Cobbers Statue Melbourne

The Cobbers statue is a memorial to the Australian service and sacrifice at the Battle of Fromelles, 19 July1916. It was the Australians first action on the Western Front and turned into a disaster with over 5500 casualties including almost 2,000 dead in 24 hours. The 15th Brigade from Victoria alone suffered 1,800 casualties.
In the days following the battle, rescuers recovered some 300 wounded from no-man's land. as lone soldier carried a wounded companion from the field he heard a call for help 'Don't forget me, Cobber'. The rescuing soldier was Sergeant Simon Fraser but the stricken soldier is unknown.

"Cobbers

In memory of those who fought and fell in the Battle of Fromelles

19 - 20 July 1916

Fromelles, a small village in Northern France, took on eternal significance for Australia when it became the site of the first major battle fought by Australia on the Western Front during the First World War (1914 - 18). The ill-conceived operation, in the relatively inactive Fromelles sector, was intended to deter the Germans from transferring men from there to the Somme, where a substantial Allied offensive had been launched on 1 July 1916. The battle of Fromelles began in the late afternoon of 19 July 1916, when the 5th Australian Divsion and 61st British Division advanced towards the German troops.

A preparatory bombardment had not succeeded in quelling the German defences, and the attackers, particularly the Victorian 15th Brigade, encountered a hail of machine-gun fire. Later that night a renewed assault foundered and casualties climbed even higher when the Australians moved forward and a pre-arranged, simultaneous British advance failed to eventuate. All involved were ultimately withdrawn to their pre-attack positions.

When the fighting ceased the German soldiers remained in position having established early that the attack was diversionary. Devastating casualties had mounted to 5,533 Australians (including 400 prisoners) and 1,547 British. In the days following the battle rescuers recovered some 300 wounded from no-man`s land. As one soldier carried a wounded companion from the field he heard a call for help.

Don't forget me, cobber

The 5th Australian Division was crippled and unavailable for major action for months. In one night at Fromelles the Australian casualties were equivalent to those in the Boer, Korean and Vietnam Wars combined.

Cobbers

Sculptor. Peter Corlett
Bronze cast by Meridian Sculpture
Founder 2008

Cobbers, the memorial to Australian service and sacrifices at the Battle of Fromelles 19 July 1916, was installed in the Australian Memorial Park at Fromelles, France in 1998. The memorial was commissioned by the Office of Australian War Graves."

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Source

• Text: Sharky Ward
• Photos: Anthony (Sharky) Ward (1, 2), Anthony (Sharky) Ward (3, 4)