The British attack on Fromelles on July 19 and 20, 1916, claimed 7080 lives, 5533 of those Australians from the 5th Division. "It was not an auspicious first engagement for the Australian effort in France," Mr MacLean said.

One hundred years on, he is writing a book about Goulburn and district's involvement in all campaigns, sourcing original letters and Australian War Memorial archives as part of the process. He details official British and German communiques about the Battle of Fromelles, which has gone down in history as an allied diversionary strategy that failed spectacularly.

An official German communique on July 21, 1916 stated:

"The English attack in the region of Fromelles on Wednesday was carried out, as we have ascertained, by two strong Divisions. The brave Bavarian Division, against whose front the attack was made, counted on the ground in front of them more than 2000 enemy corpses. We have brought in so far 481 prisoners, including 10 officers, together with 10 machine guns."

About the same time, Commander of the British Expeditionary Forces, Douglas Haig telegraphed:

"Please convey to the troops engaged last night my appreciation of their gallant effort and of the careful and thorough preparation for it. I wish them to realise that their enterprise has not been by any means in vain, and that the gallantry with which they carried out the attack is fully recognised."

Mr MacLean found that 16 men who were from Goulburn or enlisted here were killed in the battle, while 37 were wounded.

German losses were estimated at approximately 1500, 21 Infantry Rgt having the highest casualty rate of the defenders, its 3rd Battalion losing so many it had to be withdrawn for an extended period of rebuilding and reinforcing.

30 BN

Churchill, L/Cpl Walter Edmund, k 20/7/1916

Heeger, Pte Ernest, w 20/7/1916

Less, Lt John Stanley, k 19/7/1916

Ryan, Pte Daniel Bernard, k 19/7/1916

Shipp, Sgt Edgar Herbert, w 20/7/1916

Wymark, L/Cpl Reginald Frederick, k 20/7/1916

31 BN

Crawford, Pte John Colin, w 20/7/1916

Meyers, Pte Cecil, k 19/7/1916

32 BN

Putland, Pte Allan Stewart, w 20/7/1916, d 25/7/1916

53 BN

Bugg, Pte Leslie James, k 19/7/1916

Donnelly, Sgt Michael James, w 20/7/1916

Garie, Pte George, w 19/7/1916

Honan, Pte Joseph, w 19/7/1916

Jeffs, Pte Percy James, w 19/7/1916

Johnston, Pte Thomas, w 19/7/1916

Lawler, Pte Thomas James, w 19/7/1916, d 23/7/1916

Martin, Pte Walter Basil, w 19/7/1916

Mattinson, Pte Frank, w 19/7/1916

Moore, Pte William, k 19/7/1916

Murray, L/Cpl Lindsay Bertram, w 19/7/1916, d 28/7/1916

Nixon, Pte Edgar Hamlet, w and POW 19/7/1916

Roberts, Pte Frederick Bede, w 19/7/1916

Searle, Pte Charles, w 19/7/1916

Stephenson, Cpl George, w 19/7/1916

Walton, Pte Thomas, w 19/7/1916, d 20/7/1916

54 BN

Annand, Cpl Reginald, w 20/7/1916

Bonnett, Sgt James Raymond, w and POW 20/7/1916

Bonnett, Pte Thomas Matthew, k 19/7/1916

Clarke, Pte Benjamin, w and POW 20/7/1916

Dalton, Pte William Francis, w 20/7/1916

Duddle, Pte Aubrey Augustus, w 19/7/1916

Gray, Pte Sidney John, k 19/7/1916

Skea, Pte James, w 20/7/1916

Speer, Cpl Robert Allan, w and POW 20/7/1916

Tibbitts, Pte William Vincent, w 20/7/1916

West, Pte George Annesley, w and POW 20/7/1916

Young, Cpl James, w 19/7/1916

55 BN

Barnes, Pte James Joseph, w and POW 20/7/1916

Covil, Pte Arthur Leonard, w 20/7/1916

Ferris, Pte Edward, w 20/7/1916, d 21/7/1916

Horsfield, Pte Frederick, w 20/7/1916, d 20/7/1916

McCabe, Pte William Jenkins, w and POW 19/7/1916

Shepherd, Pte Leslie, w 20/7/1916

Sherwood, Pte Harold Austin, w and POW 20/7/1916

Simons, Pte James Lovel, w 20/7/1916

56 BN

Callaghan, Pte James, w 20/7/1916

Harvie, Pte Cyril Oswald, w 20/7/1916

Miskelly, Pte James Patrick, k 20/7/1916

60 BN

Shurmer, Pte Roy Stanley, k 19/7/1916

8 MG CO

Ings, Pte Percy Edwin, k 20/7/1916

14 MG CO

Richards, Sgt Samuel, w and POW 20/7/1916, d 31/7/1916

Stephenson, Pte Joseph Vipond, w 20/7/1916

Walker, Pte Edwin James, POW 20/7/1916

k: killed - w: wounded - d: died - POW: prisoner of war

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