The 'Bullecourt Digger', Australian Memorial Park, Bullecourt, France
Australian Memorial Park, Bullecourt, France
The town of Bullecourt has several AIF memorials, the largest of which is the Australian Memorial Park, which overlooks what was once the battlefield. In the park stands the bronze 'Bullecourt Digger', designed and sculpted in Melbourne by Peter Corlett. The commemorative plaque reads:
"Sacred to the memory of the 10,000 members of the Australian Imperial Force who were killed or wounded in the two battles of Bullecourt, April-May 1917, and to the Australian dead and their comrades-in-arms who lie here forever in the soil of France. 'Lest we Forget'."
The Bullecourt Memorial Park was inaugurated on Anzac Day in 1992. The 'Bullecourt Digger' was unveiled during Anzac Day ceremonies in 1993.
There were two major battles at Bullecourt in April and May 1917 in which some 10,000 members of the AIF were killed or wounded.
Bullecourt has an excellent private WW1 museum, and in the main street is the 'Australian Slouch Hat Memorial', a felt hat bronzed for durability. Other smaller memorials are in a sunken side road to Riencourt. The townspeople have designed a walking tour and brochures are available at the museum.
Bullecourt can be reached from Bapaume through Ecoust St Mien or from Arras through Croisilles.
See the memorials in historical perspective:
