Villers-Bretonneux

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Villers-Bretonneux is a commune of the Somme département in France.

[edit] Australia

Cross planted in France by soldiers to honour the fallen. Now part of the Adelaide war memorial.

In the First World War, on April 25, 1918 (Anzac Day), the village of Villers-Bretonneux was liberated by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). Taken at a cost of over twelve hundred Australian lives, the people of Villers-Bretonneux remain indebted to Australia for this feat. The town's mayor spoke of the Australian troops in 14 July 1919 when unveiling a memorial in their honour:

"The first inhabitants of Villers-Bretonneux to re-establish themselves in the ruins of what was once a flourishing little town have, by means of donations, shown a desire to thank the valorous Australian Armies, who with the spontaneous enthusiasm and characteristic dash of their race, in a few hours chased an enemy ten times their number...They offer a memorial tablet, a gift which is but the least expression of their gratitude, compared with the brilliant feat which was accomplished by the sons of Australia...Soldiers of Australia, whose brothers lie here in French soil, be assured that your memory will always be kept alive, and that the burial places of your dead will always be respected and cared for..."

The Australian War Memorial in France is located in Villers-Bretonneux and within it lies the graves of over 770 Australian soldiers, as well as those of other Commonwealth soldiers involved in the campaign. The school in Villers-Bretonneux was built using donations from schoolchildren of Victoria, Australia, (many of whom had relatives perish in the town's liberation) and above every blackboard is the inscription 'N'oublions jamais l'Australie' (Never forget Australia). The annual ANZAC Day ceremony is held at this village, on the closest weekend.