The AIF Project

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: Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 22 August 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 12 October 1916, and admitted to 4th Southern General Hospital (mumps).

Proceeded overseas to France, 13 December 1916; joined 4th Bn, in the field, 10 January 1917.

Killed in action, 8 May 1917.

Handwritten note on Form B103: 'Buried in Vicinty of Noreuil ... '

Grave subsequently lost.

Note, Red Cross File No 2940704Q: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills 10.10.19.'

Statement, 5984 Pte M.G. CAZNEAU, 4th Bn (patient, 2nd London General Hospital, Southall, England), 26 November 1917: He was killed while he and I were coming back with an empty stretcher from the dressing station near the village of Bullecourt. I saw it happen. It was in the afternoon ... Wildman would probably be buried later.'

Second statement by CAZNEAU, 8 January 1918: 'Wildman and I were detailed to carry out wounded all S/Bs having been knocked. We had taken out wounded and as a barrage was put up by Fritz we had taken cover near D/S. I think 1st Field - and as a lull came I said to him "you go back with Stretcher whilst I (and the other two) got dressings". About 2/3000 yards up the sap he was killed - I was buried myself by the shell - I saw him killed. He was probably buried by the relieving battalion - there is a bit of a cemetery there.'

Third statement, 6063 Pte S.J.A. O'BRIEN, 4th Bn, 28 February 1918: 'I was in the lines but did not see Wildman killed. This happened at Bullecourt right in [the] Hindenburg line. None of them were buried when we came away. The line was held and they may have been buried since.'