Australian battles on the Western Front

Dates

• 1916 July: Fromelles

  The Australians' first major operation on the Western Front is a disaster: the worst 24 hours in Australia's history.

• 1916 July-August: Pozières and Mouquet Farm

  Australians capture Pozières village and the heights beyond. These six weeks cost Australia 23,000 casualties.

• 1917 April-May: Bullecourt

  The first Australian attack on the Hindenburg Line at Bullecourt fails, while the second descends into two weeks' close fighting and ends in German withdrawal.

• 1917 June: Messines

  Australians and New Zealanders are successful in their first major operation together on the Western Front. This is General John Monash's first major battle.

• 1917 September: Menin Road

  Beginning of Australian participation in Third Battle of Ypres. The following eight weeks would cost Australia 38,000 casualities, its heaviest in the war.

• 1917 September: Polygon Wood

  The second of five Australian attacks as part of the Third Battle of Ypres.

• 1917 October: Poelcappelle

  Australians make limited gains but are compelled to withdraw in difficult conditions.

• 1917 October-November: Passchendaele

  Australians fail to capture Passchendaele and suffer heavy losses. The territory is later captured by Canadian troops.

• 1918 March-April: Dernancourt

  Australians hold the line south of Albert against the strongest German attack during the war.

• 1918 April: Villers-Bretonneux

  At the second battle of Villers-Bretonneux Australian and British troops recapture the town and finally stop the German offensive towards Amiens.

• 1918 April: Hazebrouck

  Australians hold Hazebrouck against the German offensive, stabilising the Allied line and saving the Channel ports.

• 1918 July: Le Hamel

  General John Monash's model victory becomes the template for future success.

• 1918 August: Amiens

  Known as the 'black day in the history of the German army', Australians and Canadians achieve an uprecedented breakthrough.

• 1918 August: Chuignes

  Australians capture Chuignes ridge, the main German position forward of the Somme.

• 1918 August-September: Mont St Quentin

  The finest Australian feat of arms in the First World War unhinges the German defences on the Somme.

• 1918 September: Peronne

  Australians capture the fortress of Peronne and force the German defences to withdraw to the Hindenburg Line.

• 1918 September: Bellicourt

  Australians break through the Hindenburg Outpost Line.

• 1918 September: Bellenglise

  Australians and Americans break the Hindenburg Line.

• 1918 October: Montbrehain

  The Australians' last battle of the war.