Tour 6 – One day tour of the Somme 1918 Battlefields (Australian)

• 3rd Australian Division Memorial

One of the five Australian divisional memorials on high ground overlooking where the 3^rd Australian Division were heavily involved in capturing the ground during 1918.

• The Red Baron crash site

Visit the spot where the famous German flying ace, the Red Baron, was shot down by Australian ground fire on the 21^st April 1918. He was responsible for 80 allied combat victories.

• Viller Bretonneux military cemetery

This concentration cemetery with over 2000 burials lies just 10 miles from Amiens. It sits on Hill 104 where the Australian’s stopped the German advance in their tracks on ANZAC day in 1918. The Germans never advance beyond this point.

• The Australian National Memorial to the missing

The largest of the three Memorials to the missing on the Western Front dedicated to the Australian Imperial Force contains just over 10,000 names of Australians who were never identified. The Dawn Service has been held here over a number of years since 2008.

• The Sir John Monash Centre

The Sir John Monash Centre tells the story of the Western Front in the words of those who served and it was officially inaugurated on the 24^th April 2018. It uses cutting edge multi media systems and immersive experiences.

• Adelaide cemetery in Villers Bretonneux

The cemetery was begun early in June 1918 and used by the 2^nd and 3^rd Australian Divisions but following the war it was enlarged by concentrating some of the smaller cemeteries in the locality. It now contains 960 Commonwealth servicemen with a large concentration of Australian soldiers. In 1993 an unknown Australian soldier was exhumed and who now rests in the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

• The Victoria school and museum

Funds raised by school children in Victoria in Australia helped rebuild the destroyed primary school in Villers Bretonneux in 1927. In the playground is the famous sign’ Do not forget Australia’. On ANZAC day in 1975 the museum was opened telling the story of the Australians in 1918 around Villers Bretonneux. There are some amazing photographs which were taken at the time and despite their enhancement in size, they have lost no definition.

• Le Hamel Australian Corps Memorial Park and trenches

Standing on high ground you can see why this position was such an advantage to the German Army. You will see amazing views over the Somme Valley and beyond. The Battle of Hamel on the 4^th July 1918 became known as the model battle and it’s successful strategy was used for the planning in the Advance to Victory in 1918.Some remains of German trenches can still be seen.

• Heath cemetery

A large concentration cemetery created after the war with a high proportion of the burials being Australian, some 910 identified casualties. They were concentrated here in the 1920s and most died in the Advance to Victory of 1918. There are two Australian Victoria Cross holders buried here.