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.
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| Pozières Windmill pre WW1 |
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| 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.
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| 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"
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| Pozières Gibraltar Bunker |
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| 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.
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| 1st Australian Division Memorial and Gibraltar Bunker |
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| 1st Australian Division Memorial |
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| 1st Australian Division Memorial |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 2nd Australian Division Original Memorial |
A commemoration stone now marks the site of the original memorial. |
| Windmill Site March 2023 |
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| 2nd Australian Division Memorial Stone Windmill Site |
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| 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.
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