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Riley Smithers Pimlico State High School THE Simpson PRIZE A COMPETITION FOR YEAR 9 AND 10 STUDENTS 2017 Winner Queensland Riley Smithers Pimlico State High School The Significance of the Western Front on Australian Accounts of the First World War. rom start to finish the Australians distinguished themselves by their endurance and boldness. By their initiative, their fighting spirit, their “F magnificent ardour, they proved themselves to be shock troops of the first order.” Supreme Allied Commander, Marshall Ferdinand Foch’s acknowledgement of Australia’s service in 1918 (Australian War Memorial, 2016) Australia’s involvement in the First World War is of great significance in the nation’s history and identity. The ANZAC spirit is an integral component of Australian culture, established on courage and mateship displayed by soldiers during the Great War. Although experiences of Diggers at Gallipoli are most commonly associated with ANZAC spirit, the bravery and gallantry of Australian soldiers on Western Front - where far greater casualties occurred – was equal to their comrades in Turkey. The Battles of Fromelles and Pozières were significant conflicts for the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), being maiden battles in which they directly engaged the main enemy (Germany), with substantial forces, in the main war theatre (Australian War Memorial, 2016). Despite the AIF First Division initially capturing Pozières, both battles were military failures, with staggering fatalities. Accounts of ferocity in these battles are among the most confronting of the First World War, and document qualities defining the ANZAC spirit in measures as deserving of recognition to those reported from the Battle of Gallipoli. The First World War, ‘the war to end wars’, was an important event in Australian history being the first major conflict in which the AIF engaged. The Battle of Gallipoli was the first campaign involving infantry of the newly established Australian nation. Anzac Day (April 25th) commemorates the anniversary of the Anzac Cove landing at Gallipoli. As former Principal Historian of the Australian War Memorial, Dr Peter Stanley stated, “Gallipoli has become a symbol of Australia’s national identity, achievement and existence” (Stanley, 2008) explaining the significance of its commemoration. This outlook reflects the then unprecedented estimated 8, 709 AIF fatalities in eight-months at Gallipoli. However, despite this tragic loss of life, it is important to recognise the ANZAC spirit stems from experiences of Australian soldiers active at both Gallipoli and the Western Front, where 46, 000 Australian fatalities were recorded (Butler, 1938-40)1. The fatality rate on both fronts is horrific considering approximately 20, 000 Australian troops were involved at Anzac Cove and 295, 000 at France and Flanders (Department of Veteran Affairs, 2015). Astonishingly given such losses, the public perceived the Gallipoli campaign as triumphant through British 1 See Table 1. and Table 2. in APPENDIX for extended casualties statistics. Government propaganda of the failed battle, with inflated legends such as ‘Simpson and his Donkey’. In contrast, terrifying accounts of the successful Western Front survivors were too ghastly for even the Australian Government to manipulate, resulting in strong public opposition to soldier’s engagement there. ‘Returned’ soldiers attempted to reintegrate into society, however thousands remained permanently damaged with little support and acknowledgement from authorities and general public. Twenty years after the war, Australia had 77, 315 'war disability' pensioners, with war-related problems ranging from 'war neurosis' to physical injuries (Department of Veteran Affairs, 2006). These less comfortable truths are commonly swept aside by perceptions of our national ‘coming of age’ at Gallipoli, and rarely feature in remembrance of the Great War. Contrasting uninhabited Gallipoli, combat on the Western Front obliterated French and Flemish townships, resulting in the deaths of approximately 300,000 citizens (Prost, 2015), who also deserve to be remembered. The widely commemorated Gallipoli campaign was the primary focus of ANZAC ceremonies until 2008, when emphasis shifted towards the Western Front, particularly Villers-Bretonneux, finally providing recognition of those 295, 000 Australian soldiers who battled on French and Flemish soil. Australia’s history has, and will continue to, always focus on Gallipoli, however other battles of World War One deserve recognition. This year (2016) is the 100th Anniversary of Australian involvement in France and Flanders and is the perfect occasion to acknowledge examples of such battles. The ‘bloody feint’, referred to as the Battle of Fromelles (formerly Battle of Fleurbaix) occurred on 19th -20th July 