The Battle of Fromelles
The crater made by the German mortar shell that killed 40 and wounded 60 others of the 11th Battalion (Western Australia) near Cordonnerie Farm in the Fromelles area on 30 May 1916. [AWM EZ0057]
The Battle of Fromelles was fought on the 19th of July 1916, 19 days after the campaign for the Somme. The Battle of Fromelles ended on the 20th of July 1916. Fromelles was designed to distract the German forces away from the Somme that was weakening. This action would move the Germans 80 kilometres south where they would reinforce their own lines. The Battle of Fromelles was one of the worst days in Australian military history with more than 5,000 men killed, taken prisoner or wounded. This battle showed great heroism from the Australian soldiers in the way that they never gave up.
“I fought hard against an Impulse to burst into childish tears. Hour succeeded hour, strength gone, hope gone, we struggled on automatically.” (Mitchell, 1937)
Men of the 53rd Battalion, AIF, wait in the trenches to don their equipment for the attack, 19 July 1916. Only three of these men survived the battle. By Ashley Ekins-
How was the battle of Fromelles fought?
The Battle of Fromelles was fought with trench warfare, which involved defending trenches and charging across open ground commonly known as “no man’s land” to try to gain the enemy’s trenches. During the battle of Fromelles, the Australian forces charged with guns and bayonets out of the trenches however they were shot from high German vantage points. Evidence of how devastating trench warfare is when one German mortar shell had the power to hit a trench and to kill 40 people and wound 60 others instantly during the battle of Fromelles. (See picture at top). This Quote from an Australian solider explains just how destructive trench warfare was in the Trenches of Fromelles.
“The air was thick with bullets; swishing in a flat, crisscrossed lattice of death…Hundreds were mown down in the flicker of an eyelid, like great rows of teeth knocked from a comb.” (Sgt Walter ‘Jimmy’ Downing, 1916).
The Australians would line up and all go over the top of the trench wall to charge the German forces. However they were shot down and would have to retreat. They would then repeat the process. Many soldiers didn’t necessarily want to kill the opposition however it was either the opposition’s life or their own life.
“The German that I shot was a fine looking man…I did feel sorry but it was my life or his” (Sweeny)
Soldiers charging over the trench wall with rifles and bayonets During World War 1.
What technologies were used during this war?
The battle of Fromelles was in 1916, half way through World War 1. This meant that they were using World War 1 technologies. These technologies in terms of weapons ranged from guns for long range such as cannons, to short range such as the pistol. Weapons during this war included; rifles, machine guns, Mills bomb and grenades. During World War 1 every soldier was issued with a “bolt action” rifle. The rifle could shoot just less than half a kilometre. The rifle had a connection blade on the front called a bayonet which was used for stabbing in face to face battle.
British Bolt action rifle from World War 1 with bayonet.
Hand Grenades were effective because they were small bombs and were easy to carry. They were easy to use by just pulling the pin from the grenade and throwing. Machine guns were early technology of machine guns of today as they were very heavy and took at least 6 men to carry the stand and the machine gun; set up the gun and fire. There weren’t many machine guns because of how new they were to the war, so when machine guns were taken or blown up it was a great deal. The machine gun was water cooled meaning that men had to carry extra water and ammunition as well.
Machine Gun being fired by a soldier.
The Mills bomb is shaped like an egg and made of cast iron. The Mills bomb was an effective piece of technology because it allowed the attacking side to throw it just like a normal grenade but when it exploded it sent pieces of shattering fragments of metal all around which would seriously harm the people around the bomb with the power to cut through flesh. The Mills bomb is easy use with just having to move the safety pin and then holding down the other safety advantage, the striker lever. As long as the soldier held down the striker lever the bomb wouldn’t go off. As soon as the striker lever was released the bomb would go off in 5 seconds before it exploded with fragments of cast Iron.
World War 1 Mills grenade used by the Australian AIF during the Battle of Fromelles 1916.
Was the aim of this battle worth the consequences?
The aim of the battle of Fromelles was to try to distract the Germans from the Australian front where the defence was weakening and to move them 80 kilometres south where they would reinforce their own lines during the Somme battle. What happened on the 19th of July 1916 was that the Germans were expecting the Australian forces and were waiting for them and when the Australians’ 5th and Britain’s’ 61st divisions attacked, they were shot by German machine guns. The Australians forces found it hard to gain ground because of the heavy machine gun fire. Small parts of the German trenches were captured by the 8th and 14th Australian Brigades, however, there wasn’t enough support follow through for them and they were severely attacked by German forces. Even though small parts of the German trenches were captured by the Australians, there was no support to continue, meaning that the campaign was a failure. By the night of the battle there were five thousand five hundred and thirty-three men from the Australian’s 5th division killed, injured or missing in action. With so many young Australians lives cut short, this battle was truly very sad. This quote explains just how severe the battle of Fromelles was through their own eyes.
“Men, who had fought on Gallipoli from the Landing to the Evacuation, admitted freely that Fromelles was the severest test they had seen.” (Williams) .
The tragic consequences of this battle didn’t justify the aim of the battle because the military action failed and so many young men died.
Map of attempted plan for the Australians mission in Fromelles.
Fromelles was a very sad and remorseful day in Australia’s military history with so many men dying at such an early age and so many men injured with a very sad life ahead. The Battle of Fromelles used the same technology from World War 1 with maybe some slight adjustments. The Battle of Fromelles involved trench warfare with charging into no man’s land where the German machine guns killed many Australians. The battle failed dramatically for the Australians with troops hardly making any impact on the German forces. The aim of the Battle of Fromelles wasn’t worth the consequences of so many young men dying. The battle of Fromelles will be remembered in the hearts of Australians for the rest of Australia’s history when ANZAC celebrations are held.
