While the I ANZAC Corps was recovering from Bullecourt, further to the north II ANZAC Corps formed the southernmost flank of the British attack on Messines Ridge. Nineteen of the 21 mines dug beneath the German lines were detonated, causing what was at the time the largest man-made explosion in history. Key parts of the German line were captured, but success came at a price. Casualties within II ANZAC Corps numbered about 13,900
The I ANZAC Corps attacked Menin Road as part of the British 2nd Army—the first in a series of attacks intended to capture the Gheluvelt Plateau in Belgium. Menin Road was the opening action of the second phase of the Third Battle of Ypres and was the first time Australian troops were used in this campaign. Overcoming formidable German positions, they made considerable gains. Again, victory was not without heavy losses, with around 5000 casualties.
The 4th and 5th Divisions attacked the German stronghold of Polygon Wood as a part of the Third Battle of Ypres. This was the second of the three “Plumer Battles”, a series of successful limited-objective, set-piece attacks designed by General Plumer, the officer commanding the British II Army. The infantry advanced behind an extremely heavy artillery barrage and, despite suffering 5770 casualties, gained nearly all of their objectives
The I and II ANZAC Corps fought alongside each other for the first time since their formation in what was the next step towards the Gheluvelt Plateau. With large amounts of artillery and attacking on a limited front, the Australian troops successfully captured the German positions on Broodseinde ridge at a cost of 6500 casualties. The Australians pushed through the German lines of infantry to take all of their objectives along the ridge.
The last Australian attack during the Third Battle of Ypres attempted to capture the village of Passchendaele. The 3rd Division and the New Zealand Division advanced alongside five British Divisions, but were bogged down in the valley well short of their objective. After this, the Australians were relieved by the Canadian Corps to the Messines sector for the winter.
The most famous mounted charge involving the Australian Light Horse was carried out against the fixed Turkish defences at Beersheba in Palestine, following two failed attempts to capture Gaza. The charge was made by 400–500 troops of the 4th Light Horse Brigade, who galloped into the face of Turkish machine-gun, rifle and artillery fire and breached the enemy defences. Beersheba fell to the Australian Light Horse with less than 70 casualties.