Lest we forget

There are thousands of men listed on the wall of the Australian memorial at Villers Bretonneux and the cemetery is filled with hundreds more, some named some unknown, who gave their lives on the battlefields of the Western Front. This morning we sat among them as thousands of people, mainly Australians, paid respect for their sacrifices. The dawn service on this soil was an experience we will never forget.

Our day was filled with stories and places that were integral to the eventual end of the war. We travelled through the Valley of the Somme, along the ridge where Monash planned what many believe to be the turning point of the war and stood on the ground that was reclaimed by the allies. The French people are so grateful for the contributions made by allied soldiers, especially Australian. There are street names, buildings, squares, places - all with an Aussie flavour.

Our guide, Annette, was telling us that the knowledge of the French people regarding the Australian involvement wasn't always strong. In French schools they taught only the involvement of French troops and battles until diggers began to visit the area with their sons and the local school children began bringing to school mementoes that their parents and grandparents were finding in their homes and on their farms (even today farmers are still discovering remains of the war as they work the soil).

A French schoolteacher, Claude Dugard, contacted the Australian Government to find out more information about the Australian troops and they sent him a copy of Charles W Bean's history of the war! Have you ever tried to read this book?! As Claude couldn't understand a word of it he learnt English and became a strong advocate for the story of the ANZACS on the Western Front and the Somme. He and his wife hosted soldiers and their families, corresponded with others wanting to find out more information, taught their students about the Aussies and worked in his local community to gain recognition and knowledge of the efforts of the Australian soldiers, including the construction of several significant memorials. We thought this story from Annette was amazing! And then, walking up a hill towards the Australian memorial at Bullencourt we met this lady...

Our guide Annette, on the left, with Colette Dugard AO!! Her and Claude were awarded Order of Australia medals for their service to Australia and she was wearing it proudly!

Colette is the wife of Claude, the school teacher mentioned above! Claude passed away last year and she was on her way to the ceremony at the memorial with flowers for her grandchildren to place at the foot of the Digger statue.

Each year her husband would receive requests from Australian families who sent medals belonging to their fathers and grandfathers asking him to wear them in the ANZAC ceremony at Bullencourt. In France you are not allowed to wear medals that do not belong to you but you can put them on a 'plaque' with the person's photo and wear this around your neck. Colette's granddaughters wear the medals each year and lay flowers in memory of the soldier and his family.

Col had the perfect opportunity to practice her French - Je m'appelle Collette! (My name is Collette!)

There are many other memories we have of our two day ANZAC tour of the battlefields of the Western Front. We also met some wonderful Aussies who walked the journey with us and who came from all over Australia. We were a proud group of Aussies travelling the path of the Aussie diggers!

Australian Memorial at Le Hamel

The battleground at Le Hamel. This battle took place on 4th July, 1918 starting at 3.02am. Between 3.20 and 3.30am two Victorian Crosses were awarded. The battle lasted 93 minutes (Monash had planned for it to take 90 minutes). There is a street in the town named Rue de 4th July 1918.

 

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