On Sunday the 19th of July, the French RSL and Mrs Myriam Boisbouvier-Wylie, Honorary Consul General of France in Melbourne, attended a commemorative service at the Cobbers Statue at the Shrine of Remembrance to mark the 99th anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles.

This solemn event, also attended by the Governor-General of Australia, His Excellency The Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Ret’d), commemorated the first major battle fought by Australian troops on the Western Front during the Great War. Approximately 5533 Australian soldiers were killed, wounded, went missing, or were taken prisoner during the battle. This consititutes the single bloodiest day in Australian military history. And yet, even during such carnage, tales of humanity and bravery stand out. Indeed, the memorial itself is inspired by such courage – the courage to risk one’s life to save another.

The story of Fromelles, like that of so many other battlefields of the First World War, is a story that bears witness to the strength of the Franco-Australian relationship and to the sacrifice made by so many soldiers, so many years ago.

Lest we forget.