Battle of Fromelles
Fromelles, Nord, France
What happened
The attack was meant to stop German troops moving south to the Battle of the Somme. After a daytime assault on a narrow front, Australian and British soldiers took some German trenches, but counterattacks pushed them back to their starting line by the next morning. No ground was gained.
Why it matters
It was the first action of Australian troops on the Western Front. The Australian War Memorial has called it 'the worst 24 hours in Australia's entire history'.
What came next
Many soldiers were never found. In 2009, 250 British and Australian soldiers were recovered from a lost burial site and reburied with honour at the new Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery.
Did you know?
The last soldier was laid to rest at Pheasant Wood on 19 July 2010, exactly 94 years after the battle.
Timeline
- 1 Jul 1916Battle of the Somme begins.
- 19–20 Jul 1916Battle of Fromelles.
- 2007Archaeologists confirm the lost burial site.
- 30 Jan 2010First burial at Pheasant Wood Military Cemetery.
- 19 Jul 2010Last burial on the 94th anniversary.