A greater sum of sorrow : the battles of Bullecourt / David Coombes. Battles of Bullecourt.

Collection type Library
Author Coombes, David, author.;
Call Number 940.431 C775
Document type Monograph
Year 2016. 2016.
Pagination vii, 427 pages : illustrations, maps, portraits ; 24 cm.
Publisher Big Sky Publishing, Big Sky Publishing,
Note Scheduled to be published March 2016. Includes bibliography (pages 379-416) and index. "In April-May 1917 the sleepy hamlet of Bullecourt in northern France became the focus of two battles involving Australian and British troops. Given the unique place in this nation's military history that both battles occupy, surprisingly little has beenwritten on the AIF's achievements at Bullecourt. 'A Greater Sum of Sorrow' seeks to remedy this gaping omission.The First Battle of Bullecourt marked the Australians' introduction to the latest battlefield weapon -- the tank. This much-lauded weapon faile d dismally amid enormous casualties. Despite this, two infantry brigades from the 4th Australian Division captured parts of the formidable Hindenburg Line with minimal artillery and tank support, repulsing German counter-attacks until forced to withdraw. In the second battle, launched with a preliminary artillery barrage, more Australian divisions were forced into the Bullecourt 'meat-grinder' and casualties soared to over 7000. Again Australian soldiers fought hard to capture parts of the enemy line and hold them against savage counter-attacks. Bullecourt became a charnel-house for the AIF. Many who had endured the nightmare of Pozières considered Bullecourt far worse. And for what? While Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig considered its capture 'among the g reat achievements of the war', the village that cost so many lives held no strategic value whatsoever."--Website. Adult.
Place made Newport, NSW : Newport, NSW :

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