Fromelles and Pozières: In the Trenches of Hell

· Bolinda · Narrated by Richard Aspel
Audiobook
27 hr 19 min
Unabridged
Eligible
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About this audiobook

On 19 July 1916, 7000 Australian soldiers – in the first major action of the AIF on the Western Front – attacked entrenched German positions at Fromelles, in northern France. By the next day, no fewer than 5500 were wounded and just under 1900 were dead – a bloodbath that the Australian War Memorial describes as ‘the worst 24 hours in Australia's entire history'. Just days later, three Australian Divisions attacked German positions at nearby Pozières, and over the next six weeks they suffered another 23,000 casualties. Of that bitter battle, the great Australian war correspondent Charles Bean would write, ‘The field of Pozières is more consecrated by Australian fighting and more hallowed by Australian blood than any field which has ever existed ...' Yet the sad truth is that, nearly a century on from those battles, Australians know only a fraction of what occurred. This book brings the battles back to life and puts the reader in the moment, illustrating both the heroism displayed and the insanity of the British plan. With his extraordinary vigour and commitment to research, Peter FitzSimons shows why this is a story about which all Australians can be proud. And angry.
On 19 July 1916, 7000 Australian soldiers – in the first major action of the AIF on the Western Front – attacked entrenched German positions at Fromelles, in northern France. By the next day, no fewer than 5500 were wounded and just under 1900 were dead – a bloodbath that the Australian War Memor...

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About the author

Peter FitzSimons is the author of more than 25 books, including Tobruk, Kokoda, Batavia, Eureka, Ned Kelly, Gallipoli,and biographies of Douglas Mawson, Nancy Wake‚ Kim Beazley‚ Nick Farr-Jones‚ Les Darcy, Steve Waugh and John Eales. He is one of Australia's biggest selling non-fiction authors of the last 15 years, as well as being a journalist with the Sydney Morning Herald. FitzSimons was named a Member of the Order of Australia in 2011 for service to literature as a biographer, sports journalist and commentator. He lives with his wife, Lisa Wilkinson, and their three children in Sydney. His latest book, The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop, is due out in 2026.

Richard Aspel is a talented narrator of children's and adult audiobooks. He trained and worked in London, before returning to Australia where he has worked extensively in television, theatre and radio. His television credits include Neighbours and Carson's Law, and he provided various voices for The Silver Brumby animated series. Richard was nominated for the prestigious Audie Award (US) for his narration of The Mark of the Angel by Nancy Huston.

Peter FitzSimons is the author of more than 25 books, including Tobruk, Kokoda, Batavia, Eureka, Ned Kelly, Gallipoli,and biographies of Douglas Mawson, Nancy Wake‚ Kim Beazley‚ Nick Farr-Jones‚ Les Darcy, Steve Waugh and John Eales. He is one of Australia's biggest selling non-fiction authors of...

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