What Can the Battle of Fromelles Tell Us About the Spirit of ANZAC? Articles
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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 , Australian Army Campaign Series - 8, History Unit, Canberra 2010 page 117 The Battle of Fromelles 1916 Map by Mark Wahlert in Roger Lee, 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.