Fromelles: Our Darkest Day

by Patrick Lindsay

July 2016 marks the centenary of the Battle of Fromelles – Australia’s worst-ever military defeat. On 19 July 1916, a British commander ordered 7000 Australian soldiers to launch an attack on the German lines close to the village of Fromelles

in northern France. Underprepared and outnumbered, the diggers suffered 5533 casualties in one night. Almost 2000 men lay dead – more than in the Boer, Korean and Vietnam wars combined. The fate of the many soldiers that broke through enemy lines remained unknown for decades, until a group of amateur historians set out to find the missing diggers of Fromelles.

July 2016 marks the centenary of the Battle of Fromelles – Australia’s worst-ever military defeat. Patrick Lindsay’s evocative and enthralling account takes you back to the killing fields of northern France. Fromelles: Our Darkest Day retells the story of the fateful battle and the people behind it, and details the passionate and determined quest to find the missing soldiers, and to give them their final, dignified resting place.

This updated edition, published in time for the July 2016 centenary includes material on the discovery of the Fromelles mass graves, and on the subsequent excavation, recovery, identification and re-interment of soldiers at Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, with a full list of names of missing and identified soldiers.

Genres: History, World War I, Nonfiction, War

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Tracy Smyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is hard to not be angry at some of the British commanders in this book. They sent men to the slaughter while they sat back and relaxed. The guys in charge of the Battalions, tried to explain that the time wasn’t right to advance, (it was too light), but the powers that be knew better (so the slaughter began).

[Mark Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book. The 1st part deals with the largely forgotten battle of Fromelles. One of those battles where Allied troops were marched straight into Block Houses and massed machine guns. The 2nd part talks about the 90 gap between a mass burial and its discovery. Here a Greek Immigrant does battle with the Australian government until he is proven right. Explains the Significance of the Fromelles statue by Melbournes Shrine of Remembrance.

[Andrew Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slightly unusual history book in having the tale of the time (the battle) and then the contemporary search for the missing diggers (not fully resolved at the time of publication, somewhat frustratingly!). A very interesting piece of Australian history told with clarity and empathy.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is hard not to feel anger and sorrow while reading 'Fromelles: Our Darkest Day'. Anger at the senior British command behind the decisions that led to this battle, and sorrow at the loss of life and living hell so many soldiers experienced in the trenches and no-man's land of Fromelles. Anger too at the lies and obfuscation that were told and promoted by the command after the battle.

But, there is a sense of hope too in those people who have spent so much energy in trying to reveal the truth of the battle and bring human stories to the horrific numbers associated with this battle and WW1 overall.

The story of the 'fight' to bring closure to the families of those whose relatives were lost and missing from the battle brings the book into the current time and reminds us that the past is very much a part of the present and we should never forget those who have gone before.

Thanks to Goodreads and Hardie Grant for the opportunity to read this book, whilst my own relatives, were not, to my knowledge at this battle, two of my great Uncles (brothers) died in WWI, one at Gallipoli and one, a month prior to the battle at Fromelles in France, and in a melancholy way this book brought me closer to them.

[Joseph Bevitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving tribute to the diggers who gave their lives in what is Australia's worst (and pointless) military disaster. This book is written in two parts: the first uncovers the details of this little-known battle that occurred 19 - 20 July 1916, which resulted in 5,533 Australian, 1,547 British and a little over 1,000 German casualties. The second part of the book details the obsessive/painstaking investigations of a humble retired Melbourne arts and crafts teacher to reveal the truth of the Battle of Fromelles, to learn the fate of its missing fallen who buried in mass graves by German forces near Fasanenwäldchen (Pheasant Copse/Pheasant Wood), and his push for the Australian government to verify their location, exhume, identify and bury them with the honour and dignity deserved by our heroes.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book on Good Reads. So pleased I have read it and at such a perfect time, just a few days before the 100 year anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles (July 19/20). The reading is so interesting, but incredibly frustrating as you read about the thousands of men killed and wounded in such a short period of time. The decisions made are harrowing and the conditions where they lived and fought are unbelievable.

The story of the Australian Diggers missing in action is also covered.

If you don't know much about Fromelles, this is the book you need to pick up and read.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book on Good Reads. So pleased I have read it and at such a perfect time, just a few days before the 100 year anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles (July 19/20). The reading is so interesting, but incredibly frustrating as you read about the thousands of men killed and wounded in such a short period of time. The decisions made are harrowing and the conditions where they lived and fought are unbelievable.

The story of the Australian Diggers missing in action is also covered.

If you don't know much about Fromelles, this is the book you need to pick up and read.

[Nanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads and have only just had the chance to read.

A superb story of not only the The Battle of Fromelle, but also the story of one man's passion to identify those whose final resting place was unknown for so long.

