Pozières : The Battle of the Somme

In July 1916 the 28th Battalion, as part of the 2nd Division were involved in a series of attacks aimed at the capture of key German positions and the wearing down of the enemy. By the 23rd July the 1st & 2nd Division had been successful in capturing the Pozières village despite almost continuous artillery fire and repeated German counter-attacks. A further push to take Pozières heights was planned for the 29th July but the Germans were ready and the attack failed at a cost of 3,500 Australian casualties.

We made a charge on the night of Friday July 28th soon after midnight. The various companies went over in a wave. The Germans opened tremendous fire on us with artillery trench mortar, machine gun and every conceivable form of weapon. The men were falling in all directions.

 

The men who fell from Broome on the 29th July were

Paddy Bell

Arthur Davies

Joe Hardey

Dave Ferris

Robin MacKellar

Cornelius Townsend