Battle for Villers-Bretonneux
Research carried out by Emma Kearney, Year 12, St Andrew's Catholic College, Cairns
Location
Villers-Bretonneux, South of River Somme, France
Date/s of Event
April 24 – April 25
th
th
1918
Regiment/Unit or Ship or Squadron involved
Australian 3rd and 4 th divisions
Villers-Bretonneux lies just south of the River Somme. Australia had little to do with this far off idyllic town in
France, until World War I broke out. In April of 1918, this once quiet town was under German occupation. The
Germans planned to push out and capture more land. There was real concern that if they continued on this
course, having Villers-Bretonneux as a base, they would take Amiens and the war inevitably would be lost. It
was under such high stakes that Australia and France forged an enduring bond.
British command assigned the important operation to two Australian brigades. The short of the plan was that
at night time these Australians would encircle the German Army during a surprise attack on the evening of the
th
24 of April. Through the night, heavy losses were recorded, 1200 Australians died in the re-capture of the
village. By the early hours of the morning, the Australians had heroically retaken Villers-Bretonneux, marking
the end of the German offensive at the Somme.
It was three years on, in the nigh hours of the morning, from when the Anzacs had stormed the hostile heights
of Gallipoli and once again a new front line was created. More than just a front line was created though, under
the duress a special relationship had been forged between Australia and France. The sacrifice made by the
Australians has never been forgotten and this is especially evident at the Victorian School in VillersBretonneux. The school was rebuilt between 1923 and 1927 because of money donated by school-children
from Victoria. Dominating the hall called Victorian hall are the words in French “never let us forget Australia” .
The hall also has pictures of kangaroos, koalas and platypuses. In classrooms also are the words “do not forget
Australia”. The bond and honour goes just beyond the school. At the town hall the Australian flag flies, the
main street through the town is called Rue de Melbourne and a main restaurant is named Restaurant le
Kangarou. After the Victorian bush fires and the devastation of Black Saturday, the favour was returned when
the Villers-Bretonneux community raised over $21,000 and thirty residents visited primary schools in Victoria
to see how their money had helped in the re-building process.
A British General described the battle as “perhaps the greatest individual feat in the war”. The victory came at
a great cost and the courage of the Australians is long remembered by the people of Villers-Bretonneux.
Victorian School
http://www.museeaustralien.com/images/ecole.jpg
SOURCES:
Plaque at Victorian School
http://www.museeaustralien.com/images/plaque%20ecole.jpg
1918 - Dernancourt and Villers-Bretonneux: Halting the Germans. (2013). Retrieved from Australian War
Memorial : http://www.awm.gov.au/exhibitions/1918/battles/dernancourt.asp
Students from Villers-Bretonneux helped to rebuild a Victorian school. (2012, Febuary 17). Retrieved from
France in Austraila: http://www.ambafrance-au.org/Students-from-Villers-Bretonneux
Villers-Bretonneux, Australian National Memorial. (2013). Retrieved from Australians on the Western Front :
http://www.ww1westernfront.gov.au/villers-bretonneux/town-of-villers-bretonneux.html