1916, and was intended to divert German forces away from Somme offensive located further south in France. The Battle of Fromelles was the first major battle in which the AIF participated in France. It is regarded as the greatest loss by a single division within 24 hours in the First World War (Australian War Memorial, 2008). Casualties in the Australian Fifth Division totalled 178 officers and 5,355 enlisted men. Despite lasting just one dreadful night, the casualty toll was equivalent to that of the Boer War, Korean War and Vietnam War combined and is recognised as the most infamous military tragedy in Australia’s history. Lieutenant Dave Doyle, who miraculously survived his only venture through No Man’s Land of Fromelles, described the battle as the “[m]ost awful scene of slaughter imaginable” (McMullin, 2002: 223). The appalling conditions of trench warfare mentioned by Lt. Doyle are depicted in Charles Wheeler’s painting ‘Battle of Fromelles’ 2. The oil canvas portrays the Fifth Division conducting the suicidal advance across No-Man’s Land towards the German defence lines at Sugar-Loaf Salient under extreme artillery bombardment. These actions reflecting the soldiers’ experiences of Fromelles are observed in the ANZAC spirit as heroic and brave. Although these characteristics were previously unacknowledged due to horrendous casualty tolls, there is now no logical reason the sacrifices and gallantry of Australian soldiers at Fromelles and Pozières, should not feature prominently in current commemorations. 2 See Figure 1. in APPENDIX for ‘Battle of Fromelles’ Riley SMITHERS – SIMPSON PRIZE 2017 2 The Battle of Pozières was a traumatic but essential victory. Pozières Ridge encompassed an important observation post, with excellent vision of surrounding countryside, providing clear warning of enemy advances (Duffy, 2009). Australian involvement commenced at 12:30a.m on 23rd July 2016, with the intention to capture the village on the initial day. The AIF First Division seized German lines and reached Pozières by 1:30a.m (Australian War Memorial, London, 2016). The Division maintained position despite multiple German counter-attacks in ensuing hours. Consequently, the Second Division relieved the First, immediately attempting to capture Pozières Ridge as per orders. Due to alert Germans, the attack failed, resulting in 3, 500 Australian casualties, reducing the strength of the Second Division in following advancements. The Division continued its prolonged, intense assault of Pozières Ridge until its capture on 4th August with official victory of the Battle of Pozières declared on 7th August. Due to casualties totalling 6,848, the Fourth Division replaced the Second in preventing German counter-attacks to seize Pozières (Australian War Memorial, 2016). C.E.W. Bean, official Australian war correspondent recorded in Anzac to Amiens the tragic attempt to capture Pozières caused Australian Divisions to lose “23,000 officers and men in less than seven weeks.” (Bean, 1983: 264). Sergeant E.J. Rule of the 14th Battalion described the effects of the Battle on surviving soldiers’ psychological wellbeing. He noted, these men “had been in hell. In all [his] experience [he has] never seen men quite so shaken up as these.” (Bean, 1935: 599). Sgt Rule’s ghastly description records the disturbing impacts of Pozières on surviving Australian soldiers. ‘The Charge of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade at the Nek, 7 August 1915’3, by George Lambert (1924) portrays Turkish landscape with Australian Infantry suicidally progressing towards heavily protected trenches. Similarly, another First World War illustration, ‘Bombardment of Pozières, July 1916’4 by Frank Crozier, depicts trench warfare at Pozières under heavy shellfire. Crozier’s painting illustrates extremely ferocious German bombardment on AIF defences, which Australians had never experienced before (Australian War Memorial, 2016). Despite depicting the most severe shelling on the Western Front in France, Crozier’s painting shows many Australian soldiers out of trenches, bravely exposed to heavy enemy artillery fire. Both paintings represent historical events, and together demonstrate the ANZAC spirit was present and evolved from our soldier’s actions and experiences on the Western Front as much as during the Gallipoli campaign. Both paintings represent heroism, bravery and courage of Australian soldiers endangering themselves for Australia’s protection, deserved of solemn recognition and commemoration. Although most Australian military participation on the Western Front encountered limited success and large casualty tolls, experiences of Australian soldiers deserve appropriate recognition. Men at Fromelles and Pozières displayed immense courage and gallantry, as they returned to the trenches, continuing
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