Some personnal war souvenirs, note the breviary found in Villers ruins by an Australian soldier and send back by his family after his death.
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Collections et history
In Villers-Bretonneux,
the Franco-Australian friendship is a an institution. On 25 avril
1918, the Australians re-captured Villers-Bretonneux from the Germans,
so closing them the road of Amiens and putting an end to the spring offensive
in the region. This city is twinned with Robinvale, Australia, state of
Victoria. That state, of which were original many of the diggers which
fought to Villers, participated in a significant way to the reconstruction
of this town. The Victoria school and its reception hall, the annual commemoration
of Anzac Day, the Franco-Australian association and its activities are
examples among others who testify of this narrow bond.
The Franco-Australian museum is not to be missed. It's an associative and municipal museum for all those who are on the tracks of the Australians having fought in the region. It was inaugurated on April 25th, 1975 and completely reorganized in 1992. Many of the presented objects are gifts sent from Australia. Uniforms, official documents but also more personal objects like letters. There is also larges format photos, vestiges of the battlefield (a piece of a caterpillar of a British tank: near Villers took place the first battle of tanks of the history) and a model of what was a battlefield on that time. Other services The museum also includes: - A resource center with several books on Australia during WW1 or on this country - A 35-seats video room, here one can view the film: "Hamel - The Turning Point" who redraws the history of the Australian Corps by emphasizing the battle of Hamel - At the reception, you can buy different souvenirs and brochures useful for the guests such as the guide with audio cassette tape: "Australian World War I Battlefield Tour, Villers-Bretonneux to Hamel, March-July on 1918 " (9,15 €). There is also good informations provided by people at the desk. |
