German pill box Fromelles

Depicts a ruined German pill box in Fromelles. The town saw heavy fighting during the Battle of Fromelles in July 1916, the first battle on the Western Front fought by troops in the AIF. The battle was a disaster, with heavy Australian casualties and the inability to break the German lines. Pillboxes were developed during the First World War to provide a secure place near the trenches to fire on an attacking side and were strong enough to withstand attacks from grenades and small-arms fire. They were used as defences behind the front line, so if the line was breached the attacking side would meet further resistance beyond the line.