The Campaigns - Gallipoli/Western Front (Phoebe Edwards)
Gallipoli 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916
The Allied forces (France, Great Britain and Russia) had planned to use the Battle of Gallipoli to eventually capture the Ottoman capital of Constantinople. Their attempt to win the battle failed, and around 500,000 soldiers were killed between the Allies and the Turkish Army.
The Western Front 1914 - 1918 The Western Front was the name designated to the 700 kilometers long trenches from the Belgian coast to the Swiss border. The trenches were dug by two of the rival powers, Germany and France, but it was not only the Germans and French who fought here. The British, Belgians and Australians also fought against the Germans. After Gallipoli, the ANZACs were sent from Egypt to the Western Front to fight Germany alongside France. In March 1916 the AIF (Australian Imperial Force) were sent to France’s aid in the hope they would help in winning the war for the Triple Entente (France, Britain and Russia) as there had been a stalemate between the French and German armies.
The Australian troops’ first major battle on the Western Front occurred on the 19th of July 1916. They were ordered to attack the Germans at Fromelles, in order to prevent the Germans from bringing in reinforcements on the Somme. In just 27 hours, 5,533 of the AIF were killed,
wounded or captured. The Australians lost the Battle of Formelles.Over 295,000 AIF served in France and
Belgium on the Western Front between 1916 and 1918. Australians were successful
in helping France and Britain to win the war, as they won the Battle of Aimens
(8th August 1918) which ultimately led to the end of WW1.
There is now an Australian Remembrance Trail along the Western Front in France and Belgium, developed by the Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The trail was created to commemorate the Australian soldiers who gave their lives along the Western Front. The trail also aims to improve people’s understanding of what happened on the Western Front, with information about the most significant Australian battles fought in the war.
Anzac
The Western Front trenches (above)
Australian soldiers waiting to don their equipment for the attack on Formelles (above)