French road sign from Fromelles

Hollow pressed metal kilometre marker with raised lettering, an arched top and a square body which widens at the base and sits on four feet. The front of the marker reads, 'NORD' above a frame with lettering 'I.C.No.4.' Beneathe is a further frame with 'FROMELLES / 13K / BUSSY 4TE. MARNE'. The left side of the marker reads 'LA BASSEE / 10k 7 / FROMELLE[S] / 0 K 5'; the right 'FINDE LA GUERRE / 5K8 / LE MAISNIL / 2K'. The back of the marker is blank.

This kilometer sign was blown out of position by shell fire and was found on the side of the road at Fromelles.

The Battle of Fromelles on 19 and 20 July 1916, was the first major battle fought by Australians on the Western Front. Directed against a strong German position known as the Sugar Loaf salient, the attack was intended primarily as a feint to draw German troops away from the Somme offensive then being pursued further to the south.

A seven-hour preparatory bombardment deprived the attack of any hope of surprise, and ultimately proved ineffective in subduing the well-entrenched defenders. When the troops of the 5th Australian and 61st British Divisions attacked at 6 pm on 19 July, they suffered heavily at the hands of German machine-gunners.

Smal lsections of the German trenches were captured by the 8th and 14th Australian Brigades, but, devoid of flanking support and subjected to fierce counter-attacks, they were forced to withdraw.

By 8am on 20 July 1916, the battle was over. The 5th Australian Division suffered 5,533 casualties, rendering it incapable of offensive action for many months; the 61st British Division suffered 1,547. German casualties were little more than 1,000. The attack was a complete failure as the Germans realised within a few hours it was merely a feint. It had no impact whatsoever upon the progress of the Somme offensive.