Battle of the Yser
Pozières, The First Australian Division Memorial
Archival Movie
Australians in France [AWM F00047] silent, 16.6 MB
Cinematographer: Herbert Baldwin and film edited by Charles Bean.
This silent film deals with the arrival of the AIF in France from Egypt in March–April 1916, the early Australian experience of trench warfare, artillery bombardments and the operations around Pozières in July and August 1916. Below is the Australian War Memorial’s original film synopsis:
British official film taken at the request of Australian authorities shows the [Australian] Prime Minister the Rt Hon W M Hughes and [the] High Commissioner of Australia [to London] visiting the Western Front from where they were met by General [William] Birdwood [commander of First Anzac Corps] after the arrival of the AIF from Egypt. These troops were billeted in villages behind the lines where they underwent further training. As summer came the Germans bombarded and raided their trenches causing casualties which were treated at the casualty clearing and dressing station for transport later to hospital behind the lines where they were cared for by Australian nurses. Australian, New Zealand and Canadian forest units stage wood cutting contests. The Australian troops near the Somme in July where they fight for several weeks around Pozières. British heavy artillery plaster Pozières which is taken on 23 July 1916. Two days later the Germans launch a furious bombardment. British artillery reply [and] the bombardment continues day and night and was watched by the King [George V] on his visit to the battle fields. Australian troops assemble around Pozières on 8 July 1917 for the unveiling by General Birdwood of the memorial to the fallen members of the First Division [at Pozières in July–August 1916].
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© 2008 Department of Veterans' Affairs and Board of Studies NSW :: Last update - November 2008