Local Studies - Fact sheet no 19
Mayors3
Bankstown CityM
BANKSTOWN Remembers
The GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918
Amiens Ave, Milperra - One of the first five streets laid out in the Soldiers settlement in 1917. The
Battle of Amiens (also known as the Third Battle of Picardy which began on 8 August 1918, was the opening
phase of the Allied offensive later known as the Hundred Days Offensive that ultimately led to the end of the
First World War. Bankstown Soldiers Settlement 1917
Anzac Street, Greenacre - Named to honour the Anzacs a - coined to include all Australians and New
Zealand troops who fought in the Gallipoli campaign. The street was formerly known as Cooper Road and
was renamed in 1920. Greenacre Park Estate - subdivision plan c1908.
Armentieres Avenue, Milperra - In late 1914, following the Retreat from Mons and the Battles of the Marne
and the Aisne, the German and Franco-British armies tried to outflank one another in the so-called 'Race to
the Sea'. A series of head-on clashes followed as the two mighty armies flung themselves at one another.
The two most notable of these battles were at Armentieres, in October 1914, and further north at Ypres in
October/November 1914. During the Battle of Armentieres the 1st battalion, which had only recently arrived
in France, successfully held the line in the Bois Grenier - Rue du Bois sector, against repeated German
assaults.
Bankstown Soldiers Settlement 1917.
Bapaume Place, Milperra - In 1916, Bapaume was one of the objectives during the Battle of the Somme. In
1918, the Second Battle of Bapaume, 21 August - 3 September, was part of the second phase of the Battle
of Amiens, the British and Commonwealth attack often taken to be the turning point of the First World War
on the Western Front and the beginning of what was later known as the Allies' Hundred Days Offensive.
Improved armoured support and artillery bombardment weakened once impregnable positions and helped
the Allied forces tear holes through trench lines.
Birdwood Road, and Birdwood Reserve ,Georges Hall - Field Marshall William Riddell Birdwood, 1st
Baron of Anzac and Totnes, 1865 - 1951. General Officer Commanding Australian and New Zealand Army
Corps 1914 - 1918 and A.I.F 1915 - 1920.
Field Marshal William Riddell Birdwood, 1st Baron Birdwood, GCB, GCSI, GCMG, GCVO, CIE, DSO (13
September 1865 – 17 May 1951) was a British Army officer. He saw active service in the Second Boer War
on the staff of Lord Kitchener. He saw action again in World War I as Commander of the Australian and New
Zealand Army Corps during the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915, leading the landings on the peninsula and then
the evacuation later in the year, before becoming Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth Army on the Western
Front during the closing stages of the War. Deepwater Estate subdivision 1923.
Borella Road, Milperra - Named in honour of Lieutenant Albert Chalmers BORELLA 26th Aust. Inf.
Battalion. He fought at Morlancourt and Hamel and on 17 July, for 'most conspicuous bravery in attack' at
Villers-Bretonneux, won the Victoria Cross. While leading his platoon in an assault on an enemy supporttrench, he noticed a machine-gun firing through the Australian barrage; he ran out ahead of his men into the
barrage, shot the gunners with his revolver and captured the gun. He then led a small party against the
strongly held trench, bombed two dug-outs and took thirty prisoners. Only weeks after this incident he was
invalided to Australia owing to wounds and illness
Bugden Avenue, Milperra - Named after WW1, Victoria Cross recipient Private Patrick Joseph Bugden.
During the period September 26-28, 1917 at Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium, an advance was held up
by strongly defended pillboxes. Private Bugden despite devastating machine-gun fire twice led small parties
against these strong points and, successfully silencing the guns, captured the enemy at the point of the
bayonet. On another occasion, he rescued a corporal from capture, when single-handed he rushed up, shot
one of the enemy and bayonetted the other two. On five occasions he rescued wounded men under intense
shell and machine-gun fire, showing an utter contempt and disregard for danger. He was killed during one of
these missions.
Bullecourt Avenue, Milperra - One of the first five streets laid out in the Soldiers settlement in 1917.
On 11 April 1917 the Australian 4th Division assaulted the Hindenburg Line in the First Battle of Bullecourt.
The attack was hastily planned and mounted and resulted in disaster. Tanks which were supposed to
support the attacking Australian infantry either broke down or were quickly destroyed. Nevertheless, the
infantry managed to break into the German defences. Due to uncertainty as to how far they had advanced,
supporting artillery fire was withheld, and eventually the Australians were hemmed in and forced to retreat.
