Throughout August 1916 the 1st, 2nd & 4th Divisions of the AIF attacked the German stronghold of Mouquet Farm, near Pozieres, in the valley of the Ancre River, a tributary of the Somme. At this time the 5th Division was recovering from the Battle at Fromelles, 80 kilometeres to the north and the 3rd Division was still training on the Salisbury Plain in the United Kingdom. Mouquet Farm was commonly referred to as ‘Moo Cow’ Farm by the Diggers and today there is little evidence of the intensity of the battles fought and casualties suffered during those 4 weeks.
Photo: Mouquet Farm 2007
The Australian War Memorial describes the fighting at Mouquet Farm as:
the site of nine separate attacks by three Australian divisions between 8 August and 3 September 1916. The farm stood in a dominating position on a ridge that extended north-west from the ruined, and much fought over, village of Pozieres. Although the farm buildings themselves were reduced to rubble, strong stone cellars remained below ground which were incorporated into the German defences. The attacks mounted against Mouquet Farm cost the 1st, 2nd and 4th Australian Divisions over 11,000 casualties, and not one succeeded in capturing and holding it. The British advance eventually bypassed Mouquet Farm leaving it an isolated outpost. It fell, inevitably, on 27 September 1916.
More details on the Battle for Mouquet Farm can be found by clicking here.
To discover what it was like to fight at ‘Moo-Cow’ Farm click here.
Read more about the Australian’s final fight at Mouquet Farm click here.
Visitors today will find the spot marked by a Dr Ross Bastian bronze memorial plaque. In nearby Pozieres there are visible reminders of the Australians presence during the Great War. Click here to read more.
Photo: Bronze Memorial Plaque at Mouquet Farm 2007
The Families and Friends of the First AIF annual John Laffin Travel Prize , in 2005, featured an essay by University of N.S.W. student Patrick Maloney which explores the evidence available in the Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files to give an insight into the actions at Mouquet Farm. The following is an extract from the essay:
…Unlike the ‘glorious’ and individualistic character of the Dardanelles campaign, or the victorious and well coordinated August Offensive that led to ultimate victory in 1918, the actions of the Australian 2nd Division in August and September 1916 in the battle for Mouquet Farm personifies what the Great War was for many. It was chaotic, indiscriminate, wasteful and utterly horrific in the true sense of the word. It is at ‘Moo-cow’ Farm where we see the true slaughter of Australian youth and with it the tenacity, self sacrifice and mateship that gave rise to the Anzac legend. Yet ironically it is also a struggle – the significance of which has been lost to the general public. Mouquet Farm has become a footnote to Pozieres, which itself has become nothing more than another insignificant sideshow in the carnage of the Battle of the Somme. Many Australians have not heard of the place. Many less will visit the site. The significance of the battle for the men who fought it is perhaps best described in the official 21st Battalion history: We have been in hotter holes since then but never has the Battalion suffered under intense shellfire for such long periods and with such little movement. The casualty lists bear this out. The conditions were vile. The weather being hot and everyone fully occupied on other tasks, the dead lay unburied for weeks and the stench was frightful. To come through a period such as this and then go on fighting is evidence of the temper of the British armies in general and of our unit in particular … under the heading of the First Battle of the Somme is told the story of our first and heaviest try out. The time which is vividly imprinted in the memories of those who saw the whole show through.
It is important when describing these actions that one has an understanding of the men themselves. Unlike many battalions thrown together in the heady days of 1914, the 21st was formed in early 1915. This, coupled with an average age of 29, seems to indicate a more considered decision to enlist. The ramifications of the battalion’s higher than average enlistment age is evident in the Red Cross Missing and Wounded files. Not only do mothers and siblings write to the Red Cross begging information, but also wives and lovers, some with children or others to represent, such as a woman only identified as Miss E. Robertson, who writes as late as 1918 asking for more information regarding Pte Robin Davey, refusing to believe the report of his death in action on the 26th August at Mouquet Farm. There were also veteran soldiers amongst their number, such as Joe Miller, who proudly displayed “ribbons from Somalia, South Africa and the DCM” in battle. Miller fell at Mouquet Farm, leaving behind a wife and two children. His mother and father heard mixed reports that he was recovering in hospital for months after the battle. There was no proper confirmation of his death sent to relatives until November 1918. The Miller family was to join thousands of Australian families who lost a relative in the Somme offensive, many of whose remains were never recovered and the grieving process never quite completed……………………..
The complete essay appeared in DIGGER issue 17. If you found this article of interest and would like to read more on other soldiers of the First AIF, why not fill out a Membership Application Form today and enjoy the benefits of our DIGGER magazines? Membership is $A40 p.a. For more details visit our Members Area.
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You can view Mouquet Farm plaque location using Google Earth at GPS co-ordinates: 50° 2’58.00″N, 2°42’29.00″E
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To check out the new photos of some of the items found with the Australian soldier, discovered near Plugstreet, click here.
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