Battle of Fromelles

[rarpos]

Friends,

Today, the 19th July, is the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles (sometimes called the Battle of Fleurbaix).

This action was to be a diversion to draw enemy troops away from the larger battles occuring at the time.

The main allied force was made up of the Australian 5th Division and the British 61st Division. This was the first battle that the Australians had been involved in since arriving in France.

The Infantry attacked at 6pm in the evening, and were met with substantial resistance from the German defenders.

The attack failed completely with approx. 5500 Australians casualties (dead, wounded or captured) and approx. 1500 British casualties. Many soldiers just vanished this day.

Charles Bean writes about visiting this area after November 11th 1918, and finding the "relics" of the fallen still on the field of battle. These soldiers are commemorated at the VC Corner Memorial at Fromelles.

This is not a battle that is well remembered in Australia but there is a memorial service at the Melbourne Shrine of Rememberance today at 1.30pm.

[montbrehain]

There was a major memorial service at fromelles on the 1st of july (dont ask me??) Attended by Many Australian Ministers . with a guard of honour from the French and Australian Armys. A picture appeared on the front page of "The Australian" I believe.

[Steve Berridge]

In November 2004 on my way back from the Somme I made a whistlestop tour of some of the cemeteries and memorials associated with this action, as I am particularly interested in the actions of the Buckinghamshire Battalion. The 2/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion were the left assault battalion of 184 Brigade, 61st (2nd South Midland) Division, with the objective of taking the "sugarloaf" which was the interdivisional boundary. The 2/1st Bucks suffered 244 casualties and lost all of its officers either killed or wounded, who took part in the attack.

Like the Australian 5th Division, this was the 61st (2nd South Midland) Divisions first major engagement, only arriving in France at the end of May less than a month before the Australians.

We Remember them all.

Attached are some photos from my visit which I hope will be of interest .

Steve

VC Corner

[Steve Berridge]

Australian Memorial Park.

[Steve Berridge]

61st (2nd South Midland) Division Memorial, Laventie

[Julian Dawson]

I commend to you Michael Senior's book 'No Finer Courage: a Village in the Great War'. It tells the poignant tale of The Lee in Buckinghamshire. From this tiny village nine men alone were killed at Fromelles serving in the 2/1st Bucks.

[armourersergeant]

This is the battle, I believe, that had General Haking labelled a butcher for his relentless persisitance in pursuit of a battle.

Strange that this man had been a leading light in training and staff college prior to the war! At Staff college he had been labellled a very intelligent and helpful student, willing to teach other students to help them get on. Considered one of the best in his class and that was no mean class he was in. (Haig, Allenby, Edmonds, MacDonogh, Dyer, Forestier-Walker, Furse, Capper, Findley and Haking to name a few)

War does strange things and out dates many a good soldier I guess! Haking has always intrigued me. A good rep going in a bad one seemingly going out. He had of course the patronage of Haig.

off soap box

Arm

[Julian Dawson]

War does strange things and out dates many a good soldier I guess! Haking has always intrigued me. A good rep going in a bad one seemingly going out. He had of course the patronage of Haig.

off soap box

Arm

My understanding is that Haig gave Haking the option of not going ahead with the Fromelles attack. But having previously committed himself, Haking did not want to lose face and step down. I'd be interested in other intrepretations on this.

[Simon Jones]

Rarpos

We laid a wreath with my party from Holts Tours on 19 July at VC Corner Cemetery at 11am before catching our ferry in the afternoon. I believe that a group from Australia held a ceremony with the Fromelles Association in the afternoon on the actual time of the attack.

Regards

Simon

[frev]

This is not a battle that is well remembered in Australia but there is a memorial service at the Melbourne Shrine of Rememberance today at 1.30pm.

The ceremony at the Melbourne Shrine was well attended - I heard one gentleman suggest there could have been up to 150 crammed into the Sanctuary where the commemoration & wreath-laying took place.

Even so, despite the crowd - three members of this forum & a fourth from the Anzac Forum managed to gravitate to each other, never having met before (& without the aid of a 'GWF Badge') - and an amazing meeting took place. Pure destiny! Were you also there Rarpos?

[peggie]

Gidday rarpos

(You Australians have funny names)

A mystery solved.

I was given a book called Harney's War, now lost. His comments on the "Flerbaix Caper" had intrigued me.

He said that when the whistle blew everyone ran around just as chooks do when you throw a kerosene tin amongst them. Although he describes some pretty terrible battles, this certainly made the most impression.

I had not been able to identify a major battle at Flerbaix. But knowing he meant Fromelles and knowing that he was in the First Australian Division, it seems strange that he was there, as Fromelles was supposed to be the Fifth Division.

Looking back on your previous posts, you certainly have a good coverage of Australian Unit Histories.

Marg

[montbrehain]

peggie , The Australians were in Fleurbaix from early april. It was considered a nursery sectory for the newly arrived aussies. The 2nd Div came into the line on the 8th of april followed by the 1st Div later. this is probably the time that your book talks about ? unfortunatley also on the 8th of April Pte G Bennett of the 28th batt was killed in an artillery barrage. im not sure if he was the first australian to be killed by enemy action in france or not? He was definetly not the first to be killed in france as 1 member of the 24th battalion was killed whilst trying to board a train on the way up from marsaille. (picture taken from Neville Browning,s excellant book "The Blue and White Diamond" 28th Battalion, now for sale on ebay)

[peggie]

Thank you, Montbrehain.

The strong impression was that he was describing a pitched battle, though.

The extract at the bottom of your postings seems very appropriate.