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Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

World War 1, Europe France Fleurbaix, 51 Battalion, 1916

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1916

Overview

Sandbagged defensive position at Fleurbaix, near Fromelles

Details

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-P1985.176.1i

Item type

Themes

War and Conflict
War and Conflict > World War 1

Contextual Information

The 51st Battalion was raised in Egypt in the first week of March 1916, as part of the "doubling" of the AIF. Approximately half of its recruits were Gallipoli veterans from the 11th Battalion, and the other half, fresh reinforcements from Australia. Reflecting the composition of the 11th, the 51st was predominantly composed of men from Western Australia. The battalion became part of the 13th Brigade of the newly-formed 4th Australian Division.

Arriving in France on 12 June 1916, the 51st moved into the trenches of the Western Front within a fortnight. It fought in its first major battle at Mouquet Farm in August and September, and suffered casualties equivalent to a third of its strength in both of the attacks (14 August and 3 September) it launched.

Year

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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