What Can the Battle of Fromelles Tell Us About the Spirit of ANZAC? Articles

What can the Battle of Fromelles tell us about the Spirit of ANZAC? Articles:

Curriculum connection This unit will help students understand the nature of warfare on the Western Front, as well as developing their knowledge and understanding of the nature of the ANZAC Legend or the Spirit of ANZAC.

Detail of ‘Don’t forget me, cobber!’ sculpture by Peter Corlett at Australian Memorial Park, Fromelles, France.

In 1915 Australian and New Zealand troops established the ‘At last the day is near when Australia’s boys will once again be ‘Spirit of ANZAC’ at Gallipoli. given an opportunity to show the World what we are made of … In 1916 most of these troops, together with new recruits who had to-morrow we hope to be on the road to Berlin … we are ready, fit, been trained in Egypt, had been transferred either to the Middle and well, and with God’s help will punish the Bosh for his cruelty East or to the Western Front of northern France and Belgium. to the weaker races … to-day, you should have seen the look of determination on the faces of all. I am sure that the Hun will be In July 1916 the AIF faced its first battle on the Western Front, sorry for the day when Australia sent her sons to France.’ at Fromelles. (Quoted in Bill Gammage, The Broken Years, MUP, 2010, pages 162-3)

What does the conduct of this first battle involving Australians on the Western Front tell us about the Spirit of ANZAC?

© Australian Defence Force and Ryebuck Media Pty Ltd 2010 3 What is meant by the Spirit of ANZAC? In STUDIES 2/2010 we looked at the meaning of the ‘Spirit of 1 Here are some statements about the ANZACs in the First World ANZAC’. We saw that it is based on two elements: the facts of War. Decide whether you agree, disagree or are not sure if each what happened, starting with the Australian soldiers and nurses is part of what you understand to be the Spirit of ANZAC and of the First World War, and the image we have of those men and the First World War. women and their behaviour and qualities. We suggested that it was important to base your image on the facts, but that may mean that you need to start to be selective about what you accept as the Spirit of ANZAC. You can be selective about what you choose to emulate, and what you choose to reject.

Not Sure/ Statement — the Spirit of ANZAC involves this element: Agree Disagree Cannot tell

Australians were fearless fighters

They always showed mateship

They were better than other soldiers

They suffered greater casualties because they were used in the hardest fighting

The Australians were young boys and men

They joined to protect Australia as soon as war was declared

They were chivalrous towards the enemy

They were skilled in trench warfare

They were the best people of their generation

They enjoyed killing

They were prepared to sacrifice themselves for their comrades

Other elements? Add these if you have any further ideas

As you work through this unit you will be able to keep coming back and reconsidering your answers.

4 © Australian Defence Force and Ryebuck Media Pty Ltd 2010 What does it take to win a battle? You will also have an image of the nature of warfare on the 3 Then decide from the evidence on the following pages which Western Front, and what it took to win, or not win, battles. of these was achieved at Fromelles, and mark that in the 2 Here are some possible criteria. Decide if you think each is final column. required for an army to win a battle, and record your answer in the ‘general ideas’ columns. You may want to add some other factors that are not listed.

Possible contributing factor Your general idea or expectation Present at Fromelles? to winning a battle: Agree Disagree Not sure Yes or No

Good planning

Effective artillery support

Enough troops

Good equipment

Good intelligence/reconnaissance

Superior troops

Good leadership

Knowledge of the enemy

Willingness to incur casualties

Secrecy

Skill and bravery

Effective communications

Reinforcements available

Luck

An inferior enemy

Good weather

Favourable terrain

A weak enemy

Effective use of machine guns

As you work through this unit you will be able to keep coming back and reconsidering your answers.

© Australian Defence Force and Ryebuck Media Pty Ltd 2010 5 What happened at Fromelles on 19-20 July 1916? Until recently the Battle of Fromelles has been little known to most But 94 years after the battle 250 of the Australian and British Australians — even though it was the first time Australians fought soldiers who died at Fromelles were re-buried in a new war on the Western Front, and was probably the bloodiest single day in cemetery — the first new Commonwealth war cemetery created Australia’s military history. in over 50 years.

6 © Australian Defence Force and Ryebuck Media Pty Ltd 2010 4 Look at this outline of the battle, together with the additional add to the table on page 5 to decide if the criteria evidence in the following pages, and use it to: required to win a battle existed at Fromelles annotate the map on these pages so that it explains what make any revisions needed to your ideas on page 4 happened at Fromelles about the Spirit of Anzac Map by Mark Wahlert in Roger Lee, The Battle of Fromelles 1916 , Australian Army Campaign Series - 8, History Unit, Canberra 2010 page 117 Map by Mark Wahlert

