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machine guns, tanks, mortars and aeroplanes...to be relieved as far as possible of the obligation to fight their way forward.
At Hamel and Ameins, the Anzac Corps went forward with arguably the heaviest firepower support of the war, a significant factor in their success. The modern army relies heavily on the concept of fire and manoeuvre', coordinated by the commander, to achieve their objectives. This concept was beginning to emerge in 1918, and the Anzac Corps benefited from its employment in the field.

Conclusion
The effectiveness of the Anzac Corps in 1918 was undoubtedly amongst the highest in the BEF. The Corps was responsible for twenty-two per cent of the territory, prisoners and weapons taken while comprising only nine per cent of the BEF. There were a number of factors that led to the improved effectiveness as I have discussed in the preceding paragraphs.
Rejection of conscription, and adherence to strict medical standards, ensured Australia in particular fielded a fitter soldier than was possible from other countries in 1918. However, the concept of a nation of natural soldiers built on our outback tradition' is without foundation, and owes more to the Anzac myth than to fact.
The increased firepower available, especially the development of efficient cavalry tactics based on the new armoured units, was pivotal at both Hamel and Ameins. Relieved of the necessity to fight for every yard gained, the Corps developed the beginnings of our modern concept of fire and maneouvre'.
In 1915, an ill-prepared AIF and NZEF were committed to a battle that was contrary to all that they had been taught in Egypt. Effective training, and thorough preparations for their 1918 battles on the Western Front were crucial, and equipped each soldier from private to general with the knowledge and skills required for success.
On all these factors lies the hand of command: effective leadership is a vital factor in any endevour, and this is especially true of war. Sun Tzu wrote:
...a victorious army always seeks battle after his plans indicate that victory is possible under them, whereas an army destined to defeat fights in the hope of winning but without any planning.
Careful preparation and detailed planning were the hallmarks of Monash's leadership, and his staff's ability to bring all the factors for success together in one cohesive plan are evident in their preparations for battle. His determination to only commit his force when they were properly prepared ensured victory and doubtlessly saved many lives. No one factor can be credited with the Anzac Corps' success, but to bring all those factors together required effective leadership. Monash, Blamey, their Staff and the Divisional Commanders gave the Anzac Corps that effective leadership and marked the road to its' success.

Learn more about this author, Steve Madsen.
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