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First Combat
The division received its first taste of war on July 9, when, with the 27th Division, it was assigned to the organization and defense of the East Poperinghe Line, a third defensive position in the Dickebusch Lake and Scherpenberg Sectors. Full responsibility for the East Poperinghe trench system was assumed by the division on July 11.
FLANDERS
Affiliated with the British, the division reached the front lines for training on July 16, and remained until August 18. Actual training was carried on until August 9, the 59th Infantry Brigade was affiliated with the British 49th Division, the 60th Infantry Brigade with the British 33rd Division, while the Machine Gun and Infantry units served by battalions and other divisional troops by detachments.
After a brief return to the rear for further training, the division relieved the British 33rd Division in the front line of the Canal Sector from the vicinity of Elzenwalle to the railroad southeast of Transport Fme, on the nights of August 16 and 17. On August 18 the division assumed command, with the British Sixth Division to its right. On the next day the Canal Sector occupation was merged into the Ypres-Lys Operation.
YPRES-LYS
From August 19 until September 4 the division, less Artillery and 105th Ammunition Train, took part in the Ypres-Lys Operation. The 55th Field Artillery Brigade and the 105th Ammunition Train participated in the occupation of the Lucey Sector with the 89th Division, August 26-September 11. Rumors of a German withdrawal of troops was investigated on August 31 by combat patrols of the division. The next day, with the 60th Infantry Brigade leading, the division captured Moated Orange, Voormezeele, Lock No. 8, and Lankhof Fme, and occupied a line connecting these localities with the original front at Gunners' Lodge. The 27th Division served to the right, the British 14th Division to the left.
On the nights of September 3, September 4, and September 5, the division was relieved by the British 35th Division, and on September 4, the command passed. The division concentrated near Proven on September 5 and 6, and moved into the St. Pol Area, in the zone of the British First Army on September 7 for Training.
Meanwhile, on September 12-15, the 55th Field Artillery Brigade and the 105th Ammunition Train supported the 89th Division in the St. Mihiel Operation. On September 15, these units were detached from the 89th Division and ordered to the V Corps to support the 37th Division in the Avocourt Sector. The 37th, along with the two 30th Division units, occupied the Avocourt Sector on September 23-25.
THE SOMME OFFENSIVE
The 30th Division, less Artillery, and the 105th Ammunition Train participated in the Somme Offensive Operation September 22-October 1. On the nights of September 21, 22, 23 and 24, the division moved to the Tincourt-Boucly (British Fourth Army) Area, where the Second Corps was affiliated with the Australian First Division, east of Villeret and Hargicourt from 300 meters east of Buisson-Gaulaine Fme, through La Haute Bruyere, la Terrasse Trench, Bois des Tuyas, Boyeu du Chevreau, to Malakoff Fme. The 59th Infantry Brigade occupied the forward area. Command passed to the 30th Division on September 24.
The 55th Field Artillery Brigade and the 105th Ammunition Train, meanwhile, participated in the Meuse-Argonne Operation, supporting the 37th and 32nd Divisions from September 26 to October 8.
On September 26-27, the 30th Division attacked from a line of departure between 300 and 400 meters east of the line between La Haute Bruyere and Malakoff Fme, with the British 46th Division on the right, and the 27th Division on the left. On the night of September 27 and 28, the 60th Infantry Brigade relieved the 59th Infantry Brigade.
HINDENBURG LINE IS SMASHED
September 29, 1918, brought one of the most important victories of the World War 1, for on that date the 30th Division battered its way through the Hindenburg Line, one of the most formidable battle lines known to history.
Immediately after the penetration, the division crossed the canal and captured Bellicourt, then entered Nauroy. The Australian Fifth Division moved up to pass through the 30th, and both divisions advanced to establish a front from the intersection of Wattling Street road and canal, east and northeast to Bois du Cabaret, 800 meters northeast of the Boise de Malakoff. The next day the command passed to the Australian Fifth Division, but units of the 30th which were in line participated until noon.
During its advance of 20 miles, the division captured 98 officers, 3,750 enlisted men, 72 pieces of artillery, 26 trench mortars and 426 machine guns. It suffered 8,415 casualties.
On October I and 2 the division moved to the Heroecourt and Mesnil-Bruntel Areas, and on the Fifth, the II Corps prepared to relieve the Australian troops in the front line. Returning to the front, the 59th Infantry Brigade moved to Nauroy, the 60th Infantry Brigade and other units moved to the Tincourt-Boucly Area.
On the night of October 5 and 6 the 59th Infantry Brigade relieved the Australian Second Division from Monibrehain to Beaurevoir, and on the sixth, the 60th Infantry Brigade took position in support near Hargicourt and Bellicourt. The next day the 59th Infantry Brigade attacked to realign the front.
The division on October 8, assisted by tanks, the 59th Infantry Brigade and one battalion from the 60th Infantry Brigade, leading, attacked northeast, and captured Brancourt-le-Grand and Premont, and reached a line from the Fme de la Piete to the eastern outskirts of Premont, British Sixth Division served on the right, while British 25th Division was on the left. The 60th Infantry Brigade passed through the 59th on October 9, and captured Busigny and Becquigny. The next day the division front extended along the western outskirts of Vaux-Andigny, through La Haie-Menneresse, and St. Souplet, to St. Benin.
APPROACHING THE END
The 55th Field Artillery and the 105th Ammunition Train participated, between October 11 and November 11, in the occupation of the Troyon Sector, supporting the 79th and 33rd Divisions
On October 11, the division occupied Vaux-Andigny, La Haie-Menneresse, and reached the northwestern outskirts of St. Martin-Riviere, its front extending north along the west bank of the La Selle River to St. Benin. It was relieved during the night of October 11 and 12 by the 27th Division, and rested near Premont, Brancourt-le-Grand, and Monibrehain. Command passed on October 12.
The 30th Division returned to the line on the night of October 15 and 16, the 59th Infantry Brigade relieving the 54th Infantry Brigade (27th Division), in the right sector of the II Corps from Vaux-Andigny to one-half kilometer west of St. Martin-Riviere, British Sixth Division on the right, 27th Division on the left. On October 17 the division attacked northeast, crossing the La Selle River, captured Molain and established a line from three-quarters kilometer north of La Demi-Lieue to l'Arbre-de-Guise. The next day Ribeauville was occupied. The front extended from Rejet-de-Beaulieu to three-quarters kilometer southeast of la Jonquiere Fme, on October 19.
The 30th Division was relieved by the British First Division on the night of October 19 and 20, and moved, October 20-23 to the vicinity of Tincourt-Boucly and Roisel. The division moved to Querrieu Area on October 23, for rehabilitation and training.
