Saturday 19 July 2008: The 92nd anniversary of The Battle of Fromelles was commemorated in Sydney and Melbourne with services of commemoration held in both cities. During the Battle of Fromelles the AIF suffered 5,533 casualties in a single day.
In Sydney:
Photo: FFFAIF member Stuart Curry on steps of Anzac Memorial, Hyde Park, Sydney [Alan Kitchen]
The Commemoration Service commenced at 10:45am with a solemn crowd gathering at the Anzac Memorial Hyde Park. Those who had attended braved the city centre and the many pilgrims attending World Youth Day to be present. During the service wreaths were laid on behalf of the Memorial Trustees, 5th Division Association, the Fallen at Fromelles and the Missing at Fromelles. Before the Last Post was sounded those present were invited to release poppies into the Well of Contemplation as an act of remembrance.
Photo: Crowd gathering at Anzac Memorial Hyde Park [Jim Munro]
Photo: FFFAIF members Margaret Snodgrass and Frank Finch lay the wreath for The Missing at Fromelles. [Jim Munro]
Photo: FFFAIF member Stuart Curry and Janet Daly lay the wreath for The Fallen at Fromelles [Jim Munro]
Photo: FFFAIF members Neville Kidd (pictured wearing medals) who with Jim Munro laid the wreath on behalf of the 5th Division Association [Jim Munro]
*****
In Melbourne:
In the grounds of The Shrine of Remembrance a large crowd gathered at 11:00am for the unveiling of the Cobbers Statue which was followed, at 1:30pm, by a Commemorative Service held in the crypt of The Shrine.
[Warren Baker]
The media was present to record the unveiling of the Cobbers Statue. The following media reports are enhanced with photos supplied by FFFAIF members.
[Warren Baker]
The Herald Sun: Memorial for soldiers unveiled
A NEW memorial dedicated to Australian soldiers who fought at the Battle of Fromelles in France during World War One was unveiled in Melbourne today.
[Warren Baker]
It is the anniversary of the brutal fight.
Victorian Premier John Brumby and the Mayor of Fromelles, Hubert Huchette, unveiled “Cobbers”, before hundreds of spectators, including family and friends of the fallen soldiers.
[Tim Whitford]
[Chris Munro]
A twin of the statue stands at Australian Memorial Park at Fromelles in France and was installed in 1998. The actions of soldier Simon Fraser – a stretcher bearer and one of the heroes of the Battle of Fromelles – was the inspiration behind the bronze statute. The statute depicts him rescuing a wounded soldier in no-man’s-land.
Martial Delebarre OAM, President of the Fromelles Weppes Territoriale Memoriale, The Honourable John Brumby, Premier of Victoria Monsieur, Hubert Hutchette, Mayor of Fromelles and Peter Corlett, sculptor [Chris Munro]
His family also attended the ceremony. They included his great nephew Trooper Russell Woodward who is serving in the Australian Army.
Mr Brumby described the Battle of Fromelles – on July 19, 1916 – as the worst day in Australia’s military history where more than 2000 were killed and 3500 wounded.
“This is a powerful image that captures the indomitable ANZAC spirit that has sustained Australians in war and peace, in times of crisis and danger, when ordinary people perform extraordinary feats to help others,” Mr Brumby said.
The memorial is installed on the Shrine precinct close to St Kilda Road.
The Shrine Guard [Warren Baker]
The ABC News carried the following report: Fromelles digger statue unveiled in Melbourne
[Warren Baker]
A statue paying tribute to the Australian soldiers who fought in the 1916 battle of Fromelles has been unveiled at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance.
It is the first time the World War I battle has been recognised at an Australian war memorial. (emphasis added)
The statue, entitled ‘Cobbers’, depicts soldier Simon Fraser carrying his wounded comrade. It is based on a statue which already stands at the Australian Memorial Park at Fromelles in France. Sergeant Fraser’s grand-nephew, Max Cameron, says the statue is a long overdue tribute that is very moving.
Monsieur Hubert Huchette, Mayor of Fromelles. [Chris Munro]
“It’s a fabulous statue, absolutely fabulous statue,” he said.
Earlier this year a team of archaeologists conducted an exploratory excavation on a mass grave at the scene of the battle. The grave was found to contain the remains of both Australian and British soldiers. The Defence Department says it is working on plans to commemorate the men who lie buried in the grave.
[Tim Whitford]
*****
FFFAIF member Ross McMullin filed this report for The Melbourne Age: Fromelles records revealed
REMARKABLY rich German records relating to the disastrous Australian attack at Fromelles in 1916 are providing fresh insights into the catastrophe.
The battle, which began 92 years ago today and led to 5533 Australian casualties in one night, was the worst 24 hours in Australian history.
Major-General Mike O’Brien, in charge of the recent archaeological dig at Fromelles, said the archival material came to light after he asked German authorities to make an exhaustive search for records relating to the battle. As well as records of German units and details of their counter-attacks at Fromelles, the material – found in Munich – includes photographs, maps, information about prisoners, and transcripts of interviews with captured Australians.
General O’Brien said it reveals that senior German commanders rejected – as did the Australian divisional commander and his British superiors – the proposal of a battlefield truce to allow the wounded to be rescued. He was speaking at the Shrine of Remembrance, where Premier John Brumby and the Mayor of Fromelles, Hubert Huchette, will unveil the sculpture Cobbers today at 11am.
Following the unveiling of the Cobbers Statue a Commemorative Service was held inside the Shrine. The following photos and comments were supplied by FFFAIF member Tim Whitford.
Lambis Englezos conducting the service inside Melbourne’s crypt. Martial Delebarre, Hubert Huchette, and Major-General Mike O’Brien are also present.
Monsieur Hubert Huchette lays the first wreath at the emotional Fromelles service held at the crypt inside the Shrine of Remembrance. The crypt was filled to overflowing with families of Fromelles men.
Tim Whitford and Harry Willis Junior (84 year old veteran of WW2) both descendants of 983 Pte Harry Willis 31 Battalion AIF buried at Pheasant Wood, lay a wreath to the memory of their “missing” Uncle. 15 of Harry Willis’s family honoured him today.
*****
FROMELLES IS NOT HONOURED ON THE NATIONAL OR ANY STATE MEMORIAL IN AUSTRALIA.
FFFAIF SUPPORTS ALL EFFORTS TO RECOGNISE FROMELLES ON OR AT THE NATIONAL AND ALL STATE MEMORIALS THAT PRESENTLY LIST BATTLES BY NAME.
Call back tomorrow for MORE PHOTOS & a report on services held at Fromelles.