Villers-Bretonneux
National Memorial
Australia
Villers-Bretonneux Australian National Memorial
- 25April
- 1938July 22nd
- 11000soldiers
Australians in France
In 1914,Australia sided with the “mother country”, like all the other countries of theBritish Empire. Together with neighboring New Zealand, this force formed theAustralian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). Their 1st offensive took place on April 25, 1915 at Gallipoli in Turkey. In the Somme, their first intervention took place on July 23, 1916 at Pozières, then in April 1918 at Villers-Bretonneux.
The year 1918 proved to be very significant, with the Australian Expeditionary Force halting the German thrust at Villers-Bretonneux on April 24, 25 and 26. This prevented the capture of Amiens.
The Diggers
in Pozières
From July 23, 1916, Australian troops attacked Pozières, where one in three soldiers lost their lives. The toll: 23,000 killed, wounded or missing. It was one of the heaviest casualties in Australian military history.
In Australia’s collective memory, Pozières is an emblematic site: it was the country’s first victory on the Western Front, which resulted in many casualties. It also embodies the courage of the troops who held their positions.
Today, the village pays tribute to them at the monument to the 1st Australian Division, as well as at the Windmill site, the tank monument and the Column Cemetery.
The Digger Cote 160 association, based in Pozières, aims to promote relations between Australia and Pozières, France, and to commemorate the memory of the soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of Pozières. It also organizes the Son & Lumière show, which takes place every two years, commemorating the Battle of the Somme.
The exploit of Mont-Saint-Quentin can be discovered on an interpretive walking tour. A room at the Historial de la Grande Guerre dedicated to Australian involvement in the Somme completes the visit.
Tribute to the Australians
in Villers-Bretonneux, Le Hamel
It was at Villers-Bretonneux that the expeditionary corps distinguished itself, halting the German advance on April 24, 25 and 26, 1918.
Today, the Australian National Memorial is one of the last memorials to the Great War to be erected in France, and honors the 11,000 Australians who died in France and have no grave.
It offers sweeping views over the surrounding countryside towardsAmiens and its cathedral. From the top of the tower, a circular orientation table points with arrows to other Australian battlefields on the Western Front.
Australian troops took part in further fighting on the Somme front in 1918.
The Australian memorial at Le Hamel pays tribute to the famous tactical attack of July 4, 1918, when General Monash achieved all his objectives in 93 minutes! On site, several explanatory panels bear witness to this.
Relive the experience
the Diggers
Located behind the Australian National Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux, the Sir John Monash Centre is a key part of the Australian Way of Remembrance.
This brand-new state-of-the-art center tells thestory of Australians who fought on the Western Front during the First World War. Featuringinteractive multimedia installations and immersive experiences, the center can be visited using the SJMC app, which becomes a virtual tour guide for visitors.
In the center of the village, the Franco-Australian Museum illustrates 100 years of Franco-Australian ties. The museographical tour allows us to understand the construction of this memory through the personal objects of soldiers, as well as moving testimonies.
Located on the 1st floor of theVictoria School, an area halfway along the museum allows visitors to contemplate the inscription on the courtyard “Do not forget Australia”, symbolizing the desire to remember.
Meeting with
Olivier DIRSON
Chemins d’histoire” independent guide
I like to put together personalized tours, following in the footsteps of a unit, a soldier, a particular nationality or a poet or writer. My family village, Montbrehain, was the site of the last battle fought by Australian troops on the Western Front. I’ve been fascinated by the history of the Great War from an early age, and decided to make it my profession in 2009.
Useful contacts
In the footsteps of the Diggers
- Val de Somme Tourist Office
28/30 place de la République – 80800 Corbie
Tel 03 22 96 95 76
officedetourisme@valdesomme.com
valdesomme-tourisme.com
- Sir John Monash Centre
Route de Villers Bretonneux – 80800 Fouilloy
Tel 03 60 62 01 40
info@sjmc.gov.au
sjmc.gov.au
- The Franco-Australian Museum
9, rue Victoria – 80800 Villers-Bretonneux
Tel 03 22 96 80 79
museeaustralien@gmail.com
museeaustralien.com
7 must-haves
in the footsteps of the Diggers
- Visit the Australian National Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux and the Sir John Monash Centre.
- Attend theANZAC ceremony on the night of April 25 every year in Villers-Bretonneux.
- Go to the PozièresA historic battle in Australia’s collective memory.
- Take a detour to Le Hamel to visit the Australian Corps Memorial.
- Stop off at Péronne and Mont-Saint-Quentin, where the 2nd Australian Division Memorial stands.
- Visit the brand new center Vignacourt 14-18where visiting Australians let themselves be photographed.
- Explore the Underground City of Naours in search of graffiti left by soldiers in their spare time.
The Australians
on the home front
- During the Great War, Vignacourt and Naours wererear-front villages. Today, they bear witness to the passage of the Diggers.
- The Underground City of Naours shows us a little-known face of the Great War, that of soldiers’ leisure activities, thanks to a concentration of over 3,000 graffiti, including over 700 by Australians.
- The Interpretation Centre Vignacourt 14-18 invites you to discover the collection of photos of soldiers and civilians taken by Louis and Antoinette Thuillier.