An important part of Australia's military history and the ANZAC legend. Fromelle is a great introduction to a battle that destroyed so many lives, yet remains largely overlooked when discussing and remembering the Great War and spirit of ANZAC.

[Michael Beashel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keep in mind Gallipoli and Passchendaele, sure-great battles for Aussies but the key battle was Fromelles. It was brutal and cruel and it was the first battle the ANZACS fought on the Western Front. One fact which was carefully researched was that an English guards officer told an Australian high ranking one that the assaults were futile and that if the Guards had been ordered to go they would have simply refused. Such luxury was not given to the "dominion" troops.

[Nick Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazingly harrowing story about what is truely the worst periods in human history. The first half of the book tells the story of the disaster that was the Australian attack at Fromelles, where as the 2nd half focuses on the modern pursuits to find the unmarked graves of so many of our fallen heroes.

Moving but well worth the read.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prior to reading this book, I admit that I had not known much of the events of July, 1916. Nor do I think that I had known much of the Battle of Fromelles. This book was an eye opening experience and an incredible look into such a devastating loss to Australia. Fromelles, a village in France, is the location of a battle that spanned from the 19th to the 20th of July, 1916. With 5,533 Australian soldiers dead in a matter of just days, there's a lot to be explained. Our Darkest Day discusses a lot of aspects of the battle in question, providing various evidence of the goings on. We can view numerous photographs, letters and other sorts of research. Not only does it take a look into the historical aspects of the battle, but also takes a look into more recent effects. My favourite example of this is the epilogue featuring the story Harry Willis, a soldier who was lost in the war and how his family found him.

In my opinion, I'm pretty impressed by the amount of information provided to me by this book. As I admitted prior, I didn't really know much about the battle before reading Our Darkest Day. I appreciate that the book took multiple peoples' perspective of the battle. It's interesting to see how such an event had such a huge impact on such a range of people. Even nowadays, people are still baffled by certain portions of it and some families are still missing loved ones. Overall, I found that the book was an emotional journey. Fromelles: Our Darkest Day provided me with a valuable look to Australia's past and an insight to our loss.

I found some links on Google that one might like to view if you are interested in reading a little bit more about it.
The Fromelles Project aims to identify soldiers lost at Fromelles using forensics and historical information.
http://www.army.gov.au/our-work/unrec...
The Australian War Memorial
https://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/f...
https://www.awm.gov.au/military-event...
Graves tell story of the forgotten battle of Fromelles
https://www.theguardian.com/world/200...
'Dear Mother, I lost all but my life'
http://www.smh.com.au/national/dear-m...

I won a copy of this book via Goodreads Giveaways, thanks to Hardie Grant Books, and these are just my honest thoughts on it.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book in two parts. The first part covers the battle of Fromelles in 1916 and the terrible loss and waste because of men who didn't understand then how modern warfare had changed the battlefield. The second part covers the modern day search for the 160 odd diggers whose remains are still unaccounted for.

The history of the battle is well covered even though it doesn't seem to go into as much depth as it could. It provides stories of great courage and sacrific made by Australian diggers as they struggled to complete what was really an impossible task - the taking of Sugar Loaf salient. It illustrates the tremendous mateship that existed within the Australian forces that even after the cessation of the battle many were still prepared to go into no man's land looking for survivors. In many cases this meant that they too would be become a statistic of the dead or wounded.

The story behind the search for the missing diggers from Fromelles and beaurcacy that stood in the way of something that should have been so simple. It again demonstrates the spirit of Australians as a school teacher from Melbourne took it on himself to find the missing diggers and ensure they were duely recognized and laid to rest with the honours they deserved.

Overall the book is a worthwhile read for people interested in Australia's worst single military loss as well as the saga of proving that some of those fallen still lie without the recognition they deserve. It is not a book of deep military history but for those interested in Australia's contribution in World War One it is a recommended read.

[Cai · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well researched book into a series disaster of war tactics. Lindsey draws upon a lot of primary sources and opened my eyes to things I never knew about WWI.

This book really makes you appreciate how war fare has evolved and the loss of life is significantly lower these days.

*I selected this for a Reading Challenge as a book with a one word title*

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patrick Lindsay has provided a comprehensive account of much related to the Battle of Fromelles. A sad day in Australian history given the number of wonderful young men injured or killed. Sad but we should be very proud of their bravery and never forget their sacrifice.

[Mick Maye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on Australia's most costly battle.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great account of what happened up to a point, now want to read more about what happened since 2008. I vaguely recall some of the press coverage but not in detail.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fromelles is Australia's worst military disaster,yet it barely rates a mention in our history books & the name is absent.from our war memorials,?