© Australian Defence Force and Ryebuck Media Pty Ltd 2010 7 Some key elements of the battle of Fromelles 5 Here is an outline of the plan of attack. Use this information to – stop the bombardment several times, to trick the enemy explain on the map what was planned, e.g. by using arrows and into coming out in expectation of an infantry attack, and brief notes to explain the different elements. then resume the bombardment and hopefully kill many of It took place from the afternoon of 19 July 1916 to the the defenders; morning of 20 July. – while the bombardment is going on, have troops advance Was intended as a diversion to stop German reinforcements as far as possible into No Man’s Land towards the forward from the Fromelles area being sent to the major battle of the German trenches; Somme taking place 80 kilometres away. – stop the bombardment at a set time and have the infantry The attack involved Australian artillery, and a joint attack attack and take the enemy front line (including the vital by the British 61st Division and the Australian 5th Division Wick and Sugarloaf salients) before the defenders can — about 20 000 troops — along a 3200 metre front, against organise their resistance; the German 6th Bavarian Reserve Division troops. – hold this line while the next waves of attackers about The land is flat and with a high water table, and criss-crossed 100 yards apart bring supplies forward and then advance by drainage ditches and the Layes Brook main drainage and take the second line of enemy trenches about 100 yards channel. forward. Germans occupied the high ground on the Aubers Ridge in All this was to be a surprise or secret attack. For it to succeed front of Fromelles, and 600 metres behind the German front it needed: line, and with a good view (though only 30 metres high) of all – accurate artillery fire on the enemy front line to destroy its activities in the British lines. defences; – perfect timing between the end of the bombardment and the No Man’s Land between the lines varied from 100 metres on infantry attack; left to 400 metres wide at the Sugarloaf salient. – the infantry to move as close to the enemy front line before There were two German salients — areas where the enemy the bombardment stopped; trenches protruded forward into No Man’s Land, which – sufficient numbers of troops attacking. meant that attacking troops had to go past these protrusions However: and were then subject to the enemy firing into their rear if – the Germans knew the plan and could see the preparations the enemy defences were not destroyed. The two salients were known as the Wick and the Sugarloaf salients. for the attack; – communications during the attack were difficult once an The Australian 5th Division was mainly recruits who had attack started. Runners could be sent back, but were subject trained in Egypt, and had no combat experience. to snipers. Telephone wires were laid, but were cut by The Australian artillery was not fully trained. artillery and feet. Aerial messages were not clear. By the The British 61st Division was a recently arrived second line time messages were received could be out of date and territorial division, under strength. therefore inaccurate. The Germans were well dug in, with strong defences, well protected from artillery. Fromelles The German troops had been there since 1915 and knew the area well, held the high ground, and had carefully measured out their artillery range and machine gun arcs of fire into No Man’s Land and the forward British trenches. The British plan of attack at Fromelles was: – gather the attacking infantry Aubers Ridge in their own front trench area, ready to advance in 4 waves; – start a long and heavy artillery bombardment of the German front line to cut the wire in No Man’s Land and to destroy enemy machine-gun emplacements; AWM E05990 AWM

Australian lines German front line Sugarloaf salient

8 © Australian Defence Force and Ryebuck Media Pty Ltd 2010 The British force was: The Australian force was:

Brigade Attack Battalions Reserve Battalions Brigade Attack Battalions Reserve Battalions 182nd 2/7th Royal Warwickshire 2/5th Royal Warwickshire 15th 59th 57th 2/6th Royal Warwickshire 2/8th Royal Warwickshire 60th 58th 183rd 2/6th Royal Gloucestershire 2/6th Worcestershire 14th 53rd 55th 2/4th Royal Gloucestershire 2/7th Worcestershire 54th 56th 184th 2/4th Royal Berkshire 2/4th Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire 8th 31st 29th 2/1st Buckinghamshire 2/5th Gloucestershire 32nd 30th

Here is a summary of what actually happened.

AA Forming up phase during the Allied barrage BB Attack phase once the barrage was lifted 182nd 2/7th Advanced over No Man’s Land during the barrage to within 50 metres At the end of the barrage charged to the German front trench and took RW of the German front line trenches. it, but were unable to progress to the next line of trenches as the wire was not cut by the artillery. 2/6th Were badly hit by German artillery, with many officers killed, and got Were unable to take the German front line. Support troops coming RW to 50 metres of the German front trench. forward were caught in the open in No Man’s Land and badly mauled. 183rd 2/6th Were devastated by German machine gun fire from the Wick salient They were unable to advance against the Wick salient, as it had not RG as they were moving across open ground during the barrage. been destroyed by the barrage. 2/4th Heavy German artillery shelling prevented them from moving from Were not able to advance and attack, so Germans here were able to RG the British front line out to No Man’s Land. help their own troops to the left and the right against the British attack. 184th 2/4th Heavy German artillery shelling and machine gun fire devastated the Were unable to advance against the Germans. RB troops massing in the British front line. 2/1st Heavy German artillery shelling and machine gun fire weakened the Were mown down in waves. A few soldiers reached the German lines B force available to attack. and false reports of success were sent back to the British commanders. 15th 59th Heavy German artillery shelling and machine gun fire weakened the They were caught in the open in No Man’s Land at the lifting of the Batt force available to attack. barrage, and were mown down. 60th Heavy German artillery shelling and machine gun fire weakened the Batt force available to attack. 14th 53rd Heavy German artillery shelling and machine gun fire weakened the They were then mown down by German gunfire from the Sugarloaf Batt force available to attack, but many managed to get to the German salient. front line during the barrage. 54th Heavy German artillery shelling and machine gun fire weakened the They attacked and took the German front line, then moved forward Batt force available to attack, but many managed to get to the German looking for the second line of trenches. These did not exist, and with front line during the barrage. many officers killed, the troops were uncertain how far to advance, and many became trapped in ‘islands’ with Germans all around them. 8th 31st Heavy German and Australian artillery shelling (‘drop-shorts’) Batt weakened the force available to attack, but many managed to get to the German front line during the barrage. 32nd These had the shortest distance to cover to the front lines, and got Batt close to the enemy front line.

