The main memorial to Australian military personnel killed on the Western Front during World War 1, the Australian National Memorial at Villers–Bretonneux bears a sobering list of the names of 10,773 Australian Imperial Force soldiers who went missing in action between 1916 and 1918.
Located in Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery with its Cross of Sacrifice, the memorial tower was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, architect of the nearby Thiepval Memorial as well as the Cenotaph in London. It is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Australian soldiers played a major role in the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux in April 1918, hence the choice of location for the memorial. This battle is famous as having included the first tank-versus-tank battle in history, and also saw the first major use of tanks by the Germans, who deployed 14 A7Vs.
After an assault was launched against the Allied lines east of Amiens on 24th April, there was a night-time counter-attack by two Australian and one British brigade that led to the recapture of the town on the 25th and ultimately to the restoration of the original frontline by the 27th.
Route de Villers Bretonneux
F-80800 Fouilloy
Tel: +33 (0)3 22 96 95 76
