The Battle of Fromelles occurred in France between 19 and 20 July 1916, during World War I. The action was intended partly as a diversion from the Battle of the Somme that was taking place about 80 kilometres (50 mi) to the south. The operation, carried out midway between the British-occupied village of Fleurbaix and that of Fromelles behind the German lines, sought to retake a salient just north of the latter, situated at about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) from the city of Lille.
Fromelles was a combined operation between British troops and the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). It would be the first occasion that the AIF saw action on the Western Front. After a night and a day of fighting, 1,500 British and 5,533 Australian soldiers were killed, wounded or taken prisoner. The Australian War Memorial describes the battle as "the worst 24 hours in Australia's entire history." It was a decisive victory for the German Empire, and the Australian and British losses were sustained without the Allies gaining any ground.
Read more about Battle Of Fromelles: Prelude, Battle, Aftermath, Mass Graves and New Cemetery, Memorials and Museum, Gallery
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