The two brigades of the 4th Division that carried out the attack, the 4th and 12th, suffered over 3,300
casualties; 1,170 Australians were taken prisoner - the largest number captured in a single engagement
during the war.
On 15 May the Australians fought off a final German counter-attack and the enemy decided to leave this
piece of the Hindenburg Line to Australia.
Dunstan Avenue, Milperra - Named after WW1, Victoria Cross recipient Corporal William Dunstan. On
August 9, 1915 at Lone Pine, Gallipoli, Turkey, the enemy made a determined counter-attack on the centre
of the newly captured trench held by a Lieutenant F.H.Tubb, two corporals, A.S Burton, and Corporal
Dunstan and a few men. The enemy blew in the sand-bag barricade, leaving only a foot standing, but the
lieutenant and the two corporals repulsed the enemy and rebuilt the barricade. Twice more the enemy blew
in the barricade and on each occasion they were repulsed and the barricade rebuilt.
Eddie Avenue, Panania - Edward Maxwell, youngest son of the Maxwell family who where early settlers to
the area in 1897. He was killed in WW11.
Tower Heights Estate - subdivision plan - November 1926
Flanders Avenue, Milperra - Flanders is a region in Belgium, the name deriving from a medieval state that
encompassed parts of what are now Belgium and Northern France. However, the soldiers in the First World
War would often refer to their service on the Western Front as "France", whether it was in France itself or
Belgium. The principal town around which the fighting in Flanders revolved was Ypres, and the area around
the town of Ypres was also known as the Salient. This region was fought over from October 1914 until
practically the end of the war in November 1918.
Gallipoli Street, Condell Park - The Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Dardanelles Campaign, the
Battle of Gallipoli or the Battle of Çanakkale was a campaign of World War I that took place on the Gallipoli
peninsula in the Ottoman Empire between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916. The peninsula forms the
northern bank of the Dardanelles, a strait that provides a sea route to what was then the Russian Empire,
one of the Allied powers during the war. The campaign is often considered as marking the birth of national
consciousness in Australia and New Zealand and the date of the landing, 25 April, is known as "Anzac Day".
It remains the most significant commemoration of military casualties and veterans in those two countries.
Haig Avenue, Georges Hall - Field Marshall Haig (1861-1928). 1st Earl of Bemersyde. Commander in Chief
of the British Expeditionary Forces in France and Flanders 1915 – 1918.
Georges Hall Estate - subdivision plan April 1917
Ingram Avenue, Milperra - Named after WW1, Victoria Cross recipient Lieutenant George Morby Ingram.
On October 5, 1918, at Montbrehain, east of Peronne, France, Lieutenant Ingram, at the head of his men,
rushed and captured nine enemy machine-guns, and killed 42 of the enemy after stubborn resistance.
Later, when his company had suffered severe casualties, including many of the leaders, he again rushed a
machine-gun post, shot six of the enemy and captured the gun. On two subsequent occasions he attacked
enemy posts, inflicting many casualties and taking 62 prisoners.
Keysor Place, Milperra - Named after WW1, Victoria Cross recipient Private Leonard Keysor
On August 7, 1915 at Lone Pine, Gallipoli, Turkey, Private Keysor was in a trench which was being heavily
bombed by the enemy. He picked up two live bombs and threw them back at the enemy at great risk to
himself, and continued throwing bombs until wounded. On August 8, at the same place, he successfully
bombed the enemy out of a position where they had gained, temporary mastery over his own trench, again
being wounded. He refused to go to hospital and, volunteering to throw bombs for another company which
had lost its bomb throwers, continued bombing until the situation was relieved
Lone Pine Avenue, Milperra - Lone Pine the scene of one of the fiercest battles fought during WW1 at a
place the Australians called Lone Pine. The ridge line was given its name because when the Turks were
making roofs for their trenches, they chopped down every tree except one.
Mactier Avenue, Milperra - Named after WW1, Victoria Cross recipient Private Robert Mactier. On
September 1, 1918 during the attack on Mont St. Quentin near Peronne, France, the bombing patrols had
failed
to clear
several cnr
enemy
strong-points
battalion
could Chester
not advance.
Chester
Hill up
Memorial
Chester
Hill Rdand
andthe
Proctor
Parade
Hill Private Mactier
thereupon rushed out of the trench, closed with and killed the machine-gun crew of eight men and threw the
Surrounded
by a lowHe
concrete
wall, to
theanother
monument
is on a and
greycaptured
stand. The
is a black
gun
over the parapet.
then moved
strong-point
six monument
men. He disposed
of agranite
third
tablet
at
the
top
is
the
coat
of
arm
in
gold
and
just
below
that
is
the
insignias
for
the
3
services.
machine-gun, but in tackling a fourth was killed. This action enabled the battalion to capture MontThere
St.
are theawords
'LEST
WE FORGET' in black surrendered by a gold band. Behind the monument is a flag
Quentin
few hours
later.
pole. Individual plaques are on the wall behind the memorial.
