View of the Pozieres battlefield, taken from the Windmill. It was here that Australian troops ...

Accession Number E01003D
Collection type Photograph
Object type Negative
Maker Unknown Australian Official Photographer
Place made France: Picardie, Somme, Albert Bapaume Area, Pozieres Area, Pozieres
Date made 22 September 1917
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

View of the Pozieres battlefield, taken from the Windmill. It was here that Australian troops were first engaged in serious fighting on the Western Front. Early in the morning of 23 July 1916, their great struggle for Pozieres commenced and continued right through to the end of the following month, by which time they had gained the village, and the ridge which the view embraces. The Australian force was relieved by Canadian troops, but they continued to fight alongside the Canadians for thirty six hours. They mixed together, fighting under each other's officers, until the Canadian Highlanders were well entrenched in the lines the Australians had won and held. "Nature, in her kindly mood, has hidden many a scar and many a grave on this historic and desolate area, which Australian valour and sacrifice has made a place of hallowed memory". A wooden cross is visible in the middleground (right). Note the road that cuts across the background and the telegraph pole on the far left. This is fourth image in a ten part panorama. See E01003P for the combined image.