1/ Two photos of platoons of the 24th Batt about to attack at Mont St Quentin on 1/9/18. These photos are often used simply as great character portraits of Aussie fighting men, but they tell a much bigger story of the AIF at the peak of its powers...

2/ Firstly, the pitiful lack of men in each platoon (9 in one, 11 in the other) shows the effect of losses that could simply not be sustained by the end of the war. Both platoons are operating at less than 1/3 strength...

3/ But most importantly, both platoons are carrying TWO Lewis guns, a neat demonstration of the evolution of British tactics by 1918. No doubt each platoon also includes a couple of rifle grenadiers, giving the key attributes of firepower, mobility, independence & adaptability...

4/ A British platoon in 1918, as meagre as its numbers were, could move quickly, bring heavy fire on the enemy, make decisions on the spot, and adapt to challenges without having to rely on distant artillery or tanks for support. It was that tactical brilliance that won the war.