MEDIA
BACKGROUNDER
Fast Facts
LOCATION
» Pozières is located in the north of France
north-east of the town of Albert, on the
Albert-Bapaume road (D929)
» The 1st Australian Division Memorial is
at the south-western corner of Pozières
village
» Vehicle and coach parking is available at
the 1st Australian Division Memorial
BATTLES OF POZIÈRES
» Australian involvement from
23 July 1916 – 5 September 1916
» 1st Anzac Corps, composed of 1st,
2nd and 4th Australian Divisions
» 19 attacks in 45 days, 16 at night
» Some 23,000 Australian casualties
of whom 6,741 died
» Some 5,285 1st Australian Division
casualties between 23–27 July 1916
HONOURS
» Three Victoria Crosses awarded to
men of the 1st Australian Division
for actions at Pozières:
• Private John Leak VC on 23 July 1916
• Lieutenant Arthur Seaforth
Blackburn VC, CMG, CBE on 23 July 1916
• Private Thomas Cooke VC on
24–25 July 1916
COMMEMORATION
» 456 identified Australians are buried at
the nearby Pozières British Cemetery,
Ovillers-la Boisselle
» Names of Australian soldiers declared
missing during battles at Pozières are
inscribed on the Australian National
Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, France.
MORE INFORMATION
» Australian Remembrance Trail along the
Western Front
www.ww1westernfront.gov.au
Battles of Pozières
The battles fought at Pozières village, the
Pozières heights and nearby Mouquet
Farm between July and September 1916
were among the most costly for Australia
of the First World War.
a strongpoint which became known as
the Gibraltar Blockhouse. The Division
held their positions through three days
of intense German bombardment and
counterattacks.
In less than seven weeks of fighting
some 23,000 Australians were killed or
wounded.
By the time it was relieved on 27 July
1916, the Division had lost 5,285 men
killed, wounded or missing.
The 1st Australian Division at Pozières
The Division suffered its heaviest
casualties of the war during the Battles
of Pozières, leading its veterans to select
the village as the site for their memorial.
Inscribed with the division’s battle
honours, it stands opposite the ruins of
the Gibraltar Blockhouse.
The 1st Australian Division’s first major
action on the Western Front was an
assault on German positions in the
village of Pozières.
On 23 July 1916, the Division captured
German positions in the village including
Walking Trails and
Interpretive Displays
Australian Remembrance Trail
along the Western Front
To assist visitors to interpret and appreciate
Australia’s role in the Battles of Pozières,
the Australian Government has contributed
$A235,000 to the development of walking
trails, interpretive displays and visitor
facilities in the local area in partnership
with local French authorities and Somme
Tourism. These will include:
The walking trails and interpretive
displays at Pozières form part of the
Australian Remembrance Trail along
the Western Front.
The Australian Remembrance Trail
commemorates and interprets Australia’s
wartime service in France and Belgium
and helps new generations understand
and appreciate the impact the First World
War had on our young nation.
• A raised viewing area at the 1st Australian
Division Memorial site featuring an
orientation table highlighting significant
battlefield points.
It includes sites at Ieper (Ypres),
Zonnebeke and Ploegsteert in Belgium,
and in France at Fromelles, Bullecourt,
Bellenglise, Péronne/ Mont St Quentin,
Villers-Bretonneux, Le Hamel and Pozières.
• Development of the memorial park
around the Gibraltar Blockhouse including
landscaping and new visitor facilities.
Historical information, personal accounts,
maps, on-the-spot guides, and audio
commentary is available to download
from the Australians on the Western
Front 1914–1918 Virtual Visitors’ Centre
at www.ww1westernfront.gov.au
• New coach parking and toilet facilities
in the village.
• New walking trails that highlight points
of significance, supported by a new
multimedia application that explains the
history associated with each point. The
application can be downloaded to Apple
and Android devices.
The Australian Remembrance Trail is a
joint initiative of the Australian, French
and Belgian governments. The projects
are being developed on independent
timetables and will be completed in time
for the centenary of the First World War.
» www.dva.gov.au/art.htm
P02693 April 2014
EMAIL:
[email protected]
For more information contact DVA Media
+61 (0) 2 6289 6203 www.dva.gov.au
PHONE: