The bloody battle for the French village of Pozieres in 1916 is remembered as an Australian battle, resulting in over 5,000 Australian casualties and putting enormous stress for the Australian Imperial Forces.
So intense was the struggle and cost of Australian lives that it led Australian War Correspondent and Historian Charles Bean to state that the Pozieres Ridge, "is more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth”.
Today I attended a service commemorating the Centenary of the Battle of Pozieres, which began on July 23, 1916.
The commemoration allowed those in attendance to reflect on the sacrifice of the young men in an unimaginable situation, and thank them for their service.
The 12th Battalion saw its first major action in Europe at Pozieres after the evacuation of Gallipoli. The soldiers that made up the 12th Battalion were recruited from Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.
Among the many Tasmanians who served in the 12th battalion was Tasmanian Victoria Cross recipient Captain James Newland, who was mentioned in dispatches for conspicuous courage, leadership and organisation during the battle. He was awarded the Victoria Cross following his brave actions in April 1917.
I would like to thank the RSL and the other organisations that assisted with the commemoration to remember this tragic, yet important point in time in Australian history.