At Fromelles in July 1916 two divisions
- one British & one Australian
- within a few weeks of arriving in France
- went into action for the first time. Their task was to prevent the Germans from moving troops to the Somme where a major British offensive was in progress but the attack on 19/20 July was a disaster with nearly 7 000 casualties in a few hours. This account explores this battle which for many epitomises the futility of the Great War. In those few hours many heroic deeds were done but the battle caused a souring of Anglo-Australian relationships & truly was a baptism of fire for these British & Australian troops. This is their history. In a new section Paul Cobb explores the recent discovery in 2008/09 of a mass war grave on the battlefield &
Includes:: details of the findings of the archaeological dig the recovery of 250 bodies & the creation of a new military cemetery.