Australians treat Gallipoli with reverence, the centrepiece of each ANZAC Day celebration.
But should it be? While not taking away from the achievements of the Australian infantry forces at Gallipoli, the Western front was a far greater theatre of war, where Australia played a crucial role in changing the course of history, and at a significantly greater cost.
Consider this: Gallipoli amounted to the failed conquest of a beach which, after eight months, we retreated from with 8,708 Australians dead. By comparison, at the small village of Fromelles (in Belgium), 2,000 Australians were killed in five hours.
Over the 32 months that Australians fought on the Western Front, 46,000 lost their lives and 132,000 were wounded – a total of 178,000 casualties – or 60 per cent of all Australian troops.
The veterans of Gallipoli who were transferred to the Western Front described it as ten times worse.
The fighting was different, with the immense courage required to attack the Germans across open fields, directed by British and French leadership that placed a low value on life. The courage required to keep going was equally immense.
And going they did. In Northern France even today, 100 years later, the French still look to the Australians as saving their country.
What clinches it
Two actions in particular cemented our position in French history.
In March and April 1918, the Australian forces were key in the defence of Amiens, Hazebrouck and Villers-Bretonneux, during a massive German multi-pronged attack known to history as the Kaiserschlacht or the Spring Offensive. It was Germany’s last attempt to get momentum in its strike to Paris. The Australians held them, demoralising their troops.
In August the Australians, led by their own General (Monash), executed one of the most telling advances in WW1 in what became known as the Dark Day of the War for Germany. In ’93 minutes’ they reached all of their objectives in what became known as the Battle of Amiens, capturing major German infrastructure including the famous Big Bertha rail gun.
The Germans were now left to defend their only remaining strongholds being Peronne and Mont St Quentin, both highly valued positions. Within two days the Germans were pushed out by the Australians. The victory is still regarded by many as the greatest achievement of any army in World War 1.
French towns like Villers-Bretonneux and Pozieres still fly the Australian flag every day on their town halls and schools for what was achieved.
In recognition of the importance of the Western Front, the Australian Minister of Defence, Kevin Andrews, attended this year’s ANZAC ceremony at Villers-Bretonneux, along with 6,000 Australians. I was one and it was a humbling privilege.
My own son spent two years in the army; I can’t comprehend fine young men being slaughtered as they were in this war. But I also can’t comprehend a world at war where leaders of one country decide they will conquer another. Madness.
Gallipoli or the Western Front? Lest we forget either.
