The battle of Fromelles was fought on the 19th of July 1916. This particular battle was a complete failure due to poor planning which led to impossible objectives being set. The battle cost the lives of almost 2000 Australians in a 27 hour period.   Another 3 500 were wounded or captured.

    Fromelles was the first major battle on the western front for the AIF (Australian Imperial Force). The Battle of Fromelles was planned in part to stop the Germans from reinforcing their lines in the Somme area.   It was also in part to take back land that had been lost to the Germans.

    The advantage at Fromelles was on the German side because they had been preparing their defences for the 15 months prior. This had given the Germans plenty of time in which to strengthen their lines. The Germans also held the higher ground.

    In the few days before the battle, in full view of the German forces, the Australian infantry carried forward ammunition, food and water. 

The 5th Division was allotted the task of taking the German trenches, however the attack was doomed before it started.  Heavy German shelling killed many men as they formed up in their own lines and the British artillery failed to subdue the German defenders.  When men from the 15th Brigade, on the right flank, emerged from the trenches, they were mown down by the well positioned German machine gun posts.

The men of the 8th and 14th Brigade made it to the German lines, however they were unsupported and throughout the night of the 19/20th July, they bravely fought off the fierce German counter attacks.  Eventually, they were forced to retire, with over 400 men taken prisoner.

Interesting Points:

	A famous German soldier at Fromelles facing the Australians was Corporal Adolf Hitler.
	The catch cry of the battle was "Don't forget me cobber" due to the fact that so many soldiers were left wounded in no man's land.  For the 3 days and nights after the battle, men risked their lives venturing into no man's land to save their wounded mates.  Over 300 wounded soldiers were brought in.  A magnificent bronze statue, "Cobbers",  now stands on the ground where the Australians fell.

Legacy:                                    

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V.C. Corner Cemetery  holds the names of 1299 Australians with no known grave. It also holds 410 unidentified Australian Graves.