Maygar Ave Milperra – Leslie Cecil Maygar VC, DSO, VD (27 May 1868 – 1 November 1917) was an
Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can
be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces, for service in the Second Boer War. He later served at
Gallipoli during the First World War, and died of wounds received at the Battle of Beersheba during the
Sinai and Palestine Campaign.
Memorial Park , Bankstown – land purchased by Bankstown Council in 1920’s from Edward Fripp, and
developed as a memorial to the residents of Bankstown who served in The Great War 1914 - 1918 (site
originally known as Fripps Paddock
Messines Avenue, Milperra - Battle of Messines has historical significance for the Australian Imperial
Force (AIF) as it was the first time that the 3rd Australian Division saw service on the Western Front. The
3rd Australian Division, commanded by Major General John Monash, was the last of the Australian Infantry
Divisions to join the front line in December 1916. The II Anzac Corps formed part of a 12 division attack;
supported by 1,500 field guns and 700 heavy guns; relying on photographs of the enemy’s defensive
positions taken by the Royal Flying Corps. Messines was the first time Australians and New Zealanders had
fought side by side since the Gallipoli campaign of 1915.
Monash Ave and Monash Reserve, East Hills - General Sir John Monash GCMG, KCB, VD (27 June 1865
– 8 October 1931) was a civil engineer who became the Australian military commander in the First World War.
He commanded the 13th Infantry Brigade before the war and then, shortly after the outbreak of the war,
became commander of the 4th Brigade in Egypt, with whom he took part in the Gallipoli campaign. In July
1916, he took charge of the new Australian 3rd Division in north-western France and in May 1918 he was
made commander of the Australian Corps, at the time the largest corps on the Western Front. On 8 August
1918 the successful Allied attack at the Battle of Amiens, which led to the expedited end to the war, was
planned by Monash and spearheaded by British forces including the Australian and Canadian Corps under
Monash and Arthur Currie. Monash is considered to be one of the best Allied generals of the First World War.
East Hills Estate – Subdivision
Neutral Avenue, Birrong - WW1 originally to be named Mannix Ave, after the activist Bishop of Melbourne,
council debated and decided on Neutral Ave August 1920.
Regents Park Heights Estate - subdivision plans c1923
Newland Avenue,
Milperra - Named after WW1, Victoria Cross recipient Captain John Ernest Newland.
On April 7-9, 1917 at Bapaume, France, Captain Newland organised an attack by his company on an
important objective and personally led a bombing attack under heavy fire, rallying his men who had suffered
heavy casualties. The following night his company, holding the captured position, was heavily counterattacked, but Captain Newland succeeded in regaining it. Later, on April 15, north-east of Langnicourt, when
one company was overpowered and his own was attacked from the rear, Captain Newland drove off several
combined attacks and it was his tenacity and disregard for his own safety that encouraged his men to hold
out.
Peeler Place, Milperra - Named after WW1, Victoria Cross recipient Lance-Corporal Walter Peeler. On
September 20, 1917, east of Ypres, Belgium, during the first wave of an attack, Lance-Corporal Peeler
encountered an enemy party sniping the advancing troops. He immediately rushed their position and
accounted for nine of them, clearing the way for the advance. He repeated this action on two subsequent
occasions, and each time accounted for a number of the enemy. During the operations he was directed to an
enemy machine-gun which was firing on our troops. He located and killed the gunner and then bombed out
the remainder from a dug-out where they had taken shelter.
Peronne Close, Milperra - The Battle of Mont Saint-Quentin was a battle on the Western Front during World
War I. As part of the Allied counteroffensives on the Western Front in the late summer of 1918, the Australian
Corps crossed the Somme River on the night of August 31, and broke the German lines at Mont SaintQuentin and Péronne. The British Fourth Army's commander, General Henry Rawlinson, described the
Australian advances of August 31 – September 4 as the greatest military achievement of the war. During the
battle Australian troops stormed, seized and held the key height of Mont Saint-Quentin (overlooking Péronne),
a pivotal German defensive position on the line of the Somme.