After the attack: The German positions had not been destroyed by the artillery A proposed truce to gather the wounded was vetoed by senior barrage, and they quickly organised a counter-attack. officers, so wounded men had to get back to their own lines any There were not enough Australian troops to continue to take way they could. Stretcher bearers came forward to help, but the second line — many of the reserve troops had been used were also subject to enemy fire. to supplement the first waves devastated by the German Next morning the attackers had to get back to their own lines bombardment. any way they could and under constant threat from Germans all A new plan was made to attack Sugarloaf again by British around them. and Australian troops — but the Australians were not told 6 Use all this information add to your explanation on the map of of its cancellation, and the 58th and 59th attacked alone and what happened, and to make any changes to your answers in unsupported on the right, and were mown down. They did not the tables on pages 4 and 5. get to within 100 metres of the objective. Those who had advanced in the first wave were now in isolated pockets, and were threatened on their flanks and even in the rear.

© Australian Defence Force and Ryebuck Media Pty Ltd 2010 9 Here is some additional information from eyewitness participants 8 Look also at what the information tells you about the outcome about the human aspects of the battle. of the battle, and the behaviour of the Australians’ involved, the 7 Use this additional information to understand what happened, ‘Spirit of ANZAC’. Use this information to revise your answers in and to add this to your annotation of the map. the tables on pages 4 and 5.

Massing before the attack

The German artillery caught the soldiers before they reached their own front line. Shell after B shell burst among the packed columns, cluttering the trench floors with dead and wounded:

A ‘They lay in heaps behind the parapet …[or] crouched close under cover … Chaos and weird noises like thousands of iron foundries, deafening and dreadful, coupled with the roar of high explosives … ripped the earth out of the parapet, … we crept along seeking first of all the serious cases of wounded. Backwards & forwards we travelled between the firing line and the R.A.P. with knuckles torn and bleeding due to the narrow passage ways. ‘Cold sweat’, not perspiration, dripped from our faces and our breath came out only in gasps … By the time we had completed 2 trips [each of 5kilometres] . . . we were . . . completely exhausted.

Quoted in Bill Gammage, The Broken Years, pages 164-5

Men of the 53rd Battalion shortly before going into action on 19 July. AWM A03042 AWM

C ‘We had to get up as close to the parapet as possible anybody out he was white with fear and shaking like a leaf. One of our who did not do this was simply courting death for shells were Lieuts. got shell shock and he literally cried like a child, some falling all round … there were dead and wounded everywhere that I saw carried down out of the firing line were struggling … I had to sit on top of a dead man as there was no picking and and calling out for their mother, while others were blabbering choosing … I saw a shell lob about twelve yards away and it sentences one could not make out For one to get shell shock it is … lifted [two men] clean up in the air for about 6 feet and they worse than a wound, a wound will heal, but a chap when he has simply dropped back dead … one or two of the chaps got shell lost control of his nerves takes a lot before he has got mastery of shock and others got really frightened it was piteous to see them them again, and it is doubtful if he would be able to be relied on … One great big chap got away as soon as he reached the firing again. It is a thing everyone has to fight against, and if he gives in line and could not be found … I saw him in the morning in a dug at all he is practically done for as a fighter.

Quoted in Bill Gammage, The Broken Years, pages 164-5

During the barrage D I couldn’t stop urinating, and we were all anxious for the barrage to begin. When it did begin, it seemed as if the earth opened up with a crash. The ground shook and trembled, and the concussion made our ears ring. It was impossible to hear ourselves speak to a man lying alongside. It is strange how men creep together for protection. Soon, instead of four paces interval between the men, we came down to lying alongside each other, and no motioning could make them move apart. Quoted in Bill Gammage, The Broken Years, page 168

Entering No Man’s Land

E We lost some men going over to the enemy’s lines and you could hear the moans of the wounded and dying wherever you went. I got over the parapet … [and] made for a big hole and rested there while we got our breath … after that we made a dash but had to drop into any sort of hole we could find for machine guns were turned on to us and the bullets were just skimming over our heads … We got to Fritz’s front line trenches eventually … [and then] to the portion of trench which was behind their front line … and stayed there till 5.30 a.m. when we were forced to retire … The Germans got somehow or other into their own front line while we were between their first and second lines and there was grave danger of our being cut off, so we had to make a bolt for it and a good few were

hit coming back … but the bullets happened to miss me somehow or other. E03971 AWM

Quoted in Bill Gammage, The Broken Years, page 165 The nature of the land

10 © Australian Defence Force and Ryebuck Media Pty Ltd 2010 Attacking the enemy

G Scores of stammering German machine-guns spluttered H violently, drowning the noise of the cannonade. The air was thick with bullets, swishing in a flat, criss-crossed lattice of death. There were gaps in the lines of men – wide ones, small ones. The survivors spread across the front, keeping the lines straight ... The bullets skimmed low, from knee to groin, riddling the tumbling bodies before they touched the ground. Hundreds were mown down in the flicker of an eyelid, like great rows of teeth knocked from a comb, but still the line went on, thinning and stretching. Wounded wriggled into shellholes or were hit again. Men were cut in two by streams of bullets [that] swept like whirling knives. And still the line went on.

