THE BATTLE OF FROMELLES

NSB HISTORY CLUB

July 19-20, 1915

OVERVIEW

▸ Considered by the Australian War Memorial as ‘the worst 24 hours in Australia’s history’ not just in our military.

▸ Occurred on 19-20th July and The Australians suffered 5,533 casualties in one night.

▸ The main reason for the offensive was to discourage German troops withdrawing and moving south to the major Somme fronts

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THE ACTUAL BATTLE

▸ The Australian’s were inexperienced and were not used to Western Front trench warfare. (Completely different terrain than Gallipoli)

▸ The battle was initially considered a feint strategic move. However, the Germans knew exactly what was going on.

▸ The 6th Bavarian Reserve Battalion were one of the strongest units on the Western Front. They had the high ground (sugarloaf), the technology and were positioned there since the trenches were formed.

July 1916. Oblique of Fromelles area, from the air, showing Australian and German lines.

"PRACTICALLY ALL MY BEST OFFICERS ARE DEAD, IT WAS A TACTICAL ABORTION"

General Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliott

19 July 1916. One of the drains in the vicinity leading to the German 2nd line. During the night the Germans diverted the water from these drains into their 2nd line, flooding invading Australian troops

‘Cobbers’ Statue of Sergeant Simon Fraser, 58th Battalion, carrying in a wounded man on his back

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VC Corner, Cemetery, Fromelles

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20 July 1916. A German collecting station on the morning of the 20th July after the battle of Fromelles. The only identified soldier is Private Andreas Voitkun 32nd Battalion, sitting left on the square box on the left.

Pheasant Wood

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Finding the Forgotten Men of Fromelles

Harry Willis

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Samuel Wilson

Eric Wilson

Archaeological Evidence of Fromelles

Lambis Englezos

‘DON’T FORGET ME COBBER’