Battle of Mont Saint - Quentin The Battle of Mont Saint - Quentin was a battle on the Western Front during World War I . As part of the Allied counteroffensives on the Western Front in the late summer of 1918 , the Australian Corps crossed the Somme River on the night of August 31 , and broke the German lines at Mont Saint - Quentin and Péronne . The British Fourth Army ' s commander , General Henry Rawlinson , described the Australian advances of August 31 – September 4 as the greatest military achievement of the war . During the battle Australian troops stormed , seized and held the key height of Mont Saint - Quentin ( overlooking Péronne ) , a pivotal German defensive position on the line of the Somme . Background . The Allies were pursuing the Germans , and the greatest obstacle to crossing the Somme River in pursuit was Mont Saint - Quentin which , situated in a bend of the river , dominated the whole position . The " Mont " was only 100 metres high but was a key to the German defence of the Somme line , and the last German stronghold . It overlooked the Somme River approximately 1 . 5 kilometres north of Péronne . Its location made it an ideal observation point , and strategically , the hill ' s defences guarded the north and western approaches to the town . Australian forces faced the German " 51 . Korps " , part of " 2 . Armee " , under General Max von Boehn . According to Australian official historian Charles Bean , " German archives show that the 51st Corps anticipated the offensive . . . The line divisions were ordered to increase their depth and the counter - attack divisions to ' stand to . ' " Bean states that " 51 . Korps " controlled the 5th Royal Bavarian Division , 1st Reserve Division and 119th Division . The German 94th Infantry Regiment ( part of " 4 . Reserve - Korps " ) was also involved in the battle . Battle . The offensive was planned by General John Monash ; Monash planned a high - risk frontal assault which required the Australian 2nd Division to cross a series of marshes to attack the heights . This plan failed when the assaulting troops could not cross the marshes . After this initial setback , Monash manœuvred his divisions in the only free manœuvre battle of any consequence undertaken by the Australians on the Western Front . Australians of the Second Division crossed to the north bank of the Somme River on the evening of 30 August . At 5 am on 31 August 1918 , supported by artillery , two significantly undermanned Australian battalions , charged up Mont St Quentin ordered by Monash to ' scream like bushrangers ' . The Germans quickly surrendered and the Australians continued to the main German trench - line . In the rear , other Australians crossed the Somme by a bridge which Australian engineers had saved and repaired . The Australians were unable to hold their gains on Mont St Quentin and German reserves regained the crest . However , the Australians held on just below the summit and next day it was recaptured and firmly held . On that day also , 1 September 1918 , Australian forces broke into Péronne and took most of the town . The next day it completely fell into Australian hands . In three days the Australians endured 3000 casualties but ensured a general German withdrawal eastwards back to the Hindenburg Line . Aftermath . Looking back after the event , Monash accounted for the success by the wonderful gallantry of the men , the rapidity with which the plan was carried out , and the sheer daring of the attempt . In his " Australian Victories in France " , Monash pays tribute to the commander of the 2nd Division , Major - General Charles Rosenthal , who was in charge of the operation . But Monash and his staff were responsible for the conception of the project and the working out of the plans . The Allied victory at the Battle of Mont Saint Quentin dealt a strong blow to five German divisions , including the German elite 2nd Guards Division . As the position overlooked much of the terrain east of Mont St . Quentin , it guaranteed that the Germans would not be able to stop the allies west of the Hindenburg Line ( the same position from which the Germans had launched their offensive in the spring ) . 2 , 600 prisoners were taken at a cost of slightly over 3 , 000 casualties . The following soldiers were awarded the Victoria Cross for their role in the battle : All three men were with the Australian Second Division .