single shoulder straps were routinely removed from dead or captured Germans for intelligence purposes, so that the names of the units opposing the Allied forces could be established.
This shoulder strap from a member of the German 449th Infantry Regiment (IR) was captured by members of the 30th Battalion, AIF and sent to the Australian Corps Headquarters, under the command of Lieutenant General Sir John Monash.
On 16 June 1918, 30th Battalion received orders at short notice to raid German positions south of Morlancourt. A small patrol went forward into no man's land and opened fire on a Minenwerfer [Trench Mortar] crew who were firing at hem. The australians inflicted casualties on the crew and also took two prisoners from the 449th IR.