Somme 2023 - Australian National Memorial Villers-Bretonneux

  

Australian National Memorial Villers-Bretonneux Cemetery

The Australian National Memorial located at Villers-Bretonneux commemorates all Australian soldiers who fought in France and Belgium during the First World War. It stands within the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery.

 Villers-Bretonneux was the point that the Germans reached during their 1918 German Spring Offensive on the Somme, Operation Michael, capturing the village on the 23rd April. The village was re-captured the following day by the Australian 4th and 5th Divisions. It was from  Villers-Bretonneux that the Australian 2nd and 5th divisions advanced at the start of the 100 Day Offensive leading to the ultimate defeat of Germany.

Australian National Memorial 

The memorial and the cemetery in which it stands was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Australian National Memorial
 Sir Edwin Lutyens Design

Approval for construction was obtained form the French government in 1929, however as a result of the Great Depression construction did not commence until 1936.

 It was unveiled on 22 July 1938 by King George VI and Queen Elizebeth. 

Australian National Memorial Unveiling 22-July-1938
King George VI and Queen Elizebeth

Australian National Memorial Unveiling 22-July-1938

The memorial consists of a tower surrounded by walls and panels on which the names of the missing are listed. 

Villers-Bretonneux Memorial | CWGC

Australian National Memorial Tower and Walls

Australian National Memorial Tower Entrance and Walls

Australian National Memorial 
Somme - Pozieres Wall

Australian National Memorial view from Tower
Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery

Australian National Memorial view from Tower IJ
Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery

The Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery was made after the Armistice in 1918 as a concentration from burial grounds around the battlefields. 

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery | CWGC

The cemetery contains 2,146 casualties from World War One, of which 609 are unidentified. There are also two New Zealand airmen buried there who were lost during World War Two.

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
Australian Casualties

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
Unknown Duke Cornwall Light Infantry

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
Unknown Soldiers

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
Memorial Stone

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
North Plots

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
South Plots

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
Guard Rooms

------o------

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
Australian Infantry Casualties

Private Robert Charles Daly | CWGC

Private Clement James Bruton | CWGC

HE DIED AN AUSTRALIAN HERO THE GREATEST DEATH OF ALL

Private Colin John Flood | CWGC

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
Lt Harold Sherrat Cunningham

Lieutenant Harold Sherrat Cunningham

47th Battalion Canadian Infantry

Attached Royal Airforce

Lieutenant Harold Sherratt Cunningham | CWGC

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
QM Sergeant JS Hay

Quartermaster Sergeant John Stuart Hay

D Battery 298 Brigade

Royal Field Artillery

Quartermaster Serjeant John Stuart Hay | CWGC 

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
Gunner CF St Clair

Gunner Christopher Fenwick St Clair

14 Brigade Australian Field Artillery

Gunner Christopher Fenwick St. Clair | CWGC

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
Gunner WG Reynolds

Driver William George Reynolds

14 Brigade Australian Field Artillery

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
Gunner MG Ball

Gunner Melville Gordon Ball

2nd Trench Mortar Battery

Canadian Field Artillery

Gunner Melville Gordon Ball | CWGC

Somme 2023 - Mouquet Farm

 Mouquet Farm is situated on the Pozières Ridge between Thiepval and Pozières.

Mouquet Farm pre War

The position was a German strongpoint consisting of a network of trenches connected by cellars and tunnels.

Mouquet Farm defences June 1916

The Australians captured Pozières on 4th August, and from Mouquet Farm, the Germans could subject them to enfilade fires. The Australians launched their first attack on the stronhold on 5th August, and in heavy fighting and artillery bombardments, they slowly fought their way towards the farm.

They Aussies were relieved by the Canadians on the 5th September having sustained 6,300 casualties. The Canadian 3rd Division finally captured the farm on 16 September, only for it to be lost in a German counter-attack.

It was eventually re-captured, and secured,  on 26 September during an attack by the 11th (Northern) Division during the Battle of Thiepval Ridge (26–28 September). 

Mouquet Farm after the Battle

Mouquet Farm after the Battle

Mouquet Farm March 2023

Mouquet Farm Australian March 2023

Somme 2023 - Pozières

 The village of Pozières lies on high ground on the Albert-Bapaume Road, north east of La Boisselle and Ovillers. On the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1st July 1916, the three villages were  key objectives that failed to be taken. 

The British launched further attacks to capture La Boisselle, which was secured on 3rd July and Ovillers which which was captured on the 16th July. 

The capture of Pozières was vital for future plans, in particular the capture of the site of a windmill site in order to secure observation of German positions at Thiepval, in the Ancre Valley, and the village of Courcellette.

Pozières Windmill pre WW1

German Defensive Positions Pozières

The capture of Pozières was tasked to the 1st ANZAC Corps, consisting of the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Australian Divisions.  The Aussies began arriving on the 18th July 1916 to prepare for the attack which would be launched on 23rd July. 

Pozières  IJ   Aussie   DM

A preliminary bombardment commenced on the 19th July lasting till the 23rd July. Attacking during the night, the Australians crawled into no mans land behind the bombardment and when it lifted they launched their assault.

They were were able to seize the first set of trenches. They then advanced into Pozières, capturing a German bunker named "Gibraltar"

Pozières Gibraltar Bunker

Pozières Gibraltar Bunker March 2023

The Germans counter attacked three times, intense British artillery and machine gun fire breaking up the assault. The Germans concentrated all available artillery resources on  Pozières, directing constant barrages on the Australians.  When the  1st Australian Division were relieved on the 27th July, they had sustained 5,285 casualties.

 A memorial to the 1st Australian Division is located at the southern end of  Pozières next to the Gibraltar Bunker. 

1st Australian Division Memorial and Gibraltar Bunker

1st Australian Division Memorial 

1st Australian Division Memorial 

1st Australian Division Memorial Plaque

The 1st Australian Division relieved by the the 2nd Australian Division. With fresh troops, the Australians launched an attack on the 29th July to capture the Windmill Site, but it failed with a loss of over 3,500 men. 

Preparations were made to resume the attack, which was launched at dusk on 4th August, the 2nd Australian Division finally capturing the Windmill site. 

Pozières Windmill Site after capture

The exhausted troops were relieved by the  4th Australian Division. The relief was conducted under a heavy German bombardment. By the time the 2nd Australian Division was relieved they had sustained 6,848 casualties. 

A memorial to the 2nd Australian Division was erected on the Windmill Site.

2nd Australian Division Original Memorial

A commemoration stone now marks the site of the original memorial.

Windmill Site March 2023

2nd Australian Division Memorial Stone Windmill Site

2nd Australian Division Memorial Stone 

A German counter attack to dislodge the Australians on the 6th August failed. A further attempt was made on the 7th August, which again failed. The Germans made no further attempts to retake Pozières.