Australian Remembrance Trail along the Western Front

Australia's commitment on the Western Front between 1916 and 1918 was one of the most important events in our nation's history. For the first time, Australians played a major role in world events, and made a substantial contribution to the outcome of the war. The Western Front had a fundamental effect on Australia's approach to war, as well as on Australian politics, families, and national attitudes

Historical background

The Western Front directly touched the lives of countless Australian families. Of the 295,000 Australians who served on the Western front, more than 46,000 died and more than 130,000 Australians were wounded. The Western Front fatalities amount to 75% of the approximately 60,000 Australians who died in the First World War.

The Australian Remembrance Trail along the Western Front, funded in the 2009-10 Budget, serves to help Australians and other visitors to the Western Front learn about the Australian experience of war in France and Belgium in the First World War.

It builds upon the existing efforts of French and Belgian communities to commemorate Australian service, some of which date back to the 1920s.

The Australian Remembrance Trail spans much of the nearly 200 kilometres of the Western Front where Australians served: from the Channel coast of Belgium to Montebrehain in France.

Supported by a comprehensive and easily accessible set of materials, the Australian Remembrance Trail is able to inform and guide visitors of all ages, levels of fitness, and amounts of travel time. Visitors can view key locations at which Australians fought, and visit high quality interpretive centres that present Australian material, while also visiting related sites of Australian interest.

The interpretive materials assume no prior knowledge of military history and are available in a mix of traditional and digital media formats. The Australian Remembrance Trail and associated materials provide ample opportunity for contemplative reflection.

The Australians on the Western Front 1914-1918 website provides extensive historical information, audio, imagery and other materials about the locations of the Australian Remembrance Trail.

Through partnerships with French and Belgian local and regional authorities, the following projects will be completed in time for the Anzac Centenary in 2014-18.

Download a digital copy of the Australian Remembrance Trail along the Western Front Brochure:

• Australian Remembrance Trail along the Western Front Brochure (PDF 703 KB)
  Australian Remembrance Trail along the Western Front Brochure (DOCX 22 KB)

