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The Australian Memorial Park is not only a Monument middle of the fields. It's both a place to remember the sacrifice of the Australian soldiers and a place to learn. |
Inaugurations plaques are at the enter of the path leading to the Monument. |
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The visit begins with an audio panel and lead to the Monument. Between there is several panels to read with texts and pictures. |
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Those panels present various aspects of the war always linked to elements of the landscape or of the park like the Battle of Hamel, the Red Baron etc. |
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With a telescope one can watch distant places like the tower of the Fouilloy Memorial (to East) or other surroundings details. After, one cross a trench that initially belonged to the German defences (position Wolfsberg). |
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Then you arrived in front of the Monument and you can enter the ceremonial space. Australian scuptor Colin Anderson used sandblasting technic to draw onto the black granit. |
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On the main wall, a large Rising Sun has been sandblasted. On the back wall: a portrait of John Monash, a gun, a tank and planes to remember the tactical exploit of the battle; on right, a section briefed by its. |
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Middle of the ceremonial space, the memorial stone is made of Australian black granite. In English and French, you can read on it words quoted from the famous Australian historian C.E.W. Bean. |
"What these men
did, nothing can alter now.
The good end the bad, the greatness and the smallness of their story will stand. Whatever if glory it contains nothing now can lessen. It rises, as it will always rise, above the mists of ages, a monument to great-hearted men; and, for their nation a possession for ever." |
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There is two quotations engraved on another little wall behind the Monument. The first (here left) is an extract of French president Clémenceau speech to the diggers on 7 July 1918, after the victory. |
“When the Australians
came to France we expected a great deal of you... We knew that you would
fight a real fight, but we did not know that from the beginning you would
astonish the whole continent... I shall go back and say to my countrymen
“I have seen the Australians, I have looked in their faces... I know that
they will fight alongside of us again until the cause for which we are
all fighting is safe for us and for our children."
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The other quotation is from the German Army Chief Luddendorf. It reminds that this place was also one of the starting points of the August 1918 final offensive lead by Australians, Canadians and French. |
"August 8th was
the black day of the German Army on the history of this war... This was
the worst experience I had to go through..."
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On the top of the little wall surrounding the Monument one can see all the Australian battalions colour patches. |
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The park offers amenities and a picnic area with two tables near the parking. |
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