Quoted in Peter Pedersen, The Anzacs, Gallipoli to the Western Front, Viking, A German machine gun crew Melbourne, 2007, page 130

Second and later waves

I It was awful. My thoughts I can hardly J We … were given the job of delivering [bombs] … each of us carried our explain, my heart thumped with fear and own equipment, 220 rounds of ammunition, 3 day’s rations, rifle, and in my face must have been white. Now I was each hand a box of bombs weighing about 30 lbs. I suppose the full load to lead and show an example to 20 men was about a hundredweight, and with this we had to travel about half a who carried three guns. I can never forget mile through a narrow sap, with a veritable hail of shells falling round us it - I prayed and all my hope was in ‘Him’. the whole length of it … Some of the fellows dropped out, others dropped At last the time was drawing near, I drew part or the whole of their load, but most of us saw the distance out, my revolver and placed my whistle in my realising that the delivery of the bombs was … life or death to the men in mouth ...I blew my whistle, gave a shout of the line. ‘forward’... I dashed out along the railway Quoted in Bill Gammage, The Broken Years, page 168 line [trench railway]. I had only gone about 50 [metres] when I tripped and fell. ‘Hard luck’ exclaimed some of the 55th thinking I was shot but I sprung up and rushed on.,. Australian rushed bang into barbed wire... I heard the dead in L bullets smacking the ground about me. German Picking my way through the wire made me trenches go slower and I thought of the awful position I was in. ‘Oh! God help me’ were the words I uttered. At last I was free...

Quoted in Paul Cobb, Fromelles 1916, The History Press, Stroud, 2010, page 90

K Nothing could exceed the bravery of those boys. The first wave went down like ‘wheat before the reaper’. When the time came for the second wave to go over there was not a man standing of the first wave, yet not a lad faltered. Each glanced at his watch and on the arranged tick of the clock leaped over. In many cases they did not get any farther than the first wave. The last wave, though they knew each had to do the work of three, were in their places and started on their forlorn hope at the appointed moment.

Quoted in Patrick Lindsay, Fromelles, Hardie Grant Books, Melbourne, 2008 page 101 AWM A01554 AWM

M Crump! Bang! Crash! The shells fall. Zipzipzip-zipzip! Machine-gun bullets kick up N Capt Gibbins was the marvel – he the dirt around them. A lull and they rush off again. Zipzip! Bang! Another twisted kept walking up and down the lines heap of khaki hits the ground. It is Ted. He does not move. His cobbers crawl over never showing any sign of fear, to his side. ‘Where d’you get it?’ they ask him. His lips move, but they do not hear encouraging people and helping his reply. His arm is shattered and blood is gushing from his side. He cannot last them. Towards dawn our flanks were much longer-they think he is going west. His eyes ask them to do something. Stan being attacked by enemy bombers so rolls him on to a groundsheet and drags him yard by yard towards the trench. Shell Capt Gibbins led an attack against splinters tear through the sheet. The ground rocks from a nearby shell-burst which them over ‘No Man’s Land’ and drove almost covers them with mud. Stan drags him on. Ted is in mortal fear of being hit them back, but back they came and again. At last they come to the sally-port and he is carried on a duckboard into the still again. Bombs and bombers were trench.They give him the worst possible thing. He gulps down some rum, chokes, called for and still more bombs but coughs blood, loses his breath; blood bubbles from his side, he is in the throes of our officers were becoming less. death. He quietens. They give him water. If they can stop the bleeding he might Mendellson was blown up on the survive. With a bandaged lead pencil they probe back his lung and plug the wound right. Jock Mathews was shot. with a field-dressing and pieces torn from a greatcoat. They fix a tourniquet and bind Toliard was wounded. Denoon had his arm to a piece of duckboard. This completes their rough but honest first aid.” been shot through the shoulder.

(Quoted in Peter Pedersen, The Anzacs, Gallipoli to the Western Front, page 137 (Quoted in Patrick Lindsay, Fromelles, page 98)

The withdrawal

O One Lewis gun crew stuck to it to the P last and after all the rest had fallen back they could still be heard firing. We could see the Bosche working along the trench on both their flanks towards them but they still stuck to their posts and the gun kept firing. We saw some stick bombs thrown into their little stronghold - then silence! Their job had been done at the expense of their lives.”

(Quoted in Paul Cobb, Fromelles 1916, page 90)

Troops of the Bavarian Reserve who opposed the Australians at Fromelles. On the far right is Corporal Adolf Hitler.

