In late March, Australian troops were brought south from Belgium as reinforcements to help shore up the line and in early April the Germans launched an attack to capture Villers-Bretonneux.

On 21 March 1918, Operation Michael was launched and the attack was aimed at the weakest part of the British lines, along the Somme River.

[4] In late March 1918, the German army advanced towards the vital rail-head at Amiens, pushing the British line back towards the town of Villers-Bretonneux.

[5] On 29 March, Lieutenant-General John Monash, then commander of the Australian 3rd Division, in Belgium, detached the 9th Australian Infantry Brigade (consisting of four battalions), and sent it south to Villers-Bretonneux, to prevent a breach of the line between the British Fifth Army (General Hubert Gough) and the French First Army (General Marie-Eugène Debeney) that was positioned to the south.

On 30 March, the Germans attacked around Le Hamel and although this was turned back, they succeeded in making gains around Hangard Wood.

[6] In the afternoon, the Germans resumed their efforts and forced back the 18th (Eastern) Division in the south, at which point Villers-Bretonneux appeared about to fall.