In 1916, on the 19th of July the battle of the Fromelles broke out. The battle was a strategic move on the Triple Entente's behalf. The plan was for this battle to be a decoy, distract Germany from the Somme and lead them down South. Germany wasn't going to be fooled this easy though.
This battle was the first real war that Australia was involved in and it was the last for the next few months. Australia's 5th division had a casualty rate of 5,533 soldiers, over 2000 dead and Britain's 61st division had a death rate of 1,547. 400 Australian and British soldiers were captured by Germany. We suffered horribly while Germany had a death rate of under 1000 soldiers in the 24 hours. Australia was forced to surrender and retreat after the unsuccessful mission.
The only thing that failed more miserably than the death rate was the plan to distract Germany from the bigger battle of Somme.
The Australian and British troops begun the war at 6pm on the 19th of July and finished on the 20th of July at 8am.
The battle was thankfully finished after 20 hours of desolation.
This battle was the first real war that Australia was involved in and it was the last for the next few months. Australia's 5th division had a casualty rate of 5,533 soldiers, over 2000 dead and Britain's 61st division had a death rate of 1,547. 400 Australian and British soldiers were captured by Germany. We suffered horribly while Germany had a death rate of under 1000 soldiers in the 24 hours. Australia was forced to surrender and retreat after the unsuccessful mission.
The only thing that failed more miserably than the death rate was the plan to distract Germany from the bigger battle of Somme.
The Australian and British troops begun the war at 6pm on the 19th of July and finished on the 20th of July at 8am.
The battle was thankfully finished after 20 hours of desolation.