Originally posted by davidpt40
Very sad indeed. I know that it was WW1, but the late historian Stephen Ambrose remarked that one of the things that made the G.I. such a versatile fighting man was his ability to question commanding officers orders.
Those Austrialians were very brave. I am sure they were very scared but they followed orders.
During 1916, Haig wrote to Billy Hughes, the Australian Prime Minister, complaining about the
"lack of disipline" within the Australian divisions serving on the western front. He demanded that Hughes allow Australian troops be given the death penalty, for Australia was the only commonwealth country that refused the British high command the right to shoot Australian soldiers for displinary matters.
Haig also complained about Australian soldiers of all ranks openingly questioning and complaining about the British high command and their running of the war.
After Australian soldiers were butchered at the Somme, Pozieres, and the like, following WW1 it became policy that Australian commanders will only command Australian formations, and that these commanders would have a final say how these troops were ultimately deployed to prevent the British using Australian (and other Dominion soldiers) as cannon fodder.
Tronsky
