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MONTHLY BULLETIN –June 2016 – FOUR WEEKS TO GO!
Welcome to the Pozieres…Our Legacy 2016 June monthly bulletin. This is the final Bulletin as we now have only four weeks to go!
By now all participants should have their official clothing and have read all the material on the website at http://www.legacy.com.au/pozieres/Pozieres . If not, then please take the opportunity to review all the information so that you can be checking and planning in anticipation of departure.
As a quick basic guide, remember to:
· Bring your passport and three colour photocopies of the main page.
· Bring all your official clothing including a pair of good black shoes.
· Label all your clothing.
· Bring your presentation material.
To assist you in packing for the tour, please look at the Packing Guide on the Website. We have also included a Daily Clothing Guide to provide you an indication on what you will be required to wear each day.
For the Clubs. Please assist each of your participants to ensure they are ready to go.
The domestic travel plans to move everyone to and from Sydney are completed and will be sent to each Club by the end of the month for briefing to individuals. This will include all travel details, timings, booking reference and places to be. Dress for travel to Sydney will be the Tour Black Polo Top, Beige shorts or jeans and comfortable travelling shoes.
A reminder also that no ripped clothing or clothing with offensive logos are to be taken on the tour.
On This Month in June 1916
The Germans continue with their local attacks in and around Ieper.
The British cruiser HMS Hampshire that was carrying Field Marshall Lord Kitchener to Russia hits a floating mine and sinks. There is a heavy loss of life, including Lord Kitchener and his entire staff.
2ndANZAC Corps arrives in France.
New Zealand passes the Compulsory Service Bill
Private William Jackson (17th Battalion AIF) earns the Victoria Cross after he was seriously wounded in action that resulted in him losing an arm. This is the first awarded to an Australian on the Western Front. He was 18 years old at the time of his award. He was the youngest member of the AIFto be awarded the VC during WW1.
On This Month in July 1916
On 1 July the battle of the Sommebegins.This was the worst single day in the history of British arms, with 60,000 men being killed or wounded on the first day. The battle of the Somme then continued for four months and resulted in more than 1,200,000 casualties on both sides.
Battle of Fromelles.A total of 5,533 Australians were killed or wounded in this battle, most on the night of 19–20 July. Fromelles was the first battle for the Australians on the Western Front. It was designed as a deception to draw German forces away from the Somme and the planned attack towards Pozieres.
Battle of Pozières.Pozières was the first protracted battle for the Australians on the Western Front and involved multiple Australian Divisions. Part of the Somme battlefield, Pozières was the scene of several major attacks by the Australians between 23 July and 5 August 1916. Australia suffered 24,140 casualties with 6,741 dead in the fighting at Pozières.
Lieutenant Arthur Blackburn of the 10th Battalion was awardedthe Victoria Cross at Pozières. Three other VC’s were awarded to Australians in this battle. These were: Private John Leake of the 9th Battalion; Private Thomas Cooke of the 8th Battalion; and Sergeant Claude Castleton of the 5th Machine Gun Company.
VERBAL PRESENTATIONS
A reminder to everyone that during the tour you will be required to deliver your 3 to 5 minute presentation on your allocated person at their gravesite or memorial place. You will be standing at their final resting place so please pay them the respect they deserve by a good presentation. Section Leaders will be presenting at Randwick Barracks, so if you wish to deliver your presentation with the assistance of a computer than you need to send your presentation to Support Staff no later than 11 July.
This is it. We will see you on Friday 15 July in Sydney!
All the best
Legacy Australia