Our Corner Of The Somme: Australia At Villers-bretonneux (australian Army History Series)

By the time of the Armstice, Villers-Bretonneux - once a lively and flourishing French town - had been largely destroyed, and half its population had fled or died. From March to August 1918, Villers-Bretonneux formed part of an active front line, at which Australian troops were heavily involved. As a result, it holds a significant place in Australian history. Villers-Bretonneux has since become an open-air memorial to Australia's participation in the First World War. Successive Australian governments have valourised the Australian engagement, contributing to an evolving Anzac narrative that has become entrenched in Australia's national identity. Our Corner of the Somme provides an eye-opening analysis of the memorialisation of Australia's role on the Western Front and the Anzac mythology that so heavily contributes to Australians' understanding of themselves. In this rigorous and richly detailed study, Romain Fathi challenges accepted historiography by examining the assembly, projection and performance of Australia's national identity in northern France. Book Description Our Corner of the Somme provides an eye-opening analysis of the memorialisation of Australians on the Western Front and the Anzac legend that contributes to Australians' identity. Romain Fathi challenges accepted historiography by examining the creation, projection and performance of Australia's nationhood in northern France. About the Author Romain Fathi, Ph.D., is Lecturer in History at Flinders University of South Australia and a Chercheur associé at the Centre d'Histoire de Sciences Po, Paris. He has taught and researched at Sciences Po in France, Yale in the United States, and the University of Queensland in Australia. His primary research interests focus on the First World War, war commemorations and Australian identity. Cover Half-title Series information Title page Copyright information Epigraph Foreword Contents Maps Photographs Figures and tables Preface Acknowledgements Glossary Introduction Chapter 1 Villers-Bretonneux: An Australian victory? Episode 1: 4 and 5 April 1918 Episode 2: 24 and 25 April 1918 Episode 3: 8 August 1918 Chapter 2 'The turning point of the war': Occupying the memory front Amiens: a competitive commemorative ground National, not imperial commemorations Villers-Bretonneux: a welcoming commemorative platform Villers' gratitude: a much-appreciated story in Australia Chapter 3 A school or nothing Villers-Bretonneux's adoption and Victoria School A donation to serve Australian interests Memorials to the memorial The indifference of Villers inhabitants Chapter 4 The Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux: Commemorating the nation within an imperial frame Imagining the Australian National Memorial: projections and realities Australianising a British-conceived and French-executed memorial Anticipating the AWM's unveiling ceremony Representing Australia at the unveiling ceremony Unveiling the memorial: imagining Australia acknowledged Australia eclipsed Memorialising the ceremony Chapter 5 'Have we forgotten this place?' Chapter 6 'The meaning of the Anzac tradition must be learned anew' A nuclear relationship A changing national narrative A genealogical interest DVA's commemorative offensive on the former Western Front Chapter 7 'A piece of Australia in France' The great comeback: developing, encouraging and reshaping commemorations Effects of the surge of Australian tourists at Villers-Bretonneux The Australian takeover, 2008 Australia's commemorative takeover at Villers-Bretonneux An Australian Remembrance Trail 'Next show starts in 2 minutes' Chapter 8 'It was great to see Australia acknowledged in such a great way' The surge of Australian visitors What comments reveal: interpreting semantic fields mobilised by signatories Remembrance: 'So sad so few remember'11 Rest in peace Horticultural beauty: 'Very nicely maintained, thank you very much'14 Family link or visit to a specific soldier: 'In memory of . . .' Pride and patriotism: 'In honour of many brave men. We are proud to be Australians'20 Emotional impact: 'One of the most emotional days in my life - so sad!'27 Satisfaction: 'Beautiful day, sunny, we will remember them'34 Gratitude and sacrifice: 'Thank you' Comments against war: '. . . such a waste of young lives. NEVER AGAIN'42 Religion: 'Bless those known unto God'45 General observation: 'a long walk'47 No comment Those who do not sign the visitor books What about Anzac Day? Anzac in the Somme: inclusive or exclusive? The visible minority: setting the standards for commemorative behaviour at Villers' cemeteries and museum? Villers-Bretonneux's French-Australian Museum: 'A really mad place. Heaps of good AUSTRALIAN history'84 Conclusion Appendix Notes Introduction Chapter 1 Villers-Bretonneux Chapter 2 'The turning point of the war' Chapter 3 A school or nothing Chapter 4 The Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux Chapter 5 'Have we forgotten this place?' Chapter 6 'The meaning of the ANZAC tradition . . .' Chapter 7 'A piece of Australia in France' Chapter 8 'It was great to see Australia acknowledged . . .' Conclusion Bibliography Archival primary sources Australia Australian War Memorial, Canberra Personal folders National Archives of Australia, Canberra office National Archives of Australia, Melbourne office Public Record Office Victoria, North Melbourne University of Melbourne Archives Pictures, recording and audiovisual materials AWM NAA, Canberra NAA, Sydney France Archives départementales de la Somme, Amiens Archives diocésaines déposées (Amiens Diocese's archives) Periodicals and other sources Service historique de la Défense (SHD), Vincennes French-Australian Museum of Villers-Bretonneux Préfecture de la Somme Research centre of the Historial of the Great War, Péronne Written records Iconographic documents Other sources Unreferenced sources United Kingdom Commonwealth War Graves Commission's archives, Maidenhead British National Archives, Kew United States of America National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, MD Other primary materials Official sources Online sources Written records Secondary sources Outline placeholder Newspapers Magazines and local periodicals Index Before the First World War, Villers-Bretonneux was a lively and flourishing French town dedicated to textiles and agriculture. By the time of the Armistice, it had been largely destroyed, and half its population had fled or died. From March to August 1918, Villers-Bretonneux formed part of an active front line, where Australian troops were heavily involved. As a result, it holds a significant place in Australian history. At the end of the war, Villers-Bretonneux became an open-air memorial to Australia's participation in the First World War. Successive Australian governments have valorised the Australian engagement, contributing to an evolving Anzac narrative that has become entrenched in Australia's national identity. Our Corner of the Somme provides a robust, eye-opening analysis of the memorialisation of Australia's role on the Western Front and the Anzac mythology that so heavily contributes to Australian's understanding of themselves. In this rigorous and richly detailed study, Dr Romain Fathi challenges accepted historiography by examining the assembly, projection and performance of Australia's national identity in northern France. -- Dust jacket flap By the time of the Armistice, Villers-Bretonneux - once a lively and flourishing French town - had been largely destroyed, and half its population had fled or died. From March to August 1918, Villers-Bretonneux formed part of an active front line, at which Australian troops were heavily involved. As a result, it holds a significant place in Australian history. Villers-Bretonneux has since become an open-air memorial to Australia's participation in the First World War. Successive Australian governments have valourised the Australian engagement, contributing to an evolving Anzac narrative that has become entrenched in Australia's national identity. Our Corner of the Somme provides an eye-opening analysis of the memorialisation of Australia's role on the Western Front and the Anzac mythology that so heavily contributes to Australians'understanding of themselves. In this rigorous and richly detailed study, Romain Fathi challenges accepted historiography by examining the assembly, projection and performance of Australia's national identity in northern France.