8th Bn A.I.F. Memorial at Pozieres

[Tom Tulloch-Marshall]

Can anybody tell me exactly (within reason) where the memorial to the 8th Bn A.I.F. was situated immediately post-war ? - Was it ever relocated about Poziers ? - And does it still exist today ?

thanks - Tom

[Ozzie]

Hoping some will have the answer for you. Did a quick check of sources but could not find a reference.

Kim

[Mat McLachlan]

Hi Tom (and Kim, who brought this to my attention).

I assume you are referring to the 8th Battalion Memorial that stood in what is now Pozieres British Cemetery. It was the standard wooden cross erected to the officers, NCOs and men of the battalion killed in the area. Like all these memorials, it is long gone. Probably rotted away, but there is a small chance it is in the collection of the Australian War Memorial. I've seen one there that, from memory, was originally erected at Mont St Quentin.

Here's a pic (from the AWM website). The caption is: "1918-09, POZIERES MAIN CEMETERY, SHOWING A MEMORIAL TO THE OFFICERS, NCOS AND MEN OF THE 8TH BATTALION AIF, WHO WERE KILLED AT POZIERES."

Cheers,

Mat

[Mat McLachlan]

Further to my last post, I've just found this snippet of information on the AWM website. It's a caption for photo J06240, but the photo isn't available to view online.

"The cross erected on the battlefield to the memory of the officers, NCOs and men of the 8th Battalion, who fell at Pozieres, 25th July to 18th August 1916. The cross was obtained for the Australian War Memorial by the Imperial War Graves Commission."

Looks like the cross did indeed end up in the AWM. Worth giving them a call to see if they've still got it. If it's not on public display, you can request formal permission to view it.

(Seeing as you are in the UK, Tom, I'd be happy to see if the AWM will dig it out for me to photograph next time I'm down there - early Feb.)

Cheers,

Mat

[montbrehain]

Mat , I should know this , but is that the same cross that is shown on a very large photo in "The Tommy" at Pozieres at its unveiling . Or is the photo in the pub the unveiling of a divisional memorial where the 1st div memorial now stands. "MO"

[Mat McLachlan]

Hmm, good question. I seem to recall that the picture of that unveiling is also in the cemetery. But off the top of my head I can't say for certain.

Cheers,

Mat

[montbrehain]

Mat had search of the forum and found this . This is the photo I was talking about . It seems it is the 1st Divvy memorial. "MO"

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...mp;#entry679855

[Ozzie]

Thanks Mat.

Cheers

Kim

[Tom Tulloch-Marshall]

(Seeing as you are in the UK, Tom, I'd be happy to see if the AWM will dig it out for me to photograph next time I'm down there - early Feb.)

Mat - thanks for the info & photo ID. I'd be very pleased of a copy of the memorial as it is now, if you get the chance to see it, - also any information about when the original was erected and when it was removed. Also, I presume (oh dear ) that when reference is made to "Pozieres Main Cemetery" what is being referred to is Poziers British Cemetery and Memorial (?) - if anybody could confirm that.

thanks - Tom

[Mat McLachlan]

Hi Mo,

Ah, those crafty 1st Div boys are trying to confuse us. It's a memorial to the Division, but erected in the cemetery. Today, of course, the official memorial to the Div is located further along the road on the outskirts of Pozieres. I wonder what ever happened to the old wooden one in the photo.

Cheers,

Mat

[Mat McLachlan]

Well, after many discussions with War Memorial staff, digging through records and head-scratching, I can say with certainty that the AWM has no idea if the 8th Battalion cross is still in its collection.

There's little doubt that the AWM houses one of the world's great collections of military relics, but unfortunately their computer system is not quite up to the same standard. They can't search very effectively for relics in the collection, so they can't really tell you what they have and don't have.

As far as we can deduce, the 8th Battalion cross was supposed to be part of the collection, but either never made the trip back from France or has been destroyed since (or a third option: it is in the collection, but mislabeled, so effectively lost anyway). They do, however, have two other crosses from Pozieres: One dedicated to members of the 22nd Battalion (although the AWM computer swears it is dediated to the 49th - quite an achievement, since the 49th only ever fought at Mouquet Farm). Regardless, it's on public display, and I stood in front of it on Saturday - it's definitely dedicated to the 22nd. Interestingly, there's a listing on the AWM website for the cross and the caption is identical to the one for the missing 8th Battalion cross: obtained for the AWM by the IWGC. The other memorial is very interesting - it's a cross dedicated to the 24th Battalion that originally stood at Pozieres. It's in poor condition so is not on display, but apparantly they'll happily drag it out for anyone who wants to see it (if given a few weeks' notice).

There's a great photo of it on the AWM site (see below).

In short Tom, I haven't had much luck with your 8th Battalion cross, but the other two are nice all the same.

Cheers,

Mat

[frev]

Hi Mat

The 24th Bn Cross used to be on display at the AWM - took the following in 2006.

Although it may have only been for a temporary exhibition (memory's not that good) - glad I took it now - incase it gets misplaced in the future.......

Though you've got to hand it to the AWM - they do a pretty good job with all they've got!

Cheers, Frev

[Mat McLachlan]

Thanks Frev. Nice pic.

Mat

PS: Just for clarification, I wasn't implying that the AWM is careless with the items in its collection, just that the software used to keep track of it isn't quite up to the job. The staff do a great job and the collection is superb.

[Peter Bennett]

This is the one to the 22nd Bn which I took on my visit in March 2003.

Hallowed Ground...................