The AIF Project

Villers-Bretonneux is a village about 15 km east of Amiens. The Memorial stands on the high ground ('Hill 104') behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, which is about 2 km north of Villers-Bretonneux on the east side of the road to Fouilloy.

The Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is approached through the Military Cemetery, at the end of which is an open grass lawn which leads into a three-sided court. The two pavilions on the left and right are linked by the north and south walls to the back (east) wall, from which rises the focal point of the Memorial, a 105 foot tall tower, of fine ashlar. A staircase leads to an observation platform, 64 feet above the ground, from which further staircases lead to an observation room. This room contains a circular stone tablet with bronze pointers indicating the Somme villages whose names have become synonymous with battles of the Great War; other battle fields in France and Belgium in which Australians fought; and far beyond, Gallipoli and Canberra.

On the three walls, which are faced with Portland stone, are the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France and who have no known grave. The 'blocking course' above them bears the names of the Australian Battle Honours.

After the war an appeal in Australia raised £22,700, of which £12,500 came from Victorian school children, with the request that the majority of the funds be used to build a new school in Villers-Bretonneux. The boys' school opened in May 1927, and contains an inscription stating that the school was the gift of Victorian schoolchildren, twelve hundred of whose fathers are buried in the Villers-Bretonneux cemetery, with the names of many more recorded on the Memorial. Villers-Bretonneux is now twinned with Robinvale, Victoria, which has in its main square a memorial to the links between the two towns.

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 5 April 1915.

Admitted to 3rd Field Ambulance, 27 August 1915 (not yet diagnosed); discharged to lines, 28 August 1915.

Promoted Corporal, 7 November 1915; appointed Orderly Room Sergeant, 7 November 1915.

Disembarked Alexandria, 28 December 1915 (general Gallipoli evacuation).

Embarked Alexndria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 22 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 28 March 1916.

On leave, 13 May 1916; rejoined Bn, 24 May 1916.

Promoted Staff Sergeant, 1 June 1916.

Attached to Australian Records Section (3rd Echelon), 3 June 1916.

Detached and transferred to No 6 Officers' Cadet Bn, Balliol College, Oxford, 31 December 1916; taken on strength, 3 January 1917.

Promoted 2nd Lieutenant, 27 April 1917, and posted to General Reinforcements.

Proceeded overseas to France, 13 May 1917; taken on strength, 4th Bn, in the field, 18 May 1917.

Admitted to 3rd Field Ambulance, 26 June 1917, and transferred same day to 56th Casualty Clearing Station; to Ambulance Train No 29, 28 June 1917, and admitted to 8th General Hospital, Rouen, 29 June 19167 (trench fever); transferred to England, 8 July 1917, and admitted to Prince of Wales Hospital, Marylebone, London, 9 July 1917 (trench fever: slight); transferred to 5th Auxiliary Hospital, 13 August 1917; discharged to No 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs, 28 August 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 1 March 1918; rejoined 4th Bn, in the field, 7 March 1918.

Detached to 1st Field Company Engineers, 17 March 1918; rejoined 4th Bn, 18 March 1918.

Promoted Lieutenant, 1 April 1918.

Killed in action, 15 April 1918.

Note on file from CO, 4th Bn: 'Lieut. H.L. Montague was sniped through the heart, death being instantaneous, and was buried at the following location:- Sheet. 27. - W. 30.a.3.5' Grave subsequently lost.