|
Villers-Bretonneux saw action in August 1914 and the
incessant movement of British and French troops over the next
four years ; but the name of this large village entered the
history of the war on 24 April 1918 when Australian troops
finally halted the German offensive of March 1918. Since the
construction of the Victoria School in 1927 and the inauguration
of the memorial in 1938, public and private links with Australia
have grown steadily stronger. The twinning with Robinvale
and the exhumation in France and reinterment in Canberra of
the Australian Unknown Soldier in November 1993 have sealed
this close relationship. Its history, the annual visit of
the Australian ambassador to commemorate Anzac day on the
Saturday nearest to 25 April, and the many Australian visitors
throughout the year, give the village an image and identity
in Australia that are not easily grasped here.
| The imposing white stone
Australian national memorial (on the RD 23 road
to Fouilloy) consists of a tall central tower and two
corner pavilions linked to the tower by plain walls that
bear the names of the missing-soldiers who have no known
grave. Inaugurated in 1938, it is the location for an
annual celebration of ANZAC Day. |
 |
The first floor of the school building, "the gift of the
children of the schools in Victoria to the children of Villers-Bretonneux",
contains the Franco-Australian museum. It illustrates
the role of the Australian troops during the First World War
(photographs, models, uniforms, weapons,…). It also has
a documentation centre and a video room.
Practical info
Guided tours in French.
Documentation centre, multimedia centre, car park, toilets.
Opening times
Open from 11/01 to 23/12 from Tuesday afternoon
to Saturday, 10 am-12:30 am and 2 pm-6 pm, also on the first
and third Sunday of the month 2 pm- 6 pm.
Prices
Adults : 3.05 €
Children (6 to 18) : 1.55 €
Free for children under 6.
Franco-Australian Museum
Ecole Victoria (1er étage)
9, rue Victoria
80800 Villers-Bretonneux
Tel/Fax : +33 (0)3 22 96 80 79
E-mail : museeaustralien@aol.com
Le Hamel and its surrounding area are important feature
in Australian military history. On 4 July 1918, with the support
of American forces, General Monash launched a spirited and
victorious attack which for the first time combined infantery,
artillery, tanks and parachute troops - a fore-runner of modern
war tactics.
The Australian Memorial Park was laid out by the Australian
government. Apart from a memorial brought from Australia (the
Australian Corps Memorial inaugurated on 4 July 1998), the
site's panoramic displays and explanatory panels explain the
strategic significance of the site during the battle. Some
trenches have been preserved here. This site is open all the
year round, with free and open access (parking space, toilets,
picnic area). English-speaking tourists can obtain the brochure
of the Villers-Bretonneux/Le Hamel special tour route from
the Villers-Bretonneux museum (audio-cassette).
Practical info
Australian Memorial
The site is permanently open.
Picnic area, car park, toilets.
Website on the Battle of Le Hamel : http://hamelfriends.free.fr
|
