1st Austalian Division Memorial
France
After lunch we’ll continue the visit to the village of Pozières, where the bloodiest Australian struggle on the Western Front took place. Vestiges of the Gibraltar bunker remain and memorials including the First Australian Division Memorial, the Windmill and the Tanks Corp Memorials
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
In this second exploration of the First Australian Division Memorial, we shift our focus from the emotional weight of the site to the cold, hard realities of the military operations that took place here in July nineteen-sixteen.…
Listen in the app2General Walker and the Plan of Attack
Standing at the memorial, let us consider the command of Major General Harold 'Hooky' Walker. Unlike many British generals of the era, Walker was deeply respected by his Australian troops. …
Listen in the app3The Third Brigade and the Capture of Gibraltar
The Third Brigade, comprising the Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Battalions, was tasked with the most difficult objective: the southern end of the village and the 'Gibraltar' bunker. These men, many of whom were 'Originals'…
Listen in the app4Consolidation Under Fire — The Great Ordeal
Once the village was taken, the real challenge began: consolidation. In the logic of nineteen-sixteen, taking a trench was often easier than holding it. …
Listen in the app5Logistics and the Albert-Bapaume Gauntlet
A battle is won as much by the mules and wagons as by the infantry. For the First Division at Pozieres, the Albert-Bapaume road was the lifeblood of the operation. …
Listen in the app6Counter-Battery Fire and the Gunners' Duel
While we stand on the ground where the infantry fought, we must also acknowledge the 'gunners' duel' that took place over their heads. The First Division's organic artillery—the field guns and howitzers—were positioned back…
Listen in the app7The Legacy of the First Division’s Tactics
The capture of Pozieres by the First Division was a watershed moment. It proved that an Australian division could take and hold a major German second-line position, something that had been doubted by some in the British High…
Listen in the app8Closing
Our tactical journey at the First Australian Division Memorial ends where it began—at the base of the white obelisk. This site serves as a permanent record of a moment when strategy, endurance, and bravery converged to achieve a…
Listen in the app
What is 1st Austalian Division Memorial?
1st Austalian Division Memorial is a place in France with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | France |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 50.0382, 2.7215 |
| Last updated |
