Fromelles: Australia's Bloodiest Day At War

by Carole Wilkinson

Part of the award-winning series, The Drum, and by the multi-award-winning author Carole Wilkinson.The first shots were fired at 11am, 19 July 1916. The Battle of Fromelles lasted less than 24 hours. When it was over, more than 5000 Australian soldiers were killed, wounded or taken prisoner. More soldiers died at Fromelles than in the Boer, Korean and Vietnam war combined. What was the point of this bloody loss of life? And why, almost a century later, did the attention of the world once again turn to Fromelles?

Genres: World War I

Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Carole was born in England in 1950. Her family moved to Australia when she was 12. She now lives in Melbourne, with her husband John.
Carole didn't start writing until she was nearly 40. Before that, she worked as a laboratory assistant, working with a lot of blood and brains. Once she’d decided to try and become a writer, she went to university. She wrote a lot while she was there including her first novel. She showed it to a friend who worked in publishing who asked if she could write a teenage novel. Her first published book was based on something her daughter, who was at high school at the time, was doing.


Carole says she has lots of ideas and so far she’s never had 'writers' block'. She might have got a late start, but she’s been trying to make up for lost time and has written more than 30 books, some short stories, a telemovie and some TV and planetarium scripts.

Reviews

[hi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick yet clear book introducing the devastating events of the Battle of Fromelles in World War 1. I especially liked the story alongside the facts, about an Australian soldier fighting in the war and was spared by a German soldier, as it shows that despite all the cruelties and warfare, people still held onto feelings of remorse and empathy, even for the opposing side. This book provides an insight into Australia's place in the war, and has inspired me to read more books on the roles of Australians in history.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book it is a much better account than Patrick Lindsay's. It is a really good book for teenagers to gain access and insight into the battle of Fromelles and the Australian experience of the Western Front in World War I.