First Battle of Morlancourt

First Battle of Morlancourt
Part of Operation Michael (German spring offensive)
Australian positions near Morlancourt just after the first battle
Date 28–30 March 1918 Location Morlancourt, France 49°57′06″N 2°37′46″E / 49.9517°N 2.6294°E / 49.9517; 2.6294 Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Australia  United Kingdom	Germany
Commanders and leaders
John Monash	Unknown
Units involved
3rd Division	1st Division 18th Division
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
450+ killed or wounded	500+ killed or wounded 320 captured
Morlancourt class=notpageimage| Morlancourt, a commune in the Somme department, northern France

The First Battle of Morlancourt was fought over the period 28–30 March 1918, on the Western Front during World War I. The battle saw troops from the Australian 3rd Division advance to fill a gap in the Allied line that had formed north of the River Somme during the German spring offensive. This advance towards Morlancourt was checked by German troops short of the Australian's objective of the spur overlooking Morlancourt and the Australians were subsequently counter-attacked by elements of the German 18th Division. These attacks were repulsed with heavy casualties, as Allied forces blunted the German advance towards Amiens, which subsequently stabilised the Allied line north of the Somme. The fighting then largely moved south; however, in the months following, two further actions – albeit minor – were fought around Morlancourt as the Australians sought to consolidate their positions around the village prior to the start of the Allied Hundred Days Offensive.