-
Australians Arrive
One of the most important battlegrounds of the First World War was the Western Front, which extended from France's border with Switzerland to the North Sea. Between March 1916 and November 1918, it was the site of major conflicts and the deployment of more than 295,000 Australians. -
Period: to
Battle of Fromelles
The first major operation of the Australians on the Western Front was a disaster, known as some of the worst 24 hours in Australian history. The Battle of Fromelles was the final battle of the Somme Offensive's first of 3 phases. Australia suffered a total of 5,500 casualties. -
Period: to
Battle of Bullecourt
The Battles of Bullecourt, which took place on April 11th and May 3rd, 1917, resulted in massive casualties and a distrust between Australians and British commanders. -
Period: to
Battle of Messines
On the Western Front, Australians and New Zealanders are successful in their first major operation together. This is the first significant battle for General John Monash. Messines was a significant victory for the British Army, paving the way for the start of the Third Battle of Ypres a few weeks later. -
Battle of Dernancourt
Against the most powerful German offensive of the war, Australians maintain the line south of Albert. -
Period: to
Battle of Hazebrouck
The Battle of Hazebrouck, also known as the Battle of the Lys, took place near Hazebrouck in northern France, near the Lys river. Hazebrouck was vital to the Allies because the town's railway delivered half of the Allies' daily food and ammunition supply. -
Battle of Hamel
The Battle of Hamel was a highly successful small-scale attack led by members of the Australian Corps under Lieutenant General John Monash. The attack's goal was to capture the high land east of Hamel village. It would aid British forces in their advance eastward along the Somme. -
Period: to
Battle of Amiens
In what is known as the "black day" in German army history, Australians and Canadians accomplish an unprecedented breakthrough. -
Period: to
Battle of Mont St Quentin
The Battle of Mont St Quentin won the Australian Forces a strategic, tactical, and psychological victory, striking five German divisions, including the elite 2nd German Guard Division, and driving the enemy out of one of France's key positions, taking 2,600 prisoners at a cost of slightly more than 3,000 casualties. -
Battle of Montbrehain
The final combat involving Australian infantry on the Western Front during WWI. Following the Hindenburg Line's collapse, the attack on Montbrehain on October 5, 1918, was an effort to penetrate the German defences' final intricate system that was based on the Beaurevoir trench line system.