Villers-Bretonneux is a village about 15 km east of Amiens. The Memorial stands on the high ground ('Hill 104') behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, which is about 2 km north of Villers-Bretonneux on the east side of the road to Fouilloy.

The Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is approached through the Military Cemetery, at the end of which is an open grass lawn which leads into a three-sided court. The two pavilions on the left and right are linked by the north and south walls to the back (east) wall, from which rises the focal point of the Memorial, a 105 foot tall tower, of fine ashlar. A staircase leads to an observation platform, 64 feet above the ground, from which further staircases lead to an observation room. This room contains a circular stone tablet with bronze pointers indicating the Somme villages whose names have become synonymous with battles of the Great War; other battle fields in France and Belgium in which Australians fought; and far beyond, Gallipoli and Canberra.

On the three walls, which are faced with Portland stone, are the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France and who have no known grave. The 'blocking course' above them bears the names of the Australian Battle Honours.

After the war an appeal in Australia raised £22,700, of which £12,500 came from Victorian school children, with the request that the majority of the funds be used to build a new school in Villers-Bretonneux. The boys' school opened in May 1927, and contains an inscription stating that the school was the gift of Victorian schoolchildren, twelve hundred of whose fathers are buried in the Villers-Bretonneux cemetery, with the names of many more recorded on the Memorial. Villers-Bretonneux is now twinned with Robinvale, Victoria, which has in its main square a memorial to the links between the two towns.

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Wounded in action, Gallipoli, 7 August 1915, and admitted to No 4 Australian Field Ambulance the same day (gunshot wound, right shoulder); transferred to HS 'Delta', 8 August 1915; to No 1 Auxiliary Convalescent Depot, Heliopolis, 10 August 1915; to No 1 General Hospital, Heliopolis, 11 August 1915; to No 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Luna Park, 12 August 1915; to Helouan Convalescent Home, 11 September 1915; marched into 2nd Training Bn, 9 October 1915.

Embarked to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, 7 November 1915; marched into Anzac Advanced Base, no date stated.

Rejoined 15th Bn, Gallipoli, 8 December 1915.

Disembarked Alexandria, 25 December 1915.

Promoted Sergeant, 5 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 1 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 8 June 1916.

Wounded in action (2nd occasion), 8 August 1916; admitted to No 44 Casualty Clearing Station, 9 August 1916 (gunshot wound, jaw and chest); transferred to No 13 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, 10 August 1916 (shrapnel wounds face, eyes, right chest and right hand; severe); to England, 19 August 1916; to No 3 London General Hospital, Wandsworth, 20 August 1916; discharged from No 3 London General Hospital, 29 September 1916; marched into No 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs, 30 September 1916.

Granted furlough, 2 October 1916; marched into No 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs, 17 October 1916, and classified 'B1A' the same day.

Marched out to No 4 Command Depot, Wareham, 27 October 1916.

Marched into Infantry Draft Depot, Perham Downs, 16 February 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France from Overseas Training Depot, Longbridge Deverill, 5 December 1916; marched into Australian Base Depot, Le Havre, 6 December 1917.

Rejoined unit, 10 December 1917.

Killed in action, 4 July 1918.

Note on B.103: 'buried at P.8C.3.5. Sh.62D. 1/40000.'