Bringing in the wounded

Q I had been sent by Capt Cameron with a party for two nights to chance of getting a bullet in you before you were safe. One foggy get the barbed wire ready. We were supporting when the charge morning an particular I remember, we could hear someone, over was made.,, the battalions who weren’t over met with too hot a towards the German entanglements calling for a stretcher bearer; reception and suffered severely; the distance was too far, When it was an appeal no man could stand against; so some of us we came up... we did a 200 yard sprint across the open... for the pushed out and had a hunt; we found a fine haul of wounded and next three days we did great work getting in the wounded from brought them in, but it was not where I heard this fellow calling the front and I must say Fritz treated us very fairly though a few so I had another shot for it and came across a splendid specimen were shot at their work. Some of the wounded were as game of humanity crying to wriggle into a trench with a big wound in as lions and got rather roughly handled but haste was more his thigh; he was about 14 stone weight and I could not lift him necessary than gentle handling and we must have brought in over on my back, but! managed to get him into an old trench and told 250 men by our company alone. It was not light work getting in him to lie quiet while I get a stretcher then another man about 30 with a heavy weight on your back especially if he had a broken yards out sang out ‘don’t forget me cobber’. I went in and got four leg or arm and no stretcher bearer was handy you had to lie down volunteers with stretchers and we got both men to safety and get him on your back then rise and duck for your life with the Quoted in Paul Cobb, Fromelles 1916, pages 102-103

12 © Australian Defence Force and Ryebuck Media Pty Ltd 2010 Some final incidents

R Cruelty, humanity and tragedy intermingled. Preventing all attempts to save a man who had been blinded, the Bavarians let him stumble in circles near the Sugarloaf for several days before they shot him. Two Bavarians carried a wounded Australian to his own parapet, saluted and walked away. Unaware of what had happened, other Australians shot them. Captain Krinks and the three men who escaped with him went back to pick up their wounded and were returning with them when a panicky Australian sentry killed two of the rescuers with a single shot. Another Australian, hit through the arm, took food and water from the dead during the seven days it took to drag his wounded mate in.

Peter Pedersen The Anzacs, Gallipoli to the Western Front, page 141

Casualty statistics

British 61st Division Australian 5th Division Germans Bde Batt Dead Bde Batt Dead POW Wounded Total Unit Dead Wounded Missing/ Total (KIA & (KIA & (KIA & POW DOW) DOW) DOW) 182nd 2/5RW 138 8th 29 61 16th 107 270 0 377 Bavarian 2/6RW 1 30 118 166 1086 1780 17th 2/7RW 108 31 156 59 171 44 274 Bavarian 2/8RW 2 32 224 20th 36 113 7 156 183rd 2/4G 14 14th 53 240 Bavarian 2/6G 20 54 169 21st 283 948 1727 295 385 95 775 2/7W 97 55 79 Bavarian 2/6W 2 56 40 104th 4 4 0 8 Saxon 184th 2/40B 42 15th 57 25 2/1B 5 58 142 5 904 1733 2/4RB 88 59 329 2/5G 36 60 389 Arty 6 Arty 14 182MGC 5 Sig 2 Eng 22 16 208 293 Machine 45 Gun(MG) Pioneers 2 TOTAL 572 2057 470 3146 5533 1590

Nature of wounds (%) 9 Add any information to the tables on pages 4 and 5, and the map on pages 6-7. Upper limb 31.79

Lower limb 31.00

Head and neck 16.67

Thorax/Chest 7.93

Abdomen 4.27

Back 2.22

Shell shock 6.12

Paul Cobb, Fromelles 1916, page 109-114

In 2010 an extraordinary event took place. The remains of 250 showed the trenches had been filled in. In 2003 he convinced the Australian and British soldiers were buried in a newly created military to test these trenches, and it was discovered that there cemetery — the first such cemetery in over 50 years. These men were remains there, and Australian military artefacts. had died at Fromelles on 19-20 July. Why have they only now been Finally a full archaeological dig was carried out, and the remains of buried in a war cemetery? 250 Australian and British soldiers were identified, together with The story started in 1916, when many hundreds of bodies of soldiers 6200 items of clothing and personal belongings. were not collected and identified. Over 2000 family members of Australians who had died at Fromelles In 1919 and 1921 officials of the Commonwealth War Graves but never been identified now provided DNA samples, and these Commission searched the area for the remains of unburied and were used to identify and name 94 of the men from Pheasant Wood. unidentified soldiers. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission now planned a new Most of those whose bodies were recovered, but who could not be cemetery on land donated by the Madame Demessiet, the French identified, were buried in a mass grave at VC Corner cemetery, and landowner on whose land the graves had been found. In 2010 several other nearby cemeteries. 1294 who had died at Fromelles the men were now buried in the beautiful new cemetery — the remained unidentified, and about 900 of these were buried in known Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) War Cemetery. graves. Where were the rest? The CWGC had stopped searching, as the inhabitants of the area needed to be able to resume their lives, without constant disruption to their fields as searches were carried out. Melbourne school teacher and military historian Lambis Englezos began searching for the missing remains. He discovered photographs showing that the Germans had gathered many bodies and taken them somewhere via a railway track. He found aerial photos showing what seemed to be large trenches in the nearby Pheasant Wood, and German documents detailing that the Germans had buried a large number of ‘English’ soldiers. Later photos

Julie Summers, Remembering Fromelles, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 2010, page 81

Roger Lee, The Battle of Fromelles 1916, page 186 10 Why do you think so much time and effort was spent in recovering, identifying and commemorating these men? Do you think it is justified? Explain your ideas.

