Villers-Bretonneux and the Australian National Memorial

Villers-Bretonneux and the Australian National Memorial

Remembrance Day this year will be a special one for me after my recent visit to the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux and the Warlencourt British Cemetery in the Somme département, in France. The Australian National Memorial is located between the towns of Fouilloy and Villers-Bretonneux in the Somme département, France and it's the main memorial to Australian military personnel killed on the Western Front during World War I.

The Warlencourt British Cemetery is located in the Pas de Calais region of France and is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission burial ground for military personnel who died on the Western Front during the First World War. 

The Somme and Warlencourt British Cemetery

I have visited the memorial at Villers-Bretonneux a couple of times with my children and husband, but my most recent visit was with my husband's aunt. It was a more emotional visit this time as we slowly made our way through the gardens and gravestones reading the names of the brave soldiers. Paying our respects at Villers-Bretonneux was part of a very big day. As well as spending time at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial we also attended the family grave of Corporal Hookham, at the Warlencourt British Cemetery.

Finding the Warlencourt British Cemetery

The countryside of the Somme département is dotted with cemeteries and memorial buildings and while some are easy to find, others take a more dedicated search and a long drive. After driving along narrow winding roads bordered by freshly harvested fields and faithfully following our GPS, we came across a village that had blocked their entry and exit roads because of the street festival they were holding.

With no access through, and no other roads through this village we were lost and driving around in circles for a while before we found a bumpy gravel road that linked us up in the direction we needed to go, and we finally arrived at the Warlencourt British Cemetery.

Tribute to Corporal John Albert Hookham

Ann (my husband's auntie) wrote a lovely piece about her visit to the Somme département  that day and I feel very honoured to be able to share it today with you on Remembrance Day. Thank you Ann.

"Corporal John Albert Hookham (1769) 4^th Bn, A.I.F. enlisted on 11^th January 1915 and served  throughout the Gallipoli campaign then to France on 12^th August 1916, here he endured the harshest of winters on The Somme 1916/17, before being killed in action on the 2 March 1917. He was the son of Alfred and Emma Hookham, my husband’s Great-Uncle from his paternal family, step bother of Grandma Phyllis French.

Travelling through the peaceful countryside along the back roads of The Somme on that bright autumn day it was hard to register that this was the battlefields of WWI but the numerous perfectly kept small cemeteries we passed by brought this clearly back to us.

On arriving at the Warlencourt British Cemetery we soon located the grave with its fine headstone above colourful cottage plants. Here we sat on the grass soaking up the stillness and peace broken only by the chirping birds; surrounded by green fields under the most brilliant blue sky and there reflected not only on the life of John Hookham but all the soldiers and nurses who served in WWI from our families and their war contributions and journeys.

We were privileged to leave three knitted red poppies in honour and memory of our great-uncle on behalf of his Australian families. For me this was a very special day so privileged to a part of – one which I will always remember." - Ann French, Family Historian

Australia and France - The Strong Bond of These Countries

The bond between Australia and France is a strong one with the Australian flag flying over the town of Villers-Bretonneux and a plaque hanging in the town hall honouring Australia's involvement. Following the war, schoolchildren in Victoria Australia helped raise funds to rebuild the village school, named Victoria School. Victoria School even has a blackboard mounted with the words “N’oublions jamais l’Australie” – “never forget Australia”.

Another example of the special bond between these two countries is when the Australian local school, Strathewen Primary School burnt down in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria, the people of Villers-Bretonneux raised funds towards rebuilding the school. This really is a very generous gesture considering that the rebuilding help was nearly 100 years after the war. 

Somme War Cemetery Addresses

• Address of Villers-Bretonneux Australian Memorial : Route de Villers Bretonneux, 80800 Fouilloy, France
• Address of Warlencourt British Cemetery: Route nationale, 62450 Warlencourt-Eaucourt, France 

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