This story has been compiled from several published in The Sydney Morning Herald between 26th and the 28th of September, 1917
Sunday, 23rd of September
Mr C. E. W. Bean, official correspondent with the A.I.F., writing from the Australian headquarters in Flanders on Sunday, says:
Apart from indiscriminate shelling, tearing scattered dust clouds from the relics of grey and broken scrub, the long brown Polygon Ridge was today one silent motionless, dust-ridden desert. The nearest thing one can compare it to is a patch of bush through which a terrific bushfire had formerly swept, where it had been since battered into a dreary, dust-powered waste by the feet of millions of travelling sheep. Give each sheep a foot as great as a steamship funnel, and you have Polygon Wood. The green mound where they used to look down the far end of the old race track stands today, flayed and dented, a few leaning, ragged tree poles, still on the summit, our shrapnel and heavy shells bursting sporadically round it.
Behind it for 1000 yards back the German stretcher-bearers for three days have been wandering, collecting their wounded, and were still picking up one or two wounded this morning. Outside a dugout behind that mound three days ago one of big 18-inch shells killed a German regimental commander, the adjutant, and artillery observer, and more than 20 others are known to have been killed or wounded by that same burst.
The Australians, dusty, magnificently cheerful, and confident, are on the slopes looking out upon Zonnebeke, Molarenhoek, and Gheluvelt, famous names in history.That is the first British army to reach places where none except airmen have been for more than two years. The Germans occasionally throw down a nervous barrage, especially in the grey of the morning, when observers fancy they see the British coming through the dawn.
Tuesday, 25th of September
All day long there has been taking place in Polygon Wood and up the Valley of Reutelbeck and south thereof such a struggle as certainly equals in fierceness the terrible hopeless fighting in which this wood was lost over two years ago. The Germans have been laying down heavy barrages every morning about dawn out of fear that we would push the attack further. This morning after heavy gun-fire they threw in the very division against which the Australian troops have first place in the line in France - the 30th Prussian Reserve Division.
The first brunt of this attack bore heavily on the troops on the Australian flank, and bent in the line slightly. Towards midday the Germans were flung again into the attack against the Australians on the southern slope of the crest of Polygon Wood, but though the fighting was as hard as ever known the Victorians there held the line still intact at midday; and the Germans held off with very heavy losses.
A portion of the line about this time was assailed with the tremendous fire of German machine guns, a perfect nest of them being turned on from a position directly on the flank, to which the Germans pushed.
After holding on, the line here was pushed slightly back, but about 2 o'clock the Victorians, with Scottish and English troops on their flank, counter-attacked and drove back the enemy to his old line. The Germans still persisted. All day troops were moving in bushes along the road from Menin. About half-past 5 the Germans appeared, massing again immediately before the same part of the line. The troops on the flank were again driven in. At 8 o'clock this evening the Victorians were being tremendously attacked, but were holding on with their flank exposed.
The roar of heavy artillery is still coming from that part of the front. Whatever the issue of the day may be, the fight of the Victorians in Polygon Wood will be one of the most famous of many terrible struggles which history will associate with that name.
Wednesday, 26th of September
Despite tremendous fighting in Polygon Wood and Reutelbeck Valley throughout yesterday and during the night, the British guns just broke out in a barrage as overwhelming as that which preceded last Thursday's battle: and British and Australian troops at this moment have gone forward behind it.
The weather has been magnificent throughout the battle, but the carrying out of this attack in the face of yesterday's struggle on the right was one of the boldest moves within recollection. One can only know for certain that if success is humanly possible these wonderful troops - English, Scottish, and Australian - will carry it through.
Thursday, 27th of September
Despite terribly heavy fighting on the southern slopes of Polygon Ridge yesterday, the British and Australian attack went over this morning punctual to the second. The Australian flank yesterday held on, even through the fierce fighting in the afternoon, and the Victorians with their reinforcements moved out for an attack this morning, from the precise position which they had held all these days. A little before six our barrage descended like a wall. The troops moved out behind it. On the left everything went like clockwork. The Western Australians and the troops of all the other States, like good Australians, were hugging the barrage, where it was only half safe to venture, and surrounding the Germans before they had time to put out their noses. The New South Welshmen worked steadily behind the barrage in the centre. Control of the battle passed out of the hands of the generals to those of the platoon officers and sergeants - newly-promoted boys. Those behind could only sit and wait with intense anxiety for news of the fight, while the Victorians and the British had a terribly trying task, advancing over the scene of yesterday's counter-attack, where the line was still partly unrestored.
At noon the Germans began to come out against the Australians beyond the mound in Polygon Wood, but were seen and easily repulsed. Later in the afternoon they attacked the Australians further north, but the attack broke down under the barrage which descended.
German planes were flying very low yesterday, but Australian machine guns brought down two. The Australians must have taken more than 600 prisoners, and at least 20 machine guns, of which many were used against the Germans. On September 20 at least 30 machine guns were captured, and over 600 prisoners, including a battalion commander.
This story has been compiled from several published in The Sydney Morning Herald between 26th and the 28th of September, 1917
