Villers Bretonneux - Battleground Series

$32.00

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Villers Bretonneux Battleground Series ' by P. Pedersen - new book

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This military book titled ' Villers Bretonneux ' by Peter Pedersen is part of the popular Battleground Series.

These books are excellent for their historical detail which is supported by superb maps, tour guides, visitor walks,and then and now pictures. The Battleground series war Books have become very collectable.

This book is a study of all the battles that were fought for the village of Villers Bretonneax during March and April 1918. The Battles include First Battle of Villers-Bretonneux (30 March – 5 April 1918) and Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux came during the period, 24–27 April 1918. During the latter part of March 1918 German forces made a forceful advance , called Operation Michael, towards Amiens and the Channel ports. Villers-Bretonneux was in the way. The Allied front around Villers Brretonneux was held by British and Australian troops, specifically the 14th Division British, 35th Australian Battalion AIF and 18th Division British. On the 4^th April the British 14th Division was forced to retreat. The situation was saved with a magnificent counterattack by Colonel J Milne’s 36th Australian Battalion and odd hastely assembled troops. Considering the Australian forces were against a numerically superior German force. The town's defence was then given over to British troops while the Australian Battalions regrouped.

On the 24^th April Germans once again attacked. This time spearheaded by the A7V Sturmpanzerwagen tanks, which pushed through the British defences. This battle was unique in that it was the first involving tank vs tank fighting. Orders for the immediate recapture of Villers-Bretonneux were given over to two Australian Brigades, the 13th and the 15th. The Australian 13th comprised of the 49th, 50th, 51st and 52nd Battalions and 15th Brigades comprised the 57th, 58th, 59th and 60th Battalions were brought forward and in a model of a well planned and co-ordinated night attack successfully recaptured the town.

The cost to Australia was some 2,500 men killed or wounded.
Lest We Forget