The Australian Memorial Park is a World War I memorial, located near Fromelles, France, commemorating Australians killed during the Battle of Fromelles.
Location
The memorial park, which was designed by Herbert Baker, is located approximately east of the V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, on the same road in the direction of the village of Fromelles in France. It lies at the point where the German lines crossed the road, and has several surviving battlefield fortifications. In comparison, the V.C. Corner cemetery and memorial is approximately at the point where the Allied lines crossed the road..
Inauguration The Memorial Park was opened on 5 July 1998 by Bruce Scott, the Australian Minister for Veterans' Affairs, in the presence of Ian McLachlan, the Australian Minister for Defence. The opening of this memorial park was part of a series of events that commemorated the 80th anniversary of the end of World War I. A guard of honour was provided by the French 43rd Infantry Regiment, and the Australian 10th/27th Battalion, and the opening of the memorial park was attended by hundreds from Australia and France.Three days of ceremonies will commemorate end of WWI, 3 July 1998, Office of the Minister for Defence, accessed 05/02/2010Great-hearted bravery commemorated, 6 July 1998, Office of the Minister for Defence, accessed 05/02/2010
Memorial
Cobbers is a prominent 1998 sculpture by Peter Corlett of Sergeant Simon FraserFraser (born 31 December 1876, Byaduk, Victoria) would rise to the rank of lieutenant. He was killed in action 11 May 1917. rescuing a wounded compatriot from No Man's Land after the battle.. A replica of the sculpture is in the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Victoria.. The title comes from a letter that Fraser, a farmer from Byaduk, Victoria, wrote a few days after the battle and that was widely quoted in Australia's official history of World War I...
Several commemorative events have been held at the Memorial Park. On 9 May 2009, a Service of Remembrance was held to mark the 94th anniversary of the Battle of Aubers Ridge.Aubers Ridge Service , Families and Friends of the First AIF, accessed 06/02/2010 On 19 July 2009, a service was held to mark the 93rd anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles.Pics Fromelles Service , Families and Friends of the First AIF, accessed 06/02/2010
See also
Mont Saint-Quentin Australian war memorial V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial Villers–Bretonneux Australian National Memorial Military Memorials of National Significance in Australia
Notes and references Notes
References
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