Monument 4th Australian Division

The 4th Australian Division arrived in Europe in 1916 and took part in almost all operations in Belgium and France until the end of the conflict.
During this period there would be 10,973 deaths and 27,000 injuries.

After the war, the 4th AUS Div had a monument erected on this remote site near Chaudriès. The Division had considered other places such as Dernancourt where it had stopped the German advance in April 1918 or Pozières where it had suffered heavy losses in 1916. But it was still chosen for this place where they fought their last battles between 18 and 20 September 1918 with the capture of the German advanced positions on the Hindenburg line.
The Division sees these battles as a turning point in the fighting in Europe.

At 23:00 on 18 September, the 46th and 48th Infantry Battalions, covered by heavy artillery bombardments, attacked the German positions and were able to take the positions and consolidate them by noon.
The Germans had expected the attack at dawn as always and this night raid came as a surprise.

The 48th Battalion, which bore the brunt of this attack, was raised in Egypt in 1916 and consisted of hardened soldiers from the Gallipoli campaign and new recruits.
Between its foundation and the final battle here at Bellenglise, 860 officers, NCOs and men were killed.
The last 18 fell during the capture of the forward post of the Hindenburg line.

Private James Park Woods of the 48th Battalion, a veteran of the Battle of Passchendaele, was awarded the "Victoria Cross" for his exceptional bravery during these engagements.

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