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, Western Front

Taken on strength of 16th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 7 March 1916.

Transferred to 24th Howitzer Bde, 4th Division, 13 March 1916, and taken on strength of 112th Battery the same day.

Admitted to New Zealand Field Ambulance, Serapeum, 8 April 1916 (gonorrhoea); transferred to No 2 Casualty Clearing Station, 9 April 1916; to No 1 Stationary Hospital, 9 April 1916; to No 1 Australian Dermatological Hospital, Abbassia, 10 April 1916; discharged to Base Details, 12 May 1916.

Admitted to No 2 Australian Stationary Hospital, Tel el Kebir, 14 May 1916 (gonorrhoea); transferred to Australian Dermatological Hospital, Abbassia, 15 May 1916; struck of the strength of 24th Howitzer Bde, 4 June 1916, and transferred to Reinforcements; discharged, 22 June 1916; marched into Australian Army Training Depot, Tel el Kebir, 22 June 1916.

Found guilty, 25 July 1916, of being absent from 0630 hours parade: awarded 5 days' confined to camp.

Embarked Alexandria, 1 August 1916, and proceeded to England.

Found guilty, Parkhouse, England, 1 September 1916, of being absent without leave from midnight, 28 August 1916, until 1430 hours, 29 August 1916: award, forfeits 1 day's pay, and forfeits 1 day's pay by Royal Warrant.

Marched out of Australian Army Training Depot, Parkhouse, 10 September 1916.

Found guilty, Avington Park, 16 September 1916, of conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline - laughing on parade: awarded 3 days' confined to barracks.

Found guilty, 20 September 1916, of being absent from Tattoo Roll Call and being out of camp without a pass: awarded 7 days' confined to barracks.

Marched into 13th Training Bn, Codford, 31 December 1916.

Found guilty, 4 January 1917, of being absent from 0800 hours, until 1400 hours, 3 January 1917: awarded 2 days' confined to barracks, and forfeits 1 days' pay by Royal Warrant.

Admitted to Camp Hospital, 5 January 1917; discharged, 6 January 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 16 January 1917; marched into 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 17 January 1917.

Taken on strength of 51st Bn, in the field, 22 January 1917.

Admitted to No 12 Australian Field Ambulance, 5 February 1917 (scabies and blistered toe); transferred to No 12 General Hospital, Rouen, 13 February 1917 (frostbite, foot, severe); to England, 23 February 1917; to No 3 Australian General Hospital, Brighton, 24 February 1917; discharged to furlough, 14 April 1917, and to report to No 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs, 30 April 1917; marched into No 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs, 4 May 1917, and classified 'B1A'.

Found guilty, 4 May 1917, of being absent from 1530 hours, 30 April 1917, until 1600 hours, 3 May 1917: awarded 5 days confined to camp, and forfeits 4 days' by Royal Warrant.

Marched out to Camp Headquarters, Perham Downs, 25 June 1917; marched into Overseas Training Bde, 26 June 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 23 July 1917; marched into 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Le Havre, 24 July 1917.

Proceeded to unit, 9 August 1917; rejoined 51st Bn, 12 August 1917.

Admitted to South African Field Ambulance, 26 September 1917 (not yet diagnosed); transferred to No 2/2 North Midland Rest Station, 26 September 1917; discharged, 14 October 1917, and rejoined 51st Bn the same day.

Killed in action, 25 April 1918.