14 © Australian Defence Force and Ryebuck Media Pty Ltd 2010 The following pages show the personal details of 87 of the men, who Count the numbers in the appropriate column, and comment to have now been identified by archaeological remains and DNA testing. the rest of the class on what this information tells you about the nature of the men at Fromelles, and of the characteristics 11 Divide your class into 8 groups, and have each group take one of these ANZACs. Does this information have any influence on of the columns A-H for analysis of Rank (A), Origin by State/City/ tour ideas about the Spirit of ANZAC on page 4? Country (B), Age (C), Occupation — Skilled/Unskilled/Professional (D), Marital status (E), Mobility (F), Date of enlistment (G) and Unit (H).

© Australian Defence Force and Ryebuck Media Pty Ltd 2010 15 A B C D E F G H Private Vinton Battam Baker Waterloo, Sydney, NSW 1885 Iron moulder S West Kogarah Sydney, NSW Aug 1915 55th Battalion Sergeant Oscar Eric Baumann Ambleside, SA 1897 Joiner S Eastwood, SA July 1915 32nd Battalion Private Henry Bell Bendigo, V 1876 Insurance agent M Bendigo, V July 1915 29th Battalion Corporal Herbert Thomas Bolt Newtown, Sydney, NSW 1894 Brick maker M Newtown, Sydney, NSW Sep 1915 55th Battalion Private Harold John Bourke West Maitland, NSW 1894 Railway employee S West Maitland, NSW Aug 1915 30th Battalion Lieutenant John Charles Bowden South Yarra, Melbourne, V 1881 Bank manager M South Melbourne, V Sep 1915 59th Battalion Private Justin Hercules Breguet Geelong, V 1897 Bread carter S Geelong, V Jul 195 29th Battalion Private Norman Leslie Brumm Albury, NSW 1897 Labourer S Auburn, Sydney, NSW Jun 1915 29th Battalion Private Edward Nason Burney Port Melbourne, V 1893 Farm labourer S Yarloop, WA Jul 1915 32nd Battalion Lieutenant Robert David Burns Potts Point, Sydney, NSW 1888 Station manager S Parramatta, NSW May 1915 14th Machine Gun Coy Private Thomas Clifft Cartwright Richmond, NSW 1895 Stableman S South Fremantle, WA Jul 1915 32nd Battalion Lieutenant Eric Harding Chinner Petersburg, SA 1894 Bank clerk S Petersburg, SA Sep 1915 32nd Battalion Private Roy Allison Clark Jerilderie, NSW 1895 jeweller S Liverpool, Sydney, NSW Sep 1915 54th Battalion Private Alexander Stanley Clingan Waterloo, Sydney, NSW 1894 Boiler maker S Newtown, Sydney, NSW Aug 1915 53rd Battalion 2nd Lt Clarence Timbrell Collier Geurie, NSW 1893 Solicitor S Roseville, Sydney, NSW Aug 1915 53rd Battalion Private Maurice Corigliano Beachport, Q 1883 Boatman S Beachport ,Q Sept 1915 32nd Battalion Lance Corporal William Andrew Nymagee, NSW 1882 Labourer S Nyngen, NSW Sept 1915 54th Battalion Craigie Private Henry Alfred Cressy Tamworth, NSW 1894 Locomotive Driver S Boolaroo, NSW Aug 1915 54th Battalion Private John Edwin Crocker Adelaide, SA 1896 Tailor’s cutter S Marlestone, SA July 1915 32nd Battalion Private Harry Croker Wallambra River, NSW 1892 Labourer S Wallambra River, NSW Sept 1915 30th Battalion Private William Joseph Cuckson Balmain, Sydney 1890 Labourer S Summer Hill, Sydney, NSW July 1915 54th Battalion Private Robert Arthur Dewar London, England 1886 Tram conductor S Kogarah, Sydney, NSW Aug 1915 55th Battalion Private Edwin Henry Dibben Buckland, England 1883 Coach builder S Summer Hill, Sydney, NSW Aug 1915 54th Battalion Private Downie Dodd Glasgow, Scotland 1883 Bricklayer S Drummoyne, Sydney, NSW Nov 1915 56th Battalion Private Fred Arthur Dyson MacLeay River, NSW 1897 Labourer S MacLeay River, NSW Oct 1915 54th Battalion Private Harold Esam Warnambool, V 1894 Labourer S Warnambool, V July 1915 31st Battalion Private Robert (Gladstone) Fenwick Helensburgh, NSW 1894 Miner S Woonona, NSW July 1915 30th Battalion Lance Corporal Frederic James Glenn Redfern, Sydney, NSW 1896 Audit Clerk S Redfern, Sydney, NSW July 1915 30th Battalion Private John Joseph Goulding Albidge Bank, England 1883 Labourer S West End, South Brisbane, Q Aug 1915 31st Battalion Corporal Robert Courtney Green London, England 1886 Farmer S Toodyay, WA July 1915 32nd Battalion Private Bertie Greenfield Worthing, Sussex, England 1889 Brick maker S West Leederville, Perth, WA July 1915 32nd Battalion Private Gilbert Allen Griffiths NSW 1886 Farm Hand S Trayning, WA July 1915 32nd Battalion Private Norman Arthur Hale Melbourne, V 1885 Telegraph linesman S West Melbourne, V July 1915 31st Battalion Private Laurance Harriott Parramatta, Sydney, NSW 1889 Labourer S Redfern, Sydney, NSW July 1915 54th Battalion Private William Bruce Higgins Stroud, NSW 1897 Grazier S Gloucester, NSW Aug 1915 30th Battalion Private Clarence Rhody Swan Hoffman Moonta, SA 1894 Saddler S Adelaide, SA Sept 1915 32nd Battalion Private Clifford Dawson Holliday Sydney, NSW 1895 Undergraduate S Hornsby, Sydney, NSW Aug 1915 54th Battalion student Private Arnold Holmes Nottingham, England 1889 Psychiatric warder S Claremont, Perth WA July 1915 32nd Battalion Private Frederick Griffin Holst Sebastapol, Ballarat, V 1896 Electrical engineer S Caulfield, Melbourne, V July 1915 60th Battalion Private Edward James Hope Penrith, NSW 1888 Railway employee S Penrith, NSW Sept 1915 54th Battalion Private Thomas Edward Hunt Kilmore, V 1869 Baker S Carlton, Melbourne, V Jan 1916 31st Battalion Private David George Irvin Bemboka, NSW 1892 Farmer S Bemboka, NSW July 1915 54th Battalion Lieutenant Ernest Augustus Jentsch Enmore, Sydney, NSW 1893 Clerk S Petersham, Sydney, NSW June 1915 53rd Battalion Private Cyril Donald Johnston Inverell, NSW 1892 Teacher S Delungra, NSW Oct 1915 54th Battalion

