WAR WORLD BATTLE FIELDS - Phil & Jill (Additional)

The trials of technology - for some reason the full text of the AIF memorial and Gibraltrat Bunker will not print as it should so if you can be bothered read this part just before lunch at Le Tommy's. Frustrated plus this morning with the workings of the blog.

The AIF 1st Division memorial commemorates their role in France and Belgium from Pozieres in 1916 to the Hindenburg Line in 1918. On the 1st July, 1916 the British armies in Francr launched a huge assault on the German line east of Albert. Visible from miles around the gold statute of Mary and baby Jesus. This had been hit by a shell in January 1915 and slumped sideways, but did not fall. The British said whoever knocked the statute down would lose the war: the Germans believed the opposite. Australians called her 'Fanny' after the Olympic swimmer and Diver Fanny Durack. In March 1918, the Germans briefly occupied the town and British artillery targeted the tower to stop it being used for observation. The Virgin finally fell in April 1918 and was never recovered. After the war an exact replica was erected.

The Battle of the Somme's purpose was to break through and push cavalry into the German rear. No break through occurred and after three weeks of huge losses they had to pull back towards Pozieres. For six weeks from 23rd July, 1916 three Divisions of AIF, some 55,000 men, captured and held German posotion at Pozieres on the ridge northwards towards Mouquet Farm. During those assaults AIF lost 23,000 men, nearly as many as during the 8 months of battle at Gallipoli. They fought in rain and mud. Personal hygiene was extremely important and to keep a good spirit in spite of seeing your mate fall. When we are here it is hard to actually visualise what it must have been like, but the number of battlefield cemetries we pass driving by brings home the numbers of men and it doesn't seem possible to stay cheery.

The AIF memorial stands close to the Gibraltar bunker where an Australian fatigue party from 7th Brigade carried bundles of empty sandbags past the Gibraltar strongpoint to the frontline.

OK, now I seem to have captured all I want to say re this bit....flip back to read about lunch at Le Tommy's and let's hope I don't have so much trouble going forward.....there's a lot to say!!