Bullecourt

Places
Accession Number ART41022
Collection type Art
Measurement Overall: 400 cm x 730 cm x 215 cm
Object type Diorama
Physical description figures: painted composite lead; background: synthetic polymer paint on fibreglass; modelling: plaster over wood and wire with wire, metal and paint
Location Main Bld: First World War Gallery: Western Front 1917: Bullecourt
Maker Bowles, William Leslie
McCubbin, Louis Frederick
Modelling Sub-section, Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne
Place made Australia: Victoria, Melbourne
Date made 1930
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

This diorama depicts events relating to 11 April 1917 when the 4th Australian Division attacked the Hindenburg Line near the village of Bullecourt. The tanks that were to have broken a way through the wire failed badly and the infantry, with great gallantry but no support, flung themselves against the uncut wire, which many actually succeeded in crossing. As neither reinforcements nor munitions could be brought to them, the remnants had to withstand fierce counter-attacks, until finally obliged to fight their way back through the enemy to No-Man's Land, across which they straggled under a withering fire. Louis McCubbin painted the original figures, background and modelling. The figures were cast in 1931. The background was later repainted by George Browning in 1969-70.