In France

• At Dernancourt, a new walking trail with markers at key locations, and supported by audio-guides, tells the story of Australia’s involvement here in 1918 in stopping a major German offensive. Sites of significance encompassed by the trail include: the Pavillon Adelaide, the school hall which was named in tribute to the support Dernancourt received from the city of Adelaide and the state of South Australia after the war; the railway embankment, where men of the 4th Division held the German advance; the Support Line trench between the railway and the Amiens road; a position known as ‘the Quarry’; and at the old Communal Cemetery, a scene of heavy fighting. This walk and audio-guide was officially opened on 24 July 2016. The audio-guides are available for free download to Android and Apple devices as part of the Australians in the Somme 16&18 app.
  Download: Australians in the Somme 16&18 app for Android
  Download: Australians in the Somme 16&18 app for Apple
• At Pozières, where Australia sustained 23,000 casualties in little over six weeks in 1916, improved visitor facilities provide new interpretation, parking, traffic access, and picnic facilities. A number of walks, supported by both traditional signage and digital media, encompass points of significance including the 1st Australian Division Memorial, the Gibraltar blockhouse that was captured by Australians, and the Windmill site, ‘a ridge more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth’ (C.E.W. Bean). The new interpretive facilities in the memorial park adjacent to the 1st Australian Division Memorial were officially opened on 26 April 2014. Two new walking trails with markers were completed in March 2015 linking sites of significance in and around the village, supported by an Australians in the Somme 16&18 ‘app’. The ‘app’ is available for free download for Android and Apple devices.
  Download: Australians in the Somme 16&18 app for Android
  Download: Australians in the Somme 16&18 app for Apple
• At Villers-Bretonneux an extension to and major refurbishment of the Franco-Australian Museum, which commemorates the decisive battle fought there by Australians on the night of 24-25 April 1918, has been completed. Located within the Victoria School, which was built with money raised in Australia after the War, the museum also honours the remarkable relationship between the town and Australia that continues to this day.
• Close by are the Australian National Memorial, site of the Australian Government led Anzac Day Dawn Service, and the Adelaide Cemetery, from where the Unknown Soldier was disinterred before his reinternment in the Hall of Memory at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra in 1993. To improve visitor access and safety, major roadworks in front of the Australian National Memorial, including new car and coach parking facilities were completed ahead of Anzac Day 2014.
• The Sir John Monash Centre is currently under construction behind the Australian National Memorial. When completed in 2018, it will be an international standard interpretive centre delivering a leading-edge multimedia experience telling Australia’s story of the Western Front. Read more information about the Sir John Monash Centre.
• A new museum at Fromelles, adjacent to the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, was officially opened on 18 July 2014. The museum tells the story of Australia’s first battle in France, the disastrous 1916 Battle of Fromelles, and includes objects on loan from the Australian War Memorial and other collections. It also tells the story of the discovery in 2008 near Pheasant Wood, and the 2009 recovery, of the remains of 250 Australian and British soldiers who died at Fromelles in 1916, previously recorded as missing, and their reinterment and commemoration in the Fromelles Military Cemetery. Nearby, are the existing Cobbers memorial, and V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial.
• At Péronne, working in partnership with l’Historial de la Grande Guerre, the Australian Remembrance Trail now assists visitors to better interpret the battles for Mont St Quentin and Péronne. These battles are considered by many to be among the greatest achievements of the Australian Army in the First World War. The works include an interpretive room in l’Historial, which opened on 17 April 2015, and walking trails at Mont St Quentin and Péronne. Visit the l’Historial de la Grande Guerre website.
• A new museum at Bullecourt, building on the efforts of Jean Letaille, OAM. This new museum opened on Anzac Day 2012 and tells the story of the two bloody battles fought by Australians at Bullecourt in April and May 1917. Since the opening of the new museum visitation has increased 400%. Nearby in the Bullecourt Memorial Park is the Digger memorial, site of an Australian Government led Anzac Day service.
• The Australian Remembrance Trail incorporates the existing Australian Corps Memorial at Le Hamel which commemorates and interprets the 4 July 1918 Battle of Le Hamel. The battle was fought by the Australian Corps who were led for the first time by General John Monash. This ‘model victory’ would become the template for future Allied operations on the Western Front. The Memorial at Le Hamel was formally rededicated in 2008 by Governor-General Bryce following significant restorations and upgrades to facilities.
• A new addition to the Australian Remembrance Trail is the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) experience at Beaurains, near Arras. This interpretive centre is a unique new visitor attraction that will shine a light on the work of the remarkable work of the CWGC. The CWGC experience gives visitors an up close and intimate look behind the scenes at the teams who still work painstakingly to care for the fallen. Visitors will learn the story of how the dead are still recovered and reburied today, and how skilled artisan craftsmen maintain the world’s most impressive and recognisable monuments and memorials.

In Belgium

• The Plugstreet 14-18 Experience interpretive centre at Ploegsteert, focussing on the Australian contribution to the Battle of Messines, opened on 9 November 2013. Located adjacent to the Ploegsteert Memorial, the new centre is also close to Toronto Avenue Cemetery, the only all Australian cemetery in Belgium. Visit the Plugstreet 14-18 Experience website.
• A new Australian display at the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 in Zonnebeke opened on 12 July 2013. Nearby is Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in the world, which incorporates several wartime German blockhouses captured by Australians. Visit the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 website.
• Following an invitation from the community of Zonnebeke, to further interpret Australia’s involvement in the Battle of Passchendaele, the Australian Government has established an Australian section in the Passchendaele Memorial Garden, in the grounds of the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, completed in 2016.
• The In Flanders Fields Museum at Ieper (Ypres) which reopened in 2012 after a major refurbishment has incorporated new Australian content. A short walk away is the Menin Gate Memorial, site of the moving Last Post Ceremony each evening and a remarkable point at which to start or finish a visit to the Western Front. Visit the In Flanders Fields Museum website.