Fromelles, VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial

You are here >
Fromelles, VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial

Fromelles, VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial

Fromelles

Fromelles across the fields [DVA]

Fromelles is about two and a half kilometres by road to the east of the Australian Memorial Park along the D22C and then the D22. In 1916, the village was behind German lines and occupied for nearly the whole of the war. The village population suffered accordingly as most of their houses were destroyed and they were forced to evacuate in favour of the German military. The Musée de la Guerre (War Museum) in the Mairie (Town Hall), 7 Rue de Verdun, has an excellent collection of original Australian artefacts of the Battle of Fromelles as well as many other objects and items relating to German and British forces which fought hereabouts between 1914 and 1918. Indeed, Australians are generally unaware that this area was the scene of heavy fighting in 1915 at places like Aubers Ridge, Neuve Chapelle and Loos. The Fromelles museum is run by a dedicated group of local people known as the ‘Association pour le Souvenir de la Bataille de Fromelles’ (ASBF) which has a website, with an English language section, at www.asbf14-18.org. The association is also very active in trying to excavate and preserve significant World War I sites in the area such as underground bunkers and defensive positions.

Fromelles. [DVA]

The Mairie (Town Hall), Fromelles, in which the Musée de la Guerre of the ‘Association pour le Souvenir de la Bataille de Fromelles’ is currently located. [DVA]

This area of the old Western Front is dotted with cemeteries and memorials as well as other fascinating reminders of the ‘Great War’. Along roadsides, in the middle of fields and sometimes as part of the architecture of private homes are the remnants of German concrete bunkers. A drive has been developed for visitors around the Fromelles-Aubers area which features these structures.