The 21st Battalion having left the trench to start to go through the village at Mont St Quentin. ...

The 21st Battalion having left the trench to start to go through the village at Mont St Quentin. At 1 a.m. on 1 September 1918, orders were received that the 21st Battalion would not take part in the attack on Mont St Quentin, but would move up to support the 23rd and 24th Battalions. At 9.45 a.m. the battalion moved forward to support the 23rd and 24th Battalions, who reported the attack had made good progress but that they had suffered heavy casualties. At 11 a.m. it was decided that the attack would continue at 1.30 p.m. and that the 21st Battalion would aid the two other Battalions. the attack was launched at 1.30 p.m. and the opposition was very strong. At 8 p.m. a line was consolidated and orders were read that the 6th Australian Infantry Brigade would pass through and continue the attack at 5.30 the following morning. The position captured during the day was one of the most strongly defended position held by the enemy. Prisoners captured during the attack stated that they had volunteered to stop the Australians. Machine guns were more numerous than usual and the old wire of 1916 was still a serious obstacle to the attacking troops.