Pozieres Avenue, Milperra - The village was completely destroyed in World War I during what became the
Battle of Pozières (23 July–7 August 1916), which was part of the Battle of the Somme. The village was
subsequently rebuilt, and is now the site of several war memorials. The Australian flag flies over Pozières in
recognition of the sacrifice of the ANZACs in the Battle of Pozières. Amongst the British and other
Commonwealth forces who fought at Pozières, the Australians suffered over 5,000 killed, wounded or taken
prisoner.
Ruthven Avenue - Named after WW1, Victoria Cross recipient Sergeant William Ruthven. On May 19,
1918 during the attack on Ville-sur-Ancre, France, when his company commander was severely wounded,
Sergeant Ruthven took charge of company headquarters and rallied the men. He captured one machine-gun,
and then wounded two of the enemy and captured six others coming out of a shelter. Subsequently he went
out and rushed a stubborn enemy position, shooting two who refused to leave the dug-outs. He then, singlehanded, mopped up this post, taking 32 prisoners. During the remainder of the day, he continued to inspire
and encourage his men.
Sadlier Avenue, Milperra - Named after WW1, Victoria Cross recipient, Lieutenant Clifford William King
Sadlier. On April 24-25, 1918 at Villers-Bretonneux, France, Lieutenant Sadlier's platoon had to advance
through a wood where a strong enemy machine-gun post was causing casualties and preventing the
advance. Although he was himself wounded, Lieutenant Sadlier at once collected his bombing section and
led them against the machine-guns, killing the crews and capturing two of the guns. By this time his party
were all casualties and alone he attacked a third enemy machine-gun with his revolver, killing the crew and
taking the gun. In doing so, he was again wounded.
Somme Crescent, Milperra - The Battle of the Somme (French: Bataille de la Somme, German: Schlacht
an der Somme), also known as the Somme Offensive, was a battle of the First World War fought by the
armies of the British and French empires against the German Empire. It took place between 1 July and 18
November 1916 on either side of the River Somme in France. The battle was one of the largest of World
War I, in which more than 1,000,000 men were wounded or killed, making it one of humanity's bloodiest
battles.
Stratton Crescent, Milperra - Named after WW1, Victoria Cross recipient Percy Clyde Statton VC, MM (21
October 1890 – 5 December 1959) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration
for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth
armed forces. Serving as a sergeant during the First World War, Statton was awarded the Victoria Cross in
1918 following his assault on four German machine guns. With three men, Statton rushed the posts armed
with only a revolver and succeeded in capturing the first gun. Moving to the second, he killed the crew of five
himself before the two remaining gun crews were forced to retreat.
Towner Avenue, Milperra - Named after WW1, Victoria Cross recipient Lieutenant Edgar Thomas Towner.
On September 1, 1918 at Mont St. Quentin, near Peronne, France, Lieutenant Towner located and captured
single-handed an enemy machine-gun, turning it on the enemy and inflicting heavy losses. Subsequently he
captured 25 prisoners. Later, by fearless reconnaissance under heavy fire he gave valuable support to the
infantry advance. Again when short of ammunition he secured an enemy machine-gun which he fired in full
view of the enemy, making them retreat, and although wounded and under intense fire, he kept on firing.
Throughout the night he kept close watch on enemy movements and was finally evacuated 30 hours after
being wounded.
Warlencourt Avenue, Milperra - During the final stages of the 1916 Battle of the Somme, the Butte de
Warlencourt was the subject of a number of costly and unsuccessful attacks by the British Fourth Army. It
was captured by the British after the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line in February 1917. The Butte de
Warlencourt earned an evil reputation, because the Butte dominated the British lines and was used by the
Germans for artillery observation. The Germans also constructed deep dugouts throughout the Butte,
making it a formidable defensive position.
Whittle Avenue, Milperra - Named after WW1, Victoria Cross recipient Sergeant John Woods
Whittle. On April 9, 1917, near Boursies, France, Sergeant Whittle was in command of a platoon when the
enemy, under cover of an intense artillery barrage, attacked the small trench he
was holding and owing to their numbers, succeeded in entering it. Sergeant Whittle collected his
men, charged the enemy and regained the position. On a second occasion, when the enemy
broke through our line and tried to bring up a machine-gun to enfilade the position, Sergeant Whittle rushed
across the fire-swept ground and attacked the enemy with bombs, killing all of them and capturing the gun.
Zonnebeke Crescent, Milperra - Zonnebeke is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West
Flanders. The municipality comprises the villages of Beselare, Gheluvelt , Passendale, Zandvoorde and
Zonnebeke proper. Situated in the centre of the Ypres Salient, World War I destroyed the whole area. Left
abandoned until the early 1920s, people slowly returned and rebuilt the villages.