The Australian National Memorial, located behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery honours the Australian soldiers who fought in France and Belgium, and who lie under the battlefields. The Memorial consists of a central tower, with spectacular views of the surrounding countryside, flanked by wing walls commemorating the 10,732 Australian casualties who died in France and who have no known grave.
During the Second World War the Memorial was used as an observation post by the French and was extensively damaged by German aircraft and ground fire. Although repairs were carried out, some scarring was retained and can still be seen on parts of the Memorial.
The family of a decorated World War I soldier who died in battle in France’s Western Front has commemorated his long-lasting impact with a new war memorial park on the banks of the Murray River in Victoria.