The crater made by the German mortar shell that killed 40 and wounded 60 others of the 11th Battalion (Western Australia) near Cordonnerie Farm in the Fromelles area on 30 May 1916. [AWM EZ0057]
The Battle of Fromelles was fought on the 19th of July 1916, 19 days after the campaign for the Somme. The Battle of Fromelles ended on the 20th of July 1916. Fromelles was designed to distract the German forces away from the Somme that was weakening. This action would move the Germans 80 kilometres south where they would reinforce their own lines. The Battle of Fromelles was one of the worst days in Australian military history with more than 5,000 men killed, taken prisoner or wounded. This battle showed great heroism from the Australian soldiers in the way that they never gave up.
“I fought hard against an Impulse to burst into childish tears. Hour succeeded hour, strength gone, hope gone, we struggled on automatically.” (Mitchell, 1937)
Men of the 53rd Battalion, AIF, wait in the trenches to don their equipment for the attack, 19 July 1916. Only three of these men survived the battle. By Ashley Ekins-
How was the battle of Fromelles fought?
The Battle of Fromelles was fought with trench warfare, which involved defending trenches and charging across open ground commonly known as “no man’s land” to try to gain the enemy’s trenches. During the battle of Fromelles, the Australian forces charged with guns and bayonets out of the trenches however they were shot from high German vantage points. Evidence of how devastating trench warfare is when one German mortar shell had the power to hit a trench and to kill 40 people and wound 60 others instantly during the battle of Fromelles. (See picture at top). This Quote from an Australian solider explains just how destructive trench warfare was in the Trenches of Fromelles.
“The air was thick with bullets; swishing in a flat, crisscrossed lattice of death…Hundreds were mown down in the flicker of an eyelid, like great rows of teeth knocked from a comb.” (Sgt Walter ‘Jimmy’ Downing, 1916).
The Australians would line up and all go over the top of the trench wall to charge the German forces. However they were shot down and would have to retreat. They would then repeat the process. Many soldiers didn’t necessarily want to kill the opposition however it was either the opposition’s life or their own life.
“The German that I shot was a fine looking man…I did feel sorry but it was my life or his” (Sweeny)
Soldiers charging over the trench wall with rifles and bayonets During World War 1.
What technologies were used during this war?
The battle of Fromelles was in 1916, half way through World War 1. This meant that they were using World War 1 technologies. These technologies in terms of weapons ranged from guns for long range such as cannons, to short range such as the pistol. Weapons during this war included; rifles, machine guns, Mills bomb and grenades. During World War 1 every soldier was issued with a “bolt action” rifle. The rifle could shoot just less than half a kilometre. The rifle had a connection blade on the front called a bayonet which was used for stabbing in face to face battle.
British Bolt action rifle from World War 1 with bayonet.
Hand Grenades were effective because they were small bombs and were easy to carry. They were easy to use by just pulling the pin from the grenade and throwing. Machine guns were early technology of machine guns of today as they were very heavy and took at least 6 men to carry the stand and the machine gun; set up the gun and fire. There weren’t many machine guns because of how new they were to the war, so when machine guns were taken or blown up it was a great deal. The machine gun was water cooled meaning that men had to carry extra water and ammunition as well.
Machine Gun being fired by a soldier.
The Mills bomb is shaped like an egg and made of cast iron. The Mills bomb was an effective piece of technology because it allowed the attacking side to throw it just like a normal grenade but when it exploded it sent pieces of shattering fragments of metal all around which would seriously harm the people around the bomb with the power to cut through flesh. The Mills bomb is easy use with just having to move the safety pin and then holding down the other safety advantage, the striker lever. As long as the soldier held down the striker lever the bomb wouldn’t go off. As soon as the striker lever was released the bomb would go off in 5 seconds before it exploded with fragments of cast Iron.
World War 1 Mills grenade used by the Australian AIF during the Battle of Fromelles 1916.
Was the aim of this battle worth the consequences?
The aim of the battle of Fromelles was to try to distract the Germans from the Australian front where the defence was weakening and to move them 80 kilometres south where they would reinforce their own lines during the Somme battle. What happened on the 19th of July 1916 was that the Germans were expecting the Australian forces and were waiting for them and when the Australians’ 5th and Britain’s’ 61st divisions attacked, they were shot by German machine guns. The Australians forces found it hard to gain ground because of the heavy machine gun fire. Small parts of the German trenches were captured by the 8th and 14th Australian Brigades, however, there wasn’t enough support follow through for them and they were severely attacked by German forces. Even though small parts of the German trenches were captured by the Australians, there was no support to continue, meaning that the campaign was a failure. By the night of the battle there were five thousand five hundred and thirty-three men from the Australian’s 5th division killed, injured or missing in action. With so many young Australians lives cut short, this battle was truly very sad. This quote explains just how severe the battle of Fromelles was through their own eyes.
“Men, who had fought on Gallipoli from the Landing to the Evacuation, admitted freely that Fromelles was the severest test they had seen.” (Williams) .
The tragic consequences of this battle didn’t justify the aim of the battle because the military action failed and so many young men died.
Map of attempted plan for the Australians mission in Fromelles.
Fromelles was a very sad and remorseful day in Australia’s military history with so many men dying at such an early age and so many men injured with a very sad life ahead. The Battle of Fromelles used the same technology from World War 1 with maybe some slight adjustments. The Battle of Fromelles involved trench warfare with charging into no man’s land where the German machine guns killed many Australians. The battle failed dramatically for the Australians with troops hardly making any impact on the German forces. The aim of the Battle of Fromelles wasn’t worth the consequences of so many young men dying. The battle of Fromelles will be remembered in the hearts of Australians for the rest of Australia’s history when ANZAC celebrations are held.