Tomorrow marks the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Mont St Quentin, where Tasmanian forces contributed to perhaps the finest achievement of the Australian Imperial Force during World War One.
Led by General Sir John Monash, the Australian operation was located on the Somme River, which dominates the countryside and was key to the German defence system along the Somme Line during 1918.
General Monash was eager to capture the position as he believed that by taking control of the village, the line of the Somme River would be useless to the Germans as a defensive position and they would be forced to retreat to the Hindenburg Line.
General Monash proposed that the 2nd, 3rd and 5th Australian Divisions take part in the attack. This included the Tasmanian raised 40th Battalion which was part of the 3rd Division.
The Battle delivered a strategic and tactical victory for the Australian Imperial Force and dealt a blow to the German divisions.
General Monash said that the battle furnished the finest example in the war of spirited and successful infantry action conducted by three divisions operating simultaneously side by side.