General Legge fell ill with the flu and the opportunity was taken to relieve him of command of the AIF 2nd Division, where upon he returned to Australia. Legge was replaced by Brig-Gen Smyth, VC. Smyth commanded the 2nd Division during the pursuit of the Germans to the Hindenburg line and the capture of Bapaume, followed by the battles of Bullecourt and 3rd Ypres. As a result of his Sudan experience, Smyth was particularly adept in planning highly successful ‘peaceful penetration’ raids on the German trenches.
Following the Twenty-Second 