16 © Australian Defence Force and Ryebuck Media Pty Ltd 2010 A B C D E F G H Private Jack Joyce Wolverhampton, England 1887 Drover S Wagin, WA July 1915 32nd Battalion Private Adolf Thompson Knable Melbourne, V 1894 Teacher S Dardanup, WA Aug 1915 32nd Battalion Private Daniel Michael Lawlor Adelaide, SA 1887 Presser S Adelaide, SA July 1915 32nd Battalion Corporal David Frederick Livingston Taraville, Q 1876 Grazier M East Melbourne, V Nov 1914 29th Battalion Private Reuben Harold Magor Sandergrove, SA 1892 Salesman S Norwood, Adelaide, SA Aug 1915 32nd Battalion Private Robert Thomas Maudsley Yorkshire, England 1889 Labourer S Keswick, Adelaide, SA July 1915 32nd Battalion Private Archie McDonald Wyrallah, NSW 1896 Farmer S Wyrallah, NSW July 1915 31st Battalion Private Alec McGregor McKenzie West Coast, SA 1891 Farmer S West Coast, SA May 1915 32nd Battalion Private John Gordon McKenzie Orroroo, SA 1891 Farmer S Orroroo, SA July 1915 32nd Battalion Private Hughie McLean Tamagulla, V 1888 Engineer S Adelaide, SA June 1915 32nd Battalion Lieutenant Alan Mitchell Camperdown, Sydney, 1894 Supervisor S Mosman, Sydney, NSW Nov 1915 30th Battalion NSW Lieutenant Harry Lowry Moffit Bendigo, V 1883 Accountant S Gisborne, V Mar 1915 53rd Battalion Private Alfred Victor Momplhait Alberton, SA 1886 Clerk S Port Adelaide, SA June 1915 32nd Battalion Private John Morley (born William Yambuk, V 1869 Painter S Richmond River, NSW July 1915 31st Battalion John Howard) Private Peter Laurence Myers Liverpool, Sydney, NSW 1896 Labourer S Lidcombe, Sydney, NSW Aug 1915 54th Battalion Private Arnold Needham Lancashire, England 1898 Station Hand S Liverpool, Sydney, NSW Jan 1916 54th Battalion Private Henry Oscar Nelson Wellington, 1896 Woodworking S Ryde, Sydney, NSW July 1915 30th Battalion New Zealand machinist Lieutenant Colonel Ignatius Bertram North Sydney, NSW 1880 Barrister M Darling Point, Sydney, NSW July 1915 53rd Battalion Norris Lance Corporal George Pagan Mooroopna, V 1891 Farmer S Gilgandra, NSW July 1915 54th Battalion Private Edgar William Parham Gawler, SA 1878 Baker M Mile End, SA Aug 1915 32nd Battalion Lieutenant John Parker Kiama, NSW 1895 Assurance collector S Lismore, NSW May 1915 30th Battalion Private Andrew Murray Perry Goolwa, SA 1871 Carpenter S Narracoorte, SA Sept 1915 32nd Battalion Private Raymond Holstein Pflaum Blumberg, SA 1897 Shop assistant S Blumberg, SA July 1915 32nd Battalion Private Walter Pheasant London, England 1894 Cook S NSW May 1915 54th Battalion Private Harold Charles Pitt Magill, SA 1896 Labourer S Payneham, SA July 1915 32nd Battalion Private Herbert George Pollard Northcote, Melbourne, V 1891 Farmer S Kew, Melbourne, V July 1915 29th Battalion Private Howard James Randall Kingston, SA 1891 Engine cleaner S Kingston, SA July 1915 32nd Battalion Private Maurice Leslie Reid Owen, SA 1889 Farmer S Owen, SA Aug 1915 32nd Battalion Sergeant Harold Richardson Newcastle, NSW 1889 Clerk S Woonona, NSW June 1915 54th Battalion Private Samuel Thomas James Ridler Surrey, England 1874 Miner S Norseman, WA July 1915 32nd Battalion Corporal James Hugh Ross Stirling, Scotland 1893 Grocer S Northcote, Melbourne, V July 1915 29th Battalion Private Mervyn Ross Dardanup, WA 1894 Clerk S Dardanup, WA July 1915 32nd Battalion Private Gordon Thomas Smith Buxton, V 1893 Labourer S Buxton, V July 1915 29th Battalion Private Joseph Raymond Stead Murray Town, SA 1895 Farmer S Murray Town, SA June 1915 32nd Battalion Private William Charles Tucker Norwood, Adelaide, SA 1896 Hardware assistant S Adelaide, SA July 1915 32nd Battalion Private John Turner Dubbo, NSW 1896 Saddler S Dubbo, NSW July 1915 30th Battalion Sergeant William Wass Derbyshire, England 1881 Fitter S Pelaw, NSW Aug 1915 54th Battalion Private Percy Weakley Adelaide, SA 1880 Labourer M Spring Hill, Brisbane, Q July 1915 31st Battalion Private Arthur Joseph Weir Nhill, V 1890 Farmer S Nhill, V July 1915 29th Battalion Private Albert Williamson Canowindra, NSW 1892 Labourer S Yrang Creek, Canowindra, Q Aug 1915 54th Battalion Private Henry Victor Willis Alberton, V 1896 Labourer S Alberton, Adelaide, NSW July 1915 31st Battalion Private Eric Robert Wilson Port Macquarie, NSW 1896 Labourer S Hibbard, Port Macquarie, NSW July 1915 53rd Battalion Private Samuel Charles Wilson Braidwood, NSW 1886 Labourer S Hibbard, Port Macquarie, NSW July 1915 53rd Battalion

