Fromelles

A reflection on the Battle of Fromelles 19-20 July 1916.

The Australians have a close association with Fromelles, as this is one of the sites where they lost heavily during the Great War. The Australian 5th Division, along with the 61st British (South Midland) Division, attacked here on July the 19th, 1916. At this time, the main Somme battles were raging around 40 miles to the south of Fromelles, and the intention was to make a feint here to prevent the Germans from bringing reinforcements to the Somme. Originally an artillery barrage only was planned, but then an infantry assualt was also agreed. The Australian attack here was their first serious battle in France, and the only one in which they achieved no success.

The background music is courtesy of the Band of Brothers soundtrack.

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• anzac
• fromelles
• great
• war
• western
• front
• battle
• fight
• australian
• soldiers
• ww1
• world

[AlienFirefox]

the sad fact is most french dont even know what we did for them all those years ago

[Farmerfrentzen]

@AlienFirefox

The French in the areas of the western front certainly have not forgotten. It only takes a visit to the villages and towns that were heavily involved in the fighting to see everlasting messages and memorials to thank Australia for our involvement in the Great War.

[bpemsandgroper]

2:13 into the video, the film shows the statue "Don't Forget Me Cobber", a soldier of the 57th Btn and 60th Btn. Look at the colour patch of the 57th Btn soldier, The colours are reverse. The red should be on the right hand side. None of colour patches of the 1st A.I.F. have red on the left hand side. Top, bottom, single colour and diagonally of any of the A.I.F. units, you'll find the red colour. Attention to detail is very important.

[Farmerfrentzen]

bpemsandgroper I too thought there was something a little odd about the colour patch when I saw it. I think you are indeed correct.

[ssaltmer]

@AlienFirefox Go to Villers Bretonneux and have a look at what is written over their blackboards, boofhead, and then whinge over your beer about it at the estaminet.Geez.

[ssaltmer]

@bpemsandgroper HMMMM.I've just had a look at a table of thre AIF colour patches and must concur, not having seen the statue in person. Perhaps the bloke who painted it was dyslexic?

[AlienFirefox]

@Farmerfrentzen

well thats good

i do respect the french for what they went through during ww1 they really went through hell lost a million soldiers

but the french seem to only commend the yanks for the normandy invasion in ww2 they forget that the polish british canadians and australians and kiwis too i think fought there aswell

[sceptic4]

I have just returned from Fromelles and the creation a cemetary is almost complete for the Austalian fallen at Pheasants Wood. There is a temporary 'shrine' provided and the whole affair is being handled sympathetically. The sacrifices made at Fromelles and elsewhere, including now Iraq and Afghanistan, will be remembered forever. There is so little that we can do to show our true appreciation so, maintaining the cemetaries is a 'must'. May all of the Fallen rest in true peace.

[natezeppo]

lest we forget i will do all i can so all Australians Know of this

[brrrlak]

Geman machine gunners....trigger happy! The allied command leaned too late that one does not attack the geman lines like one did in 1845, just unning towrds them... what a slaughterhouse...