THE BATTLE OF FROMELLES, FLEURBAIX REGION, FRANCE
This was the AIF’s first campaign on the Western Front and the first part they played in the Somme offensive. But Fromelles was a battle that has come to be known as the worst 24 hours in Australia’s history. On this day just over five and a half thousand Australians were killed or wounded in just one day’s fighting. In fact, two thousand were killed in just two hours – that is more Australian casualties than the Boer War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Afghanistan conflict put together. It left so many families and homes in this district in grief.

Pte Cliff Wardell (Lilydale), 31^st Battalion: In France. In a letter to his brother in Lilydale – ‘I wrote the day before we went into action, telling you all the happenings up till then getting shrapnelled etc, every day, coming back through the sap, then had to finish, as we had to get back to the trenches ready for the charge, which came the following day. One could not explain one-third of what it was like sitting under a heavy bombardment for six hours; all our mails and belongings got blown up in the bombardment, which was very heavy’.

Pte Stanley Robinson (Lilydale), 31^st Battalion: While awaiting orders to go over the top, a German shell burst in his trench killing four men outright and severely wounding Stanley. Attempts were made to get him to a Casualty Clearing Station but his wounds were too severe and he died later that night. He is19 years old and he is buried at the Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery in France.

Pte Cliff Wardell (Lilydale), 31^st Battalion: In France. In a letter to his brother in Lilydale –‘Then over the parapet we went with old Fritz’s guns playing on us all the time. It was a success on every point gained by us, although we came back, as no reinforcements or ammunition came, as they were blown up. It was awful. Our mates were mown down at each side of us, and some of us came back without a scratch. It is a sight one will never forget. It was worse than Gallipoli and Lone Pine. The worst that happened to us was that we got caught in the wire entanglements. We got out of that into a mud hole with shells bursting all around us. We eventually got back smothered in mud and our clothes torn nearly off. How any man returned at all is a miracle to me’.

Sgt Frank Dixon (Wandin), 59^th Battalion: Charges over the top of the trenches into ‘no man’s land’ and is never seen again, he is later listed as ‘missing in action’. A Lieutenant Hackworthy later recalled that he said goodbye to Frank just before he went over the top and that was the last that was ever seen of him. He is 22 years old and his name is remembered on the memorial at VC Corner Australian Cemetery, Fromelles, France. Sadly, on the same day his cousin, Private Ernest Wilkin of the 29^th Battalion, was also killed in action.

Pte Ernest Wilkin (Wandin), 29^th Battalion: Charges over the top of the trenches into ‘no man’s land’ and is never seen again, he is later listed as ‘missing in action’. He is 23 years old and his name is remembered on the memorial at VC Corner Australian Cemetery, Fromelles, France.

Pte William Orenshaw (Seville), 59^th Battalion: Charges over the top of the trenches into ‘no man’s land’ and is never seen again, he is later listed as ‘missing in action’. His brother Arthur, in the same unit, is severely wounded in the same charge. He is 26 years old and his name is remembered on the memorial at VC Corner Australian Cemetery, Fromelles, France.

Pte John Purcell (Lilydale), 60^th Battalion: Charges over the top of the trenches into ‘no man’s land’ and is never seen again, he is later listed as ‘missing in action’. He is 27 years old and his name is remembered on the memorial at Y Farm Military Cemetery in France.

Pte Oswald Wilson (Lilydale), 29^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, severe gunshot wounds to his legs and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte Henry Ferguson (Coldstream), 59^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to right eye, and is evacuated to hospital in England. His eye would be removed a week later.

Pte George Hannah (Mt Evelyn), 59^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the right arm, shoulder and chest, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte Hewitt Hussey (Lilydale), 59^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wounds to his hand and face, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte Robert King (Lilydale), 59^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to leg, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte Phillip Lithgow (Lilydale), 59^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to right wrist, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte Arthur Orenshaw (Seville), 59^th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wounds to his arm and chest, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte William Shell (Lilydale), 23^rd Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Armadale.

Stan Goode (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a grocer and enlists in the AIF, he is 24 years old. His older brother Ralph was the first man from the shire to enlist.