© Australian Defence Force and Ryebuck Media Pty Ltd 2010 17 On the next pages are some of the artefacts found during the archaeological dig at Pheasant Wood. D 12 For each object: Identify the object. Suggest how it probably was able to be used to help identify the men as Australian (A-G) and what it might help us to know and understand about the stories of the men This is: buried there (F-N). It probably helped Do this just by looking at the objects. Then check the information identify the body on each one on page 20 and make any changes to your original as Australian because: answers.

A E

This is:

It probably helped This is: identify the body as Australian because: It probably helped identify the body as Australian because:

This is:

It probably helped This is: identify the body as Australian because: It probably helped identify the body as Australian because:

This is: This is:

It probably helped It probably helped identify the body identify the body as Australian because: as Australian because:

This is:

It might tell us that:

This is: This is:

It might tell us that: It might tell us that:

I M

This is: This is:

It might tell us that: It might tell us that:

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This is: This is:

It might tell us that: It might tell us that:

Images from Julie Summers, Remembering Fromelles, pages 36-55. Photographs reproduced with permission of Julie Summers and Commonwealth War Graves Commission. © Australian Defence Force and Ryebuck Media Pty Ltd 2010 19 13 Why do you think the Battle of Fromelles was a defeat? Use the information you have gathered on page 5 in constructing your final answer. 14 What do you think the Battle of Fromelles tells you about the Spirit of ANZAC? Use the information you have gathered on page 5 in constructing your final answer. 15 Does the Battle of Fromelles change any of your ideas about the nature of the war on the Western Front in the First World War? Explain your ideas. 16 Imagine that you have been asked to commemorate the Battle of Fromelles. What would you say? What would you show? What meaning do you think it has for young people today?

The images on pages 18-19 are: A Australian uniform tunic belt buckle B Australian issue boots C Buttons D Shoulder badge E Rising Sun badge F Purse and Egyptian coins G Fremantle-Perth return train ticket H bible pages Further reading: I Monkey charm J Metal cross Paul Cobb, Fromelles 1916, The History Press, K Cigarette lighter Stroud, 2010 L Locket containing hair Roger Lee, The Battle of Fromelles 1916, M Rosary beads N Pipe Army History Unit, Canberra, 2010 Patrick Lindsay, Fromelles, Hardie Grant Books, Melbourne, 2008 Robin Corfield, ‘Don’t Forget me, Cobber’, The Battle of Fromelles, Miegunyah Press, Melbourne, 2009 Peter Pedersen, The Anzacs, Gallipoli to the Western Front, Viking, Melbourne, 2007 Julie Summers, Remembering Fromelles, CWGC Publishing, Berkshire, 2010