TODAY WE REMEMBER FROMELLES (19-20 JULY, 1916)

dhc4ever

On this day 100 years ago the 5th Australian Division of the A.I.F. fought the Battle of Fromelles on the Western Front. The untested Australians were new to the conditions of the Western Front and were ordered to attack strongly fortified German front line positions near the Aubers Ridge in French Flanders. Fighting alongside the British 61st Division, the attack was intended as a feint to keep German reserves from moving south to reinforce the Somme. Fromelles was a disastrous failure. Our forces assaulted over open ground in broad daylight and under direct observation and heavy fire from the German lines. Australia suffered more than 5,500 casualties; almost 2,000 were killed in action or died of wounds. Some 400 were captured. This is believed to be the biggest loss by a single division in 24 hours during the entire First World War.
Today we honour their memory.

Vince

The ineptitude of the British leaders had become legendary. They used tactics from the 1700s refusing to let go of the old tactics that were no longer applicable to a modern battlefield. The resulting unnecessary loss of allied soldiers bought about by arrogant leaders, from all parts of the allied forces was terrible.

LEST WE FORGET.

Elvis

rather fitting that as I type this the sun is going down over the hills behind me
LEST WE FORGET.

tikkat3 · Super Member Joined: Jul 30, 2006 Posts: 800

"They went with songs to battle"