German improvised sign 'Achtung! Gasberietschaft! Maske vor die Brust, Tragband um den Hals.' : Pozieres, France

German trench sign constructed of wood and stenciled in black paint 'Achtung! Gasberietschaft! Maske vor die Brust, Tragband um den Hals.' [Attention! Special Gas Alert! Wear mask in front of chest with strap around neck] The sign has two holes drilled in to it to allow mounting to a post, and shows evidence of some minor shrapnel damage.

German gas alert notice from Pozieres. This sign warned all men entering the zone to carry their gas masks on their chest with the straps around their necks.

The village was captured from the Germans by the 1st Division on 23 July 1916. The division clung to its gains despite almost continuous artillery fire and repeated German counter-attacks but suffered heavily. By the time it was relieved on 27 July it had suffered 5,285 casualties.

The 2nd Division took over from the 1st and mounted two further attacks - the first, on 29 July, was a costly failure; the second, on 2 August, resulted in the seizure of further German positions beyond the village. Again, the Australians suffered heavily from retaliatory bombardments. They were relieved on 6 August, having suffered 6,848 casualties.

The 4th Division was next into the line at Pozieres. It too endured a massive artillery bombardment, and defeated a German counter-attack on 7 August; this was the last attempt by the Germans to retake Pozieres in 1916.

This sign may date from before the capture of Pozieres in 1916, but as it was collected in late August 1918, it is more likely to date from the German reoccupation of Pozieres in 1918. The Germans recaptured the village in March 1918 during their Spring Offensive and held Pozieres for five months before it was again recaptured, this time by the British, in August 1918.